RANCHING Business
per acre per day once the seedlings emerge from the soil. A month’s worth of early production could mean an additional 1,000 pounds of forage per acre prior to turning out for grazing, which in some years is half of the total fall production. It directly impacts stock- ing capabilities. Planning is another factor of success. But unlike
moisture, it is fully within a producer’s control, John- son says. “Before producers ever plant a seed, they should
know exactly what they want the winter pasture to accomplish and when,” Johnson says. “The question they all must ask and answer is ‘How much forage do I need to grow out my preferred class of livestock to my target size?’ Once that question is answered, they have a goal and can determine what species and vari- ety to plant, as well as seeding and fertilization rates and timing.”
Five best management practices Regardless of the forage type, a battery of proven
best management practices can help establish a thriv- ing winter pasture. • Test your soil to establish a baseline for soil fertility. The soil test will determine whether nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and other amend- ments such as lime are necessary and, if so, at what levels.
• Prepare a good seed bed whether you are using clean-till or no-till.
• Choose a species and variety adapted to your envi- ronment, soil and production goals.
70 The Cattleman August 2015
• Plant in a timely manner, because planting just a month too late can mean all the effort and resources are wasted.
• Anticipate the need for weed- and insect-control treatments.
Planting methods Producers can plant winter pastures by broadcasting,
traditional clean-till or no-till methods. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, Johnson says. Broadcasting is very fast, but seed-to-soil contact
can be problematic, as can having enough moisture to trigger germination. Clean-till planting is routine, so most people know
how to do it. Clean-till requires a large commitment of time for the preparation, fi elds are prone to erosion, and soil moisture is diffi cult to conserve. No-till planting saves time, conserves soil moisture
and benefi ts soil microbes, but controlling planting depth because of the variability of residue levels and es- tablishing good seed to soil contact can be challenging.
Applying fertilizer and soil amendments To produce optimum forage, winter forages require
added plant nutrients. Small-grain yields may range from 1 to 3 tons or more per acre. One ton of forage will contain 60 pounds of nitrogen (N), 12 to 15 pounds of phosphorus (P), and 60 pounds of potassium (K). These nutrients cannot all be supplied by the soil. Again, a soil test is vital to know exactly what the
soil needs. The soil test analysis should be taken into account along with variety, soil moisture and yield goals
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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