Forage and Pasture Update
This is at best an unusual year with a lot of uncertainties when it comes to forage, pasture, and, for that matters, cattle feed. Developing a forage budget/plan may be as important as we have ever seen it.
Rule Number One: Don’t ever run out of feed!
There will be less acres of harvested forage available this year. Why? Farmers are taking many acres from forage production to plant more corn to feed the “New Fat Pig,” the ethanol industry. Not only will there be less acres of harvested forage, there will be less grain available to feed.
Also on the downside, the late cold weather has set back grass at least two weeks. Cool season pastures and alfalfa will head out at normal times, but much shorter in height. The upside is spring moisture has been about normal, ponds are full and the ground is recharged with precious soil moisture. My take is pasture production will still be below normal even if the rains keep coming.
Rule Number Two: Make a forage plan! Establish proper stocking rate.
It will be important to carefully estimate forage on hand with potential forage available and plot it against carry capacity. The earlier one destocks, if even needed, the less stock will be removed.
Rule Number Three: Have a back-up plan!
Because pasture and forage are a biological system, the planned results can often go arye. Thus a need for a back-up plan. What is the stored feed and forage available? What can be sold? Can corn by-products be purchased? Can crops be grazed? In holistic management in the planning process we assume we are wrong (when managing a biological system), monitoring very closely, and adjusting the plan quickly. This is a very proactive method.
In my opinion, forage never before has needed to be managed so closely. This is a year to pay attention.
