Cool-Season Grasses

Cattle grazing pasture
With intense drought conditions last year, it may be prudent to reduce stocking rates and delay turnout this spring, to help grasses in their recovery process.

Pasture and Forage Minute: 2023 Grazing Plans, Preventing Grass Tetany

March 30, 2023
With spring officially here, it's time to put 2023 grazing plans in place and be on the lookout for signs of grass tetany.

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Pasture landscape
Fertilization of smooth bromegrass pastures should begin soon, by late March through April

Pasture and Forage Minute: Winter Survival in Alfalfa, Fertilizing Cool-Season Grass

March 16, 2023
Tips on choosing winter survival traits in alfalfa without compromising yield, and timing and application rates for fertilizing cool-season grass pastures.

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Orchardgrass
With its rapid regrowth rates, orchardgrass is an excellent option to add to a cool-season grass mixture for late summer forage planting.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Valuing Drought Forage, Late Summer Planting, Managing High Nitrates

August 24, 2022
Insights on how forage prices should be adjusted this year for droughty crops, the optimal grasses for late summer forage planting and how to manage high nitrates in forages.

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Annual forages
USDA NRCS Montana (Flickr/Public Domain)

Weighing Risk and Reward of Annual Forages

June 23, 2022
An influx of prevented plant acres provides freedom for producers to grow annual cover crops to counterbalance current forage prices.

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Leafy spurge
Leafy spurge is an aggressive noxious weed that is difficult to remove once established. For optimum control, early detection and herbicides are recommended. (Photo by Ben Beckman)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Controlling Leafy Spurge, Timing Grass Hay Harvest

June 1, 2022
Extension educators share tips on determining water needs for cattle, options for controlling leafy spurge, and a grass hay harvest timeline.

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Sorghum-sudangrass
When selecting a summer annual forage to plant, base your choice primarily on whether you plan to use it for pasture, hay or silage. For example, this sorghum-sudangrass would be best used as hay, due to its yield and feed value. (CropWatch file photo)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Cool-season Annuals and Alfalfa Harvest, Selecting Summer Forage

May 24, 2022
The time to harvest cool-season annuals, perennial forages and alfalfa first cutting is quickly approaching. Read these extension tips to get prepared for spring harvest and summer forages.

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Pasture and Forage Minute: Improving Alfalfa Production, Alternative Forages in a Drought

April 12, 2022
Extension educators review the best ways to assess alfalfa stands and improve the first cutting, plus options for alternative forage for drought-stressed fields.

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Pasture landscape

Pasture and Forage Minute: Pasture Rental Rates, Cool-season Grass Fertilizer

March 23, 2022
Extension educators review preliminary results from the Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market survey on pasture rental rates, and tips on fertilizing cool-season grass pastures.

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