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It’s that time of year again. The grass has been growing and turning the fields green, and livestock are beginning to show more interest in it than their hay. I think it’s safe to say most of us, if not all, are more than ready to be done feeding hay.
In many areas, spring weather is running just a little bit ahead of normal — not dramatically, but enough to get our attention.
What’s a little different this year is how variable the weather has been. We’ve had some warmer-than-normal stretches followed by temperatures dropping back close to freezing.
That kind of back-and-forth can be hard on plants. Many people have already seen it with flowers that pushed early and then got burned back and some forage species have experienced the same thing.
Conditions can vary quite a bit from one farm to the next and even from field to field, so it is important to base management decisions on what you are seeing on your farm. In some areas, forages are ahead of schedule, and in some cases quite a bit.
They have been able to start collecting solar energy earlier, but those temperature swings and a couple of freezes have taken a toll. That stress may cause some plants to move toward reproductive stages earlier than normal.
Early growth may look good from a distance, but some of it has already been stressed. Add moisture conditions that are running anywhere from average to slightly on the dry side and it’s a combination that should give us pause.
There is green grass, and both you and the livestock are eager to utilize it, but there is value in waiting.
Early spring growth is not driven by photosynthesis initially. That first flush comes from energy reserves stored in the roots and lower portions of the plant.
In other words, the plant is living off its savings account. If we graze it too early, we’re withdrawing from that account before the plant has had a chance to rebuild it, and that affects not just today’s growth but the entire grazing season.
It takes grass to grow grass. Those first few inches of growth are rebuilding the plant’s “solar panel” and restoring root reserves.
Removing that growth too soon, especially in a spring that may lean a little dry, can slow production right when it is most needed. Plants that start the season weak tend to stay that way, especially if moisture tightens later.
If some of that early growth begins to push toward seedhead sooner than expected, it is usually a sign of stress. In those situations, light top grazing while keeping livestock moving can help maintain vegetative growth, and it may mean clipping a little earlier than normal.
Differences between pastures become more apparent each spring, largely based on how they were managed the previous year.
Fields grazed hard last fall, especially before dormancy, are often slower to respond, while those with adequate residual tend to grow more quickly and uniformly.
It is not uncommon to see neighboring fields look completely different this time of year based solely on how they were managed the previous fall.
Areas used for winter feeding may show both improved fertility and heavier use, and well-managed stockpiled fields often provide a good balance of residual and new growth.
One of the most useful things you can do this time of year is to walk your pastures regularly, ideally once a week. Walking each paddock provides a clearer understanding of conditions than observing from a distance.
You begin to recognize which fields are progressing and which still need time, helping you make better grazing decisions. Over time, those weekly walks begin to build familiarity, and you start to recognize changes sooner rather than later.
Walking also helps identify uneven grazing, changes in species and early weed issues. This time of year, you don’t want to miss noticing plants like poison hemlock.
It often appears along edges or disturbed areas and can be harmful to you and your animals, even in small amounts. Identifying and addressing it early reduces risk to livestock, and you can control it before it goes to seed.
A good target for initiating grazing is when cool-season grasses reach approximately 8 to 10 inches of height. Removing roughly the top third while keeping livestock moving works well.
Keeping livestock moving early not only protects the plants, but also helps maintain more uniform grazing across the pasture. Early in the season, avoid staying on a paddock more than a couple of days and do not graze regrowth before full recovery.
If you have already started grazing, focus on not taking too much too soon. Early growth is still limited, and plants are still rebuilding.
Taking the top third is best, and while taking half may work in some situations, removing more than that will require a much longer rest period for recovery. Grazing too hard, especially too early, may impact the overall season production, especially if it turns dry.
Fields with residual dry matter from the previous season are often the best starting points. That material helps buffer grazing pressure, protect the soil and balance the lushness of new growth. Fields grazed heavily last fall will require additional recovery time.
This approach is not complicated, but it does require discipline. Starting too early often leads to grazing regrowth prematurely, which is where the greatest damage occurs.
Waiting a little longer allows forage to get ahead, providing more flexibility, better recovery and greater total production throughout the season. A little patience now can make a noticeable difference in both forage quality and total production later.
Although this spring may appear early, it has not necessarily created conditions that justify early grazing, especially if moisture becomes limiting. Allowing forage additional time to develop will benefit both plant health and seasonal productivity.
It is not about maximizing a single grazing event, but about optimizing the entire grazing season.
Victor Shelton is a retired Natural Resources Conservation Service agronomist and grazing specialist. He continues to write “Grazing Bites” in his spare time from his property in southwest Indiana.