Pasture Boosters and Supporters

Frost Seeding

Late winter and early spring is the ideal time to frost seed pastures. Broadcasting 1-3 lbs of legume seed in March will provide several benefits to the pasture productivity. A pasture that has 35% or greater legume content should provide sufficient nitrogen to meet the needs of the grasses. This nitrogen will promote increased grass growth and improved feed quality. The clover or trefoil provides excellent quality feed that compliments the grass species in the pasture.

Frost seeding is most successful when the existing stand has been grazed short in the fall, providing an opportunity for the seedling legumes to establish with minimal competition. The seeding year will see minimal or limited growth. If germination is successful, it will be the second year (possibly the third) before you will see many plants. Patience is a requirement.

Grass species do not usually establish well with frost seeding. The light seed and rough seed coat prevent the grass seed from getting good seed-to-soil contact. Under ideal conditions, some limited success has been achieved with rye grass and orchard grass.

Annual Pasture Crops

Annuals can be an important part of a grazing program. Cereals, turnips, sorghum-sudan and corn are ideal crops for grazing. These annual crops can provide feed from mid-July through to the end of the year. Sorghum-sudan or corn should be planted in late-May. The sorghum-sudan should be ready to graze by mid-July and the corn can be grazed anytime from mid-August through the winter. The turnips and cereals are best planted in late-July or very early-August to begin grazing in late-September.

Do you have a suitable field with fencing or one that can be fenced? Can you provide water to that field? Grazing an annual crop will take pressure off your permanent pastures and prevent over-grazing in the late-summer and early-fall. A few weeks of feed from one of these crops can make a significant impact on stretching your pastures with out causing undue stress.

For further information refer to articles listed under Related Links.

Related Links:

• Annual Forages for Grazing or Stored Feed
• Frost Seeding a Cheaper Alternative
• Forage Production from Spring Cereals and Cereal Pea Mixtures