Producers begin repairing damaged pastures

Nevada Daily Mail

Livestock producers have been hit hard because of the drought last year. Many have had to purchase expensive hay and pastures are damaged, said Vernon County Extension specialist Pat Miller in a recent press release.

Damaged pastures have had the stands of grass and legumes weakened. The over-grazed pastures can be expected to be slow to green up. Plus the thinned stands will be more likely to have weed problems.

Producers need to formulate a strategy to repair these pastures. If weeds are expected to be a problem, the first thought might be to use a herbicide. But many have restrictions on them being applied to newly seeded grasses and on planting grasses or legumes after their application. Check the herbicide label for these restrictions. Broad leaf herbicides will also kill out any legumes. To their credit, legumes dilute the effects of the endophyte fungus in fescue and reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer.

First, producers need to take a soil test. To have vigorous pasture growth, you need good fertility. Second, they need to evaluate the stand. Grasses may have thinned and legumes may have died out. With rising nitrogen prices, producers need to look at adding legumes to the stand. Their nitrogen benefits and growth for forage will be slow the first year while they get established. Drilling grasses and legumes at the same time, may favor legumes as they have more vigorous seedling growth. They might want to drill grasses now, apply herbicides later this year, if needed and if the label permits, and then add legumes next year, again if the label permits. Some herbicides have legumes planting restrictions of up to 36 months. If the grass stand is adequate, they may want to drill in legumes and then evaluate the need for spot spraying herbicides next year.

The best weed control is to have vigorous growth of grasses and legumes. That will crowd out many annual weeds and weaken others. Some weeds such as blackberries, thistles and sericea lespedeza will need herbicide applications. If possible, limit the areas treated to preserve legume stands.

For more information, contact your local University of Missouri Extension Center.