Going into fall and winter, forage and hay supplies are limited for many producers. Fortunately, many areas have received some rain and may be able to produce some grazing from warm-season perennial forages this fall or plant some cool-season annuals. These forages are valuable and should be protected from forage insect pests like armyworms and grasshopper. 

Banta jason
Associate Professor and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist / Texas A&M University

In areas where armyworms can be a problem, it is best to scout for them in the morning by walking through fields and looking at the toes of your boots or using a sweep net. Visit with your local extension agent or insecticide retailer about what products have worked well in your area. Products that contain lambda-cyhalothrin are often used for immediate control, and products with the insect growth regulator diflubenzuron can be used to provide residual control against immature armyworms. This combination often costs less than $6 per acre.

Cool-season annual forages can be sod-seeded or planted in a prepared seedbed depending on species and operation preferences. In general, ryegrass is the easiest to establish, followed by the small grains (e.g., wheat, oats, rye, etc.), and legumes can be the hardest to establish. 

Yield potential, soil type, geography and seed cost should also be considered when selecting winter annuals. In lower-rainfall areas, planting wheat or oats in a prepared seedbed can be a good strategy. In higher-rainfall areas, winter forages are often sod-seeded over bermudagrass, bahiagrass or similar warm-season perennial forages. In these situations, ryegrass is popular because of its ease of establishment and high yield potential. 

Whenever possible, look at data from yield trails in your area when comparing species or varieties. For example, under good management in east Texas, data would suggest average yields of top varieties to be about 7,000 to 8,000 pounds per acre for ryegrass, 5,000 to 6,000 pounds per acre for small grains and 2,000 to 3,000 pounds per acre for legumes. Being aware of these differences in yield potential is important when deciding what species and how many acres to plant. Also, growth from ryegrass and small grains will occur earlier in the year than legumes. 

Advertisement

55922-precipitation-map.jpg

To manage risk, wait to apply nitrogen fertilizer until after germination and seedings are growing. Even at current costs, winter pastures can be cost-effective and cheaper than hay in many situations. Visit with local experts about specific management strategies for winter forages in your area.