About 10% of our pasture is in switchgrass. We planted it in 2000. Last year it was looking weak and broadleaves were taking over. So after a June grazing we hit it with 2-4D and fertilized with nitrogen. It responded beautifully. We rotationally graze and up to this year we only got one good grazing a year from it. I just pulled the cows from it yesterday and as soon as it quits raining we'll hit it with 2-4D and N. We expect to get another grazing this year. It will probably take several more years to get to a top notch stand. That is the biggest problem with native grasses, the time required to develop a good stand.
The benefits from switchgrass:
it can tolerate extremely wet soil conditions for a couple weeks at a time. The field we planted had been in rowcrops but needed extensive tile replacement to continue with rowcrops.
it can tolerate hot dry spells in the summer, and still grow.
the cows & calves find it palatable and gain weight on it.
An unexpected benefit:
The state DNR traps quail in that field in the winter and releases them to other areas of Ohio in repopulation attempts. With rotational grazing quail and pheasants reproduce very well on our farm, and use the switchgrass for winter cover as well as spring nesting.
