winter pasture conditions

[plbcattle]

I seeded rye,wheat, and oats on about 40 acres this year. I had plenty of moisture and a great early stand. We have had lows ranging from 20's-mid 50;s and highs from 40's -almost 80. I have noticed most winter pastures around really came on strong but have slowed way down. Without any grazing on them yet, What is your guess. Will a shot of fertilizer help or is the screwy weather to blame?

 

[hurleyjd]

Same problem here. I think it is the cold nights and the dry weather. Not much moisture in the top six or seven inchs of the ground. I thought about fertilizer, but I think I will wait for more favorable weather conditions.

 

[Jogeephus]

We are 22 inches short of water this year. Fields are pitiful. I'm not fertilizing a thing till we get some water. I tried that this summer and fertilizer just don't seem to work without water.

 

[MillIronQH]

Our pastures look better now then they did the first of June and they still look like crap. I was going to plant winter oats but there is no reason to plant and fertize without water. I'd still have to buy the hay I'm buying.Z

 

[r and s peckman]

I am going to wait till Feb. to hit my pastures with some fertilizer. Also hope for snow this winter. I put rye and fescue in one pasture and wheat and fescue in another. The rye and wheat finally came up after several weeks when we got a couple inches of rain. I feel that now it is to late to fertilize and will wait.

 

[dun]

It's the weather as much as anything, pretty much the temperature thing. Most plants have a range of day and night temps that are optimum for growth. If the night time temp is too low it doesn't make much difference what the day time temp is. Besides the temp deal it also takes adequate moisture and sunlight.

dun