By Scout Nelson
Nebraska Extension educators Ben Beckman and Shannon Sand are encouraging producers to evaluate alternative forage strategies, review pasture lease requirements, and consider grazing drought-stressed corn as fall approaches. Their recommendations focus on maximizing forage value while addressing management, legal, and economic considerations.
Many livestock producers are looking to harvest summer annual forages such as sorghum-sudan, forage sorghum, and millet. However, making dry hay in the fall can be difficult because cooler temperatures, shorter days, and heavier dew slow the drying process and increase storage risks.
Producers can improve hay drying by conditioning stems, spreading forage into wider swaths, and leaving 8 to 10 inches of stubble during harvest. These practices help increase airflow, speed moisture loss, and reduce the amount of nitrate-prone lower stem harvested.
When drying conditions are unfavorable, silage or baleage may be more practical alternatives. Producers can also stockpile forage for grazing later in the season, though forage quality generally declines as plants mature.
Forage safety remains an important consideration, especially for sorghum, sorghum-sudan, and sudangrass. Frost or other stress conditions can increase the risk of prussic acid and nitrate accumulation, making forage testing a useful precaution before feeding livestock.
Producers should also review pasture lease agreements as grazing seasons come to an end. While verbal or handshake leases are common, different rules apply to crop and pasture leases, and written agreements are generally recommended to avoid misunderstandings.
Pasture leases typically cover a single grazing season and often end when the grazing period concludes. Written leases can provide greater flexibility while clearly outlining responsibilities and expectations for both landowners and tenants.
Drought-stressed corn may offer an alternative feed source even when grain yields are poor. Before grazing affected fields, producers should verify crop insurance requirements and review herbicide restrictions that could impact forage use.
Grazing can be an effective way to utilize drought-damaged corn, particularly before grain develops. Proper management, adequate water supplies, and careful monitoring can help minimize risks associated with nitrate accumulation.
Even mature corn fields that are not worth harvesting for grain may still provide valuable forage during the fall and winter. Early planning for fencing, water access, and grazing management can help producers capture additional value from these fields.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-banksphotos
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, Hay & Forage, Livestock