Nebraska Pastures Need Care After Late Summer Rains

By Scout Nelson

Late summer rainfall brings welcome relief to many Nebraska pastures, but green grass does not always mean full recovery.

Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator, Ryan Benjamin, Nebraska Extension Educator, and Mitch Stephenson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Range Management Specialist, explained that pasture recovery depends on rainfall, soil type, plant species, grazing history, and previous drought conditions.

They encourage producers to inspect pastures closely instead of judging conditions from the roadside.

For the week ending July 20, 2026, USDA/NASS rated Nebraska pasture and range conditions at 35% very poor, 33% poor, 24% fair, 8% good, and 0% excellent.

That means about two-thirds of the state's pasture remains in poor or very poor condition.

Late rainfall helps many fields turn green, but this does not always add enough forage for additional grazing days.

Producers should walk their pastures and check plant height, leaf growth, bare soil, new regrowth, and grazing patterns instead of relying only on appearance.

Dry conditions begin long before this spring in many areas. Limited moisture during last fall, winter, and spring reduces plant energy reserves and weakens cool-season grasses. This slows recovery even after rainfall returns.

The timing of rainfall also plays a major role. Cool-season grasses grow mostly during spring, while warm-season grasses respond better to rain during late June, July, and August.

As a result, late rainfall may improve native range more than brome pastures.

Eastern Nebraska brome pastures need extra care because new growth is highly attractive to livestock.

Producers should also monitor weed growth because thin grass stands often allow unwanted plants to spread. Walking fields regularly helps identify problem areas before they become more serious.

Extension specialists recommend matching livestock numbers with available forage, slowing grazing rotations, increasing recovery periods, and using alternative feed sources if needed. Early planning can reduce stress on both livestock and pastures.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-eugenesergeev