Pasture and Forage Minute

Clean water is critical for cattle health, especially during heat events. However, dry conditions can make water quality worse. As water evaporates, salts and minerals become more concentrated. In some locations, this can cause cattle to limit intake, refuse water, or develop health issues. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Summer thunderstorms can quickly turn good hay drying weather into wet windrows. That does not mean the hay is a total loss, but rain on cut forage can reduce both yield and quality. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

As we enter a period of hotter and drier weather, grasshoppers will begin to move into crops from field edges. In the coming weeks, be sure to scout your fields to ensure defoliation from grasshopper feeding is kept at a minimum. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

Sorghum, sorghum-sudangrass, and sudangrass can be valuable emergency forages in dry years, but they carry one major livestock risk: prussic acid, or hydrogen cyanide — HCN. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

In Nebraska, there are two species of fly that cause the most economic injury to pasture and rangeland cattle. Selection of an appropriate control method for each will depend on the time of year; the efficacy, cost, and convenience of the treatment; and your herd management practices. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

Precipitation and temperature play major roles in pasture productivity, and knowing how to adjust grazing to match current conditions is key. Are you shifting your management to meet pasture conditions? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

In Nebraska, you can't predict the rain, however you can protect your bottom line. If you plant annual forage or cover crops for livestock feed, dry weather doesn't have to mean a total loss. Shannon Sand, Nebraska Ag Economics Extension Educator.

July traditionally means the beginning of the haying season for Sandhills subirrigated meadows. A key point related to the quality of meadow hay is harvest date. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Wheat harvest will be coming up soon and that leads us to think about some forage opportunities after harvest is complete. There is plenty of growing season left this year and there are several forage possibilities; especially in a year where pasture or hay is short in some areas. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

Summer annuals such as pearl millet, forage sorghum, sorghum-sudans, corn and brown midrib forages can response well to fertilizer applications after their first cutting harvest. However, if moisture is a limiting factor, then fertilizer applications likely should be split and/or significantly reduced. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Irrigation and Cropping Systems Forage Educator.

Have you noticed tall weeds with umbrella-like clusters of white flowers in pastures, ditch banks, and along roadsides? It may be poison hemlock, a plant highly toxic to people and livestock. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Summer annual forages such as sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids and pearl millet planted this spring soon could be ready to graze. There are some grazing guidelines to help avoid potential hazards. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

Summer annual grasses can sneak into alfalfa fields fast by mid-summer—and once they're up, pre-emergent options are off the table. What are the options? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Is your pasture paying its way? This is a question I have heard lately with regards to changing input costs. Before your cattle hit the field, here's a quick way to check if your pasture covers its costs. Shannon Sand, Nebraska Ag Economics Extension Educator.

Rained-on hay plagues all of us eventually. The 'windrow disease' that often follows presents lingering problems. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

Since the first cutting of alfalfa has been completed in much of the state, Nebraska producers may be tempted to believe our troubles with alfalfa weevil are over. Unfortunately, this may not be the case. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

What does it cost to rent pasture this year? 2026 results are out for Nebraska cash rental rates. According to the latest survey, average monthly rates for grazing pasture have increased between two and eight percent compared to the previous grazing season. Shannon Sand, Nebraska Ag Economics Extension Educator.

Yucca plants, which are also called soapweed, can be quite common on rangeland in western and central Nebraska. They are especially noticeable here in June when flowering. In some areas, they can be quite thick and significantly reduce grass production. There are ways, though, to reclaim those grazinglands.

While poisonous plants are generally not as problematic in Nebraska compared to other western states, they can exact their toll on livestock enterprises, and many times the losses are unrecognized. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

Forages vary greatly in water-use efficiency defined as pounds of forage produced per inch of water applied. In general, warm-season (C-4) forage crops are more water-use efficient than cool-season (C-3) crops. Although legumes, like alfalfa, are very drought tolerant, they tend to be less water efficient than grasses. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Irrigation and Cropping Systems Forage Educator.

With drought conditions forecasted across much of Nebraska this summer, now is the time to make a grazing plan that builds in flexibility. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Alfalfa is resilient to harsh weather and a drought-tolerant perennial crop with rooting depths down eight feet or more. Depending on deep soil profile moisture during drought, some varieties can move into a dormancy and survive up to 45 days without rainfall. However, forage yields drop dramatically; since alfalfa requires about 4 to 6 inches of root available water to produce 1 ton of forage per acre. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Irrigation and Cropping Systems Forage Educator.

Dry conditions have left some dryland alfalfa fields short, stressed, and slow to grow. When plants are only six to twelve inches tall, turning purple, yellow, or gray, and starting to bloom, the question becomes: should we cut it, graze it, or leave it alone? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

As late spring and summer temperatures begin to heat up and cattle are on pasture, it's important to make sure there is adequate water for livestock. How much do cattle need and where should it come from? Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

Alfalfa weevil is flaring up in some Nebraska fields—here's what the damage looks like, how to scout before and after first cutting, and when it may pay to cut early or treat. Samantha Daniels, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

As pastures begin to green up, now is the time to scout pastures for two persistent problems—leafy spurge and nonnative thistles like musk, plumeless, and Canada thistle. Both are Nebraska noxious weeds, and early spring is the best opportunity for control. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Smooth bromegrass and other cool-season grass hay fields are growing rapidly with seedheads beginning to appear. When do you typically cut your grass hay?  Ideally, cutting your grass hay so the grass nutrient content matches with the nutritional needs of your livestock is best. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

As we work our way through spring, many small grains are maturing fast and nearing harvest windows. Are you ready to make the most out of these forage options? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

The 2026 rangeland grasshopper risk map from the USDA indicates there may be increased grasshopper activity in the eastern panhandle and southwestern Nebraska. Keeping an eye on fields this spring and summer can help mitigate economic loss from grasshopper feeding. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

Oats, spring triticale or barley planted early this spring will soon be ready for grazing. The potential seems great, but you may be disappointed if you don't graze it right. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

As spring temperatures rise across Nebraska, now's the time to plan your first alfalfa cutting. Getting that first cut right is more important than many realize—it sets the pace for the entire season. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Spring is busy getting crops in the ground, but if much needed moisture keeps you from the field, take some time to maintain your haying equipment and prevent costly downtime later. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

It is close to the ideal time to plant a summer annual grass, maybe to replenish your hay supply or have some extra grazing. Which one will you plant? Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

As spring green-up begins, producers may feel the urge to turn animals out to pasture. But the right time to start grazing often comes later than we might think. Before turnout, we need to answer two key questions: when should we start grazing, and which pastures should be grazed first? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Grazing winter annuals such rye, winter wheat, or triticale commonly begins in April. All three of these forages can be very high in quality and reduce the need for feeding expensive hay while allowing additional time for spring growth of our perennial summer pastures. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

There are many producers looking at looking at ways to grow more forage for hay or pasture. Double cropping annual forages on irrigated cropland can be an option. With timely and adequate moisture, this can also be successful dryland as well. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

Want a simple spring move that can boost early forage while quietly setting your pastures up for a better season? Consider flash grazing. Ben Beckman - Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Is your alfalfa field set up for success this season—or are there early spring clues you shouldn't ignore? Ben Beckman - Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Fertilizing cool-season grass pastures or hayfields is something producers do each year while accounting for forage needs, the value of the forage, and fertilizer costs. With high fertilizer costs this year, many producers are reconsidering this practice or reducing the amount that is applied. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

Fresh spring growth is a welcome sight for producers looking for animal forage. However, lush spring growth may be the perfect condition for a case of grass tetany. While turn out may be a ways off, mitigating this risk starts now. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Spring is a time when we might be considering seeding some grass for pasture, hay or just to establish permanent plant cover for wildlife habitat. In some cases, this may involve attempting to improve or renovate an existing stand or establishing grass on former cropland or a disturbed site. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

Wheat, triticale, and rye can all be used as dual-purpose crops for both forage and grain. But after the historic Nebraska rangeland wildfires this year, many producers are looking at them strictly as forage options. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

In Nebraska, alfalfa weevil scouting is generally recommended once 200 growing degree days have accumulated. Due to the warm temperatures we have been experiencing across the state, degree day accumulations have already reached over 300 in the east and over 600 in the southwest. These conditions mean scouting for alfalfa weevil is more important than ever. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

I've had several producers ask what to do when talking about drought conditions. While watching trigger dates and rainfall is important, it's just as critical to plan ahead for potential forage shortfalls. A forage budget helps match what your pasture can produce with what your livestock need to consume think of it like balancing a checkbook, but with grass. Shannon Sand, Nebraska Ag Economics Extension Educator.

Last fall, some pastures across Nebraska were hit hard by armyworms. This spring, those acres may be noticeably slower to green up and recover. If that is the case on your operation, the biggest thing right now is patience. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

As temperatures begin to rise, don't' forget to take a bit of time to assess alfalfa stand health going into this year's growing season. Snow cover over the winter helped insulate plants from extreme temperatures, but exposed plants, older stands, or late harvested alfalfa still have a potential for winter kill. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.