Pasture renovation

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. — From grasses to legumes, deciding what to plant in a pasture can be intimidating. Sometimes the first thing to determine is not what to plant, but rather, whether planting is necessary. Starting from scratch may not be required if renovating an existing pasture is possible.

Jason Cavadini, grazing outreach specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, addressed this topic in his presentation: “What should I plant in my pastures?” at the GrassWorks Grazing Conference in January in Wisconsin Dells.

“The most important component of a successful grazing system is the forage base,” Cavadini said. “Planting is a step in the development of a forage base, but it is not the most important step. It should not always be the first step, and it is not always a necessary step.”

Before doing any planting, Cavadini said the following questions must be answered: What are my grazing goals? What are my farm’s existing resources? Can I work with what I’ve got?

A farm’s grazing goals should consider the type and class of livestock being grazed. The producer should also have a clear understanding of that livestock’s nutritional needs and grazing habits. Grazing management intensity is another key factor.

“Will you move your livestock every day or will it be every four days?” Cavadini said. “It’s good to know that from the start and then plan for that. Management is what helps us achieve the quality we need more than the species does.”

Cavadini said top-notch pasture management should abide by the three Rs: rotational, residual and rest.

Paddocks should be rotated at least every three days, leaving a minimum of 4 inches of post-grazed residual behind, followed by a rest period greater or equal to 30 days. The three Rs are based on the physiology of cool-season perennial grasses.

When looking at a farm’s existing resources, Cavadini said it is important to know what species are present on the pastureland and hay fields. From there, a farmer must determine whether existing species are desirable and compatible with their farm’s goals.

“The species are often a result of management, and some species are only there because of overgrazing,” Cavadini said. “Management can be used to improve the species present, but first, you need to know what’s growing on your land.”

Species prevalent in the seed bank oftentimes show up whether wanted or unwanted and may appear as pastures mature.

“Work with these species to your advantage, and select seed of species that complement them,” Cavadini said. “You don’t want to put in a mix that’s going to compete with each other.”

An example of uncomplimentary species is meadow fescue and orchard grass. Cavadini said their vast difference in palatability will result in repeated, selective overgrazing and elimination of desirable species from pasture.

“Meadow fescue is one of the best grasses available to us,” he said. “There are some situations where (meadow fescue and orchard grass) can work well together, but it needs intense management. It can be addressed with trampling at high density for short duration or by clipping seedheads.”

Soil types also play a part as the forage species must be compatible with the soil in which it is planted. The three classes of soils are droughty, well-drained and poorly drained. Soil texture and drainage may have the most significant influence on species and seed selection, Cavadini said.

If a farm has existing pastureland and hayfields compatible with the operation’s grazing goals, then Cavadini recommends planting fence posts instead of seed. The fields can then be opened to graze.

“This is the most economical approach to getting a pasture started and should always be the first consideration,” he said. “It buys you time and allows you to figure out management first rather than starting out with an expensive seed mix. Applying seed before management often results in wasted money. Management makes a huge difference.”

If the farm does not have existing pastureland and hayfields compatible with grazing goals or enough acres of pasture to support those goals, then it is time to plant new pasture. Settings primed well for new seeding include fall seeding on a small-grain field and spring seeding in a corn silage field. Cavadini said a soybean field has a tighter window but can still work for fall/spring seeding. A cover crop can be used to set up a site for either fall or spring seeding. Outwintering on cropland is another option.

“There are different levels of competition with different species, and most seed mixes don’t establish equally under high competition,” Cavadini said. “You need a low-competition setting in order for a seed mix to thrive. It’s also tougher to establish a mix where other vegetation is present. New seeding or a clean seedbed provides the greatest chance of successful establishment and allows for the greatest selection of seed and species.”

Common cool-season perennials for the Upper Midwest include grasses such as festulolium, Kentucky bluegrass, meadow fescue, meadow/creeping foxtail, orchard grass, perennial ryegrass, quack grass, reed canary grass, smooth brome, tall fescue and timothy as well as legumes such as alfalfa, Alsike clover, birdsfoot trefoil, Kura clover, Ladino clover, red clover and white clover.

Sod formers such as Kentucky bluegrass, quack grass, reed canary grass and smooth brome can all be great for grazing but are aggressive in new seedings. If they currently exist in the seed bank, Cavadini recommends not including them in a new seeding mix.

“Sods do not allow legumes to establish well and will make future renovation difficult,” he said.

For dairy cattle, Cavadini recommends a mix of meadow fescue, festulolium, perennial ryegrass, red clover and Ladino clover.

An initial seeding mix should contain 50%-60% grass and 40%-50% legumes. The result will be 15%-30% legumes after the first established year. Cavadini said to study varietal differences, especially maturity, when deciding which seed to use.

“Pre-mixes can be good, but some suppliers will mix custom blends for you,” he said. “Always use named varieties and try to avoid (variety not stated) seed. With VNS, you don’t know for sure what you’re getting, and sometimes they don’t perform like named varieties.”