High temperatures and windy days are drying out pastures and grazing lands in Nebraska.
Nebraska Extension beef systems educator, Jack Arterburn says that soil moisture in the Spring carried gasses through to the summer, but now, the drought is beginning to build in the northern and southern panhandle of Nebraska, where the grasses are predominately cool season.
“We have reached our peak growth as far as cool season grasses, so pretty much what you have is what you got. Even if we did get some rain, it’s not going to help those grasses long, so you need to start taking a look at what you have, if it’s going to be enough for what you plan to graze,” Aterburn said.
He says that if you cannot reduce stocking rates, try early weaning, feeding cattle in confinement, and grazing management.