Pasture timing turnout is crucial right now for the best forage production this summer.
Many ranchers depend on grass as a primary source of forage, whether that be rangeland, pasture or hay. If history repeats itself, the resources are hard to come by as summer ends.
The North Dakota State University Extension says that the optimal time to graze varies based on what kind of grass you have. Native grasslands typically consist of cool and warm-season grasses, meaning they start growing after temperatures have been between 32 and 40 degrees for about a week’s time.
Pasture is usually made up of cool-season grasses in the north and warm season in the south.
Typically, the cool season grows rapidly and needs fewer growing days, which could extend the grazing season for ranchers.
Drought or poor grazing management can delay readiness and ultimately result in poor forage production.
