While spring may seem an eternity away, now is the time to begin thinking about spring pastures and hay crops.
Jill Scheidt, an agronomy specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, said late August and early September is when producers should evaluate their cool season grasses, with the most widely utilized being fescue.
“I usually tell people that Sept. 1 to 15 is usually a good time to plant their fescue,” she said. “I would say that fescue is the best cool season grass for Missouri, as far as being easy to maintain and establish. You can also plant things, such as Orchardgrass. Orchardgrass will establish well, but you will have to reseed it in about five years and doesn’t hold up well to heavy grazing.”
She added that fescue stands can last eight to 10 years before reseeding is needed.
If pastures or fields appear “weedy,” Scheidt said producers can eradicate the unwanted plants, but she did not see a need for a “burn down.”
“The fescue will be OK and compete pretty well with weeds,” she added. “Fall is really the best time to reseed because you aren’t going to get the competition; and it gives (fescue) time to grow before you need it for spring grazing or for hay.”
Many portions of the Ozarks have enjoyed good amounts of rainfall this summer, but there have also been several flooding episodes.
Scheidt explained that most grasses, as well as legumes, will have a good start with adequate soil moisture, but downpours that cause water to pond may wash away any new seeding.
“If the soil is completely saturated, it will drown out some of those seeds or young plants,” she said. “If we keep getting rains that don’t puddle and make a muddy mess, they should grow well. If you plant in the fall, you are more likely to have cooler temperatures and a little more moisture than if you planted in the spring; that’s when you are going into the hotter, dryer months.”
She added that weed pressure is also reduced in the fall.
“Most of the weeds you will find in pastures that will compete with fescue and grass come up in the spring, and most of those aren’t going to be there in the fall, so we don’t have that competition and those young plants can get a good start.”
Before sewing any new seed, Scheidt said it is important to review the most recent soil test for the pasture or field.
“That is something you need to do right away and make sure your pH is around 6.5 or 7 so that the grass will grow well,” she said. “For legumes, it’s especially important to have your fertility in place before you plant.”
It is recommended that soil tests be conducted every four to five years.
“You need to make sure your pH is correct because plants, especially those legumes, are a little more sensitive to pH,” Scheidt explained. “If your pH is not up to that 6.5, 7, the nutrients in the soil are not fully available to that plant. The soil holds in the nutrients and won’t allow the plant to take it up in the roots, so sometimes the fertilizer you put down or the nutrients all ready available in the soil can’t absorb them if the pH is too low, or too high. It’s important that you are applying the correct amount.”
She added that lime application to fields and pastures should be a “one time” application, but the recommendations of the soil test for nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous recommendations should be applied annually.
“In a cool season grass, you could, when you get the recommendation back, apply half in the fall and half in the spring,” Scheidt said. “It’s a nice way to split up your cost. That also catches the grass right before it gets ready to grow, giving it the nutrients it needs and giving it a little bump.”
