With the fluctuating weather in the Ozarks, many producers are hesitant on when to fertilize and/or reseed pastures.
According to the University of Massachusetts Extension, it requires a thought-out plan to have a productive pasture.
Having a goal in mind when creating a fertilizer plan is vital. Possible goals could be to increase nutritional value or fill in bare spots.
“If cool season grasses or clover is the goal, planting should be in the early spring or fall,” said Carroll County, Ark., University of Arkansas Extension Agent Olivia Curry.
“If increasing warm season grasses and forages is the goal, reseeding should take place in late spring. Soil testing is a very important first step in the process,” she said. “If you soil test through your local county extension office, you should indicate your management practices – such as application of lime, approximate acreage, previous and current crops, etc. – on the soil box. This will allow the lab to make informed recommendations.”
Knowing the pH and soil fertility can help develop a plan for fertilizing and/or reseeding. If soil pH or nutrient status is low then these need to be corrected.”
The season and climate is also important when reseeding, knowing what will perform the best in the specific area.
In the Ozarks, the seasons are long enough both warm and cool season grasses perform well.
“Right now is a great time to seed clover and cool season grasses,” Benton County, Ark., Extension Agent Johnny Gunsaulis said.
“Fescue, ryegrass, orchard grass,” Gunsaulis added. “Oats could be seeded later in the month.”
Later this month and into April Gunsaulis said will be a great time to fertilize cool season pastures.
“Weed control should also be on producers’ minds when turning cattle out into spring pastures,” Curry said.
Curry said there are several common weeds growing throughout winter like buttercup, vetch, henbit, chickweed and Carolina geranium.
“These weeds can be treated December through the beginning of March. This practice is really effective in Bermuda hay fields producing relatively weed free first cutting,” Curry said.
An extension agent has the resources and data to assist in the fertilization and reseed process to be the more beneficial to the producer.
