Evaluate and fall fertilization plans to meet specific needs
This season, many producers find themselves in a different forage situation than in recent years. Many operations have received enough rainfall to produce ample cuttings of hay. “We have so much of an abundance of hay that fall production this year may not be as crucial this year as some other things,” Terry Halleran, University of Missouri Extension agronomist, said.
For example, producers may want to focus more of their time and money on weed control and prevention, or they may choose to fertilize pastures but on a smaller scale than typical years. Regardless, Halleran added it is always advantageous for producers to fertilize in the fall especially if they are growing grass for cattle to graze or growing it to stockpile for winter grazing.
Prioritizing Need
With that in mind, producers may want to evaluate their fall fertilization plans and adjust according to what meets the specific needs of their operation. Agronomists encourage producers to conduct a soil test if they haven’t done one in the last three to four years. A soil test is a good place to start before spending money on fertilizer.
The results of a soil test will help producers know what fertilizer components they specifically need to generate the biggest benefit for their pastures. “I realize my checkbook has only x amount of dollars in the bank and you want to spend it wisely. So, I would be more in the line of fertilizing for stockpiling grass and then letting the cows graze through it, than I would be for fertilizing a fall cutting of hay, unless you really needed the hay,” Halleran said.
The soil test results provide producers with information to aid them in spending money on the fertilizer their soils truly need. “Unfortunately, we still live in the world of 250 pounds of 13-13-13 (fertilizer blend of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K)), will get the job done,” Halleran explained. “It’s been around for decades. It’s very difficult to get people to stop doing that because it is a common practice but if you don’t need the P and the K and you really are only focusing on fall grass growth and your pH is above 5.8 then really all you need is nitrogen.”
Reallocating Time and Money
Agronomists encourage producers to also think about implementing another management strategy to improve their fall forage fertility protocols. Fertilizer is not the only way to improve pastures; fall application of herbicides helps to get weeds under control. The eradication of weeds creates space for grass to grow and leaves more nutrients in the soil to help desirable forages to thrive.
“As I drive up and down the road and I look in the pastures right now I see weed infestation easily at 30 percent. If I can take those weeds out and put 20 percent more grass in that pasture, then I am going to be able to carry a few more cows on the same number of acres because there is product out there that they can eat,” Halleran stated.
Fertilizer Timing
When applying fertilizer, producers will want to keep in mind it takes fertilizer four to six months to melt into the soil, and that process requires rainfall. So, for fall and winter applications producers are counting on the weather during those months to assist in getting the fertilizer into the soil. Likewise, fertilizer spread in the spring or summer needs rain to get it into the soil and make it available to the grass and plants.
