Where to go to find beef and grazing research.
Bethany Johnston, Livestock Extension Educator
Author
03/21/2025
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Information about drought conditions and pastures
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- [00:00:00.000]Welcome to the Extension Minute, brought to you by
- [00:00:02.800]Bethany Johnston, livestock educator for Nebraska Extension,
- [00:00:07.692]where we bring university research directly to you, on your farm and ranch.
- [00:00:12.727]Where can you go to find beef and grazing research?
- [00:00:16.447]Visit the beef.unl.edu website.
- [00:00:20.780]While you are there, read through the BeefWatch articles -
- [00:00:24.000]these are timely articles that come out beginning of each month.
- [00:00:28.499]You can also tune into the Beef Podcasts, while you are there.
- [00:00:32.659]Let’s jump into the topic of drought.
- [00:00:34.999]With dry conditions in 2024 and drier conditions forecasted this year,
- [00:00:40.427]spring is a good time to evaluate your level of drought
- [00:00:44.072]and the impact it will have on your forage production.
- [00:00:47.379]Trigger dates are times when you can assess the precipitation you have
- [00:00:51.320]received (or not received) and make adjustments to your stocking rates.
- [00:00:56.700]Trigger dates happen about every month.
- [00:00:59.360]April 1, mid April, mid May, mid June, mid July, and
- [00:01:04.995]September 1 are some recommended trigger dates.
- [00:01:09.042]Just around the corner is the first trigger date of April 1st.
- [00:01:13.208]On April 1, look back at the previous growing season precipitation
- [00:01:18.208]and the dormant season precipitation starting back in October.
- [00:01:22.728]For many producers, last years growing season in 2024 was drier than normal,
- [00:01:29.128]and much of the state is behind on dormant season precipitation.
- [00:01:33.540]Cool-season grasses need early April moisture,
- [00:01:37.020]so if you have smooth brome grass dominated pastures,
- [00:01:40.800]you may need to reduce stocking rates by 10-20%
- [00:01:44.140]on these cool-season dominated rangelands.
- [00:01:47.880]Looking ahead to mid-April to mid-May.
- [00:01:51.880]By this time, the 30–45-day precipitation forecasts can be moderately reliable.
- [00:01:59.500]If forecasts predict above average temperatures
- [00:02:04.368]and average to below average precipitation,
- [00:02:07.231]additional reductions in stocking rates should be planned.
- [00:02:11.400]Again in cool season pastures with below average precipitation,
- [00:02:17.396]annual production may need to be reduced by an additional 25-50%.
- [00:02:23.880]Now, warm seasoned grasses trigger dates are later than cool season grasses.
- [00:02:29.020]Key trigger dates are in May, June, and July.
- [00:02:32.240]Precipitation during this time will impact the
- [00:02:35.354]production of these warm seasoned grasses.
- [00:02:38.719]Drought maps, precipitation and temperature outlooks
- [00:02:42.019]can be found at drought.unl.edu
- [00:02:46.859]or at the National Weather Service Climate Predication Center.
- [00:02:52.520]Thinking about planting annual forages this spring?
- [00:02:56.660]Start looking at your options and get your seed ordered.
- [00:03:00.180]Mid-March to May is the suggested
- [00:03:02.899]planting date for many spring annual forages
- [00:03:06.560]These spring forages can then be grazed, or hayed, through May and July.
- [00:03:11.620]Spring oats, spring triticale, and spring barley are common spring forages.
- [00:03:17.380]Annual ryegrass, spring field peas, rapeseed or canola,
- [00:03:21.940]hybrid grazing turnips, and common vetch are other possibilities.
- [00:03:26.140]Seeding rates, seeding depth, and when to plant can be found
- [00:03:30.905]on the beef.unl.edu website under “Planting Annual Forages.”
- [00:03:36.934]A recent BeefWatch article by Jerry Volesky,
- [00:03:39.807]Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Specialist,
- [00:03:42.600]is called “Annual Forages - Plan Now in Case of Drought.”
- [00:03:47.240]Calving season is in full swing.
- [00:03:50.380]Don’t forget to adjust nutrition for these milking mothers -
- [00:03:54.100]30 days post calving plus producing milk
- [00:03:57.380]is one the biggest nutritional events for a cow.
- [00:04:01.560]There are many planned events coming up,
- [00:04:03.780]including webinar classes on Calculating Annual Cow Costs
- [00:04:07.824]and registration for the 2025 Nebraska Ranch Practicum has opened up.
- [00:04:13.584]More information about local events
- [00:04:15.638]can be found on our website at holt.unl.edu.
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