February 27, 2023
By Dan McCarty, WSU Extension – Clallam County Livestock Specialist
dan.mccarty@wsu.edu
As we anxiously wait for spring to arrive, let’s talk about pasture management. Good quality pastures are key for cheap feed that help you prolong having to feed expensive hay early. Good quality pastures come from good healthy soils. Good soil health doesn’t happen naturally and it takes time and sometimes money to repair, if it hasn’t been properly managed in the past. This spring would be a great time to take soil samples on some of your key pastures and have them analyzed for nutrients. Your local Soil and Water Conservation District should be able to help you with this. Fertilizer and other soil amendments prices aren’t cheap either but may be necessary to get your pasture nutrient balances where they can be most productive and allows your foliage to last beyond the regular growing season. Healthy soils also help your pasture grasses out-compete those pesky weeds, thus providing your cattle a better source of free feed, lasting longer in the year.
Pasture rotation is another key for helping your pastures grow longer. Yes, it takes time and money to do this properly, but again, it’s free feed! Your local Conservation District should be able to help you find funding for cross fences or temporary fencing. A simple rule of thumb for when to pull your livestock out is “take have, leave half”.
By building healthier soils, you are creating better pastures which provides you cheaper and higher quality foiage, you are able to produce a more profitable and higher quality food product for our ever-growing population. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the agriculture industry. May your pastures be greener and your cows be fatter than the neighbors.