Dr. Susan Kerr, WSU NW Regional Livestock and Dairy Extension Specialist[\/textblock][\/column][\/row][row][column][textblock]A new Extension publication, \u201cThe Western Oregon and Washington Pasture Calendar (PMW699),\u201d was created to provide pasture managers and their advisors with a scientific basis for pasture management decisions and the timing of critical actions. A team of Extension educators and NRCS staff recently conducted a series of train-the-trainer workshops throughout western Oregon and Washington to teach fellow professionals and livestock managers how to use this new educational tool. Publication of the Calendar and support for the workshop series were provided by a western regional USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant.<\/p>\n
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Pasture Calendar Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n The Pasture Calendar starts with the basics: grass terminology, factors controlling perennial forage growth, and plant growth cycles. Maps of Forage Management Zones are included (Fig. 1).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Calendar Highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n The Pasture Calendar emphasizes and explains critical pasture management practices, such as:<\/p>\n Fall Is All!<\/strong><\/p>\n The vital importance of fall pasture management is stressed throughout the Pasture Calendar. In early fall (typically September), grass plants generate new roots to replace the ones shed during the \u201csummer slump.\u201d It takes energy for plants to generate these roots, and roots in turn are needed for plants to obtain water and nutrients from soil. Most importantly, next season\u2019s growing points are being established\u2014overgrazing during this period will cause delayed and reduced pasture growth the following spring.<\/em><\/p>\n Protect the Lower 3\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Grasses store their sugar for regrowth in the lowest three inches of above-ground growth, not in their roots as previously believed. This means anytime pasture grasses or grass hayfields are grazed or mowed to less than three inches tall, the plants lose their energy reserves and regrowth will be delayed by up to six weeks<\/em> (Fig. 3). If this mismanagement occurs month after month, plant vigor is affected and desirable pasture plants die; bare soil and weed incursions result. Expensive pasture renovation is then needed but will be pointless unless pasture management practices are changed. In addition, the vast majority of intestinal parasite larvae problematic to livestock conduct their pre-infective life cycle stages in the lower 3\u201d of grass, so preventing overgrazing will also help reduce intake of additional internal parasites.<\/p>\n Fig. 3. Dr. Steve Fransen demonstrating root health of simulated healthy fall pasture grass (lower hand) vs. simulated overgrazed pasture (upper hand).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sacrifice Areas Save Plants<\/strong><\/p>\n Anytime livestock have the potential to graze pastures below three inches, they should be removed from pastures, confined to a sacrifice area, and fed stored forage such as hay or haylage. The need for a sacrifice area could arise during muddy winter months, the pasture summer slump, or if there is not enough pasture for the livestock under management. Conservation District funding may be available to help develop sacrifice areas, which also help protect soil and water quality.<\/p>\n Where to Get the Pasture Calendar<\/strong><\/p>\n This 50-page, full color publication is available for free downloading from https:\/\/catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu\/pnw699<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/textblock][\/column][\/row]<\/p>\n\n \n\n
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