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As fall approaches and temperatures begin to cool across the Southeast, livestock producers are preparing to plant winter pastures. To guide producers through this crucial window, we spoke with Dr. Lisa Baxter, State Forage Specialist with the University of Georgia, who offered valuable insights into selecting the right forages and timing for optimal growth and grazing.
“Winter annual forages are something that we overall do very well in this state,” said Dr. Baxter. With the right approach, Georgia farmers can ensure productive and sustainable grazing systems through the winter months.
Timing and forage selection are critical. “So we would consider if you want the fastest, earliest fall growth possible, so that you are definitely grazing before Christmas, we want to go with something like cereal rye. It is the first out of the gate, it is aggressive, it is fast, but it doesn’t last long. So we need to pair that with other fields of triticale, oat, maybe even wheat.”
For producers seeking versatility, ryegrass remains a popular option. “Some producers really do like ryegrass. It’s really easy to overseed with, and we do have early, late, and season-long varieties available. Ryegrass will outyield all of the small grains in terms of tonnage, but it doesn’t always give us the growth in the right time of season that we need it.”
However, Dr. Baxter cautioned about using ryegrass in renovation programs. “Or if you’re going into a fescue or Bermuda renovation plan, it can be hard to terminate. So we just want to make sure that we’ve got the right winter annual for you on your farm.”
Temperature trends are a key planting signal. “We want to make sure that our temperatures are trending downward and our nights are really feeling cool before we get these winter annuals in the ground.”
“Now, it’s not that they won’t germinate. They’ll germinate almost year-round, but they don’t persist if we plant too early. So wait until those nighttime temperatures cool down. We’re more consistently trending downward in our temperatures.”
As cooler nights settle in, producers should assess their forage goals and conditions to ensure their winter pasture planning sets them up for grazing success through the season.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet. Planting Tips for Winter Grazing
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