By Andi Anderson
Many livestock producers view September as the beginning of the end of the grazing season. However, agricultural experts suggest that this month can actually provide significant opportunities to extend grazing and improve forage management.
According to Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist, cooler temperatures and shorter days create favorable conditions for cool-season grasses such as tall fescue and orchardgrass. In areas that have received adequate rainfall, these grasses can produce substantial forage before winter dormancy arrives.
September serves as an important transition period for pasture management. Rather than grazing every available pasture immediately, producers may benefit from allowing selected fields to rest and accumulate growth for later use. This practice, commonly known as stockpiling, helps extend forage availability well into the colder months.
Alternative forage resources can play an important role during this period. Summer annual crops, fall annuals, hay aftermath, and crop residue can provide valuable grazing opportunities while permanent pastures recover and continue growing. Corn residue, in particular, often becomes available during the fall and can help maintain livestock feed supplies.
Stockpiling forage is especially effective with tall fescue. This grass retains its quality longer than many other forage species and remains a useful feed source after growth stops. By leaving forage standing in the field instead of harvesting and storing it, producers allow livestock to harvest their own feed later in the season, reducing labor and equipment costs.
Several factors influence successful stockpiling. Adequate soil moisture, proper fertility, and healthy pasture stands all contribute to forage growth. Fields that have been overgrazed during summer may not respond as effectively as well-managed pastures with strong root systems and sufficient plant reserves.
Nitrogen management can also influence forage production. In fields dominated by grasses, a modest nitrogen application may improve yield and forage quality when soil moisture and growing conditions are favorable. However, pastures with strong legume populations often receive much of their nitrogen naturally and may not require additional fertilizer.
Another important consideration is selecting the right fields for stockpiling. Pastures with strong tall fescue stands, adequate fertility, convenient winter access, and reliable water sources are often the best candidates. Other paddocks can remain in active grazing rotation while preferred fields continue accumulating forage.
Producers should also remember that the first frost does not automatically end grazing. Cool-season grasses often continue growing after light frosts and remain available long after active growth slows. With proper planning, livestock can continue grazing well into the fall and winter months.
While weather conditions remain unpredictable, many areas enter autumn with favorable moisture levels and good forage growth potential. By utilizing annual forages, hay aftermath, and crop residue while allowing selected pastures to rest, producers can make better use of available resources.
The primary goal is not to extend the growing season itself, but to maximize the use of forage produced during the growing season. Through careful pasture management and strategic stockpiling, livestock producers can maintain grazing opportunities longer, lower feed expenses, and improve overall forage efficiency throughout the year.
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