How To Address Field And Pasture Concerns After A Rough Winter

By: Tyler Husa and Brett Melton, Kansas State University Research and Extension

After a rough winter many producers are dealing with the rough aftermath. Trampled pastures, fields, waterways, and erosion issues are plaguing many of our producers in the River Valley Extension District and across Kansas as well. These unfavorable conditions will need to be addressed in the upcoming months. Although many of the pastures were left in a state of upheaval, there are ways to foster growth and development of our grasslands.

There are several practices to take into consideration when thinking about the next steps for your property. One practice, more common than not, is to just let the pasture/waterway recover on its own. Many of our grasses are resilient enough to endure the compaction and stress induced by livestock. In most years, this process works satisfactorily, but this winter has been exceptional, and many of our forages are not resilient enough to withstand such abuse. However, the imminent threat of weeds such as ragweed, pigweed, goosegrass, and barnyard grass become a concern by doing nothing at all.

A more viable option is the planting of spring forages into the adversely affected areas, but it is important to remember our primary goal, by doing so, is to mitigate weed pressure. An example of spring planted forages, that work very well together, is the interseeding of red clover and oats into the troublesome areas. Though many producers already use oats when planting alfalfa as a companion crop to aid and protect alfalfa in the earlier growth stages. The same is true with the interseeding of red clover and oats into the problem areas in our pastures and other grasslands. The oats aid in the establishment and development of the red clover stand.