“A lot of the land that’s used for grazing is
rough and poor, and requires a different
management style than arable land.”
– Jane Thornton, Manitoba Agriculture’s forage and pasture specialist
the growing season to allow plants to restore themselves.
Livestock distribution tools such as fencing, and salt and water
placement, can spread the grazing pressure over a larger area
and give plants time to recover. The guide recommends at
least 60 days rest.
What can you expect in 2019 pastures that suffered in last
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year’s dry spell?
“Usually, a well-managed pasture will recuperate quite
fast from a one-year drought,” Thornton said. “However, if
it was overgrazed and it wasn’t given the proper rest to be a
vigorous stand before a drought, then it’s going to suffer even
more and take longer to recover.”
As for hay land, there are two main reasons why a stand
fails after a number of years. One is lack of fertility and the
other is invasion by pocket gophers.
“Alfalfa is quite a high user of phosphorus, potassium, and
sulphur, and grass needs nitrogen,” noted Thornton. “Fields
that are hayed and never fertilized simply run out of these
nutrients because the nutrients are not recycled on the land,
but taken away and fed elsewhere.”
Pocket gophers leave large dirt mounds in the field,
which can be baled up in the hay, causing contamination. The
mounds also result in slow harvesting and make for a very
bumpy ride.
Thornton points out most producers have a rotation for
replanting forages on arable land: dairy is a fast rotation of
about every five years, whereas beef might be more like 10 to
15 years.
When planning to re-seed, glyphosate can be an effective
method of removing an existing forage stand. It will also control
perennial weed competition and if sprayed in the fall gives
the sod time to mellow, making seedbed preparation easier.
Fall application also allows for more time to control troublesome
weeds.
FORAGE RESTORATION
30 § Manitoba Farmers’ Voice § Winter 2019
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