COLUMN: Purdue Extension: Plan your pastures for performance

Pastures abound in Owen County with over 6,000 acres of pastureland, according to the USDA 2022 agriculture census.

A productive pasture can provide adequate nutrition for goats, sheep, horses and cattle when properly managed and rested. Forage can be an "orphan crop," with little attention paid to fertilization, soil pH and weed control. As with any crop, pasture performance can be enhanced with some key management efforts. This article highlights a few steps pasture owners can take to improve pasture performance for better grazing and hay production.

As with most agronomic crops, a key building block to a good stand of pasture is understanding the soil, from drainage to fertility to soil pH level. Soils vary with respect to drainage capacity and the ability to move water through the root zone of plants. Many acres of pasture in Owen County are well drained, sloping soils. Lack of water holding capacity is more of an issue on these soils. Pastures that are not well drained can become compacted with excessive livestock traffic, limiting growth potential of the forages. Pasture drainage can also play a role in the sustainability of a stand of alfalfa.

An alfalfa field with poor drainage will not have a good prognosis. Alfalfa requires well-drained soil.

Soil pH is another important factor in determining the success of a pasture. Alfalfa requires a pH around 7. Most grasses and clovers can tolerate a soil pH between 6 and 7. An accurate determination of pH can be found in a soil test. Landowners may be eligible this fall for a free professional soil test, courtesy of Holden Abrell with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. A soil test will provide recommendations for liming.

Have you seen a pasture with broomsedge growing? Chances are good that this soil is acidic. Don't guess, just test!

Another benefit of a soil test is the determination of soil fertility, especially phosphorus and potassium. Low levels of P and K will not grow a robust pasture.

It is a crop that needs nutrition in order to grow and develop. Fall will be a great time to conduct a soil test and make needed adjustments.

Sometimes pastures require renovation. This involves adding seed that comes into good contact with the soil. The only time I recommend sprinkling seed on top of soil is late winter frost seeding. The freezing and thawing of the soil can help place the seed deep enough for proper germination. Weed control is another issue in pastures.

There are too many acres that do not get clipped in order to prevent weed seed production. Weeds produce competition for forage and sometimes require chemical control.

Always read and follow the label for any herbicide product you may select. Some products require a two-week withdrawal of grazing animals following application.

Questions about your pasture? Contact Purdue Extension-Owen County at 812-829-5020.