By Adam Russell
Weather trends toward drought have Texas cattle producers considering their options as cool-season forage planting gets underway.
Much of the state has experienced an extended dry period in recent months. The lack of moisture has left many pastures and fields typically planted with cool-season forages for winter grazing sitting idle as producers wait for rain.
Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension forage specialist and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Overton, said many East Texas producers are delaying or may not plant cool-season forages due to adequate hay stocks and dry weather.
Corriher-Olson said good spring and summer moisture left many operations with ample hay supplies. As a result, some producers may rely on baled hay rather than risk planting into dry soils.
Source : tamu.edu