Predicting Peak Forage Production

Apr 20, 2016

Research has shown that April precipitation is one key predictor of growing season forage production in our region.

As spring arrives and livestock producers begin making plans to turn cattle out onto range and pastureland available forage is top of minds. The South Dakota Drought Tool found on the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Pasture and Forage website is a tool livestock producers can use to help predict peak forage production explained Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension Climate Field Specialist.

"This drought tool is best used as a forage supply prediction tool uses precipitation and temperature data and is a great resource for assisting livestock producers with their grazing management decisions," Edwards said. "The S.D. Drought Tool is a great resource to help inform planning decisions. There are other ways to monitor forage production, but this is one great tool livestock producers can keep in their tool box."

The website also features maps of the current drought condition, according to their data analysis, and maps that show the estimated July 1, 2016 Peak Forage Production.

Edwards said that the information is updated at least monthly, and more often in the spring season.

Information Tailored to Your Operation

The S.D. Drought Tool link on NRCS website, connects producers with an Excel sheet they can use to estimate forage production at their own location.

"The S.D. Drought Tool is a research-based, online calculator that assists producers in estimating forage production each season," Edwards explained. "It takes into account climatology of precipitation, the measured amount of monthly precipitation over the last two years, as well as other factors."

Each month the data is weighted according to field research that has helped to determine critical months of precipitation for forage production in our state. Teaming up with SDSU Extension, SDSU Ag Research Stations and other partners, the S.D. Drought Tool allows producers to select a weather station near them, or enter their own monthly precipitation totals, for a local estimate of forage peak production and current drought status, Edwards explained.

"If you have not used this tool before, just give it a try. Instructions provided on the website are easy to follow with the resulting summary page providing livestock producers with color-coded drought status, anticipated forage and hayland production, as a percent of average production."

She added that the site also features tips for managing a potential drought situation and developing a contingency plan, if desired.

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Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.