When will your pasture be ready?

Making sure grass is of sufficient maturity prior to turning cows out is important in making sure a pasture is as productive as it can be. Photo taken May 31, 2018, in Kidder County, N.D. Jenny Schlecht / Forum News Service — Making sure grass is of sufficient maturity prior to turning cows out is important in making sure a pasture is as productive as it can be. Photo taken May 31, 2018, in Kidder County, North Dakota.

By Jenny Schlecht

May 10, 2023 at 5:00 AM

How do you know when your pasture is ready for grazing? And why does it matter when you put your livestock out?

It's been a long winter of feeding in most of the region, and many livestock producers are ready for the day they can turn animals out to pasture. But with a delayed season, what is the right turnout date?

On the Agweek Podcast, Miranda Meehan of North Dakota State University explains how to determine when your pasture is ready by looking at the leaves on the grass and other tips. She also tells Agweek Director of Ag Content Jenny Schlecht about what can happen when you don't wait long enough to put livestock out and more about grazing.

By Jenny Schlecht

Jenny Schlecht is the director of ag content for Agweek and serves as editor of Agweek, Sugarbeet Grower and BeanGrower. She lives on a farm and ranch near Medina, North Dakota, with her husband and two daughters. You can reach her at jschlecht@agweek.com or 701-595-0425.

When will your pasture be ready?

🔊 NDSU Extension's Miranda Meehan explains how to determine if your pasture is ready for grazing, what the risks are of grazing too early and more on the Agweek Podcast.