06/05/2026
Are you thinking about renovating some of your cool-season pastures that have been hurt by the droughts we've experienced the last few summers or are you interested in adding warm-season forages or improved cool-season options such a novel endophyte fescue or orchardgrass?
Successful seedings doesn't happen without proper planning and prep work. The time to start planning a new seeding should be at least two growing seasons ahead of when you plant your new perennial forages. This will give you time to use appropriate herbicides and smother/cover crops to control undesirable species and help ensure the success of your final planting. This is especially true when trying to establish native warm-season grasses and Old World bluestems.
The field pictured is enrolled in the Howell County RCPP Quail and Grassland cost-share program. The field will ultimately be planted in a mix of Switchgrass, Big Bluestem, Indiangrass, and Little Bluestem next spring. This mix will provide a lot of high quality forage for summer livestock grazing and also provide outstanding cover for quail, turkeys, rabbits, and other wildlife.
Before planting these grasses, there are several steps to complete. We'll show you these steps as they're completed so you can watch as the field transitions from a poor stand of fescue with lots of broomsedge into hopefully a highly productive stand of natives.
The first step was to apply a non-selective herbicide to kill out the existing grasses, weeds, and brush. Next, the field will be disced multiple times and worked into a smooth, firm seedbed. Stay tuned as the transformation takes place.
If you're interested in establishing new forages on your farm, feel free to call or come by the office for advice, recommendations, or information about various cost-share programs that may help you meet your goals.
