The anticipated La Nina winter ahead will impact grazing acres across the country. A proactive approach can help cattle producers ensure pastures recover and quickly return to productivity.
As with any weather event — or weather in general, for that matter — the level of uncertainty might be rivaled only by farm commodity markets. That said, consensus is strong for a La Nina winter, and cattle producers should take steps to minimize the impact on their grazing acres.
Beginning in December and carrying through February, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center expects wetter-than-average conditions for the entire northern tier of the continental U.S., particularly in the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes region. Drier-than-average conditions are expected from the Four Corners region of the Southwest to the Southeast, Gulf Coast and lower mid-Atlantic states.
The La Nina outlook is especially concerning in Southern regions where moisture deficiencies already had degraded pasture conditions heading into the critical fall recovery window, explains Sam Ingram, Ph.D., Range & Pasture field scientist with Corteva Agriscience.
“Drought expanded and intensified into early fall in many areas south of the predicted La Nina line,” Ingram says. “If forecasts hold true, cattle producers will be further tested to manage through those challenges at a time many are working to prepare their pastures to support herd rebuilding and/or expansion.”
Where exactly the La Nina line sets up remains in flux. Regardless, Ingram recommends producers on either side make special considerations.
“For those with equal or above-equal chances of rainfall, capitalize on that moisture this winter so we have grass going into spring,” he says. “On the southern side of the line with limited moisture chances, make plans to conserve forages and possibly look into adding stored forages for the winter.”
Ingram urges careful consideration before attempting to raise additional forage.
“I would be cautious about sinking money into annual forages in the South unless you’re confident about timely rains getting those stands up,” he says. “Proactively seek out good hay sources for this winter and early spring.”
Ingram recommends producers in areas already dealing with drought implement a three-prong approach:
“Go with a residual herbicide, such as DuraCor herbicide, to keep weeds out of the way and ensure all available moisture goes to growing grass, rather than weeds,” Ingram says. “UltiGraz Pasture Weed & Feed is a good option to efficiently combine weed control and fertility in a single pass.”
Most important, Ingram says, think long term and protect root reserves at all costs.
“Drought forces many extremely difficult decisions, but we must have grass to have a sustainable beef operation,” he says. “Those difficult decisions today will pay off as La Nina conditions fade and moisture returns.”
Learn more about protecting pasture – the cattle producer’s lowest-cost feed source – at RangeandPasture.com.
Under normal field conditions, DuraCor® is nonvolatile. DuraCor has no grazing or haying restrictions for any class of livestock, including lactating dairy cows, horses (including lactating mares) and meat animals prior to slaughter. Label precautions apply to forage treated with DuraCor and to manure and urine from animals that have consumed treated forage. Consult the label for full details. DuraCor is not registered for sale or use in all states. UltiGraz℠ with fertilizer is available for use with specific herbicides in the states of AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, KS, KY, LA, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NV, OK, OR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV and WY. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.
