Page 23 - MWC 2-23-2023s

The Midwest Cattleman · February 23, 2023 · P23
Choosing that First Field to Graze

By Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist
The best thing about win- building fences. It is quiet There are multiple items to year by the sheep will usu-
ter is it, eventually, passes and peaceful with the only consider when choosing the ally tend to have less weeds
and gives way to spring. I noise being whatever tool field to start in. How much in them later in the growing
think I’m already ready for I’m using and the dog root- forage is left? How dense is season. It is certainly easier
it. Each day is a bit longer ing and digging after a mole the sod? If you can see much to keep lambing ewes closer
than the previous and the or mouse. After the forage bare soil or little residual for- to home and utilize the same
light at the end of the tun- starts to grow, everything age, then grazing should be fields every year, but if you
nel is green! I walked over speeds up and it’s harder to delayed in the spring until have weed issues, you might
some pastures earlier this find the time to do mainte- the stand has bounced back want to consider trying to
week and there certainly was nance tasks. and thickened up. do early grazing of sheep in
now more brown than green. I find this type of work re- If you run any sheep, you those areas instead.
Snow, ice, and some bitter laxing and just a good time will notice that fields that Goats can also do a good
cold spells have taken most of to think. It is always a good are utilized earlier in the continued on page 31
the color from forage unless idea to be thinking about
you carefully peel back the where you will start your
cover and look closer. There grazing system come spring.
it is, bits of green, waiting for It is usually a good thing to
a warmer day. not start in the same field
Most years I really like each year. If the pasture was
the month of February. The grazed fairly close or hard the
sod is usually firm enough to previous fall it could ideally
get around on and do some use more rest to build up re-
needed maintenance. The serves. Using the same field
weather doesn’t always coop- year after year will some-
erate, but quite often yields times really thin down those
several nice sunny days that early pastures. I like to ro-
are perfect for cleaning fence tate which field is used first
rows, trimming back limbs and, if at all possible, leave
over fences and repairing or some stockpiled forage on it.

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