Extending the grazing season is a good goal for all graziers to have, and creating a forage chain is one way to make that happen, says Kent Solberg, senior technical adviser of the Sustainable Farming Association. He and his wife, Linda, also own and operate a pasture-based livestock farm in central Minnesota.

Solberg defines a forage chain as a systems approach to forage production that maximizes grazing opportunities. It is designed within the context of the farm and utilizes a combination of annuals and perennials.

Pastures have seasonally variable growth rates, and forage chains can reduce costs, aid producers in meeting organic certification requirements and create an opportunity to integrate livestock into cropping systems. Solberg says a forage chain can reduce the need for stored forages, thus reducing the greatest annual costs to livestock operations. Managed grazing offers the most economical means of harvesting forage and spreading manure.

Late summer and fall planting of cereal rye, winter wheat, triticale and hairy vetch can help get animals on pasture two to three weeks sooner in the spring (depending on location), says Solberg. Planting cover crops in the fall for grazing – instead of just for erosion prevention – requires much higher planting rates. For example, winter rye for erosion mitigation would be a planting rate of 30 to 50 pounds per acre, but for spring grazing, plant at 60 to 100 pounds per acre. He adds that it’s a good idea to have a termination plan for those cover crops before you plant the varieties you have chosen.

An added benefit of putting livestock winter cover crops for early spring grazing is having a clean place for cows to calve.

To extend fall grazing, plan ahead to use stockpiled pasture forages. Set aside paddocks for fall use at least 45 days before the last killing frost in your area. Solberg says to consider setting aside areas as early as July 15 in the upper Midwest, and/or after harvesting first- or second-crop hay. Stockpiled pasture forages are best for dry cows and ewes.

Fall grazing can also be extended by grazing crop residue, with the most common crop residue used being corn after combining. Solberg advises planning for about one acre per animal unit month (AUM), turning animals out into the paddock with a full rumen to help prevent bloat and acidosis, and being sure to offer quality alfalfa – or other protein supplements – to balance the ration.

Solberg says another option is to interseed corn with clover, annual ryegrass, rye and brassicas when the corn is at three to four visible collared leaves (V3 to V4).

Some years, the volunteer reseeding of grain fields gets enough rain to be a useful grazing option. Solberg even recommends using a chaff spreader when harvesting to broadcast the grains that aren’t collected by the combine. Other seeds can also be added to the soil right after grain harvest to increase the quality of the forages that might result, such as adding clovers to an oat field. How well this works from year to year is, of course, weather dependent.

Solberg says to know what issues need addressing when designing a multispecies pasture seed blend for your operation. Does your operation need forage in a particular season? Do soil compaction and water infiltration need to be addressed? Are pests and weed pressure an issue? Are more beneficial pollinators and insects needed, or do quail, turkey and pheasants need habitat? What is needed for the soil and topography? What are the past and planned crop rotation and nutrient cycling? What is available labor and equipment?

A reputable cover crop seed dealer can be a great resource when figuring out what seeds to incorporate into a mix for your operation. “Make sure they are asking you a lot of questions so the mix helps you achieve your goals,” Solberg says. He notes that patience and observation are necessary and that the same mix might grow and perform differently from year to year, based on weather conditions.

Solberg also recommends using an online seed mix calculator to help achieve your pasture goals.

“Feed the best, and trample the rest,” says Solberg, explaining that it’s best to graze 30%-40% of aboveground biomass – giving the animals the best part of the plants – and allow the rest to regrow to help improve soil health.

Solberg offers many different strategies for dealing with the summer slump. “It’s important to know all your options, and have plans in place ahead of time. Some of these ideas might be another strategy in your toolbox to deal with a situation when it arises.”

“Surplus” hay and haylage can be harvested in late spring and early summer, taking 10%-50% of the accessible pasture. Paddocks that are harvested can be grazed again in 30 to 100 days with adequate rain.

This harvested hay or haylage can be fed in the same paddock it was harvested from, so the carbon goes back into the soil it came from, says Solberg. This also promotes fertility.

During the summer slump, Solberg recommends part-time hay feeding – giving the livestock hay in the morning and a fresh paddock in the afternoon when the sugar (Brix) is at its highest levels. “This can be a very powerful tool,” he says.

Seeded annuals, also known as cover crops, can help with summer slump when used as part of broader crop rotation on tillable acres. Consider a single-cut crop, such as grazing corn or forage sorghum, or a “multicut” crop, such as a sorghum and sudan cross, pearl millet, teff or forage collards. Use a multispecies blend consisting of three varieties each of grasses, legumes and broadleaves.

One tactic that fits some operations is to reduce the livestock population as grazing opportunities decrease in times of drought. This can be done by implementing bi-seasonal calving: place fall-calving dry cows on remote pasture in July or August and/or wean and sell spring calves in August – reducing the amount cows need to consume to produce milk for their offspring.

Spring lambs can also be sold in late June or early July to reduce the demand for forage.

Some grazing operations are able to utilize low-ground pastures during the midsummer slump. Areas that are typically too wet in the spring and early summer might dry out enough to support livestock. Solberg says to keep in mind that this strategy might not be able to be utilized every year, but having the fencing designed so it can be used when needed can be useful.

Solberg also uses outwintering on his Minnesota operation. He defines outwintering as the systematic feeding of livestock during the winter to enhance soil fertility and forage production. “Every week the livestock are out on pasture is less manure to haul,” he says. “Do the best you can where you’re at with what you’ve got.”

It doesn’t have to be “all or nothing” thinking. There are probably more opportunities than you realize. He recommends experimenting on a small scale, keeping the animals moving – if the land is “torn up,” provide at least six to eight weeks of rest – and not worrying about broadleaves during recovery. If the paddock doesn’t recover, plant a warm-season cover crop blend.