January

• Prepare for calving
• Increase feed intake of animals
• Feed hay in areas where mud is less of a problem
• Plan a pasture utilization strategy
• Develop short term forage/livestock goals and review/revise medium and long term forage/livestock goals
• Plan spring fertilizer needs
• Develop a forage and feed budget for the year

February

• Begin pasture renovation with legumes (frost seeding)
• Begin applying nitrogen fertilizer to promote early grass growth
• Scout and consider herbicide options for winter weeds
• Start grass tetany prevention
• Consider herbicide options for dormant applications of alfalfa
• Chain harrow pastures as needed for more uniform manure distribution

March

• Move hay feeding areas more often to reduce damage to grass cover
• Continue pasture renovation and fertilization
• Prepare for spring seeding of alfalfa
• Smooth and re-seed hay feeding and heavy traffic areas w/annual ryegrass by early March
• Implement rotational grazing

April

• Complete seeding of alfalfa by late April
• Assess weed control needs and options
• Determine needs for warm season annuals for supplemental forages
• Start scouting for alfalfa weevil
• Do not graze forage closer than 4” if clovers are established
• Graze forage to 3” if field is newly seeded with clover

May

• Start hay harvest for quality forage
• Seed warm season annuals for supplemental forage for summer grazing or hay
• Clip pastures to prevent seed head formation on fescue and orchardgrass
• Keep breeding cows off of toxic fescue or make sure pastures contain sufficient legumes
• Cut grass hay in boot stage
• Monitor warm season weed germination and growth
• Keep forage growth in the 4”-10” range by grazing and clipping
• Continue scouting for alfalfa weevil and begin scouting for potato leaf hopper

June

• Keep breeding cows off of toxic fescue or make sure pastures contain sufficient legumes
• Scout and spray for potato leaf hopper in alfalfa
• Continue to monitor forage growth and adjust rotation schedule

July

• Keep spring calving herd off of toxic fescue
• ID fescue pastures for stockpiling
• Soil test pastures to determine fall fertilization needs
• Start rotational grazing of summer annual forages
• Plan for fall pasture renovation
• Continue scouting for potato leaf hoppers in alfalfa

August

• Creep graze spring calves to provide them with best quality of forage available
• Remove livestock and apply nitrogen to fescue pastures for stockpiling
• Fertilize alfalfa and pastures as needed
• Start planting perennial grasses in late August
• Continue rotational grazing of summer annuals

September

• Continue soil sampling and fertilizer applications as needed
• Continue planting of perennial grasses
• Take last cutting of alfalfa prior to freeze in mid-September

October

• Plan for winter feeding area. Select 3 – 4 potential sacrifice areas
• Graze corn crop residue as a feed cost reduction strategy
• Consider broadleaf weed control in grass pastures
• Insure all animals are removed from sorgum-sudan and sudangrass pastures due to prussic acid
• Do not harvest alfalfa in order to allow plants to replenish root reserves for winter

November

• Review winter feeding plan
• Begin utilization of stockpiled fescue if growth permits
• Graze alfalfa after freeze down
• Apply fertilizer to alfalfa fields
• Overgraze pastures that are selected for frost seeding of clovers to reduce competition and improve seed to soil contact of clover

December

• Divide herd into groups for winter feeding depending on nutrient/feed requirement
• Continue utilizing stockpiled fescue
• Begin hay feeding – minimizing waste