by John Howle

During the dead of winter, it’s a satisfying experience to look upon tracks of pasture that are lush and green. Livestock have the same attitude, but their satisfaction comes from grazing in the middle of the winter. Stockpiling winter forage provides the producer with winter grazing and will help reduce the need for stored feed.

Stockpiling fescue can extend the grazing season up to 60 days according to Dr. Gary Bates, forage specialist with the University of Tennessee.

"Fescue stockpiling is simple," Bates said. "About the first of September, either graze or clip the pastures to remove all the mature forage; then, apply 60 pounds of nitrogen per acre after the fall rains begin; then, allow the fescue to grow as long as possible without grazing even up to a killing frost."

Bates added, if possible, rotationally graze the fescue so less of the forage is trampled and wasted by the cattle.

According to Bates, the only time stockpiling fescue doesn’t work is during periods of limited rainfall.