Fall Grazing Management: Balancing Forage Use and Recovery
October 9, 2025·11 min
This episode of the UNL BeefWatch podcast focuses on managing pastures in the autumn to balance immediate forage use with long-term plant health. Host Aaron Berger, a Nebraska Extension educator, is joined by Ben Beckman, an Extension educator specializing in forages and grazing systems. They discuss an article from the BeefWatch newsletter written by Beckman.
The conversation centers on the unusual forage growth this year due to good summer and fall moisture across Nebraska, particularly in introduced cool-season species like brome, Kentucky bluegrass, and fescue. Beckman explains that fall fertilization with nitrogen in late October is risky and potentially wasteful, as unused nitrogen may leach away. He states that applying phosphorus or potassium based on a soil test can be beneficial for strengthening stands, but fertilization is not recommended for native warm-season grasses. The hosts contrast management for introduced cool-season species with native range, noting some native grasses like western wheatgrass have also shown fall growth.
A key insight is that grazing perennial plants in the fall forces them to use stored root energy for regrowth right before winter, potentially disadvantaging them. Beckman advises leaving at least four inches of stubble on cool-season grasses and six to eight inches on native species if fall grazing occurs. He emphasizes that fall grazing decisions must consider the cumulative stress pastures have endured from recent drought years. A surprising strategic suggestion is that feeding available hay now and saving fall pasture growth for spring, when cows have higher nutrient demands during calving, could be more efficient.
The hosts note that fall grazing directly impacts spring forage production, often leading to slower green-up and lower growth. They present stockpiling forage for winter grazing after plants go dormant as a lower-impact alternative to fall use. The discussion frames fall growth as foundational for next spring's pasture performance, making current management critical for future recovery.
The tone is educational and conversational, featuring two experts discussing practical agronomy and economics for cattle producers. The style is advisory, offering scenario-based considerations rather than rigid prescriptions.
This episode is ideal for ranchers and forage managers in the Great Plains or similar climates making decisions about autumn pasture use and fertilization. Listeners seeking broad, introductory livestock topics or those outside of cool-season grass regions might find the specific agronomic details less applicable.
