Fall is the perfect time for planting winter annuals such as annual ryegrass, oats, wheat or cereal rye in your pastures for grazing; however, the term “winter” can be misleading. Although these annuals remain green and nutritive throughout the winter, their most prolific growth actually occurs in the spring (April-May). In a warm season perennial pasture (Bermuda or Bahia) that goes dormant in the winter, these annuals provide the opportunity for green pastures through the winter and some winter grazing. The amount of winter grazing, though, is highly dependent on how early they are planted in the fall as well as growth conditions such as adequate rainfall. Removing horses from the seeded pastures to allow for adequate growth through the fall is also recommended if the goal is truly to have a winter forage.

Depending on your grazing needs, oats can be planted earlier and are the best option if fall grazing is desired. Keep in mind that this plant is also the least cold-tolerant and can experience some winter kill. Ryegrass is the easiest to establish and can be broadcast with good success, whereas others are better established by drilling into the existing sod. Ryegrass is highly preferred by horses and also tolerates grazing better than some of the other annual options. For those concerned about non-structural carbohydrates, however, annual ryegrass may have the potential to accumulate more stored sugars than other annual forage species. Cereal rye (rye grain) is very cold tolerant, but is also the least preferred by horses in grazing trials. This may allow for some consistent growth without completely removing horses from the pasture.

For those of us with predominately fescue pastures, planting these annuals is not recommended because of the competition it creates in the spring. Winter annuals have the same active growing season as our cool season perennials, fescue and orchardgrass, but are much more prolific in the spring, often weakening perennial forage stands. Don’t let this be a discouragement though. Fescue can actually be the best winter grazing option that we have. When fertilized in the fall and if grazing pressure is deferred, fescue can act as a standing hay crop to be grazed through winter (termed “stockpiling"). Unlike in spring, fall fescue growth remains vegetative and leafy, maintaining forage quality even as cooler temperatures slow growth. Utilizing grazing techniques such as strip grazing, the fescue pasture can then be rationed out in small sections to stretch the grazing season. Depending on acreage available, hay feeding can be drastically reduced or even completely deferred until January.

Although our climate provides great growing conditions for a variety of forage options much of the year, most all pastures will experience a slump in growth from late January through early March even if you have a stockpile or planted winter annuals. If you have fescue pastures, now is a great time to fertilize with 40 to 60 pounds of nitrogen (if phosphorous and potassium are adequate) and section off a portion to stockpile for early winter. If you don’t have fescue, there are many winter annual options that can help fill some gaps in late fall and early spring. If you have questions about which option may be the best for your farm, please contact me at the Extension office for a free on-farm consultation.