Reichenborn adds that producers should also pay attention to changes in plant populations, particularly when undesirable species begin appearing in heavily used areas. Plants such as ironweed, ragweed and snakeweed may indicate uneven grazing distribution rather than an overall stocking rate problem. "It's possible that it might be a grazing distribution problem and not necessarily a stocking rate problem," Reichenborn said.
Monitoring invasive plants
Fall pasture evaluations also provide an opportunity to identify invasive and problematic plant species before they become more difficult to manage. Reichenborn said biennial plants, including musk thistle and teasel, can be easier to control during their early growth stages. These plants typically spend their first growing season developing low-growing leaves known as rosettes before producing flowering stems during their second year. "The upside is now, if you noticed a population of say like musk thistle or teasels this summer, there’s likely rosettes coming up there that are vulnerable to herbicide," Reichenborn said.
Returning to areas where those plants were previously identified can help producers locate new rosettes, which are generally more susceptible to herbicide applications than mature plants.
As pastures enter dormancy, producers may also notice differences in vegetation color that help identify invasive grasses.
Old World bluestems, which are not native to Kansas, often appear lighter than surrounding native vegetation during the winter months."I like to say they look like bleach spots," Reichenborn said. "(It’s similar to getting) bleach on a T-shirt; they kind of stick out like lighter color patches of vegetation."Harmoney said these lighter patches can stand out against the reddish tones commonly found in dormant native grasses."That coloration change will hint to an area that may need to be addressed later on after you’ve identified the invading grass," Harmoney said.
By taking time to evaluate pasture conditions this fall, Kansas producers can better understand how their grazing management decisions affected forage resources and identify opportunities to improve pasture health for the coming year.
Evaluating Pastures (continued)