FALL PASTURE MANAGEMENT

 

Fall Pasture Management

Fall provides an ideal time of year to improve horse pastures. August 1st to September 15th is an ideal time of year to seed or overseed pastures and rid pastures of perennial weeds.

Fall is the best time to seed or re‐seed pastures due to the usually adequate moisture, less weed competition, and cooler weather conditions.

Fall is also best for perennial weed control since perennial plants are storing carbohydrates in their roots allowing the herbicide to be translocated into the root for effective control.

Make sure to check fences; especially posts. Fix broken posts before they are frozen into the ground. Finally, make sure the pasture grasses have 3 to 4 inches of re‐growth going into winter. This will help with winter survival and quicker spring growth.

Keeping horses on pastures over winter causes damage to plants and offers the horse little nutrition. Keeping the horses in a sacrifice paddock (dry lot) with access to hay, water and shelter are recommended.

Horse owners should use caution when grazing after the first killing frost of the fall. Frost-damaged pasture forages can have higher concentrations of non‐structural carbohydrates following the first killing frost of the season.

This can lead to an increase in the potential for laminitis and colic, especially in obese horses or horses diagnosed with laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome. To reduce the chance of adverse health effects, it is recommended that horse owners wait one week before turning all horses, including healthy horses, back onto a pasture after the first killing frost.

As always, the Rural KC Team-Powered by Keller Williams Partners, Inc., is here to help.  If you have any questions or need help with any of your rural real estate needs, please feel free to give us a call at 913-837-0760 or 913-837-0411.