K-State Research and Extension

by Keith Harmoney, range scientist, Hays and Sandy Johnson, extension beef specialist, Colby

Ongoing drought has impacted many areas of Kansas and the Great Plains region.  Producers are accustomed to adjusting for shorter term dry periods but less so with extended drought.

In response to numerous questions around this issue, Keith Harmoney, K-State Research and Extension range scientist at the Agricultural Research Center in Hays developed a decision tree that provides some guidelines given the pasture’s current soil moisture condition and the relative level of stress on the pasture last year. He discussed the use of this tool during a webinar “Decision Making For Grass Turnout in Western Kansas” presented on April 4^th, 2023, that is now available for viewing on KSUBeef.org. A handout of the decision tree and other items are linked below the video. Continue reading “Decision Tree for Stocking Rate Adjustments Available” →

by Walt Fick, Extension Rangeland Specialist

It has been a late spring in 2022 across most of Kansas. Lack of fall and winter moisture has delayed plant growth this spring. Cool-season pastures of tall fescue and smooth brome are normally producing adequate forage for grazing by April.  Turn-out on our native grasslands dominated by warm-season grasses varies across the state from mid-April to mid-May. Lack of sub-soil moisture, persistence of drought, and cool temperatures have slowed green-up in many areas of the state. In the last report from the U.S. Drought Monitor over 79% of Kansas was experiencing abnormally dry to exceptional drought conditions (Fig. 1). Continue reading “Considerations for Pasture Turn-out” →