Planning Forage Goals for your farm

Karen Jackson
University of Tennessee
Extension Agent

When planning a forage goal for your farm, first you should look at what is in your fields already. This includes both the forages that are already there, the soil types that you have, and livestock and/or wildlife that you are planning to use to utilize that forage. You might be pleasantly surprised that you have the perfect environment for your selected livestock, or you may have a lot of work to do before you move your livestock in.

After doing your forage and livestock surveys, you should find a soil map of your farm (NRCS and Extension both have these maps) so that you can learn what soil types you have. These maps also tell you the best forages to grow on your farm and how your soils respond to fertilizer.

After finding and determining this information, you are ready to do a soil test for the crops you plan to put on your land according to the soil map and livestock you are going to be using to harvest the forage.

To take a soil sample, you will determine an area of your property and take several samples around 3 inches down into the soil. Dry these samples and mix them all together very well. Then fill the box that you can get at your local extension office with your mixed dried sample. Bring your sample to the extension office along with $7.00 (Lawrence County, TN Office) and your paperwork for your sample, and in 7-10 days you will find what fertilizer you will need for your crops.

After determining the above items, you will then need to look at the forages you are growing and decide when you will be grazing them. You will want to plant a mixture of warm and cool season forages, and determine the planting dates of each one. After planting, the forages will need time to establish before livestock can be placed on them. Many forages can not be close grazed the first year because it will kill them. Make sure you know what type if forages you have before placing animals on them.

Have a great time planning your farm's forage production!

This article first appeared in Volume 1, Issue 2, of the Small Ruminant Newsletter published by Karen Jackson, UT Extension Agent, P.O. Box 100, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464. You should be able to contact your local Extention Office for the same services and additional information.

"The University of Tennessee, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and County Government Cooperating. The Agricultural Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or veteran status and is an Equal Opportunity employer."