Pastures are greening up, but this spring that green-up may be slower and thinner than we would like. After a dry fall, dry winter, and limited spring moisture, many cool-season pastures are starting the season with very little soil moisture to work with. Nebraska’s pasture and range conditions are well behind normal, with the May 4 report showing 32% very poor, 40% poor, 24% fair, and only 4% good, with none rated excellent.
That makes spring turn-out decisions especially important this year. The question is not just, “Is there green grass out there?” The better question is, “Is there enough growth to graze without setting the pasture back even further?”
In a normal year, that early growth can come on quickly. In a dry year, growth is slower, root reserves may already be stretched, and plants may not have enough moisture to recover after grazing. If animals nip off that new growth too soon, the pasture can lose production not just early in the season, but for the rest of the grazing year.
During drought, delaying turn-out where possible is one of the best ways to protect season-long production. Because the 2025 grazing season ended dry, and limited moisture through winter left much of the state short on soil moisture going into spring. Spring precipitation is especially important for cool-season grass growth this year, and unfortunately we aren’t seeing much of it.
This spring, it may be worth starting with the pasture that has the most growth and the best chance to recover, rather than the one that is most convenient. Pastures that were grazed hard last fall, went into winter short, or are showing thin spring growth should move down the list if possible.
A little patience now may help protect forage production for the rest of the season.
Find the complete information in the May 21 edition in The Wayne Herald or subscribe today by clicking here.
