Credit: Generated using AI with Google Gemini
Back in May, I attended the University of Florida’s 74th annual Beef Cattle Short Course, in Gainesville. The theme this year was, “RIDING THE HIGH TIDE – Decision Making in a Record Cattle Market.” There were a lot of great speakers that covered a number of interesting topics, but the ones that stuck with me the most were a veteran rancher discussion panel, moderated by Dr. Todd Thrift, UF Animal Science Department, that discussed, Lessons I Have Learned About “The Good Times.” The panel included, Ralph Pelaez, Okeechobee, Dallas Townsend, LaBelle, and Billy Kempfer, Deer Park (all are north of 70 years old) who shared their wisdom about living though the highs and lows of previous cattle price cycles, and some great history of the many hurdles Florida Ranchers overcame in their lifetimes. At the end of this discussion, Thrift asked the group for words of wisdom during high cattle markets. Each had some interesting responses that went something like this:
Ralph Pelaez replied first and said, “Fix everything that is broke! And don’t get sloppy!” He explained his statement referring fixing what is broken to repairing cowpens, fences, broken gates that don’t swing, implements and tractors that need repairs, or even pickup trucks that don’t work right. Now is the time to get everything working well again before prices fall. The sloppy statement was referring to herd management. He said producers should keep doing everything they know to do to stay as efficient or as profit-centered as they can even with higher prices to maximize returns while markets are strong.
Dallas Townsend said, “Pay down on debt and put money in savings!” He went on to say that these high markets won’t last but so long, so now is the time to get your finances in order. Basically, he suggested using extra income to be better prepared financially for harder times in the future.
Billy Kempfer replied, “I agree with Dallas, but if your finances are in order, now is the time to invest in things that will improve your herd and pastures for the future.” He mentioned examples like buying higher quality bulls that improved the genetic quality of their herd, and pasture improvements such as better drainage or adding limpograss to their rotations as examples things he had invested in when cattle markets were good in the past.
I have also read a number of articles in popular press recently related to this topic. One great example, is the article Cowherd Expansion is Not the Only Way to Capitalize on a Strong Calf Market, written by Dr. Kenny Burdine, University of Kentucky. Dr. Burdiine discusses some similar ideas to the Short Course Panel, such as investing in genetics, facilities, grazing systems, and debt service or financial management. The main point the article was that, “The current calf market provides a significant opportunity for a cow-calf operation to position itself for the long-run, but that will look different for each one of them.”
All of these folks offered sound advice that cattle ranchers should definitely consider. I have a suggestion as well, “Grow more of your own feed.” Nutrition is such a huge part of cow-calf herd management, with much of nutrition based on forage production on the property you manage. When I use the word “feed” in this statement, I am referring to everything a cow eats including forages throughout the year, not just supplemental feed you buy off-farm. Even large corporate feedyards have learned that the ability to grow some portion of what they feed helps them control both costs and quality.
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Grow More of Your Own Feed
Credit: Generated using AI with Google Gemini
One of my favorite quotes from Dr. Gary Lacefield, Emeritus Kentucky Forage Specialist, is “Everyday cattle graze is money saved!” What can you do to improve or extend the grazing season on your ranch? Feeding hay or baleage (whether you produce or purchase it), and off-farm purchased supplements are expensive no matter how large or small your cattle operation. What kind of investment can you make to boost the quality and/or production of your current forage operation so that the cows do their own harvesting through grazing more of the year?
Pasture Fertilization
If you have not limed or fertilized your pastures in a number of years, this is a proven method to boost both forage quality and yield almost immediately. Soil test to find out what is needed to optimize the growth potential of your pastures. Jose Dubeux, Forage Management Specialist, North Florida Research and Education Center, in Marianna, shared this quote with me, “Studies have shown that for every pound of nitrogen (N) applied to tropical grasses you get ~30 lbs. of dry matter yield in return, if you have adequate moisture, pH, and other nutrients.” Using this as a guide, If you were to apply 50 units of N/acre (109 pounds/acre of 46%N Urea) you would expect an increase of 1,500 DM per acre in return. In her article, Impact of Limiting or Eliminating Fertilization of Bahiagrass Pastures, Dr. Cheryl Mackowiak shared the results of a bahigrass pasture fertilization trial from a six-year study in Osceola County that documented a 60% decline in yield once nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilization were eliminated. In the summary chart from this trial you can see that there was more than a 4,461 lbs/acre (5,000 kg/ha) difference in yield after 6 years of complete fertilizer vs none at all. The bottom line is that the fastest way to significantly boost the productivity and forage quality of your pastures is to fertilize forages with the lime, N, P, & K as recommended by a soil test.
Even if you don’t think you can’t afford to fertilize every pasture acre, develop a rotation plan to do half every other year, or even a 1/3 every three years. If you can see every fire-ant hill in your pasture, because this is where the green, healthy grass is, your grass is under-performing because of nutrient deficiency. If your pastures are pale and growing slowly there is inadequate N, could be low K, and possibly even a low pH as well. Just adding lime to a pasture with a pH below 5.0 can improve the availability of the nutrients in the soil and boost performance. Not sure you can afford this? Put it to the test on your most productive pasture and watch how it responds balanced fertilization.
Manage Weed Competition
Weeds rob water and nutrients from whatever crop you are growing. According to Dr. Brent Sellers, UF/IFAS Pasture Weed Specialist, “Weeds in pastures cost ranchers more than $180 million annually in Florida by reducing forage yield, lowering forage quality, and causing animal injury through toxicity.” Nobody like having weeds growing in their pastures, but in lean times, and busy seasons, weed control often gets put off. The publication Weed Management in Pastures provides a wide range of herbicide options for controlling weeds in pastures and hayfields. There are even a few options now that don’t include 2,4-D that can drift onto and injure neighboring crop fields. Just remember that a neglected weed infestation has likely produced seed, lots of seed that will germinate in the future, so don’t expect one herbicide application to eliminate a multi-year weed infestation.
Pasture Renovation
You may have a pasture or two that have significantly lost productivity over time, either from poor fertility and/or overgrazing, or centipede, common Bermudagrass, smutgrass, or broomsedge infestations that need renovation. If you decide to start over, you should consider planting Riata bahiagrass or Gibtuck limpograss that have longer seasons of growth than the older varieties of bahia. Riata is less day-length sensitive, so it was selected to grow earlier each spring and well into the fall each year. Limpograss has an even longer season of growth than bahia, but is also more digestible, so it can fertilized and stockpiled in August for controlled grazing through the last quarter of the year, significantly reducing hay production/purchasing requirements. Perennial peanut and other legumes are options to consider adding for grazing and/or haying, because they have much higher quality than bahiagrass in a monoculture. Perennial grasses are highly productive, but incorporating legumes can boost animal performance and even reduce reliance on nitrogen fertilizer.
It’s getting really late in the year to consider planting perennial forages, but early fall is the best time to kill weedy grasses with broad-spectrum herbicides like glyphosate followed by discing 4 weeks later. This also offers the opportunity to plant some short-season winter annuals such as oats, triticale or rye prior to planting perennial grasses next spring. Just make sure the weedy grasses are killed before planting expensive seed or vegetative materials. If you are considering this option, talk with people that have already done this successfully before diving in too deep.
Cross-Fencing for Rotational Grazing
Another option would be to add cross-fencing and additional water tanks to improve the rotational grazing system on the pastures you already have. Fencing costs are very high, but can be reduced with high-tensile electric fencing that requires much fewer posts and less wire for internal fencing. Rotational grazing can increase pasture productivity by at least 20%. In the Fact Sheet – Grazing Management Concepts and Practices, Dr. Lynn Sollenberger said, “Advantages of rotational stocking may include improved pasture longevity, more timely utilization of forage, opportunities to conserve surplus forage, increased stocking rate (generally 15%–30%), more uniform distribution of excreta by the animals, and better animal management.” Every cross-fence you install improves your ability to control grazing and better manage the forages you already have. The goal is to develop a true grazing rotation so every paddock has a rest and recovery period to stay in a state of fast vegetative growth stage. Cross fencing for a rotational grazing system can be part of an EQIP Contract with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), so talk with your local District Conservationist about how to apply for cost-share support of your overall project.
Annual Forage Options
There are also wonderful annual forages that can be grown to extend the grazing season in North Florida. If you choose to renovate a pasture or two, cool-season annuals might make great partners to help break the weed cycle and offer some high-quality forages to extend the grazing season before planting a permanent pasture. Others like clover and ryegrass can be overseeded into existing pastures to extend the grazing season as well. Just know that annual forages will be the most productive in a clean-tilled seedbed without competition. The publication, Cool-Season Forage Variety Recommendations for Florida provides an excellent overview of the many options that have been thoroughly evaluated for productivity in the Southeast. Pearl Millet (grass) and/or Sunn Hemp (legume) are examples of warm-season forages that are highly productive and nutritious, but there are other options available. In general, annual forages are higher quality and faster growth than perennial forages, but are also productive for only part of the year. They are also more expensive, because of the annual planting costs. However, their season of growth can be utilized to extend the overall grazing season on a cattle operation to reduce the dependence on hay or baleage through the winter months when perennial pastures are dormant.
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Take Home Message
These are just some suggestions to consider, but I am sure you will think of others on your own. If your cattle herd is part of a diversified farm that includes crop and or forestry production, 2025 may just be the year that the cattle herd carries more of the load to keep the farm going. This also might be the year fulfill your promise to you take your family/spouse on a vacation and get a needed mental break from the never-ending challenges of farming. However, if you do have some extra income this year from selling cattle, spend some time considering how you might improve the productivity of your cattle operation for future years. Fix what is broken, put some money in savings, and invest in the future profitability of your farm. If you want help comparing options, contact your local county extension agriculture agent to get their recommendations customized to match the resources available on your farm.
demayo@ufl.edu - 850-482-9620
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