Winter pastures require care
RICKY THOMPSON

As we sneak into 2008, we find that we have many fields full of good winter pastures and clovers. Anytime we get a few warm days and the temperatures are over 50 degrees, these plants will start to grow.

The plants that give winter growth are planted and reseeded; clovers, oats, wheat, ryegrass, vetch, Texas winter grass, rescue and native fescue grasses. Their growth depends on moisture, fertility and temperature. If everything is right, they grow wild.

Oats, wheat and rye grass need topdressing with either basic fertilizers such as 12- 12-12, 16-6-12 or nitrogen mixtures, depending on the mixture you started with and the soil test requirements you have. Clovers, vetch and other legumes should have been fertilized with 8- 24-24 at planting but, if you waited, you need to do this now or your results will not be good.

When grazing winter pastures, be sure your livestock are supplemented with a magnesium mineral supplement. This prevents grass tetny. Grass tetny cannot be treated unless you get help the instant you see the cattle get sick. It is a shortage of magnesium in the blood and about 999 times out of 1000 it kills the animal.

This generally occurs when cattle are grazing fast-growing winter pastures during wet seasons, but it can occur anytime. Several good magnesium supplements are available for cows and calves and should be fed for a week or two before cattle are placed on winter pastures.

The clovers and vetch not only provide grazing but also deposit nitrogen in the soil that is to be used by the summer pastures. Be extra careful to give them all the phosphorus and potassium they need to keep them doing their job. A good clover crop can reduce your fertilizer bill by one-half on summer pastures following clovers.

Ricky Thompson is the Jasper County extension agent; for more information call 384-3721.