Forage Establishment Considerations for the Mountain Region

By Miguel Castillo

Helene’s pass left many damaged pastures, animal handling facilities, and infrastructure. Bottomlands received soil (and mud) at most likely record accumulation rates. As efforts continue to shift from rescue to recovery, the need for hay and fencing supplies to feed and manage livestock are becoming more apparent.

For information on planting rates, depth, best dates and possible dates for planting, as well as general recommendations by crop or time of the year, see the NC Extension Forage Planting Guide or the searchable online tool (https://apps.ces.ncsu.edu/forages-planting-guide/index.php).

Early October, 2024, was a generally considered good time (specially temperature-wise) to plant cool-season annual forages in the Mountains. However, back then in early October and most likely still today as of late October, regular or normal activities to prepare a seedbed continue to be limited and must be accomplished considering the risks associated with unstable and uneven landscapes. If using a no-till drill is not possible, land and livestock managers should consider broadcasting as the planting method for rye, wheat, ryegrass, and/or clovers, especially in areas currently with bare soil that accumulated as a result of Helene’s pass, as a strategy to cover and hold the soil in place during winter, and to potentially provide some forage for grazing. 

Planting during the November-February timeframe with the expectation of good crop germination, emergence, and growth, will be challenging in the Mountains mainly due to low temperatures, but also due to other challenges associated with unstable areas where it will be risky to run planting equipment. Cool-season forages show fastest and uniform germination when soil temperatures are approximately 50°F. From the end of October towards early November and onwards, soil temperatures are more frequently recorded at ≤50°F, hence erratic and slower germination rates of planted crops are likely to occur. Land and livestock managers can continuously check weather variables by accessing the State Climate Office ECONet weather station network (https://products.climate.ncsu.edu/map/). After germination, adequate weather conditions are needed for emergence and development of the planted forages; unfortunately, as time passes by, weather conditions are not the most conducive to support plant growth and development until spring. Frost-seeding rye (and other small grains), ryegrass or clover seed will be the best option to establish forages in mid-to late-winter and to try to get a head-start in spring 2025.

In the absence of forage available for grazing, or limited forage available in the field, livestock managers will most likely rely on conserved forages (i.e., hay or haylage) to support livestock needs during the winter. To donate or request hay and livestock assistance, sign up in the NCDA Livestock Assistance Form (https://ncdisaster.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/10/ncdacs-hay-assistance-portal/) and check Livestock Donation Supply Sites (https://www.ncagr.gov/livestockdisasterhelp). Also, please check with your local County Extension Office. Livestock can also be fed concentrates as a supplement but not as the sole source of feed. Ruminant livestock needs fiber in the diet (usually provided by the forages) to maintain good digestive health.