With favorable spring weather, grasses across the state are thriving, providing a beautiful green landscape for Tennessee. May marks a peak period for pasture growth, which is an ideal time not only to utilize lush grazing but also to start planning for forage preservation to meet winter feeding needs.

Most hayfields will be ready for harvest soon. If they’ve been fertilized, they may reach maturity even earlier. So, they will be ahead of schedule. Remember, plants don’t grow based on the human calendar. Just because we expect to harvest at a certain time doesn’t mean nature will wait. Timing is everything when it comes to forage quality.