Overseeding Permanent Pastures for Winter Grazing

The least cost method of maintaining horses is almost always on pasture. With dry weather this summer hay supplies are expected to be short this winter, and prices likely higher as a result. With this in mind, you may want to consider overseeding a permanent warm-season grass pasture with a winter annual for winter grazing.

Rye, ryegrass and oats are some of the most common cool season annuals used for this type of grazing. Oats is the least cold tolerant of these species. Recommended planting dates for these species are late August to mid-September in the Piedmont and throughout the month of September in the Coastal Plain. If moisture is lacking and more hot dry weather is predicted in the long range forecast, it is usually wise to wait to later in the planting window to overseed to ensure a better stand. Later plantings are usually more susceptible to damage by frost, so there's a trade-off when considering exactly when to plant within that window.

Another factor to keep in mind is that the permanent pasture needs to be grazed or mowed to 4 inches or less before overseeding. This will allow sunlight to reach the emerging seedlings. Also, at the end of the winter grazing period, the winter annual will need to be grazed down or mowed to allow the perennial grass to emerge from dormancy and begin regrowth, usually in late April or May.

The best method for overseeding these winter annuals is with a no-till drill. Some county Soil and Water offices or Cattlemen's associations have drills available for rent. Most require at least a 55 hp class tractor with remote hydraulics to operate the drill. For a chart of planting dates and seeding rates, refer to the NC Forage Planting Guide available at the following link: http://johnston.ces.ncsu.edu/files/library/51/forageplantingguide.doc

The best way to make use of winter annual pastures is to rotationally graze them. NC Cooperative Extension has a good publication entitled "Managing Pastures to Feed Your Horse" available at this link: http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/horse/PDF%20Files/AG-524%20Managing%20Pastures%20Final%20FACT%20SHEET.pdf

Dan Wells
Extension Agent-Livestock
Johnston County Center
NC Cooperative Extension