Farm Stewardship Month-by-Month


(first published in the October issue of The Equiery)

Farm stewardship is a year-round job. Here is a guide from the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Horse Outreach Workgroup to help you stay on top of about what horse farmers should try to do every month.

January

1. Protect Your Pastures

Keep horses off pastures when ground is soft and wet to avoid mud, trampling of pasture grasses, and soil compaction. Confine horses in loafing lots located near the barn with hay, shelter, and water during inclement weather.

2. Daily Manure Removal and Water Check

Remove manure from loafing lots and check drinking water daily making sure to check heaters or break ice to allow horse access to water.

3. Recalculate Hay Needs

Order more hay if needed. Always keep a 2-3 week hay supply on hand in case heavy snows prevent new hay delivery.

4. Calculate Stocking Rate

Determine how many horses your land will support for the grazing season, keeping in mind that 1.5 acres or more of pasture per horse is ideal for maintaining a healthy, productive pasture.

February

1. Keep Monitoring Pasture

Continue to feed horses hay in the loafing lot/heavy use area if pastures are soft and wet.

2. Seed Clover

Broadcast seed ladino-type white clover in bare spots in pastures (~ 1 lb/acre) in order to maintain ~ 25% clover content during the grazing season. Check drinking water daily making sure to break ice to allow horse access to water.

3. Update Nutrient Management Plan

If your operation requires it, meet with your advisor to update your plan including preparing and sending in the Annual Implementation Report (AIR).

4. Maintain Fencing

Check fences and fencing supplies, including perimeter and interior fences.

March

1. Apply Fertilizer

Apply composted manure or 1/3 of the annual fertilizer amount to pastures that aren’t currently being grazed making sure to follow soil test recommendations or your farm’s nutrient management plan.

2. Begin Spring Weed Control

Inspect pastures at least weekly to monitor forage growth, weed encroachment, and to inspect fencing and grazing horses. Control existing weeds with herbicide and frequent mowing to ~ 4 inches. Contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office to receive help with weed identification and recommendations for their control.

3. Review Water Management Strategies

Check water pipes, gutters, and drain lines for defects and repair. Contact your local soil conservation district for technical assistance with water management issues on your farm.

April

1. Begin Grazing

Allow horses to graze when pastures begin to show new growth and are a height of 6 inches or more. Acclimate horses to lush spring pastures by allowing them access to pastures for an hour or two during the first few days and then gradually increase their turnout to full-time over the next 7 days.

2. Rotate Pastures

Move horses from pastures that are grazed less than 4 inches in height to rested pastures that are at least 6 inches in height.

3. Avoid Laminitis

Consider reducing grazing time or use grazing muzzles in obese-prone horses that may experience laminitis when consuming lush spring pasture. Drag or harrow pastures to break up manure piles from recent grazing after horses are moved to another pasture.

4. Mow

Mow recently grazed pastures to no less than 4 inches to maintain vegetative growth and to control weeds before they go to seed.

May

1. Continue Rotational Grazing

Move horses from pastures that are grazed no less than 4 inches in height to rested pastures that are at least 6 inches in height. Avoid being locked into a pasture sequence if grass height of pasture indicates a different order of rotation.

2. Use Loafing Lots if Pastures Need Rest

Move horses onto the loafing lot/heavy use area and feed hay if pastures are too wet or short for grazing.

3. Check Eroded Areas

Evaluate soil erosion in loafing lot/heavy use area and other heavy use areas (gates, feeders, run-in sheds, waterers). Your local soil conservation district can assist with soil erosion control measures.

4. Walk Your Pastures

Inspect pastures at least weekly to monitor forage growth, weed encroachment, and to inspect fencing and grazing horses. Control existing weeds with herbicide, pulling, and/or frequent mowing to ~ 4 inches. Call your county extension office for help with weed identification.

June

1. Begin Summer Stockpile

Reserve or rest one or more pasture fields starting in early to mid-June so that it can be used for late summer grazing (i.e. summer stockpile).

2. Use Loafing Lots While Pastures Recover

Adjust grazing system to manage for slower seasonal pasture growth by providing longer recovery times for pastures between grazing

3. Mow After Grazing

Continue to mow recently grazed pastures to no lower than 4 inches to maintain vegetative growth and to control weeds before they go to seed.

4. Take Soil Samples

Submit soil samples to a certified soil testing laboratory every 3 years to receive annual lime and fertilizer recommendations.

July

1. Assess Vegetative Cover

Evaluate pastures to identify those that have less than 50% desirable grasses so that they can be scheduled for reseeding in the fall. Pre-order certified seed to ensure seed availability and an August delivery date if a late summer reseeding of pastures is planned.

2. Rest Pastures During Drought

Close off and rest all pastures while feeding hay to horses in loafing lots if drought conditions exist.

3. Continue to Rotate Pastures

Continue to manage grazing horses by moving them from a pasture grazed to 4 inches to a pasture rested to 6 inches height or more.

4. Plan for Early Fall Soil Amendments

Establish contracts with agricultural service providers that can apply lime and/or fertilizer if recommended by soil test.

August

1. Plant Certified Seed

Plant certified pasture seed optimal for grazing horses and soil conditions of grazing pastures between August and September. Early planting is critical to provide adequate fall growth and ensure strong grass pasture in the spring. Do not graze reseeded pasture for a minimum of 6 months.

2. Rest Winter Grazing Areas

Begin resting tall fescue pastures to stockpile for winter grazing.

3. Manage in Drought

Close off pastures and feed hay to horses housed in loafing lots if drought conditions and slow grass growth exist.

4. Fix Eroded Areas

Start your soil erosion correction plans to make sure all projects are completed before the fall rainy season.

September

1. Monitor Grazing

Do not allow horses to graze pasture grasses below 4 inches in height. This will preserve the plant’s food reserves and growing points in the lower stems.

2. Control Weeds

Work on suppression of fall weeds with either routine mowing, biological control, or herbicides.

3. Schedule Liming

Plan for winter liming based on soil test recommendations.

4. Fertilize

Apply the remaining 1/3 of annual compost or fertilizer amount to pastures according to your nutrient management plan.

5. Seed Clover

Plan now to broadcast seed clover in February if using legumes in a pasture mix.

6. Order Hay

Place your order for hay to cover fall and winter needs.

October

1. Apply Lime

Apply lime to pasture according to soil test or nutrient management plan recommendations.

2. Control Weeds

Continue the suppression of perennial weeds using mowing (to no less than 4 inches) or herbicide control.

3. Mow and Disperse Clippings

Remove or disperse thick dead vegetation to prevent it from killing the underlying grasses and allowing weeds to encroach.

November

1. Check Out Cost-share

Discuss grazing and conservation cost-share programs with county soil conservation district staff to see if financial assistance is available.

2. Order Seed

Pre-order certified seed to take advantage of dealer discounts, seed availability, and a February delivery if spring spot seeding of pastures is needed.

3. Graze Stockpiled Fields

Begin turning horses out on pasture set aside for winter grazing (i.e. stockpiled) once other fields have been utilized.

4. Prepare for Frost Seeding

For pastures that will be frost seeded in early spring, allow horses to closely graze plants down to 4 inches to remove excess residues. This will allow for better seed to soil contact and establishment.

December

1. Perform Equipment Maintenance

Proper maintenance now means your equipment will be ready to go in spring.

2. Check Water Daily

Break ice and check heaters to make sure horses have access to water.

3. Check Body Condition Score

Assess weight and body condition score on a monthly basis. Make feed changes as necessary to keep weight appropriate through winter.

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