Maintaining proper herd size, renovating pastures with a legume, fertilizing according to soil test, and
utilizing a rotational grazing system can aid in reducing summer forage shortages. However, during
drought conditions, the risk of having a short supply of feed still exists. Drought conditions during the last
couples of years have shown many cattle producers that summer is a critical time in a livestock operation.
You cannot only depend on perennial warm-season pastures to provide adequate forage during the
summer. It is time to start thinking about planting a few acres of warm-season annual forage grasses that
will serve as emergency forage. Selecting a type or variety of summer annual should be based on the
needs of individual livestock programs. Summer annual grasses have different growth characteristics