Dairy Grazing: Pasture Establishment

Interseeding into pasture.

Once the decision has been made to establish permanent pastures in the dairy grazing system and desirable species have been selected, field preparation can begin. Pastures can be seeded either on a prepared seedbed or by no-till drilling, depending on site conditions and crop requirements. With either establishment method, ensure adequate soil fertility is present for rapid crop establishment and growth. A new publication discusses soil fertility, site preparation, seeding and time of seeding. Refer to MU Extension publication M181, Dairy Grazing: Selecting the Right Forage, for specific seeding rates and recommended dates.