Dry conditions across western Kansas have many cattle producers questioning when to turn cattle out on pasture this spring. Kansas State Research and Extension will host a free webinar on Wednesday, April 29, from noon to 1 p.m. Central to help producers make informed grass turnout decisions.
Spring green-up has been slow or limited in some areas of Kansas this year. While weather patterns may shift, both the timing and amount of precipitation remain uncertain.
Maintaining adequate pasture cover is important for capturing available rainfall, improving infiltration, and reducing runoff. Management decisions such as stocking rate and turnout timing can play a key role in preserving grass cover, particularly during dry conditions.
The webinar will feature Keith Harmoney, range scientist at K‑State’s Agricultural Research Center in Hays, who will discuss planning and decision‑making strategies based on historical range research. His work includes analysis of drought periods from the 1930s and 1950s, as well as more recent dry conditions.
Also participating will be Chip Redmond with the K-State Mesonet, who will provide a short-term weather outlook and highlight online climate and decision-support tools available to producers.
The webinar is hosted by the K‑State Research and Extension Western Kansas Centers. The program is free, but registration is required at https://tinyurl.com/kstate-grazing.
The session will be recorded and made available afterward on the K‑State Department of Animal Sciences beef website, KSUBeef.org.
For more information, please contact Sandy Johnson at 785‑443‑1332 or sandyj@ksu.edu.
