The Best Time to Plant Forages for a Texas Dairy
There is no single best date to plant forages in the Panhandle or anywhere else in Texas. The right window depends on species, soil, moisture and what your cows need. Here is how to decide.
Why is there no single best planting date?
Texas covers very different climates. A Panhandle dairy near Hereford faces cold winters, strong spring winds and a different frost risk than a dairy in East Texas or along the Gulf. Even within a county, soil type and irrigation change the answer.
Forage species also differ. Warm-season crops such as corn silage and sorghum need warm soil, while cool-season crops such as small grains and ryegrass do better when temperatures are mild. Date recommendations from an Extension office will beat a rule of thumb from a magazine.
A practical way to think about it: the best time is when the seed will emerge quickly and grow without a setback. A crop that jumps out of the ground fast beats stand problems every time.
What should you check before planting?
Check soil temperature and moisture instead of the calendar alone. Both should match what the seed needs to germinate. Look at the weather outlook from the National Weather Service and the drought status at the U.S. Drought Monitor so you are not planting into a dry spell with no irrigation plan.
Also review your seed supplier's guidance and the planting window listed for your area by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
- Soil temperature at planting depth
- Moisture in the seedbed and irrigation capacity
- Frost risk for your area
- Seed variety and maturity group
- Equipment availability and crew time
How do you work backward from the cows?
Start with what the herd needs: how much forage by when, and what kind. Silage fills the bunk for the year, while winter pasture or hay serves other purposes. Plan planting so harvest lines up with storage, labor and weather.
A calendar of crop timing can help, and this crop calendar guide offers a general way to line up planting and harvest windows.
If you grow more than one forage, spread plantings so harvest does not all land in the same week. A dairy with one chopper and one crew can only cut so many acres at a time.
How do water and weather change the plan?
On the High Plains, irrigation capacity and water supply often limit what you can grow and when. The Texas Water Development Board publishes regional water planning material, and local groundwater conservation districts set rules in many areas.
Weather swings, from late freezes to wind damage, are why many dairies stagger plantings and spread risk across a few varieties instead of one.
What does it cost if you plant at the wrong time?
A planting that misses its window can mean poor yield, lower quality, extra irrigation or replanting. Each of those costs money in seed, fuel and time. Keep records of planting dates and results so next year's decisions use your own data.
The USDA Risk Management Agency publishes crop insurance information, including how planting dates and final planting dates can affect coverage. Check current rules and talk to your agent. For money basics see this farm money guide. This is general education, not financial advice.
How should you build your own forage calendar?
Write the crops you grow in a column and the stages across the top: seedbed prep, planting, first irrigation, scouting, harvest, storage. Fill it in with this year's real dates, then compare it with Extension advice and your notes from last year.
farm.FM covers farming with a grin in farming stories and dairy stories, including a farm.FM piece on forage planting. Check the USDA NASS crop progress reports to see how planting is going across the state.
What mistakes are common with forage timing?
Planting too early into cold soil, planting too late and running into heat or frost, and skipping a soil test are the usual culprits. Another is chasing last year's date because it worked once. Weather resets the clock every season.
Keep a short notebook by the planter. Record the date, field, seed, soil conditions and what happened. Three seasons of notes are worth more than any advice you read online, and you can bring them to your Extension agent for a sanity check.
- Planting into cold or crusted soil
- Ignoring the moisture forecast
- Same date every year regardless of conditions
- No record of what worked
Sources and further reading
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Texas extension service
- National Weather Service: forecasts and warnings
- U.S. Drought Monitor: weekly drought maps
- Texas Water Development Board: water planning and funding
- USDA Risk Management Agency: crop insurance
- USDA NASS: agricultural statistics and surveys
Ask locally: Ask your county Extension agent for planting windows and varieties suited to your part of Texas.