Crabgrass for Forage: Management from the 1990s/Summer Annual/Winter Annual Rotation of Grazing and Forage Systems

Table 1. Volunteer or Planted Forage Crabgrass and Winter Pasture Double-Crop Cycle for the Northern, South Central, and Southeastern United States

Northern U.S.	Activity¹	South Central/Southeastern U.S.	Activity¹

February 15²	Topdress for spring phase pasture. Increase stocking rates and continue rotational grazing in the spring. Overseed crabgrass into winter grass or alfalfa. Frost-seed red clover or other clovers.	February 1²	Topdress for spring phase pasture. Increase stocking rates and continue rotational grazing in the spring. Overseed crabgrass into winter grass or alfalfa.

March 1 to 15	Defer for grain or hay production. Frost-seed annual lespedeza. Overseed new crabgrass.	March 1	Defer for grain or hay production. Overseed new crabgrass.

May 1 to 15	Complete winter pasture use. Renovate (till) for crabgrass. Preemergence nitrogen for crabgrass. Apply phosphorus, potassium, and lime. Plant new crabgrass fields. Plant annual lespedeza.	April 20 to May 5	Complete winter pasture use. Renovate (till) for crabgrass3. Preemergence nitrogen for crabgrass. Apply phosphorus, potassium, and lime. Plant new crabgrass fields.

May 15 to July	Graze alternative forages.	April 20 to June 1	Graze alternative forages.

May to early June	At early tiller stages, apply postemergence nitrogen for crabgrass, if not applied earlier. Plant new crabgrass fields.	May	At early tiller stages, apply postemergence nitrogen for crabgrass, if not applied earlier. Plant new crabgrass fields.

July 1	Rotationally graze crabgrass. Harvest crabgrass hay/silage, etc. Manage for seed drop for volunteer. Spray or mow for weed control. Watch for armyworms. Plant new crabgrass fields. Apply more nitrogen.	May 20 to June	Rotationally graze crabgrass. Harvest crabgrass hay/silage, etc. Manage for seed drop for volunteer. Spray or mow for weed control. Watch for armyworms and grasshoppers. Plant new crabgrass fields.

September 1	Complete crabgrass grazing/haying. Apply phosphorus, potassium, and lime. Use low-tillage3, no tillage, or broadcasting to plant winter pasture seeds. Apply banded starter fertilizer. Preplant or topdress fall nitrogen for fall phase pasture. Use forage-type winter cereal rye or wheat, oats, barley, triticale, annual ryegrass, or annual bromegrass. Plant legumes or alfalfa. Watch for armyworms.	July	Apply more nitrogen.

September 1 to November	Graze alternative forages.	September 1	Complete crabgrass grazing/haying. Apply phosphorus, potassium, and lime. Use low-tillage3, no tillage, or broadcasting to plant winter pasture seeds. Apply banded starter fertilizer. Preplant or topdress nitrogen for fall phase pasture. Use forage-type winter cereal rye or wheat, oats, barley, triticale, annual ryegrass, or annual bromegrass. Plant legumes or alfalfa. Watch for armyworms.

November 1	Start rotational grazing on stockpiled winter pasture.	September 1 to November 15	Start rotational grazing on stockpiled winter pasture. Graze alternative forages.

¹All forage is for rotational grazing or hay, with some grain harvest options. ²Dates are approximate. ³Upper level crabgrass double crop should be lightly tilled at least once per year.