Planting Dates and Rates.
Small grains and annual ryegrass for pasture should be planted earlier and at higher seeding rates than is conventional for grain production. The following table gives guidelines on planting dates and rates for small grains, annual ryegrass, rescuegrass, some clovers and other legumes, and mixtures. The early fall planting date target is ideal, but plantings can continue to March 1 in southern Oklahoma. In very late plantings, certain kinds and varieties should be used. Planting rates and dates are not given for all forages because that information is available from the usual agricultural information sources.

Oats, barley, annual ryegrass, and rescuegrass can all be successfully spring planted. Seeding rates are the same or up to 50 percent greater than that of fall planting if a thick stand is wanted. Spring planting dates in southern Oklahoma are about February 1 to March 10.

Fertilization.
To produce optimum forage, winter forages require added plant nutrients. Small grain yields may range from 1 to 3 tons or more per acre. One ton of forage will contain 60 pounds of nitrogen (N), 12 to 15 pounds of phosphorus (P), and 60 pounds of potassium (K). These nutrients cannot all be supplied by the soil.

The nutrient base in the soil can be determined from a soil test. Supplemental fertilization can be determined according to the soil test analysis and other factors such as soil moisture and type, yield goals, and plant variety.

A typical fertilization program would consist in applying a starter fertilizer containing phosphorus and nitrogen by banding it with the seed at planting. Then a nitrogen fertilizer would be applied during both fall and spring. The first application should be made soon after plants emerge; the second, in mid-February.

For a winter pasture mix of small grain and clover or vetch, delay the first top-dressing of nitrogen two to three weeks so that the clover can become fully established. Nitrogen fertilizers can be toxic to the rhizobium attached to the clover seed, and excessive nitrogen will cause too much small grain production, which increases competition, and that can kill the small legume plants.

Total nitrogen top-dressing rates vary from 50 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre for low production goals to 250 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre for upper-level production goals.

Overseeded winter pasture in bermudagrass or crabgrass residue should be fertilized much the same way. However, it is important to make the first nitrogen top-dressing soon after hard freezes to reduce the summer grass uptake of the nitrogen and encourage early production of the winter pasture component. It is also important to use a minimum of 100 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre.

Soil acidity can be a limiting factor in forage production. A soil pH below 5.5 will limit growth on some varieties of small grains, and a pH below 6.0 will limit growth of clover plants. Soil acidity can be corrected with an application of lime, the amount to use determined by a soil analysis.

Pasture and Grazing Management.
After the stand of small grain emerges and is growing, the need for management is just beginning. If the profit potential is to be realized, the plants must make good production and then be properly used.

Small grains planted early are susceptible to insect infestation. From the fall until cold weather hits, observe plants every one to three days for possible infestations of armyworms, cutworms, and other damaging insects. Look for leaf damage or discoloration. Watch for areas within the field that have a different color and growth pattern from adjacent areas. Control insects with insecticides as necessary.

Use plant height and density as a guideline to determine the beginning grazing date. A plant must have time to develop an adequate root system before forage is removed, because a shallow, weak root-crown system will cause the regrowth process to be slow and limited. Plants grazed too soon will regrow very slowly and produce much less. When plant leaves are removed, energy to grow new leaves must come from the root-crown lower-stem system. A minimum of 8 inches of growth is the normal guide for the beginning grazing date for rye in southern Oklahoma. Less growth may be acceptable for wheat. Plants should not be grazed to a residue height shorter than 3 inches. Leaf area is needed for the plants to continue growth to make a rapid recovery after being grazed. There will be a few fall seasons that are too dry to produce adequate growth for fall grazing, and grazing should not be done until spring when growth is better. If there is a limited amount of properly grazeable pasture by somewhere between November 15 and December 1, it can be grazed to about a 3-inch residue.

Information on the performance of horses grazing winter pasture is somewhat limited. There are research results that indicate that winter forages can provide 100 percent of the diet for the horse that is being maintained, used only lightly, or grown at a moderate level. If you want a maximum daily gain for horses that are growing or have a medium to heavy work load, you will need to provide supplemental feed high in energy.

Stocking rate depends on the availability of forage, the size of the animals, and the number of days needed for grazing. A horse will consume about 2 percent of its body weight in dry matter per day. The average grazing period for rye is from about November 15 to May 1, or 150 days. Rye grown on a sandy loam soil that has low to moderate fertility and is in a 35-inch rainfall area will produce an average of 1.5 to 2.5 tons of dry matter during this period. Assuming that 80 percent would be available for grazing, it would then take about 1 to 1.6 acres to provide forage for one horse weighing 1,000 pounds. However, that number will actually be about 2.0 acres per horse from the fall to March 1 and 1 acre during March and April because of the difference in pasture volume in fall and spring. These projections are for excellent, very productive pasture.

Avoid using winter pasture areas for horse exercise. Small-grain plants are tender and can be damaged severely by trampling effects. A separate area containing water, minerals, hay, and shelter should be provided for the horse to loiter and exercise in.