Emergency Forage Planting Guide
A guide to emergency forage planting after loss, helping producers choose fast crops and plan next steps. Work through the steps in order, and keep notes on what you decide for future reference.
GuideForages, Pasture & GrazingFree PDF
The steps on this page
- Assess feed shortage
- Check soil moisture and season
- Pick fast growing species
- Source seed quickly
- Prepare the seedbed
- Plant per seed tag guidance
- Plan first grazing carefully
- Contact agencies about assistance
How to use this guide
Walk a new hand through the steps once, then let them use the page on their own. Add your own notes as you learn what works.
Where to check the details
This sheet is a general template, so confirm specifics with your own manuals, labels and local rules. For current official guidance, start with USDA Farm Service Agency and eXtension.
For more in this area, see the ranch beef reference. Between chores, farm.FM has farm humor, including Dairy One Forage Lab Rates Hay “Adequate”; Farmer Rates Its Price “Catastrophic”, and farming farm stories.