Seasonal Guide · September 2025 · 5 min read
Fall is the ideal time to build winter grazing reserves and improve pasture stands. Stockpiling tall fescue can provide 60–90 days of winter grazing, reducing hay feeding costs significantly. Thoughtful fall management sets up your pastures for a productive spring.
Begin stockpiling by removing cattle from fescue pastures in early August and applying 40–60 lb/acre of actual nitrogen in September. Tall fescue responds well to fall nitrogen and produces high-quality growth through October. Strip-graze stockpiled pastures starting in late November to maximize utilization.
Well-managed stockpiled fescue maintains 12–16% crude protein and good digestibility even into January.
September is the best time to overseed legumes like red clover and white clover into existing pastures. Graze or clip pastures short before seeding to improve seed-to-soil contact. If you plan to frost seed in late winter, prepare now by identifying thin pasture areas and purchasing seed.
Pull soil samples in early fall so lime and fertilizer can be applied before winter. Pastures with pH below 6.0 benefit greatly from lime application, which improves legume persistence and nutrient availability. Allow pastures a rest period of 30–45 days before the first killing frost so plants can store root reserves for winter survival.
☑ Stay on track with our seasonal checklist:
Try the Farm Check