September often tempts you to squeeze in one more pasture rotation. With the calves gone, cows still need feed, and there’s still green under the seedheads. Keeping them in that paddock another week might save hay or put off using winter pasture.Across West Texas, warm-season grasses are running out of time to grow. Shorter days and cooler nights slow regrowth, even if it rains. Grass grazed now might not come back before frost.
Timing varies across the region. A High Plains pasture might stop growing weeks before a warmer spot farther south. Watch for active growth, soil moisture, night temperatures, and your typical first freeze instead of using September as a set deadline.
Your last rotation decides how much leaf, crown protection, and soil cover you’ll have through winter. Grazing too short can also slow down the plant’s growth in spring.
There’s no one-size-fits-all rule that says every pasture should end up at four inches. Buffalograss grows differently than sideoats grama, and bermudagrass isn’t the same as little bluestem. Soil, rainfall, grazing history, and plant health all matter too.
Instead of asking, “How short can cattle graze this pasture?” ask, “What needs to stay for this grass and soil to go into winter in good shape?“
If you have spent any time running cattle in West Texas, you know not to count on the rain.
September often makes wheat pasture seem like a quick way to earn money. Someone at the feed store mentions that calves should gain well this winter; a bit of rain moistens the ground, and soon everyone is eager to start planting.
September in West Texas can be misleading. Although the pasture still has brown grass, the cows are scattered about, and one rain may bring a bit of green to the low areas. It might look from the truck as though there is enough feed to carry on into the fall.
If you walk through a West Texas pasture in August, the grass will usually show you what is really happening, even if it is not what you want to see. Maybe the old bluestem is thin near the water lot. Maybe broomweed has popped up in a pasture that looked good back in the spring. Maybe ragweed is filling in bare spots, or silverleaf nightshade keeps returning, no matter how many times you thought you had it under control. Most ranchers see these plants and immediately ask, “What do I need to spray?” That is a reasonable question, but it should not be the first one. A better question is, “Why is this weed showing up here?”
Every summer, ranchers look out over their pastures and see weeds rising above the grass and brush shading spots where forage should grow. That’s when the same question comes up: “Do I spray this now, or did I already miss my window?”
In June, a pasture might look good from the road, but it could still be hiding problems.
If you want to really understand your pasture conditions right now, don’t just look at the grass, watch the weeds, too. In May, everything becomes more obvious across West Texas and the Southern Plains. You can see what grew well with early moisture, what got grazed too much, and what’s been slowly going downhill. This is one of your best chances to check pasture health before summer stress hits.
Every April in West Texas, there’s a window where it feels like things are finally starting to work in your favor again. The grass is greening up, cattle are grazing aggressively, and after months of feeding hay, it looks like your pastures are ready to carry the load. You open the gate, turn cows out, and for a while, it seems like you’ve got more than enough forage to get through the spring. From the surface, everything points to a strong start.
Each spring in West Texas, there’s a brief period when everything comes together. Pastures turn green, cattle move to fresh grass, and after a long winter, it finally feels like the grass is pulling its weight again. Cows graze eagerly, the forage looks plentiful, and it seems like you’re ready for a great grazing season. Many producers feel this is the time to relax and let the pasture do the work.
