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.Yet eventually the bills come. A large amount is taken up by seed costs, and another by fertilizer. Repair work is needed on the fence, and the water trough has to have a new float as well, together with the fact that the calves can’t begin grazing when you wanted them to.
At that point, the so-called cheap winter grazing begins to appear expensive.
Wheat pasture can assist in helping calves put on weight and allow native grass to rest when other fields have dried out; but the fact that the wheat is green doesn’t mean that your cattle will turn a profit.
Before you plant 10 acres close to your house or several hundred acres over your ranch, calculate the total cost of the pasture and the amount of weight your cattle need to gain.
You must also know how many calves the field can support, how long they can graze, and whether the additional weight gained will cover the entire program.
You can do the math in September before you begin planting.
