Fertilizing Cool-Season Horse Pastures

Jan 06, 2023

By Krista Lea

Good pasture management begins with maintaining good soil fertility to promote the growth of desirable grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, and novel tall fescue. Now is an excellent time to review your soil fertility records and make plans for grazing this season.

Soil sampling can be conducted throughout most of the year, but early spring and fall are most common times to do so. Sample only the top four inches of the pasture, and divide large pastures into “sub-pastures” for sampling based on the varying topography.

Phosphorous (P), potassium (K), and lime

P and K promote plant growth and longevity, but plants don’t use lime directly. Rather, lime adjusts soil’s pH, making other nutrients more available for the plants to use.
Soil tests can help determine whether you need to apply P, K, or lime (and other nutrients), and applications might not be needed annually. High-traffic areas might not require P or K as it is recycled in animal manure.
P, K, and lime can be applied at any time of the year, as long as the weather is cooperative.

Nitrogen applications

A spring nitrogen application is generally not needed for cool season horse pastures because grass growth is naturally rapid in the spring. However, farms that have high stocking rates and intensive grazing can benefit from light nitrogen applications in early spring.
In the fall, apply nitrogen in two applications (30-60 pounds per acre each time) to prolong fall pasture growth and prepare plants for overwintering. Well-fertilized pastures will survive winter better and will green up sooner in the spring.
Only fertilize in the summer if harvesting hay or managing warm season grasses, such as bermudagrass. Be sure to apply it on cool days or use nonvolatilizing nitrogen sources such as ammonium nitrate.

While it’s not required to restrict grazing access to recently fertilized pastures, good horsemanship and pasture management suggests giving fields a week of rest or a good rain before returning animals to the pasture. For more information, see Soil Sampling and Nutrient Management (AGR-200) at uky.edu/ag/forage.

Source : uky.edu

Video: Why Port Infrastructure is Key to Growing Canada's Farms and Economy

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) knows that strong, modern port infrastructure is vital to the success of Canada’s agriculture. When our ports grow, Ontario grain farmers and Canadian farms grow too—and when we grow, Canada grows.

In this video, we highlight the importance of investing in port infrastructure and how these investments are key to growing Ontario agriculture and supporting global trade. The footage showcases the strength of both Ontario’s farming landscapes and vital port operations, including some key visuals from HOPA Ports, which we are grateful to use in this project.

Ontario’s grain farmers rely on efficient, sustainable ports and seaway systems to move grain to markets around the world. Port investments are crucial to increasing market access, driving economic growth, and ensuring food security for all Canadians.

Why Port Infrastructure Matters:

Investing in Ports = Investing in Farms: Modernized ports support the export of Canadian grain, driving growth in agriculture.

Sustainable Growth: Learn how stronger ports reduce environmental impact while boosting economic stability.

Global Trade Opportunities: Improved port and seaway systems help farmers access new global markets for their grain.

Stronger Communities: Investment in ports means more stable jobs and economic growth for rural communities across Ontario and Canada.

We are proud to support the ongoing investment in port infrastructure and to shine a light on its vital role in feeding the world and securing a prosperous future for Canadian agriculture.

Special thanks to HOPA Ports for providing some of the stunning port footage featured in this video.