Author Archives: grasslandrenewal

It is no surprise to anyone that the drought has persisted across much of the tall fescue belt.  Since I wrote last month we had one wet system that moved across the Southeastern US, bringing significant relief to Mississippi and Alabama, but only bringing spotty help to the rest of the region.  In North CarolinaContinue reading “Triple Creek Journal, June, 2026: The Drought Continues”

On May 7th, 2026, the Catawba Sustainability Center (CSC) – a 377-acre Virginia Tech research and demonstration farm in Catawba, Virginia – hosted a full-day workshop on nutrition in pasture-based livestock systems, bringing together farmers, extension agents, university faculty, and students. The morning session opened with presentations by Dr. Matt Poore, farmer, professor & extensionContinue reading “Bridging Science and Practice at the Catawba Sustainability Center”

If you plan to plant tall fescue this fall, decide which variety you want to grow and get your seed ordered as soon as you decide.  The seed crop in Oregon looks good, and we expect good supplies of seed tested and approved by the Alliance for Grassland Renewal.  For information on the commercial varietiesContinue reading “Novel Notes Timely Renovation Tips, June 2026”

As I write this, we are being passed over by yet another good chance of rain that will leave only splash marks in the dust.  We ended up with 0.85 inches of rain in April and 0.3 inches so far in May.  Overall, we are more than 15 inches behind for the year at thisContinue reading “Triple Creek Journal, May 2026:  It’s all part of the big story.”

These are interesting times in the beef industry. Cattle prices are higher than ever yet there is scant evidence of herd expansion in the macroeconomic data. However, I see enormous asking prices for bred heifers marketed online, so this month I want to share data that I’ve seen in the literature that could aid inContinue reading “Favor the earlier calving bred heifers at auction this fall (relative to your calving season)”

Matt Poore, NC State Extension, Amazing Grazing Program Becky Spearman, Cooperative Extension, Bladen County North Carolina Cooperative Extension Note: This article first appeared in the May, 2026 Carolina Cattle Connection and is reprinted here with permission. Deciding which cows to cull can be a difficult and emotional decision, but it must be done as aContinue reading “Strategic Culling of the Cow Herd in Drought Situations”

Our usual management tips for May need to be emphasized even more than usual given the drought conditions that cover most of the tall fescue belt.  As of May 10, 2026 nearly all of the tall fescue belt is in drought, with most areas at D2 or worse.  This is unprecedented for this time ofContinue reading “May Timely Tips for Toxic Tall Fescue Pastures”

Tall fescue is the most important coolseason grass grown in the “Heart of America”. It is a versatile plant used for animal feed, lawns and turf, and conservation purposes. Tall fescue is a native of Europe. The exact date of its’ introduction into the United States is not known, but likely came as a contaminantContinue reading “TALL FESCUE FROM 1931-2006”

As we enter a new year, this season naturally encourages reflection and redirection. Many of us see the New Year as an opportunity to refresh, get back on track, or start something entirely new. For those of us in the livestock and forage industry, this is an excellent time to evaluate our operations, review ourContinue reading “New Year, New Strategy: Developing a F.O.R.A.G.E Plan for 2026!”

We have had a very odd start to the grazing season.  The roller coaster ride of temperatures for the last two months has really hurt productivity of the perennial cool season grasses.  The fields we fertilized early came out and grew in March, only to be set back by a 23° F freeze.  This turnedContinue reading “Triple Creek Journal, April 2026: Back on grass, at least for now.”