CHRISTOPHER LeMASTER JR, Clemson Extension Livestock & Forages Agent
After a dry spring, many producers are asking the same question: how do we make up lost forage?
For a lot of operations this year, the answer is summer annuals.
Why summer annuals?
Summer annuals are fast-growing, high-quality forages that can help fill gaps when perennial systems fall short. In the Southeast, they’re typically planted from April through June and can be used for grazing, baleage, or hay.
Under good conditions, they can produce 5,000 to 10,000 pounds per acre with 15%+ crude protein—a strong option coming out of a poor spring. They are an excellent alternative to the increased risk of fescue toxicity across the summer months. Of course, that still depends on rainfall and management.
Even with risk, farmers are planting.
This isn’t a low-risk move.
Ongoing drought, elevated fuel and fertilizer prices make this a difficult decision. After looking at several extension enterprise budgets, some summer annuals could easily land in the $200/acre ballpark. However, doing nothing has a cost too!
Start with your goal.
Before planting, think about what you need most:
Dry hay – Possible, but challenging due to thick stems. Higher seeding rates and a mower conditioner can help.
Baleage – Strong option for hard-to-dry crops. Ensilation can also decrease nitrates
Grazing – A great way to stretch forage, improve cattle performance, and give Fescue pastures a break heading into fall and punch through the summer slump.
Don’t overlook mixtures.
Mixtures are getting more attention—and for good reason.
Adding legumes can:
Reduce nitrogen needs
Maintain yield and quality
Improve soil health and resilience
They can also help buffer against drought and extend the grazing season. Just keep in mind that herbicide options may be more limited.
A quick word on risk
Not all summer annuals handle stress the same.
Pearl millet offers good drought tolerance and avoids prussic acid risk (though nitrates are still possible).
Sorghum and sorghum-sudan can be high-yielding but require careful management due to prussic acid and nitrate concerns.
Crabgrass performs well but needs consistent moisture
Final thoughts
Summer annuals aren’t a silver bullet—but they can help bridge the forage gap after a dry spring.
This isn’t an exhaustive list—just a starting point.
If you’re trying to decide what fits your operation, reach out or check out our other forage resources. We’re happy to help you think through your options.
MATT FISCHER, Clemson Extension Livestock & Forage Economist CHRISTOPHER LeMASTER JR, Clemson Extension Livestock & Forages Agent
Drought changes the math—fast.
In a D3 (extreme) drought, especially when paired with a 50% spike in fertilizer and fuel costs, the old hay production playbook doesn’t just struggle—it can quietly put you out of business. This isn’t just about surviving one tough season. It’s about protecting your land, your forage stands, and your financial position for the next year.
Low Yields Can Cause Your Cost per Bale to Explode
In a normal year, your equipment, labor, and overhead are spread across a solid number of bales. That’s what keeps your cost per bale manageable.
But drought flips that equation.
If you’re only producing 25% of your typical yield, your fixed cost per bale doesn’t just go up—it can quadruple.
Your reality doesn’t change:
Your tractor payment is still due
Your labor still costs what it costs
Your time hasn’t gotten any cheaper
Trying to sell hay at “normal” prices in this environment isn’t competitive—it’s unsustainable.
The Soil “Loan” You May Not Realize You’re Taking
Every bale you remove is taking nutrients with it—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. In a good year, those nutrients are replaced. In a drought year with high input costs, that replacement often gets delayed… or skipped.
If your hay price doesn’t cover nutrient removal, replacement fertilizer, and application costs, then you’re not just selling hay—you’re mining your soil.
Think of it as a loan from your land: you gain short-term cash flow, but you build long-term fertility debt. And like any loan, it eventually comes due.
Mowing vs. Harvest
One of the toughest calls in a drought year is whether to harvest at all.
There are times when mowing and leaving the forage as residue creates more value than baling it. It helps conserve soil moisture, protects stand health, and reduces long-term damage.
Over-harvesting drought-stressed forage—especially fescue—can thin or even kill your stand. And once that happens, you’re looking at re-establishment costs that far outweigh the value of a few bales.
A Reality Check on Spring Fescue Yield
At this point in the season, spring yield potential for fescue is largely set. Even if we catch some rain, don’t expect meaningful increases in hay yield for this cutting.
In a grazing situation, however, there may be some opportunity for regrowth. If we’re able to clip mature seed heads and receive timely rainfall, we may see some regrowth—provided temperatures remain mild.
Choosing not to harvest now and waiting on future growth is, in many ways, a bet on fall production. And like any bet, it carries risk.
I don’t recommend making that bet unless you have a backup plan—whether that’s identifying an alternate hay source or having stored hay that will hold its quality in the barn. As with anything, it’s smart to hedge your bet.
Another way to hedge that risk is by looking at summer annuals to help replace some of the yield loss we’ve experienced this spring. We’ll take a closer look at summer annual options in our next blog post.
The Reality of a Tight Hay Market
This isn’t just happening on your farm—it’s regional.
In a widespread drought:
Yields are down everywhere
Supply is tight
Demand stays strong
Buying hay becomes difficult. And when you do find it, trucking costs can rival the value of the hay itself.
That’s why local hay carries a premium—lower freight, faster access, and more reliability.
Price for Survival, Not Tradition
Pricing hay based on “what it’s always been” is a losing strategy in a year like this.
Instead:
Calculate your true cost per bale
Adjust for reduced yield
Build in a margin that protects your operation
Because if your price doesn’t cover your costs, maintain soil fertility, and protect your forage stands, you’re not running a business—you’re liquidating one.
The Bigger Picture: Staying in Business Next Year
Right now, the goal isn’t maximizing production.
It’s:
Preserving your soil
Protecting your stands
Maintaining financial stability
That may mean making uncomfortable decisions:
Charging more than you ever have
Cutting less than you want
Walking away from marginal harvests
Bottom line: Sit down with a pencil. Run your numbers honestly. Price your hay based on reality—not tradition.
Christopher LeMaster, Jr. Livestock & Forage Agent Cherokee, Spartanburg, & Union Counties
We don’t usually associate tall fescue with nitrate toxicity in the spring. However, the current D3 drought conditions have changed the equation. This is not only a “summer problem,” but cool-season grasses—such as tall fescue or winter annuals—can pose a risk under these specific conditions.
If you applied high levels of nitrogen this spring to catch a flush of growth that never came, the risk in your fescue fields is real. Without rain, the plant couldn’t convert that nitrogen into growth. It simply accumulated in the lower portion of the plant. Now that we are finally seeing some rain, that “stuck” nitrogen is being pulled into the plant at a rapid rate.
The Spike
It is a common misconception that the danger passes as soon as the grass turns green again. In reality, research shows that nitrate levels typically spike 2 to 3 days after a drought-ending rain. This is the most dangerous window for your livestock.
The One-Week Rule: While the spike is most acute in the first 48 to 72 hours, we recommend waiting at least one week before grazing or harvesting. This allows the plant time to resume normal metabolism and begin “growing out” of that initial nitrate flush.
Hay is “Locked In”: Nitrates do not dissipate in dry hay. Once your mower hits the field, you are locked in at that nitrate level forever.
Silage/Fermentation: If you are putting up high-moisture forage or baleage, the fermentation process can reduce nitrate levels by 40% to 60%, but this should still be verified with a test.
Don’t Guess—Test
If you have fields with a high nitrogen history that are currently recovering from drought, I strongly recommend sampling the standing forage before you cut.
Get a Representative Sample: Take “grab samples” from multiple areas of the field, specifically focusing on the lower portions of the plant where nitrates concentrate.
Utilize the Lab: Bring your samples to your local Extension Office or send them directly to the Agricultural Service Laboratory. They can provide a precise analysis of nitrate-nitrogen levels.
Check the Backlog: We may also consider testing outside of that initial one-week window. Once the plant has had time to work through the backlog of accumulated nitrogen, a follow-up sample can confirm if the forage has returned to an acceptable or safe range for harvest.
Next Steps
If your test results come back with an elevated nitrate level, we can work on a plan to safely manage that forage. Whether that means diluting the feed with other forages, adjusting your grazing strategy, or simply waiting a few more days for the plant to balance out, there are ways to keep your herd safe.
Have questions about how to pull a proper sample or interpret your lab results? Reach out to your local livestock and forage agent today.
Spring arrived ahead of schedule this year, catching many producers off guard with the advanced maturity of our common winter weeds. While most of these species are typically easy to control when targeted at the correct growth stage, the recent unseasonal warmth has given them a significant jump start. Now, many of us are looking at advanced weeds and wondering: should we spray now or delay?
The Current Challenge
Take, for example, these healthy specimens of henbit and mustard recently found in a newly established fescue hayfield. In this case, the producer did his due diligence in preparing the field, sowing, and fertilizing within the appropriate time window this fall.
However, even the best-laid plans are subject to the weather. The lack of rainfall of this past fall persisted through the winter and into the spring, complicating management decisions.
The Trade-Off: Chemical Power vs. Plant Maturity
It’s tempting to look at a field of mature henbit and mustard and want to reach for a heavy hitter. Many would agree that a strong residual herbicide—such as those containing aminopyralid (like GrazonNext® HL)—would work even on these mature plants.
While you are likely right about the efficacy, we must factor in the maturity of the forage stand. Most high-powered herbicides require the grass to have at least three leaves and a healthy root system before application. This particular stand was just barely above that maturity threshold, and it seemed risky given the current drought conditions and warmer temperatures.
The “Mow vs. Spray” Decision
Beyond plant maturity, there is the critical factor of residual restrictions. Herbicides containing aminopyralid carry a significant restriction: the hay cannot be sold off the farm for 18 months. For many hay growers, this necessitates a non-residual herbicide approach.
However, at this stage of maturity, a non-residual option like 2,4-D would not provide adequate control. By this point, much of the damage—the robbing of water, sunlight, and fertilizer—has already been done by these mature weeds. While it is always satisfying to spray and watch the weeds curl and die, the current drought makes it a real challenge; we need actively growing weeds for maximum herbicide uptake.
In this case, the decision was made to wait and mow the field at a high height. This strategy offers several benefits:
Stimulating Growth: Set the mower high to encourage some regrowth and tillering while also avoiding the energy reserves and some canopy.
Nutrient Cycling: It leaves the nutrients in the field to break down rather than removing them in a hay crop.
Recovery Time: A traditional hay crop is often cut shorter and later in the season, which wouldn’t allow the plant to rebound as quickly before the summer months.
Looking Ahead: Planning for Next Season
The main goal of this situation was to prepare and protect the plant for its biggest hurdle yet: summer. The fescue needs maximum root development to survive the heat and lack of rain.
As we plan ahead for next season, it’s important to remember that many of these winter weeds can be successfully controlled much earlier. Targeting them in the fall, or even during late February and early March, allows for better control while the weeds are small and before they’ve had a chance to rob your forage of vital resources.
Moving forward, they are shifting to a more rigorous weed scouting program. By catching the summer weeds as they emerge, we can ensure they are controlled efficiently and cost-effectively.
As with anything, there is no one answer that fits for everybody. Spraying may still be the best option for your situation. Feel free to reach out, and let’s discuss a plan.
The inaugural Winter Dairy Weekend marked an exciting new opportunity for youth and families interested in the dairy industry. Designed as an informative and fun two-day educational experience, the weekend focused on building practical skills, confidence, and enthusiasm preparing youth for success in agriculture, careers, and life.
A total of 28 youth participated, with 24 youth owning their own heifers and 4 youth borrowing heifers for the event. One of the primary goals of Winter Dairy Weekend was to provide hands-on dairy learning that would spark interest and build readiness for future opportunities. For youth who borrowed heifers, the weekend served as an introduction to dairy ownership with the hope that they will be inspired to participate in the Dairy Heifer Project or invest in their own heifers to raise and show. In addition, we hope the 24 youth who already owned their heifers gained valuable skills and confidence to help them prepare for the upcoming show season. Through expert instruction and hands-on practice, youth refined their daily care routines, strengthened their showmanship skills, and deepened their understanding of animal presentation. Our goal is that each participant leaves better prepared, more confident, and ready to be the very best version of themselves—both in and out of the show ring, reflecting the Beyond Ready focus on personal growth and readiness.
Throughout the weekend, youth participated in hands-on instruction covering all aspects of preparing and caring for a dairy heifer. Educational sessions included:
Washing and daily care
Feeding and nutrition
Halter breaking and proper halter fit
Judging dairy cattle
Fitting and clipping techniques
Showmanship skills and ring presence
Participants learned what to look for when selecting a quality heifer, how to properly fit halters, which clippers to use and why, and practical techniques to help make their heifers look their very best in the show ring. Special emphasis was placed on attention to detail, confidence, and communication—skills that extend far beyond the show ring!
Beyond technical skills, Winter Dairy Weekend provided a space for youth to build friendships, work as a team, and connect with peers and mentors. These experiences reinforced that dairy projects are about more than cattle; they develop responsibility, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. Which are critical life skills that prepare youth for future challenges.
As the very first Winter Dairy Weekend, the event established a strong foundation for future programming. We hope this experience benefited both youth and parents and sparked continued interest in dairy projects while supporting long-term youth development through hands-on learning and leadership opportunities.
Over the past four months, I have been getting established in my role as the Clemson Extension Area Livestock and Forages Agent, focusing on building relationships with producers, assessing local needs, and identifying opportunities to strengthen livestock and forage systems across Newberry, Laurens, and Greenwood Counties. This initial period has been spent meeting with farmers, visiting operations, and working to better understand the challenges and goals of our livestock community. These early efforts are laying the groundwork for future programming, on-farm support, and educational resources aimed at improving forage management, animal performance, and overall farm sustainability.
So far, some of my time has been invested in attending Cattlemen’s Association meetings in my coverage area, regional bull sales, and professional development conferences to stay connected with both producers and industry trends. These events have provided me with valuable insight into current cattle markets, soil and forage health and fertility, and management practices to share with my local producers. Participation in fellow Extension agents’ programs has also offered opportunities to observe successful programming efforts, gather new ideas, and strengthen collaborative relationships across counties. Together, these experiences are helping shape future livestock and forage programming to better serve local producers and support informed decision-making on their operations.
Looking ahead to 2026, I look forward to continuing to work alongside our livestock producers and supporting the growth and success of operations across Newberry, Laurens, and Greenwood Counties. Strengthening relationships, providing research-based information, and developing practical programming that meets local needs will remain a top priority of mine. Whether through on-farm visits, educational meetings, or collaborative events, my goal is to ensure producers have access to the tools and resources needed to improve their operations. I am excited for the opportunities ahead and appreciate the continued support and engagement from our livestock community.
Christopher LeMaster, Jr. Area Livestock & Forage Agent Cherokee, Spartanburg, & Union Counties
For the past three years, our regional spring and fall workshop series has brought together the livestock producers of Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union counties. These sessions are designed to provide local producers with practical, science-based information to navigate an ever-changing industry. This spring, we are continuing that tradition on March 12 at 6:00 PM at the Institute of Innovation in Gaffney with a focused panel discussion on selling beef directly to consumers.
According to a Clemson Extension study, 47% of South Carolina livestock producers now sell at least some of their animals through direct-to-consumer methods. While the bare meat counter during the COVID-19 pandemic spiked local demand, this trend has held. Many producers have made direct sales an increasing part of their farm income.
While selling beef directly to the public can be a great way to add value to a farm, it comes with its own set of technical hurdles. From understanding carcass finishing to navigating South Carolina’s meat-handling regulations, there is a lot to consider before fattening the calf.
To help break down these complexities, we’ve assembled a panel of experts to provide an objective look at the process. Travis Howard of Knockout Butchery will join us to discuss the processor’s perspective, while specialists from Clemson Extension will provide insight into the economics, regulation, meat science, nutrition, and marketing involved in direct sales.
We also recognize that many of our local farms are truly family affairs. To support that dynamic, we’ve included a youth-focused educational track for the evening. While the adults participate in the panel, kids ages 15 and under will head to the Animal Science Lab for a hands-on livestock activity led by Clemson 4-H and Cherokee County FFA. It’s a great way to involve the next generation in our industry.
The evening will begin with a dinner, providing a chance for producers from across our three counties to connect and talk shop. Whether you are a seasoned producer or just considering your first direct sale, we hope you’ll join us for this regional workshop.
MARCH 12 6PM
Institute of Innovation 175 Campus Way Gaffney, SC
Clemson Extension hosted a joint meeting of Fairfield and Richland County cattle producers on February 3, 2026, in Winnsboro. The meeting topic was Cattle Marketing: What Buyers Are Looking for. Ms. Tammie Shore, Mr. Wes Weeks, and Mr. Joseph Coleman, owners/operators of Saluda Livestock Exchange, spoke about the characteristics and management that cattle buyers desire in the cattle they purchase. They also highlighted the services and sales opportunities that are available at Saluda Livestock Exchange. Forty cattle producers from Fairfield and Richland Counties attended the meeting and received up-to-date information on the current cattle market in South Carolina.
This meeting was part of the 2025-2026 Fairfield Cattle Educational Series, an annual series of educational topics for cattle producers in the area. Meetings are held in October, November, January, February, March, and April each year. The series offers educational topics on forage management, herd health, cattle marketing, and other topics of interest to the cattle-producing community.
July marked the exciting start of the 51st South Carolina 4-H Dairy Heifer Project! This long-standing tradition continues to provide opportunities for youth to learn about dairying and the dairy industry. The Dairy Heifer Project began in 1974 and was designed to provide boys and girls in South Carolina an opportunity to raise a dairy heifer and experience the dairy industry and then sell their heifer at the South Carolina 4-H Bred Dairy Heifer Sale before she begins milking. The project is a long-term project. This year, 24 participants from all corners of South Carolina received heifers. Youth received a dairy calf of one of four breeds: Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey, or Brown Swiss. Over the next 20 months, these young people will raise and care for their heifers, gaining invaluable skills in animal husbandry, responsibility, and showmanship. The journey culminates in the spring of 2027, when the now-bred dairy heifers will be marketed and sold to dairymen across the country through an online auction. The SC Dairy Bred Heifer Sale serves as an excellent source of herd replacements for South Carolina dairymen. In past years, heifers raised in South Carolina have gone on to begin their careers as milk producers in as many as eight different states!
This year is especially exciting, as we welcomed 10 new families into the program—proof that the spirit of agriculture is alive and growing. The 4-H Dairy Heifer Committee is thrilled to see so many youth eager to step into the world of agriculture, many for the very first time.
With the 4-H motto being “learn by doing”, we believe one of the best ways to learn… is with an animal in hand.
Bryan Smith, Area Extension Agent-Agricultural Engineer
SC State Regulation R.61-43 requires all confined animal facility operators to attend the Confined Animal Manure Manager (CAMM) certification program provided by Clemson Extension. The CAMM team has worked hard to provide trainings for South Carolina’s confined animal facility operators this year. From July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 Bryan Smith (Laurens), Brian Beer (Lancaster), Lee van Vlake (Florence), and Amber Starnes (Chesterfield) worked together to offer two initial, full day trainings and also worked with local county agents across the state to provide 65 recertification trainings including 53 in-person trainings and 12 online Zoom trainings.
Presenters included Bryan Smith, Dr. Julie Helm (Livestock Poultry Health), Dr. John Chastain (Clemson University), Dr. Sean Eastman (Livestock Poultry Health), Lee van Vlake, Brian Beer, and Tonya O’Cain (SCDES). Topics included “Crop Utilization of Manure Nutrients and Soil Fertility,” “Vectors and Vector Control,” “Horse Manure Issues and Management,” “Mortality and Composting,” “Energy Saving Opportunities for Swine Facilities,” “Beef Grazing Systems and Water Quality Protection,” “Poultry Litter Fertilization for Hybrid Bermudagrass,” and “Tunnel Ventilation & Evaporative Cooling: Heat Stress Reduction, Performance, and Energy Use,” as well as several others.
597 growers attended the in-person recertification trainings and 435 growers attended the online recertification trainings. 60 growers attended the two initial, full-day trainings.
The team plans to offer two initial, full-day trainings in February 2026 and a slate of recertification trainings for our growers from January through March 2026 and another slate from late April through August 2026. More information about the training program may be found at www.clemson.edu/camm .
