The ryegrass is jumping. With hay in short supply, fertilizing ryegrass pastures will help forestall feeding hay before bermudagrass pastures come on later in the spring. Also, fertilizing in early March will help the ryegrass choke out flushes of spring weeds that could reduce summer pasture quality. Reeves recommended applying about 50 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre plus phosphorus and potassium per soil test recommendations. If they haven't had a soil test done recently, producers should go ahead and apply the nitrogen, send off soil samples and plan to follow up about the first of April with an application phosphorus and potassium.
Many producers apply phosphorus and potassium later, anyway, and that's fine.
Considering the cost of fertilizers, Reeves strongly recommended having a soil test performed. The same test or tests used for ryegrass pastures now may also be used to help producers determine the spring fertilizer requirements for summer pastures. Producers may contact the local county office of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service for a sample bag and mailing address of soil test labs.