In response, producers may choose to buy the extra forage needed or sell off some cattle. Winter wheat, winter barley, triticale, rye and spring oats are the small grain cereals best adapted for forage production in Kansas. For more detailed information, see KSU Extension publication MF-1072, Small Grain Cereals for Forag e. Pasture. Small grain cereals intended for emergency fall pasture should be planted as early as feasible. Where soil moisture is adequate, late August to early September seedings usually result in optimum pasture production in all areas of Kansas.
Pasture production declines with later planting dates.
If pasture is absolutely needed in late fall beyond the range of optimal planting dates, producers have the best chance for success by planting rye. Under good growing conditions, a well-fertilized small grain pasture can carry about 500 pounds of cattle per acre. Under poor growing conditions, This text was extracted from the publication, MF-1073.