Pastures & Forage

We cover a wide range of questions for cool-season and warm-season forage production for grazing or harvest. From soil testing to weed identification and forage variety selection, our educational resources cover topics that can guide optimal production for ranchers and forage producers.

Related Departments: Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Soil and Crop Sciences, Horticultural Sciences

cows in a pasture

Soil, Water, and Forage Testing Lab

The Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory is part of the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and The Texas A&M University System.
Man shoveling soil into bucket

Learn About
Pastures & Forage

Publications

Publication

Grassbur is a problematic grassy weed that can disrupt the quality of any turf setting. Learn about creating a healthy turf stand, including preemergent and post-emergent herbicide recommendations.

Publication

This 11-page publication provides background information on organic agriculture, a description of the research project, project outcomes, experiences managing the organic system, as well as links to additional resources.

Publication

Producers can use the information here to help with allocating scarce resources (time and money) among the five management areas discussed. Although management styles would influence the allocation, on average, the focus should be first on costs, then technology adoption, then yields, and finally prices. (4 pages)

Programs

We offer numerous free and affordable programs on agriculture and natural resources, family and community health, economic health and youth development. We also offer many volunteer opportunities. Browse the list below.
Program

Beef 706 is a two-day hands-on training program for leaders in various segments of the beef industry who are focused on quality assessment.

Program

The David McKnight ’73 Ranch Management University is an intensive four-day event for new or inexperienced ranchers and landowners to learn about managing soils, forages, livestock and wildlife.

Program

Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation Seed produces and markets genetically pure seeds of new plant cultivars developed by scientists of Texas A&M AgriLife Research.

Courses

Course

This 8-hour course is designed to satisfy the Apprentice Training Requirements as specified in Rule 7.132 (i) (2) and will cover common termites in Texas along with other wood-destroying insects.

Course

Any plant growing in the wrong place can be a weed. Crepe myrtles growing on a putting green would certainly be weeds. The same goes for bermudagrass growing in flower. Learn the basics of identifying and controlling weeds, as well as cultural practices, equipment, and application and reading labels correctly.

Course

Those who participate in this course will learn about herbicides, different modes of action, and different herbicide families. Pesticide applicators looking to receive 1 hour of credit for TDA pesticide general CEU can be earned with this course.

Grazingland Animal Nutrition Lab

The Grazingland Animal Nutrition Lab (GANLAB) offers diagnostic diet analyses and nutritional decision support information for use in the monitoring of grazing animals.

All Resources on Pastures & Forage

  • Course

    This course provides two CEUs to TDA agricultural applicators. Aerial applicators will receive the required credits for drift minimization and safety addressing human factors. All TDA applicators who complete the course will gain knowledge of spray drift minimization as well as pesticide safety.

  • Course

    This course is designed to assist pest management companies in training new employees. By taking this course, apprentices and other employees will have the opportunity to receive 20 hours of in-depth training required by the Texas Department of Agriculture Structural Pest Control Service.

  • Course

    This course is for Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicators seeking TDA continuing education units (CEUs). This course provides 1- Drift Minimization CEU. Applicators who complete the course will gain knowledge of the factors affecting pesticide drift, such as inversion, spray nozzles, and drift factors.

  • Course

    As urban areas expand and homeowners continue to want attractive lawns and landscapes, the use of pesticides to control plant pests has continued to grow. Take this course to become an apprentice and learn about pesticides and their proper use, as well as how to apply them for home, lawn, and other landscapes.

  • Course

    Do you want to restore native plants? Are you curious about when to plant and how to maintain it? This online course will discuss how land managers can select, plant, and maintain native plants and when to plant them.

  • Course

    This Picolinic Acid Chemistry Training covers the application requirements for the use of Invora™ herbicide for brush and weed management on rangeland sites in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

  • Publication

    Grassbur is a problematic grassy weed that can disrupt the quality of any turf setting. Learn about creating a healthy turf stand, including preemergent and post-emergent herbicide recommendations.

  • Publication

    This 11-page publication provides background information on organic agriculture, a description of the research project, project outcomes, experiences managing the organic system, as well as links to additional resources.

  • Publication

    Producers can use the information here to help with allocating scarce resources (time and money) among the five management areas discussed. Although management styles would influence the allocation, on average, the focus should be first on costs, then technology adoption, then yields, and finally prices. (4 pages)

  • Publication

    Nutritional management is complicated by changing forage quality and quantity. This publication discusses forage quality trends in various regions of Texas, tools to analyze the nutritional environment of cattle and differentiate between forage quality and availability problems, and nutritional management strategies. (8 pages)

Have questions? We can help!

As part of our extension mission of Serving Every Texan, we aim to make contacting our experts easy. Find the best fit for your needs:

Localized Information & Resources

Domain Knowledge & Topical Expertise

Media Inquiries & Resource Scheduling