The Grazing Manager

The most important TGM activity during the growing season is evaluating growing conditions as they compare to "normal". This is best done by observing pastures as they are grazed.

If the pastures are lasting longer than expected, growing conditions may be better than usual. Obviously, the opposite is also true. TGM gives us the tools to translate our observations into likely forage balance outlooks. We can then decide if we need to react to the changed outlook. Of course, TGM gives us the ability to test various solutions and plans, too.

Pages 32-34 of the TGM User Guide cover the Actual Pasture Utilization graph. Appendix B can help us put a number to our utilization observations. This is the percentage that becomes the point on the Actual Pasture Utilization graph.

A discrepancy between the point we placed on this graph and the line the computer draws, can indicate better or worse growing conditions than we planned for. Adjusting the Forage Growth Curve to bring the calculated line to the entered point on the Actual Pasture Utilization graph will update the outlook for forage balance to current growing conditions. Forewarned is forearmed!