Over the past few weeks, I’ve enjoyed seeing Tennessee pastures turning green again as I’ve traveled across the state. Recently, I had the opportunity to do something I truly value in forage-based livestock systems: sit down with a producer and an Extension agent to build a 5-year plan to improve forage production. If you don’t know your local Extension agent, I encourage you to connect with them. They are a tremendous resource.

I knew right away this was going to be a productive visit. As I pulled into the driveway, he was waiting with a farm map, pastures clearly outlined, and several recent soil test reports in hand. That’s about as good a starting point as you can get. Having a visual of the farm and a solid understanding of soil fertility make for meaningful, informed decisions.

During this visit, the producer told me, “I want to take a hard look at my operation to identify challenges and opportunities.” To me, that’s the foundation of any successful business: recognizing your needs and setting priorities within a realistic budget.

We spent time driving through the farm, evaluating pasture stands and weed pressure, observing body condition in the herd, checking fencing and water availability, and asking plenty of questions. By the end of the tour, we had identified several areas for improvement. As we talked, he took notes (which I always appreciate). Then came the key step: turning those notes into a prioritized 5-year forage plan that fits within a limited budget.

After another hour at the kitchen table, we agreed on the following steps:

1. Refine soil sampling and fertility management.
   Some large pastures (60–80 acres) with significant slope variation had been sampled as single units. Moving forward, these will be divided into smaller sampling zones (which can become new paddocks in the near future) to better match fertilizer applications with actual needs. With fertilizer prices where they are, applying nutrients precisely can result in meaningful savings.
2. Improve grazing distribution through cross-fencing.
   Although water sources were available, most pastures had only one or two access points. By subdividing larger pastures into two or three paddocks, grazing can be better managed, and plants can rest. The layout was designed with future expansion in mind, allowing for additional paddocks over time.
3. Adopt a targeted weed control strategy.
   Key weed issues were identified, and over the next three years, improved grazing management will be combined, in that case, with spot-spraying herbicides rather than whole-field applications. A lot of clovers are already there, and we don’t want to kill them.
4. Strengthen pasture stands with annual overseeding.
   Thin areas will be overseeded each year to increase forage density (we need more tillers), reduce the opportunities for weed encroachment (great soil covered is our best herbicide), and avoid the need for earlier pasture renovation.
5. Extend seasonal forage production.
   The operation is heavily reliant on tall fescue, which limits summer grazing and increases the need for hay. To address this, one newly subdivided paddock will be overseeded with crabgrass to boost summer production. That same area may also be planted with cool-season annuals, such as wheat, to improve winter forage availability.

None of these steps is overly complicated. But when organized into a 5-year plan, and aligned with a realistic budget, they create a clear pathway toward a more efficient and resilient forage-based livestock system. The challenges are identified, the priorities are set, and the milestones are in place.

I’m looking forward to visiting this farm again in the coming years to see the progress. The goal is to keep improving Tennessee pastures, one farm at a time.