By Aaron Berger – Beef Extension Educator

Drought conditions persist in the Nebraska Panhandle region, with many areas receiving limited precipitation in April. Pastures would benefit from delaying turnout, as the cool-season grasses have very limited growth. Delaying turnout will give existing plants the opportunity to grow and fully utilize what precipitation does fall without being cut off. Leaving new grass and last year’s grass growth to provide ground cover will help to catch and keep whatever rain does fall.

For integrated crop and cattle producers, low wheat prices, high cattle prices and the value of grazing may present a situation where utilizing winter wheat as forage may have more value than harvesting it for grain. The current market value of beef-quality hay ranges from $80 to $120 per ton. That equates to $1.50 to $2.50 per cow-calf pair per day just for the hay. In May and early June, with some moisture, an acre of wheat can provide 30-45 days of high-quality grazing for a cow-calf pair. At a value of $2 per day, this is a value of $60-$90 per acre. Thirty-bushel wheat at $4.25 per bushel generates $127.50 per acre and will require additional costs to harvest it.

With those values in mind, the option to graze wheat may net more dollars than harvesting wheat as a grain crop under current expected yields and new crop wheat prices. This is especially true if recent drought conditions, disease or insect infestations have damaged wheat, which will significantly reduce expected grain yields.