Cattle producers and landowners in north-central Oklahoma will have an opportunity to learn practical pasture management strategies and see emerging technology in action during the upcoming Payne County Pasture Tour on June 3.
Jennifer Patterson, Ag Extension Educator in Payne County, said in a recent conversation with associate farm reporter Carli Davenport that the annual event is designed to provide hands-on education that producers can immediately apply to their own operations.
“This is one of my favorite programs,” Patterson said. “This is outside hands-on learning in the field. This is where we get to demonstrate recommended practices right here in the county—what works and what doesn’t work.”
Three Stops Planned Across Payne County
Patterson said this year’s tour will feature three stops, each focused on current challenges and opportunities for cattle operations.
The first stop, west of Stillwater near Lake Carl Blackwell, will focus on prescribed fire and herbicide use as tools to improve pasture conditions. “We’re going to be talking about controlled burns and herbicides and how those two tools can work together to improve effectiveness in your pastures,” Patterson said.
The second stop will be at the North Range Beef Center west of Lake Carl Blackwell, where participants will discuss Bermuda grass pasture reclamation and herd efficiency. “We’ve been talking about this a lot the last few years,” she said. “The extreme environmental conditions that we’ve had the past 10 to 12 years, we’re seeing some effects on our introduced forages.”
Patterson said attendees will also evaluate cow-calf pairs and discuss traits that improve productivity. “We get to look at cow calf pairs and talk about what makes a good cow, what makes a forage efficient cow,” she said.
That stop will also feature a plant identification contest and interactive livestock producer contest with prizes.
Drones and Precision Agriculture on Display
The final stop, at the Purebred Beef Range Unit east of Lake Carl Blackwell, will showcase drone technology for woody plant control. “We’re going to have some drones out there and talk about woody plant control,” Patterson said. “That’s a newer technology that’s gaining some traction for those hard to reach places, rough terrains, and some of the areas that we have.”
She said the tour offers a strong combination of proven management practices alongside newer precision agriculture tools. “It’s a good mix of what we might call traditional practices, along with some newer tools that producers might be introduced to,” she said.
Why Pasture Management Matters Now
Patterson said strong pasture management is especially important this year as producers deal with high costs and uncertain weather conditions. “Input costs are high, and Mother Nature—we love her—but she likes to complicate some things at times too,” Patterson said.
She added that producers need to focus on maximizing every acre through weed control, fertility, stocking rates, and grazing management. “The pasture management always just directly affects your bottom line,” she said. “If your forage base is strong, it reduces the need for supplementation, which in return reduces cost too.”
Registration Details
The Payne County Pasture Tour will be held June 3 as a day-long program. Registration is requested by May 28 through the Payne County OSU Extension Office or through the online registration link. The event is free to attend and includes lunch. Patterson said it is open to cattle producers, landowners, and anyone interested in pasture productivity.
“Whether you’ve been in the business for years or just starting out, I think there’s a take-home for that,” she said. The event will also offer three CEU credits for pesticide applicators needing to maintain certification.
