August is an important month on the farm and ranch.
Summer isn’t quite finished, but fall is close enough that livestock producers should already be thinking about what their pastures will look like over the next several months.
For Texas operations, that planning is especially important this year. Weather and moisture conditions remain uneven, and producers across the country are dealing with varying levels of heat and forage stress.
Take a Look at Your Pastures
Before making decisions about fall grazing, walk your pastures.
Look at forage height, ground cover, bare areas and overall plant health. Don’t just look at how much green is visible — think about how much usable forage is actually available for livestock.
Late-summer grazing decisions can influence how well pastures recover and how much forage is available later in the year.
Think About Fall Forage Now
As temperatures begin to moderate, cool-season forages can become an important part of the grazing plan.
Fall planting decisions need to take into account soil moisture, expected weather, forage species and the needs of the livestock that will eventually graze the field.
In Texas, cool-season forages can provide valuable grazing during periods when warm-season grasses begin slowing down. Producers should evaluate local conditions before planting, particularly when moisture is limited.
Don’t Forget Supplemental Feed
Pasture management and supplemental feeding often go hand in hand.
If pasture production starts falling short of livestock demand, supplemental feed can help bridge the gap. Having feed available before conditions become critical gives producers more flexibility.
This is particularly important during years when drought or inconsistent rainfall has already reduced forage production.
The U.S. Drought Monitor’s August 2026 agricultural data show that a substantial share of U.S. cattle inventory and hay inventory remains in drought-affected areas.
Protect the Pasture You Have
One of the easiest mistakes to make is continuing to graze a pasture simply because there is still something green growing.
Pastures need adequate residual forage to remain productive.
Adjusting stocking rates, rotating livestock and providing supplemental feed when necessary can help prevent excessive pressure on already-stressed forage.
Sometimes the best pasture-management decision is knowing when to give the grass a break.
Build a Fall Checklist
Before fall gets busy, take a few minutes to look at the bigger picture:
- How much forage do you have?
- How much hay is already stored?
- Will you need additional feed?
- Are pastures recovering?
- Are water sources ready for cooler-weather grazing?
- Do you need to make fall planting decisions?
- What will your livestock need if conditions stay dry?
Having answers to those questions now can make the next few months much easier.
Fall is a transition season, but it’s also an opportunity. With good planning, producers can protect pasture, stretch forage and head into winter with a much clearer picture of what the operation needs.
At Morales, we’re here to help keep your operation moving through every season — from summer pasture to fall forage and everything in between.
