In an effort to assist Yancey County livestock and hay producers, N.C. Cooperative Extension of Yancey County recently received a grant from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) to initiate a pasture restoration assistance program.

Program Description:

This program will assist farmers in restoring fields and pastures impacted by Tropical Storm Helene, it will help farmers restore hay or grazing production for the upcoming growing season, and allow farmers to improve hayfields and pastures by planting improved forage varieties. Farmers participating in this program may also receive assistance in accessing a no-till forage drill to restore their hayfields or pastures. The program will assist farmers by providing seed needed to plant up to 15 acres of pasture or hayfield.Although we do have a spring seeding window (Feb 15- Apr 15) for perennial cool-season forages, the primary recommended seeding window for cool-season pasture and hayfield grasses is in the fall of the year (Sept 1 - Oct. 15). Grass pastures and hayfields planted in the spring may produce very little to no harvest at all as the harvest of newly seeded fields has to be delayed until plantings are fully established. To make sure that farmers have some available forage this year, in addition to providing improved cool-season perennial forage seed, this program will also provide a planting option for two plantings of annuals.

Hayfield or Pasture Re-planting Options:

Here are a few options for participating in this program:

• Option 1: Plant a spring annual crop (annual ryegrass and clover) in February or early March to be harvested or grazed in June.  Over-seed with forage crabgrass by aerial drone in early May to be harvested or grazed in July or August, and plant perennial cool-season forage seed during the fall seeding window. This option will be best for those that need to produce some hay for the winter of 2025-2026.
• Option 2: Broadcast or aerial seed forage crabgrass in May to be harvested or grazed in July or August.  Plant perennial cool-season forage during the fall seeding window.  This option will be available for those that will not have fields ready in time for a spring seeding of annual ryegrass.
• Option 3: Plant only permanent cool-season forages in the spring or fall.  Those that only wish to plant perennial forage in the spring should still apply to participate in the program.  This option will most likely not produce a forage crop for the 2025 hay or grazing season as the grass will need time to become well established before it is harvested.
• Option 4: Establish fields for a rotation of annual forage production.  Seed fields with annual ryegrass and clover in the spring, forage crabgrass or other summer forage for the summer months, and plant brassicas and a cereal grain in the fall.  This program will only provide participants with seed for a maximum of  3 plantings of annual forage.  This program will not provide seed for grain production (i.e. field corn and soybeans).  This would be an option to diversify the forage program for a livestock producer and would primarily be focused toward grazing.

This program will provide seed for improved forage varieties, as determined by regional forage variety tests.  We will not plant traditional KY 31 Tall Fescue due to concerns of potential endophyte toxicity, as indicated in the results from research studies focused on Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue. Instead, we will be planting novel endophyte varieties of tall fescue such as Bar Optima E34, or Maxx Q. Participating farmers will also have the option to plant improved varieties of orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, or a mixture of other grasses recommended for grazing or hay production. We will also be providing recommended varieties white or red ladino clover.

Qualifications / Who Should Apply?

This program is available for any livestock, hay producer, or homestead operator producing hay or livestock located in Yancey County that suffered damages to hayfields or pastures during Hurricane Helene. Farmers will be provided with seed and will receive assistance planning field or pasture restoration activities. Farmers must soil test fields prior to seeding, fertilize and apply lime according to the soil test recommendations, provide a tractor, and provide the labor needed for seeding fields. For more information about this program, contact David Davis (david_davis@ncsu.edu), or call N.C. Cooperative Extension of Yancey County at (828) 682-6186.

Apply to participate in "Yancey County Pasture and Hayfield Restoration Program" Here