Forage that Grows Well in the Summer

In our video series, “Plants that Solve Problems”, Colt Hamilton discusses forage that grows well in the summer. In grazing systems dominated by cool season grasses, there is often a “summer slump” or lack of forage that grows well in the summer. When the cool season grasses have stopped producing quality forage, the native warm season grasses can effectively fill in this slump period because they love the summer heat and their deep roots can access water that other plants can’t.

Our Top Recommendations for producing summer forage are Big Bluestem, Indiangrass, Eastern Gama Grass, and Switchgrass. Other warm season grasses, such as Little Bluestem, Sideoats Grama, Purple Top, and Beaked Panicgrass, can also help to fill in the Summer Slump.