by Jake Western
In making your selections, then, your first consideration is to seed your fields with species that will survive in your area and under your pasturing conditions. Your second concern is tending the perennials to maintain healthy turf year after year of productive use. Unless you already have some crop-growing experience, you're wise to involve some knowledgeable advisors and/or custom planters in a major pasture renovation or establishment project. But to gain a working knowledge of pasture options, familiarize yourself with four essential forage characteristics listed below, then check out the various grass and legume species on the accompanying chart for their rankings in these areas. Finally, you'll be prepared to mix and match the species suited to specific fields.