Grass growth

[grassfarmer]

How far behind normal do you think grass growth will
be in your area? Was cross-fencing banked grass
today and still needed a cordless drill to get the posts
in. Frozen pretty hard right at the surface. Some of
the fields with less "insulation" won't be frozen but
still must be pretty cold for time of year.

[sumdumguy]

Think grass can grow under the snow?

[kato]

I think with a few warm days, the moisture we've got will sure help things get growing. Last spring it was warmer, but it was also dry. Our pastures and hayfields got a good snow cover over the winter, and we're looking forward to them both being better than last year.

One good rain can knock that frost out of the ground pretty quick.

[15444]

I watched one of the older fall cows picking for grass today. Walking along the melting edge of snow (around trees and rocks) and picking for one or two green blades.

Another week and it might be surprising how fast the grass can catch up.

[littledoggie]

We have often thought that grass can grow under the snow providing the ground isn't frozen.

[grassfarmer]

I wonder what the "sound science" is on this one,lol.
I'm sure grass can grow under snow littledoggie -
especially if the snow falls in June or September!
I was discussing this with someone recently as I've
heard someone claim their land thaws from the
bottom up because of their high organic matter
status - i.e. the ground heat can take the frost out
from underneath if the snow acts as an insulation
barrier.
I dubious that you would get enough heat from the
ground to thaw frozen ground and warm the soil
enough to start growth from the plant roots if you
had complete snow cover.
With the banked grass on still frozen ground some of
the grass shoots are so incredibly green you'd swear
they must be fresh growth but with frozen ground,
frozen roots and cold soil how could you get fresh
growth? One theory I've heard is that it is not fresh
growth but growth resulting from cell division of
fresh growth last fall that was stored but not killed by
the frost.

[perfecho]

I do believe a couple of inches of frost can thaw from the below, moreso in fall than spring. A couple of feet of snow on top with no driving or trampling of any kind. Opened up a corral for calving in January this year, and nearly got stuck. Standing water, but it was probably 3 ft of early snow, and it snowed early this year. Frost has come out of a few low spots really early this year, compared to the amount of snow we still have, not calendar date.

[greybeard]

Nitrogen fertilizer might be an option to buying high priced hay or concentrates this year.
Great for a quick green up.
Hard to calculate the whole cost of feeding cattle during calving.