By Cody Deluisio • Experience gained from Stella Manor & our Deluisio Angus herd
In June, pastures here in western Pennsylvania are lush with cool-season grasses. By July, the heat sets in, and those grasses slip into dormancy. Below is the strategy we follow to protect soil, maximize regrowth, and extend our grazing window, while staying true to regenerative principles.
1 · Warm Season Covers as a Safety Net
Cool-season grasses like fescue and orchardgrass slow down in hot weather. That’s why we rotate a few acres each spring into warm-season annuals like sorghum-sudangrass, millet, and sunflower. These species thrive in summer, punch roots deep, and add organic matter back to the soil.
If you’re interested in experimenting with diverse warm-season blends, we share examples and methods in our regenerative pasture project. You can also reference this ATTRA guide on summer annual forages for species selection and nutrient timing recommendations.
2 · Slow the Rotation, Leave More Residue
As grass growth slows, we stretch our rest periods from 20 to 30+ days. We move cattle once residual hits 3–4 inches, leaving enough leaf to shade the soil and jumpstart regrowth. This cuts heat stress on the plant and helps suppress weeds naturally.
You can see how this plays out during our summer challenges in this mid-season field update. For a science-based breakdown of grazing intervals and residue management, the USDA’s Managed Grazing Handbook is an excellent reference.
3 · Stockpile Fescue for Later
We stop grazing certain fescue-heavy paddocks in July and let them grow out for fall and winter use. Fescue holds quality deep into winter, and stockpiling reduces our hay needs. Well-drained fields are ideal for this, especially once freezing and thawing begin.
If you’re working in a similar climate, Penn State Extension’s stockpiling forage guide walks through fertilization, timing, and which fields to prioritize.
4 · Manage Weeds with Biology First
Weeds love stress and bare ground. To control them, we mow at seed-set, graze with purpose, and maintain a living canopy. Herbicide is a last resort and only used early in the morning during cooler stretches efficacy drops once temps hit the 90s. I’ve been able to operate the last 4-5 years with no herbicide, I’m doing better without it than I was with it. It’s a slippery slope once you start but it will clear up a bad field quick, but you need to have a plan and stick to it.
5 · Animal Comfort is a Forage Strategy
Heat-stressed cattle don’t graze effectively. We minimize walks to water and ensure every paddock has shade, whether from trees, shelters, or well-planned fencing. When the animals are comfortable, we see better gain, calmer behavior, and improved fertility, which we break down fully in our summer herd performance update.
Takeaways
- Use warm-season covers to bridge the summer slump.
- Stretch recovery windows to allow deeper rooting and regrowth.
- Stockpile high-energy forages for late fall grazing.
- Treat weed control as a function of canopy, not just chemicals.
- Remember that water and shade directly impact forage utilization.
When we lean into biology instead of fighting against it, our systems become more resilient and productive. Want more insight into the way we manage pasture and livestock together? Start here.