What does stockpiling forage mean?
Stockpiling is a plan to defer grazing on selected pastures so grass accumulates, then use it later as stored feed still standing in the field. Extension guides from several states describe it as a way to extend the grazing season and cut the amount of hay and labor needed in the cold months.
It suits some grasses and regions better than others. Cool-season grasses such as tall fescue are the classic example in many guides, while other forages hold quality poorly after frost. Ask your extension office which of your species stockpile well.
Water needs attention in cold weather. Frozen troughs and hydrants can stop a winter grazing plan, so think about how animals will drink when temperatures drop, and whether you can keep a trough open or carry water. Animals that cannot drink will not graze well, and the plan fails.
Which pastures should you choose?
Pick fields with a healthy stand of grass that holds its quality, good drainage, and easy access in winter. A thin, weedy, or wet field is a poor candidate, since standing feed will be low in quantity and animals will damage the sod walking through mud.
Choose fields that are close to water and shelter if you can. Moving animals to a far paddock in deep snow or heavy rain is hard work, and gates and lanes need to stay usable.
Shelter and windbreaks matter too. Animals grazing in exposed fields in wet, cold, windy weather use more energy to stay warm, and extra feed may be needed. Ask your veterinarian or extension livestock specialist how your species handles winter, and plan shelter before the weather turns.
- Healthy stand of a grass that keeps its quality
- Well-drained ground that will carry animals in wet weather
- Easy access to water and shelter
- A field you can rest from grazing for several weeks
How do you prepare a pasture for stockpiling?
The usual first step is a final grazing or mowing that resets the field, followed by a rest period so the grass can regrow before growth slows. The timing depends on your region, your species, and the weather, so plan it around local frost dates and ask your extension office for the dates that suit your area.
A soil test shows whether fertility will limit the grass. Fertilizer decisions, including nitrogen, should follow the soil test and the label, and extension publications explain how stockpiling programs handle them. Do not apply anything without a test and the instructions on the product.
Keep records from the first year: the date you stopped grazing each field, the date animals went on, how long it lasted, and how much hay you still needed. That history lets you adjust acreage and timing for next year instead of starting over.
How should you graze stockpiled forage?
Animals left on a whole stockpiled field at once will trample and waste much of it. Many guides recommend strip grazing with temporary fence, giving animals a new section every day or few days so they eat more of what is there and leave less behind.
Watch the condition of your animals and the amount of forage left. When snow, ice, or mud makes grazing impractical, you will need hay or other feed ready, so do not count on standing grass alone.
Is the forage still good feed?
Quality drops as grass matures and weathers, and it varies by species and season. A forage test through a lab tells you protein and energy, and your veterinarian or extension livestock specialist can help you compare it to what your animals need.
Animals with higher needs, such as growing, pregnant, or nursing ones, may need extra feed even when stockpiled grass looks plentiful. Ask your veterinarian about the needs of your species.
- Send a forage sample to a lab
- Compare results to your animals' needs with expert help
- Watch body condition through winter
- Keep backup hay available
What can go wrong?
Heavy snow or ice crust can lock up forage. Wet weather can turn a stockpiled field to mud, and overgrazing in winter can hurt next year's stand. Some stockpiled forage can also carry risks for certain animals, and frost can change the chemistry of some plants, so ask your extension office about problem plants in your area.
Weeds can also gain ground if the field is not managed well before and after the stockpile period.
How do you work out cost and savings?
Think in categories: fertilizer if the soil test calls for it, temporary fence and posts, extra labor to move fence, forage testing, and the opportunity cost of resting the field. Compare that to what you would spend on hay, hauling, and feeding.
Do your own numbers with local hay prices and your own labor, and ask extension for planning worksheets. Savings vary and are never guaranteed.
Key takeaways
- Stockpiling saves standing grass for winter grazing, but works best with suitable species.
- Choose healthy, well-drained fields near water and shelter.
- Use soil test results and the label for any fertilizer decision.
- Strip grazing wastes less than turning animals onto a whole field.
- Keep hay on hand and test forage quality.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.