Grow and Graze Webinar Recap: Winter Grazing & Spring Planning
On December 2, ILGLC hosted its third Grow and Graze webinar of the year, bringing producers together for a practical, discussion-driven conversation about navigating winter grazing challenges and preparing for the spring season. With a widespread summer drought behind us and early heavy snow across much of Illinois, this session arrived at a critical time for livestock producers.
Unlike traditional presentations, Grow and Graze webinars are intentionally designed as peer-to-peer conversations, giving producers the chance to hear real-world experiences, troubleshoot challenges, and gather actionable ideas they can apply immediately.
This session was moderated by Christian Lovell, ILGLC Executive Director, and featured returning panelists:
Dan Sanderson, Pasture Grazed Regenerative Farm
David Kleinschmidt, Progressive Agronomy Consulting
Together, they offered timely insights from their own operations, discussed weather-related pressures impacting grazing decisions, and shared strategies to help Illinois graziers maintain livestock performance and protect pasture health through the winter months.
Key Topics Covered
The discussion covered a wide range of timely issues, including:
How drought shaped fall grazing and forage availability
Managing fall calving in hot, dry conditions
When to feed hay vs. when to continue grazing short pastures
Pros and cons of baling cornstalks
How to respond after a hard freeze and associated risks like prussic acid
Drone-seeded annual ryegrass, clover, and forage collards
Infrastructure solutions for grazing crop residues
When to begin stockpiling fescue
Nutritional needs of fall pairs throughout winter
Tools like the Oklahoma State University Cowculator for ration planning
Hay quality considerations
Winter feeding strategies including bale unrolling and bale grazing
Managing mud—a near-universal challenge in Illinois winters
52 producers registered for the webinar with a strong turnout for the live session, demonstrating continued interest in practical, producer-led learning.
Watch the Webinar Replay
The full recording is now available on the ILGLC YouTube channel and on
The Grazing & Forage Hub, where it can be revisited and shared with others who may benefit.
We look forward to continuing the Grow & Graze Webinar Series in 2026! Register here.