The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and some other regions produce more manure nutrients than local crops need. This manure has traditionally been applied to row crops and overapplication has led to soil-test phosphorus (P) being well above agronomic optimum in many cases. In 2008, it was estimated that nutrient-management regulations now require that approximately 85 percent of poultry litter be applied off poultry farms, as they do not have sufficient land to beneficially recycle their manure nutrients.

There are many, many factors that could cause either of these statements to be true: year-to-year weather variation, yield potential differences in and between fields, planting date differences, etc. (first published March 2019, last reviewed March 2024)

Labor requirements are sometimes cited as an obstacle to implementing managed rotational grazing. This publication, one of four in a series on rotational grazing, explores how to determine the intensity of management that would be required and provides information to help build an efficient and flexible grazing system.

It is a common misconception that managed grazing requires the use of temporary electric fencing, but this is not necessarily the case. Temporary electric fencing is especially useful for farms with limited capital, for limited-grazing (strip-grazing) pastures, or when experimenting with fence locations before building permanent fencing; however, it is not necessary for implementing managed grazing. Using permanent infrastructure as much as possible can dramatically reduce the labor requirements of managed rotational grazing. In many cases, financial assistance may be available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) to install fencing and watering systems in support of rotational grazing.

One of the biggest drawbacks to using temporary electric fencing to intensify management in a grazing system is the amount of labor required. This publication, one of four in a series on rotational grazing, focuses on how to plan and use available tools and techniques to reduce much of the labor and hassle associated with temporary electric fencing.

Research has shown that pasture is poorly utilized beyond 800-1,000 feet from the watering source, and perhaps even less in steep terrain. Therefore, farms desiring a high level of management intensity (see Virginia Tech’s “Designing a Flexible and Efficient Rotational Grazing System,” SPES-707) may find temporary water troughs and electric fencing to be very useful. The use of temporary watering points can greatly enhance grazing management from spring through fall, whether it involves subdividing pastures paired with frequent livestock moves, utilizing large pastures more effectively, or bringing in new grazing acres. Temporary electric fencing is an excellent tool for intensifying management on an as-needed basis. This publication, one of four in a series on rotational grazing, focuses on considerations for designing these systems.