Ranchers are being urged to extend grazing seasons for their livestock in this age of high feed costs.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln specialist Jerry Volesky says it makes sense for producers to start planting annual forages like oats and turnips that can be used in the fall and winter. Cool season perennial grasses not grazed heavily during the late summer can also be used.

Volesky has found that stockpiled forage retains a high nutritional value through the late winter months.

While there is an outside chance there will be too much snow to use those feeds, Volesky says snow isn't an obstacle unless deeper than six to eight inches.