Article Summary: Knowing the dry-matter standing in each paddock turns grazing from guesswork into planned, profitable action. By measuring weekly whether with a plate meter, tow-behind sensor, or satellite service you can build an accurate feed wedge, match supply to animal demand, and decide early when to speed up rotations, conserve surplus grass, or introduce supplements.
 

Why measuring pasture matters

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure” rings particularly true when you rely on grass to power your business. When you know how much dry matter (DM) is standing in each paddock, you can line up supply with animal demand, stretch a tight feed budget, or put surplus pasture to work before it loses quality. Without numbers, you are working off gut feel alone some days that may be close, other days it can be hundreds of kilos off target. A few mis‑judged rounds in spring or autumn can ripple through milk yields or live‑weight gains for weeks. Reliable measurements give you hard evidence, so stocking rate, supplement use, and rotation length become deliberate choices rather than hunches.

Consistent measuring also sharpens your eye over time. As you walk paddocks with a plate meter or review satellite reports, you build a mental yard‑stick for grass height and density. That sharpened awareness translates into quicker decisions during busy periods: a quick glance across the farm tells you whether to speed up or slow down the round because you already trust the trend the numbers reveal.

Ways to measure pasture cover

Modern grazing systems offer a spectrum of tools to suit different budgets and labour preferences. At one end, a weekly farm walk with a rising plate meter remains a proven, low‑tech approach. Each click on the counter converts compressed sward height into kilograms of DM per hectare, giving you an immediate paddock‑by‑paddock snapshot.

If time is tight or staff are scarce, a tow‑behind C‑Dax meter can collect similar data in a fraction of the time. The unit measures pasture height optically and calculates dry matter on the go, so you finish the drive with a full set of figures ready to upload.

Satellite‑based services, such as our very own Pasture.io, remove most of the manual work altogether. By merging frequent satellite imagery with machine‑learning models, our platform estimates cover and growth rate for every paddock, even when the weather keeps you off the farm. The technology still benefits from the odd manual calibration (if you chose), yet it opens the door for larger or more remote paddocks to keep on top of pasture without extra labour.

At a glance – common options (use whichever suits your system best)

• Rising plate meter – inexpensive, straightforward, requires a regular walk.

• C‑Dax or similar tow‑behind – rapid data capture, suited to larger blocks.

• Satellite services – labour‑saving, frequent updates, valuable for remote or fragmented farms, much more data to work with.

Turning numbers into action

Raw data only pays off when it shapes your grazing plan. Most farmers arrange weekly measurements into a “feed wedge” graph, ranking paddocks from highest to lowest cover. The wedge highlights where surplus grass is sitting and where shortages are likely to bite first. Grazing the paddocks at the top maintains quality by preventing seed‑head formation, while protecting the lower paddocks from premature grazing supports recovery.

Tracking covers week by week also reveals growth trends. A falling average cover warns that demand is outstripping supply; lengthening the rotation or introducing supplement early can halt the slide before stock performance dips. Conversely, a rising wedge suggests an opportunity to harvest extra grass, tighten the round, or increase stocking pressure temporarily to keep residuals tidy.

Over time, you build a library of growth rates across seasons. These figures strengthen your feed budgets and help you forecast when a pinch point or surplus is likely to occur, letting you organise silage making, fertiliser inputs, or contract grazing with confidence.

Keeping good records

Whether you note covers in a pocket notebook, a spreadsheet, or a farm‑management app such as Pasture.io, the real value lies in looking back. Historical data lets you benchmark this season against last, check the impact of fertiliser changes, and justify decisions to lenders or advisers.

Consistency is the linchpin. A weekly or 10‑day rhythm captures most growth swings without overwhelming the workload. Try to measure at the same stage of the rotation each time, avoid early‑morning dew that can skew plate‑meter readings, and record any events such as frost or a nitrogen application that might explain an outlier.

Digital tools make the process simpler. Many apps plot your covers automatically, calculate growth rates, and flag paddocks that stray outside target ranges. Notifications prompt you to measure on time, while cloud storage means the whole team can see the latest figures, even if someone else did the walk.

Getting started on your farm

If you are new to pasture measurement, begin small. Pick a handful of representative paddocks and walk them every week for a month. Get comfortable with the plate meter (or whichever tool you choose) and compare your estimates with what the cows leave behind. Once the numbers feel meaningful, extend the walk to cover the whole platform.

Set simple targets at first perhaps an entry cover of 3,000 kg DM/ha and a residual of 1,500 kg DM/ha. Use the feed wedge to keep most paddocks within that band. As confidence grows, refine the targets to match your herd’s intake and seasonal growth pattern.

Above all, treat measurement as a habit rather than a chore. A well‑worn farm‑walk route, a standing reminder in the calendar, or shared responsibility among staff keeps the data flowing. When the figures land on your screen each week, you will have the clarity to act early, feed stock well, and make the most of every kilogram of grass you grow.

Until we meet again, Happy Grazing!

- The Dedicated Team of Pasture.io, 2025-07-10