Dr. Lisa Baxter, UGA State Forage Extension Specialist
Overview of situation:
Wildfires are currently raging on over 50,000 acres in southeast Georgia (estimate on April 27th, 2026). While prescribed burns can be a useful forage management practice, these unexpected wildfires pose unknown consequences. The intensity and speed of the burn cannot be controlled in these instances. These fires are also occurring during the spring green up or transition period, a vulnerable time for warm season perennial forage species such as bermudagrass and bahiagrass. Unfortunately, there is little information on pasture recovery following wildfires for the eastern United States. Therefore, many of these generalized recommendations are a synopsis of what is found in Extension publications in the central and western parts of the country.
What to do once the fire is contained:
1. Check infrastructure. Fences and water sources may have been damaged by the blaze. The priority is to safely contain the livestock and maintain access to fresh, clean water. Next survey the farm’s infrastructure and prioritize repairing areas with the least damage to the forage first.
2. Purchase supplemental hay and feed. Assume the impacted land will not be useable this season. Purchase supplemental feed sources for your herd or flock. Be sure to test the hay and provide appropriate supplementation.
3. Reduce your stocking rates. Your farm will not be capable of maintaining the normal herd or flock size for several seasons. Reduce the stocking rate to match available and stored forage/feed supplies.
4. Seek disaster assistance. Emergency assistance for impacted areas may be available through your local FSA or NRCS office. Please check directly with them to learn about available programs and their specific requirements.
5. Let your pastures rest. It will likely be several months before the drought would allow for replanting anyway. Give your pastures time to recover on their own.
6. Minimize traffic on bare soil. Avoid grazing or driving across the fields. You may need to consider erosion control in some areas.
7. Delay grazing on new growth. Do not turn animals in too quickly. Let the grass reach at least 6 to 8 inches tall before grazing. This will help promote root growth and recovery, a critical step towards pasture recovery.
8. Monitor for invasive weeds. The lack of ground cover from the forage could allow for rapid germination of invasive weed species.
9. Make a plan for renovation. It is unlikely that the drought will end before temperatures disallow for planting bermudagrass or bahiagrass this summer. Consider your options but wait to replant these perennials until 2027.
10. Plant winter annual forages (maybe). We do not need to leave the fields fallow until next year. If the perennial forage will require renovation next year, consider planting a winter small grain to protect the soil and allow for winter grazing. These forages are most often planted in late September to early October in the areas currently impacted by the fire. If the perennial forage begins to recover and regrow, do not overseed with a winter annual this fall. This will lead to additional stress on the perennial stand.