For me, the issue with JG and Prussic acid (form of cyanide) is summer stress more than frost, although that is an issue as well.
I have about 30-40ac that is a mix of forage, but has become heavily infested with JG (>70-80%). I will rotationally graze, however it’s not as easy as simply ‘avoiding’ during stress. Especially summer drought, as different areas of the pasture have varying degrees of drought stress simply because of surface rock, soil depth, other forage, etc. Some areas will be more significantly stressed than others. At least fall stress happens across the pasture for the most part with the frost.
I’d love to leave it and use it as summer forage, and in 2024 I could have as we had pretty much had good rain all summer. This year we were almost 70days without appreciable rain. The issue with JG is it is tough, tall, and prolific. It shades out competition. I think people who see it as ‘added forage’ don’t have as heavy of an infestation as some other folk. My farm was hayed heavily for years, so they loved the biomass. But they didn’t graze it. If there was more forage mixed in or less density of the JG, I’d be fine. But losing even 1 $3000 heifer makes it a real concern for me.
I just bought a weed wiper to target it, so I’ll try to let you know how it goes next year. I doubt I’ll do anything this fall.
I just want more ‘other forage’ in there in order to mitigate the effects if any.