For many agriculture producers in the Upper Midwest, 2012 will be recalled as a memorable year, presenting both challenges and opportunities. Due to widespread drought and high feeding costs, the beef industry is taking another hard look at increasing feeding efficiency, including figuring out how to get the best returns possible from pastures, harvested forages, and crop residues. Many pastures will need some extra TLC in the coming year to overcome the extreme drought conditions of 2012. This winter, spend some time thinking about what is really important to optimize potential of your pastures and develop a game plan for making it happen.