Soil fertility management is a continuous process that begins well before the forage crop is established. In the pre-establishment phase, the soil conditions are adjusted to provide optimum soil fertility when the crop is established. At establishment phase, the fertility program should deal with any last minute small adjustments in soil fertility and any requirements such as a starter fertilizer for getting the plants established. If the pre-establishment soil fertility goals are met and the process is successfully established, the goal becomes maintenance of an adequate level of fertility to meet the needs of the crop.