Recovering From The Drought Of 2007

How Would You Rate Your 2007 Forage Management Performance 1,2 or 3 Did your management decisions for 2007 weaken or strengthen your forage resources for ( 1 Weak 2 No change 3 Strong) Who benefited most from your decisions the Forage Harvesters or the Forage Plants. ( 1 Harvesters 2 No change 3 Plants) Did your short term decisions hinder your long term goals. ( 1 Hinder goals 2 No change 3 Support goals)

Score 8 or 9 May want to come up front and finish presentation. 5 to 7 May find some useful information in this presentation. 1 to 4 May want to listen.

Steps to Assure Productive Forage In 2008 Evaluate forage stands in your pastures. Evaluate fertility. Evaluate your grazing management. Evaluate any fencing changes needed to improve utilization. Prepare for late winter seeding if needed.

TAKE A HIKE Most surviving plants bluegrass and white clover. ( A good indication pasture was overgrazed.) Most plants are white dutch clover and bluegrass ( Weeds are filling in areas where forage died during the drought.) Only forage that survived is tall fescue with nearly ungrazed clumps.( A lot of bare ground showing) Forage stand is adequate and alive but very short. Forage Stand Observations

Do I Need to Reseed In one square foot of pasture, more than 20% bare ground. Grass to legume mix 60% to 40% At least three different grasses and two different legumes

Soil Test Soil amendments more easily applied in Fall but Spring application is okay. Applying lime to maintain proper PH is probably the most important step to insure good forage production. Each ton of forage produced needs 15 pounds of phosphorus and 60 pounds of potash. 80 percent of these nutrients are recycled in the pasture. Evaluate Fertility Soil Test

Strategic Use of Nitrogen Late Winter Late Spring Late Summer

Late Winter pounds of N/A in March. Early fertilization should allow grazing two weeks earlier in the Spring. Only fertilize one acre for every two cows and never any more than one third of total pasture. Do not use nitrogen if you are going to frost seed legumes. Potential for grass tetany is increased with early nitrogen application.

Late Spring pounds of N/A in late June or early July. After reproductive stage of cool season grasses. Application should again only be applied to limited acres.

Late Spring pounds of N/A in late June or July After reproductive stage of cool season grasses. Application should again only be limited to limited acres.

Late summer pounds of N/A in August for most grasses pounds of N/A if stockpiling tall fescue for Winter grazing. Spend your nitrogen dollars on the pastures that will give you the most return.

Evaluate Grazing Management Uneven grazing patterns. High fertility under trees and near water. Varying soil types. South slopes produce forage faster in the Spring. North slopes produce forage longer in Summer.

Fence Improves Grazing Management Permanent Fence

Temporary Fence

Consider Top Grazing Hay Fields to Relieve Pressure on Newly Seeded Pastures. Only graze for short periods of time when soil conditions will allow.

Considering a Late Winter Seeding In situations where stands are thin or there is a desire to add new species, now is the time to prepare.

Adding expensive, highly productive forage seed to poor management is POOR MANAGEMENT Consider Management intensive Grazing. Soil test every three years and keep pastures amended to recommended levels. Consider changing fences to achieve more efficient grazing.

If we don’t change how we got here we will end up in the same place.

Benefits of Legumes Higher Yields Improved Quality Nitrogen Fixation Summer Growth

(1) Higher yields In this study, red clover growing with fescue produced higher yields than fescue fertilized with up to 180 lb N/ac. Table 1. Dry Matter Yields of Fescue-Clover vs. Fescue-Nitrogen-- Lexington, 1978, 2 Yr. Average TreatmentsYields, lb/ac Fescue-Red Clover 6 lb Seed/ac11,100 Fescue + Nitrogen 0 lb/ac3, lb/ac6, lb/ac9,900 Taylor, T.H., et al. University of Kentucky

(2) Improved quality Table 2 show improved growth rates of beef cows, calves, and steers when legumes are used. Table 2. Animal Performance on Grass vs. Legume-Grass Mixtures Species Length of Trials (Yrs) Gain/Head (lb/day) Animal Class Sta te Tall Fescue30.12CowsIN Tall Fescue + Red & Ladino Clover 0.74 Tall Fescue31.30CalvesIN Tall Fescue + Red & Ladino Clover 1.80 Orchardgrass101.07SteersVA Orchardgrass + Ladino Clover 1.28

Table 3. Av. Daily Gain and Gains/Acre of Steers Grazing Tall Fescue & Tall Fescue-Clover Pastures PasturesDaily Gain (lb/steer) Total Gains lb/steerlb/ac Fescue + Ladino Clover Fescue lb N/ac Hoveland, C.S., et al Bulletin 530. Auburn, AL Table 3 shows increased growth rates of beef steers grazing a fescue-ladino clover pasture. It also shows higher gains per acre as a result of improved forage quality and higher yields

High quality feed is important in getting beef cows re-bred after calving. Research conducted in Illinois and Indiana (Table 4) compared conception rates of cows grazing tall fescue pastures with and without legumes. In both tests, the cows grazing legume- grass pastures had much higher conception rates. Table 4. Conception Rates on Grass vs. Grass-Legume Pastures SpeciesConception Rate %State Tall Fescue75IL Tall Fescue + Legume89 Tall Fescue72IN Tall Fescue + Clover92

(3) Nitrogen fixation (Table 5). Alfalfa usually fixes the most, while annual lespedeza is on the low side with about 75 pounds. Table 5. Value and Amount of Nitrogen Fixed by Different Legumes CropLb/ac/Yr Value of Nitrogen 1 Alfalfa $ Red Clover $ Ladino Clover $60-90 Vetch, Lespedeza and Other Annual Forage Legumes $ Fertilizer nitrogen valued at $0.60/lb The value of the nitrogen fixed by legumes depends on the cost of nitrogen fertilizer. The values in the right column of Table 5 are based on nitrogen priced at 60 cents/lb price 25 cents a/lb.

(4) More summer growth Most of the growth of cool-season grasses occurs during the spring and fall. Legumes make more growth during the summer months than cool- season grasses. Growing grasses and legumes together improves the seasonal distribution of forages and provides more growth during summer.

Forage Seed Must Have Soil Contact to Germinate Use No-Till Drill Frost Seed (Late February or Early March)

No-Till Drill Use chemicals to control early growth Use grazing management to keep existing forage in check so new plants can get sunlight.

Frost Seeding Broadcast seed when ground is honey combed. (During freezing and thawing in late February or early March. May need to lightly disc in heavy sod to expose soil.

Caring for New Seedlings Graze close before seeding Graze often after seeding to give new seedling sunlight. Stop grazing when seedlings are big enough to be damaged. Mechanical clipping may be needed to control competition for existing forage

Summary FOCUS ON KEEPING THE FORAGE PLANT HAPPY TAKE A HIKE SOIL TEST

Final Thought TOUGH TIMES CREATE BETTER MANAGERS AND BETTER MANAGERS ARE REWARDED IN TOUGH TIMES