Forage Management and Options during an Exceptional Drought Dennis Hancock, PhD. Extension Forage Specialist UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Dennis Hancock, PhD. Extension Forage Specialist UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences

Outline Drought Resources:  Drought Info Page on GeorgiaForages.com  Presentations on County Agents Only page Refresher on Forage Management during Drought:  Nitrate Toxicity  Peanut Hay  The Root of the Problem  Re-establishment  Nitrogen Management  Emergency Forage: Summer Annuals

Presentations on County Agents Only page ID: GeorgiaForages PW: GAAgentsOnly?

Test Your Forages

Nitrate in forage fed to beef cattle. Forage Nitrate (ppm dry forage) Guidance < 4500 Safe to feed with adequate feed and water 4,500 to < 6,500 Safe under most conditions, but if feeding pregnant animals limit to half (1/2) ration 6,500 to < 9,000Limit to half (1/2) ration 9,000 to < 15,000Limit to third (1/3) ration 15,000 to < 18,000Limit to quarter (1/4) ration > 18,000Potentially lethal, very risky

Peanut Hay Quality

Peanut Hay Mineral Content

The Most Popular Question in 2007: “Why are my hayfields green and my pastures brown?” Get to the root of the problem.

What you don’t see…. Roots die back Roots die back even more Graze/Cut Regrowth Begins Graze/Cut Again Adequate Rest

The Long-Range Forecast

Re-establishing Your Pastures Hybrid Bermudagrass establishment  Dormant sprigs – Dec. to early Mar.  Sprigs with green tops – spring (after last freeze) to early Aug.  Tops/green stems – Jun. – Aug. Tall Fescue establishment  Sept. 15 – Oct. 15

Fertilization Strategies Nitrogen recommendations for bermudagrass Very high cost ($ /lb of N) Nitrate worries Volatilization potential Residual N? Adapt the standard recommendation for non- standard conditions  Split applications!  Adjust for weather/precipitation patterns Nitrogen recommendations for bermudagrass Very high cost ($ /lb of N) Nitrate worries Volatilization potential Residual N? Adapt the standard recommendation for non- standard conditions  Split applications!  Adjust for weather/precipitation patterns

Fertilization Strategies Nitrogen recommendations for bermudagrass For 2008, an appropriate green-up application may be 50-75% of normal recommended rate  Example: Hybrid bermudagrass –  Hay: lbs N/acre  Pasture: lb N/acre Provides sufficient N to match with available water Moderates the risk of excessive nitrate levels Lessens prevalence of summer annual weeds Nitrogen recommendations for bermudagrass For 2008, an appropriate green-up application may be 50-75% of normal recommended rate  Example: Hybrid bermudagrass –  Hay: lbs N/acre  Pasture: lb N/acre Provides sufficient N to match with available water Moderates the risk of excessive nitrate levels Lessens prevalence of summer annual weeds

Fertilization Strategies Common bermudagrass > tall fescue Proper timing of N is our only tool Fescue rescue  Rain + N  lbs of N at the first of March 08 –Use 40 – 50 lbs N/a in normal year.  lbs of N in Late Oct. 08 VERY hard to control this balance when poultry litter is used.  More N is released when temps are high = when bermudagrass is growing better than fescue  Emphasize fall poultry litter application Common bermudagrass > tall fescue Proper timing of N is our only tool Fescue rescue  Rain + N  lbs of N at the first of March 08 –Use 40 – 50 lbs N/a in normal year.  lbs of N in Late Oct. 08 VERY hard to control this balance when poultry litter is used.  More N is released when temps are high = when bermudagrass is growing better than fescue  Emphasize fall poultry litter application

Fertilization Strategies Poultry litter apps shift the balance  High N-P-K generally favors broadleaf weeds  Grasses generally are superior K scavengers, particularly when N is low.  Does not mean we should cut K rates.  Nothing wrong with using poultry litter, but must be aware of weed potential. Poultry litter apps shift the balance  High N-P-K generally favors broadleaf weeds  Grasses generally are superior K scavengers, particularly when N is low.  Does not mean we should cut K rates.  Nothing wrong with using poultry litter, but must be aware of weed potential.

Some Old Friends Photo courtesy of Dr. Ray Smith, TAES

Benefits of Adding Legumes A valuable source of N (time-released). Species Annual lbs (N/acre) N value at $0.55/lb. of N Alfalfa $ Red clover $ White clover $22-55 Annual clover $28-83

The effect of annual clover addition on ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass yields. Treatment dry lbs/acre Crimson; 200 lbs N/Acre Arrowleaf; 200 lbs N/Acre No Clover; 200 lbs N/Acre No Clover; 0 N Location: Starkville, MS Source: Knight, W.E Agron. J. 62:

Summer Annuals

Emergency Forage Base

Summer Annuals Pearl millet, sorghum x sudan, sudangrass, brown top millet, proso millet, etc.  All are hard to dry, some harder than others.  All have nitrate toxicity potential  Sorghums have prussic acid potential  Sorghums should NOT be fed to horses  Seed supply?  Late plantings result in low yields

Pearl millet Medium to high yielding, slightly slower growing Thinner stems, not as difficult to dry No prussic acid problems Tolerates lower soil pH Pearl millet Medium to high yielding, slightly slower growing Thinner stems, not as difficult to dry No prussic acid problems Tolerates lower soil pH

Summer Annuals Forage sorghum  High yielding, fast growing  Thick stems, difficult to dry for hay Sudangrass  Medium yielding, fast growing  Thinner stems, difficult to dry for hay Sorghum x sudan hybrids  High yielding, fast growing  Still have thick stems and difficult to hay

Other Summer Annuals Browntop Millet  lbs/acre Foxtail Millet  lbs/acre Proso Millet  lbs/acre Red River Crabgrass  lbs/acre Forage Soybean  lbs/acre Source:

Summer Annual Harvesting Hay Production (good), baled silage (better), or grazing (best) Sometimes difficult to tell if it is dry enough to bale  Must be below 15% Moisture if round baled Grazing = boot stage  Usually inches in height Hay/baleage = early head  Usually inches Cutting height at or above 8 inches (CRITICAL)  Cutting too low will clip below the growing point.

Hay Production School 2008 March 8 th Waynesboro – Burke Co. Ext.

QUESTIONS? ASK-UGA1