1. Grazing Basics Craig Saxe UW-Extension, Juneau Co. 211 Hickory Street Mauston WI 53948 (608) 847-9329 craig.saxe@ces.uwex.edu Central Wisconsin Grazing Meetings March 2008

2. We’ll be covering What is rotational grazing Why use rotational grazing Understanding plant growth Setting up a grazing system Fencing, watering and frost seeding Grazing tips

3. Fencing, Watering and Frost Seeding

4. Consider the New Fencing Technology

5. Be flexible with Fencing

6. Useful Life of Fencing Materials MaterialLife (yrs.)Maintenance Wood15-20+High Post and Rail15-20Low – Medium V-Mesh wire20-30Low Barbless wire15Medium High tensile wire20-30Low Plastic fence12Low PVC20-30Low

7. Fencing One of the largest expenses in Grazing Many different options but some rules apply –Have secure perimeter fence –Use temporary or portable fence in cells –Use the lay of the land to your advantage –Be flexible in cell sizing

8. Cost of Fencing Cost of quarter mile of fence –48” woven wire, one barb-----------$1.07/foot –5 barbed wire fence------------------$0.83/foot –High tensile 8 strand 12.5 gauge---$0.76/foot –High tensile 5 strand electric(12.5)$0.57/foot –Polywire fence(interior use only)--$0.03/foot Iowa State University

9. Shape effect on Fencing Requirements 744 feet 836 feet 1007 feet 951 feet Length=2 X Width 888 feet Length=4 X width 1,040 feet

10. Water

13. FROST SEEDING Adding new seed to a pasture by broadcasting on frozen ground in early spring, letting frost & snow incorporate the seed.

14. Frost Seeding in Snow This practice is promoted because it’s easy to determine seed placement. Be cautioned that this practice could also increase the risk of seed movement as the snow melts.

15. Snow Tracks Help

16. Seed Melts into Snow

17. FROST SEEDING Improves Pasture Quality & Yield Lower Cost Than Annual Nitrogen Application ($9 vs. $42) Works Best On Loams & Clay Soils or Fields With Natural Moisture Clovers Recommended, Birdsfoot Trefoil & Certain Grasses Can Work

18. FROST SEEDING Use Improved Varieties i.e. Clovers Like Arlington, Cimmeron, or Marathon and High Yielding Trefoils Like Norcen Graze Tight In The Fall Broadcast Inoculated Seed Approx. 45 Days Before Grass Growth Begins

19. FROST SEEDING Broadcast 6 - 10 # of Red Clover; 8 - 12# of Trefoil; or 2 - 4 # of White Clover /acre Don’t Mix Clover & Trefoil For Insurance Apply 40# / Acre of Actual Phosphorus (90# / Acre of 0-46-0 ) Lime or Potassium May Be Needed - Soil Test To Determine - Don’t Apply Nitrogen!

20. Grazing Tips

21. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/teamforage/index.html

22. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cwas/