1. 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

2. 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

3. www.georgiaforages.com

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

6. Test Your Forages

7. 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

8. Peanut Hay Quality

9. Peanut Hay Mineral Content

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

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

12. The Long-Range Forecast

15. 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

16. Fertilization Strategies Nitrogen recommendations for bermudagrass Very high cost ($0.60-0.70/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 ($0.60-0.70/lb of N) Nitrate worries Volatilization potential Residual N? Adapt the standard recommendation for non- standard conditions  Split applications!  Adjust for weather/precipitation patterns

17. 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: 30-45 lbs N/acre  Pasture: 20-25 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: 30-45 lbs N/acre  Pasture: 20-25 lb N/acre Provides sufficient N to match with available water Moderates the risk of excessive nitrate levels Lessens prevalence of summer annual weeds

18. Fertilization Strategies Common bermudagrass > tall fescue Proper timing of N is our only tool Fescue rescue  Rain + N  25 - 30 lbs of N at the first of March 08 –Use 40 – 50 lbs N/a in normal year.  40 - 50 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  25 - 30 lbs of N at the first of March 08 –Use 40 – 50 lbs N/a in normal year.  40 - 50 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

19. 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.

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

21. 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 100-300$55-165 Red clover 50-200$28-110 White clover 40-100$22-55 Annual clover 50-150$28-83

22. The effect of annual clover addition on ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass yields. Treatment1965196619671968 -------------- dry lbs/acre -------------- Crimson; 200 lbs N/Acre 22500223001750024500 Arrowleaf; 200 lbs N/Acre 24000216001650027100 No Clover; 200 lbs N/Acre 17100198001540021600 No Clover; 0 N 7700 6600 3500 6200 Location: Starkville, MS Source: Knight, W.E. 1970. Agron. J. 62:773-775.

23. Summer Annuals

24. Emergency Forage Base

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. Other Summer Annuals Browntop Millet  4000-7000 lbs/acre Foxtail Millet  3000-5000 lbs/acre Proso Millet  2000-4000 lbs/acre Red River Crabgrass  4000-7000 lbs/acre Forage Soybean  4000-7000 lbs/acre Source: http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/panra.htm

29. 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 18-22 inches in height Hay/baleage = early head  Usually 30-40 inches Cutting height at or above 8 inches (CRITICAL)  Cutting too low will clip below the growing point.

30. Hay Production School 2008 March 8 th Waynesboro – Burke Co. Ext. www.georgiaforages.com

31. QUESTIONS? www.georgiaforages.com 1-800-ASK-UGA1