It's September and fall is fast approaching. The growing season is winding down, but from a forage production standpoint, an active growing season still lies ahead. For much of our area, the first hard freeze will occur about Nov. 24, which leaves a good 60 days of growing season for warm-season forages. Cool-season forage growth will occur optimally in a temperature range from 70 to 80 degrees F with some growth occurring as low as 40° F, meaning cool-season forages can conceivably grow through winter in Texas. Favorable growing temperatures during this period are also accompanied by rain.
Stockpile Introduced forages Bermudagrass, bahiagrass, Old World bluestems and tall fescue are some of the more common forages that can be used for stockpiling. Of these, bermudagrass and tall fescue will work the best due to the quality and the amount of forage they can produce. If stockpiling toxic-endophyte-infected tall fescue, delay use until as late in the season as possible. For introduced forages, ideally select a pasture where previous growth has been removed, and apply nitrogen fertilizer at a rate of 50 to 60 lbs/ac. On bermudagrass at this fertility rate, expect about 2,500 lbs/ac accumulation. Here are two things to keep in mind regarding stockpile fertility of warm-season perennials. One, if spring fertility was applied, due to the dry spring and limited forage growth, there may be carryover nitrogen available; a soil test can tell you this. Two, growing days are limited - there is no need for high nitrogen rates since response will be limited by the short growing season. If phosphorus and potassium are deficient, this is a good time to correct deficiencies. Defer from grazing until after frost. If you have introduced pastures with a large amount of residual growth from spring or summer, do not add additional fertilizer. These can be utilized, but realize this is not a true stockpile, and quality will be much, much lower than fresh, fall-accumulated stockpile. Forage utilization will be higher if grazing access can be controlled through the use of strip grazing or some other means. Make sure you match quality to animal requirements and supplement appropriately.
Nativegrass
In a perfect situation, nativegrass stockpile would begin with spring grazing followed by deferment from early July until frost. In a less-than-perfect situation, nativegrass needs at least 60 to 75 days of rest prior to frost to accumulate carbohydrate reserves for spring growth. If sufficient growth has occurred during this period to allow grazing, it can be utilized after a hard frost. After frost, be very careful not to graze the range too close - leave a 6-inch residual to avoid crown damage. Again, be aware that quality may not be the best, and supplementation should be done based on animal requirements.
Cool-Season Annuals (CSA)
The traditional establishment deadline for CSA has been Sept. 15. Clean-till CSA are usually best utilized by growing animals because of their high quality and cost of establishment. Overseeding CSA into warm-season perennials is a common practice, but, due to competition from warm-season perennials during the fall, expect only limited fall production from CSA. No-till drilling the annual can help with establishment and earlier production. Annual ryegrass is the most common overseeded annual with bermudagrass. It can give you 45 to 60 days of grazing prior to bermudagrass green-up. Overseed 15 to 20 pounds per acre of ryegrass in September, and topdress with nitrogen in February. Because of its aggressive re-seeding, annual ryegrass may not need to be re-seeded for several years. Acreage that is used for stockpile bermudagrass works well for ryegrass production. Grazing the stockpile off allows for the spring release of ryegrass. It is not advisable to have all your introduced warm-season perennial forage acres overseeded because spring competition will delay green-up of the warm-season perennials.
Some Tips
1. When using stockpile, remember that cows are very selective forage consumers - just like you are at your favorite buffet. If allowed, cows will consume leaves first, followed by stems, which can lead to underutilization if grazing is not controlled.
2. Extending the grazing season implies that you are pushing limits of forage availability. If forage availability is limited, animal intake will be limited, which directly influences condition and performance. Try to accumulate 2,000 pounds of forage per acre so intake will not be limited. Be sure to monitor cow body condition and make adjustments as necessary.
3. Monitor cow pies. When a cow pie stacks up like a high rise, forage quality has dropped and you probably need to add a supplement.
4. Always have hay on hand. Establish a goal of only feeding hay for 45 days during the winter, or, better yet, eliminate hay feeding. But be realistic and err on the side of caution and have the hay when you need it.
5. Avoid the "sympathy bale." Many producers really like their cows and work a little too hard to meet cow needs. Producers need to change their mindset from "I have to feed hay" to "I feed hay only when I have to."
You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
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Thursday, September 16, 2010
Chute N the Bull 9-2-10
Productive winter pasture can be a valuable asset, but can also be expensive to establish and grow. Following are five items that will help
your winter pasture start out right.
First, determine what kind of winter pasture is best suited to your
location. This article will only address wheat and cereal rye, our
primary winter pasture species, although other options include oats,
triticale, annual ryegrass, brome grasses, tall fescue and cool-season
legumes. Wheat is better adapted to heavier soils and lasts longer in
the spring, while cereal rye is better adapted to lighter soils and
provides earlier grazing in the fall. Select the forage or forage
mixture that fits your location and meets your forage demands.
Second, collect good quality soil samples and have them analyzed at a
reputable agricultural laboratory. A good quality soil sample will be
representative of the field, collected to the depth recommended by the
lab, be a composite of at least 15 soil cores and represent no more than
40 acres. Phosphorus, potassium and lime requirements can only be
determined by soil analysis. If these are deficient or if soil pH is
below 5.5, production potential and response to nitrogen fertilizer will
be reduced. Phosphorus and potassium should be applied prior to or near
planting while lime should be applied well before planting to allow it
time to react. Nitrogen rates are based on yield goal unless a
sensor-based system, like the Greenseeker®, is being used. Nitrogen
application timing depends on when the forage is needed. If fall or
early winter grazing is the priority, apply most or all of the nitrogen
near planting or soon after emergence. If spring grazing is the
priority, apply enough nitrogen to get the crop started in the fall and
the remainder in late winter or early spring.
Third, prepare a good seedbed. Seedbed preparation can be clean till,
minimum till or no till. Stand establishment is usually quickest with a
weed-free, firm, clean-till seedbed; however, this is the most expensive
method and increases the risk of soil erosion. Minimum till preparation
may consist of mowing, haying or grazing standing vegetation short
and/or burning down with a herbicide followed by light tillage. No-till
preparation is similar to minimum till without the tillage, although
managing summer growth and previous crop residue becomes more important.
Fourth, select a planting method and seeding rate. Planting methods
include drilling and broadcasting. Advantages of drill planting include
improved plant spacing, lower seeding rates, better seed to soil contact
and proper seeding depth. Seeding rates for drill planting range from 90
to 120 pounds per acre. Disadvantages are slower planting speed and
higher equipment costs. Broadcast planting involves spreading the seed
over the seedbed surface, then incorporating it into the soil with a
disk, culti-packer or other light tillage implement. Advantages of
broadcast seeding include faster planting speed, lower equipment cost
and the ability to spread with fertilizer. Disadvantages are higher
seeding rate, lack of depth control, requirement of a second pass for
incorporation and a higher risk of stand failure. Seeding rates for
broadcast planting range from 120 to 150 pounds per acre.
Fifth, select a good variety with quality seed available. Variety
selection can be complicated by seed availability, but try to find one
that has produced well over several years and/or locations in university
trials. Using good quality planting seed is just as important as using
the right variety. If time permits, have an accelerated aging test
conducted to have an indication of the seedling vigor as well as
viability.
By paying attention to these items and with a little cooperation from
Mother Nature, you have taken the first steps toward productive winter
pastures. Next, be ready to manage post-emergence weeds, insects,
diseases and grazing. You can find this and past articles on the web at
http://www.mycountrytractor.com/ for your serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race,
color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University
System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners
Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of
socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national
origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax
your winter pasture start out right.
First, determine what kind of winter pasture is best suited to your
location. This article will only address wheat and cereal rye, our
primary winter pasture species, although other options include oats,
triticale, annual ryegrass, brome grasses, tall fescue and cool-season
legumes. Wheat is better adapted to heavier soils and lasts longer in
the spring, while cereal rye is better adapted to lighter soils and
provides earlier grazing in the fall. Select the forage or forage
mixture that fits your location and meets your forage demands.
Second, collect good quality soil samples and have them analyzed at a
reputable agricultural laboratory. A good quality soil sample will be
representative of the field, collected to the depth recommended by the
lab, be a composite of at least 15 soil cores and represent no more than
40 acres. Phosphorus, potassium and lime requirements can only be
determined by soil analysis. If these are deficient or if soil pH is
below 5.5, production potential and response to nitrogen fertilizer will
be reduced. Phosphorus and potassium should be applied prior to or near
planting while lime should be applied well before planting to allow it
time to react. Nitrogen rates are based on yield goal unless a
sensor-based system, like the Greenseeker®, is being used. Nitrogen
application timing depends on when the forage is needed. If fall or
early winter grazing is the priority, apply most or all of the nitrogen
near planting or soon after emergence. If spring grazing is the
priority, apply enough nitrogen to get the crop started in the fall and
the remainder in late winter or early spring.
Third, prepare a good seedbed. Seedbed preparation can be clean till,
minimum till or no till. Stand establishment is usually quickest with a
weed-free, firm, clean-till seedbed; however, this is the most expensive
method and increases the risk of soil erosion. Minimum till preparation
may consist of mowing, haying or grazing standing vegetation short
and/or burning down with a herbicide followed by light tillage. No-till
preparation is similar to minimum till without the tillage, although
managing summer growth and previous crop residue becomes more important.
Fourth, select a planting method and seeding rate. Planting methods
include drilling and broadcasting. Advantages of drill planting include
improved plant spacing, lower seeding rates, better seed to soil contact
and proper seeding depth. Seeding rates for drill planting range from 90
to 120 pounds per acre. Disadvantages are slower planting speed and
higher equipment costs. Broadcast planting involves spreading the seed
over the seedbed surface, then incorporating it into the soil with a
disk, culti-packer or other light tillage implement. Advantages of
broadcast seeding include faster planting speed, lower equipment cost
and the ability to spread with fertilizer. Disadvantages are higher
seeding rate, lack of depth control, requirement of a second pass for
incorporation and a higher risk of stand failure. Seeding rates for
broadcast planting range from 120 to 150 pounds per acre.
Fifth, select a good variety with quality seed available. Variety
selection can be complicated by seed availability, but try to find one
that has produced well over several years and/or locations in university
trials. Using good quality planting seed is just as important as using
the right variety. If time permits, have an accelerated aging test
conducted to have an indication of the seedling vigor as well as
viability.
By paying attention to these items and with a little cooperation from
Mother Nature, you have taken the first steps toward productive winter
pastures. Next, be ready to manage post-emergence weeds, insects,
diseases and grazing. You can find this and past articles on the web at
http://www.mycountrytractor.com/ for your serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race,
color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University
System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners
Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of
socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national
origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax
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