FIRST Aid for Drought-Stressed Forages Part I: Drought Management Plan Dennis Hancock Extension Forage Agronomist Crop and Soil Sciences

Too little, too late. “Average” Difference Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network (www.georgiaweather.net)

May June Pasture Conditions -2006 July August September

A few assumptions… Delayed decisions led to overgrazing Body condition scores slipped (< 5) Likely poor conception rate! Problem is worse where Tall Fescue is the base A lot of poor-quality and/or expensive hay was fed Difficulty in fall establishment

On the bright side… A chance to evaluate your stocking rates… Good time to apply lime/gypsum and P/K fertilizer If cattle are already in a sacrifice area Ensure that P/K addition is not in sensitive areas Make preps for other renovation

First Aid for Drought-Stressed Forages First, do no harm!

Overgrazing During Drought Plants slow way down and go dormant Drought rarely kills most pasture species. But can if combined with poor fertility, overgrazing, or pests… Competition w/ warm-season species Overgrazing reduces reserves (carbohydrates) and root growth

First Aid for Drought-Stressed Forages First, do no harm! Recognize early De-stock De-populate Set up sacrifice areas Best Defense is a Good Offense.

No such thing as a good “quick-fix”. "FIRST" Aid ERTILITY NSECT CONTROL FIRST ISK MANAGEMENT PECIES IMING

No such thing as a good “quick-fix”. ERTILITY FIRST

Drought Tolerance Species Water Use Efficiency Max. Root Depth DM lbs/inch inches Coastal Bermudagrass 1646 78 Pensacola Bahiagrass 1194 79 Tall Fescue 1064 48 Ladino Clover 480 38 Red Clover 436 45 From: Southern Forages, as adapted from Doss et al. (1960; 1962; 1963)

Low Soil pH

Low Soil pH = Aluminum Toxicity

Soil Acidity and CEC Strength of cations: pH = 7.0 BS = ~ 50% pH = 6.0 H+ K+ Ca2+ Mg2+ Soil BS = 0% Al3+ pH = 4.5 H+ Soil Ca2+ K+ Mg2+ Soil BS = 100% Strength of cations: Al3+ > H+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+

Very Slightly Alkaline How Soil pH Affects Availability of Plant Nutrients Very Slightly Acid Very Slightly Alkaline Strongly Acid Medium Acid Slightly Acid Slightly Alkaline Medium Alkaline Strongly Alkaline disk 10 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0 9.5 10.0 pH

+ CaCO3 Ca2+ + CO3 Soil Soil HCO3 + Al(OH)3 CaCO3 pH = 4.5 Al3+ Al3+

Lime Quality Rule: At least 90% must pass a 10 mesh sieve. Sieve Size % of total ≤ 10 mesh 12 10-20 mesh 17 20-35 mesh 55 ≥ 35 mesh 16

Plants very sensitive to acidity pH 6.5-7.0 required Alfalfa Barley Sweet clover

Slight tolerance to acidity pH 6.0-6.5 Corn Crimson clover Dallisgrass Ladino clover Orchardgrass Red clover Ryegrass Sorghum-sudan Wheat

Moderate Tolerance to Acidity pH 5.5-6.0 Bahiagrass Bermudagrass Lespedeza Oats Pearl Millet Tall fescue Vetch (Perennial Peanut)

Potash also determines competitiveness of some species Leafspot and winterhardiness

Nutrients removed per acre with bermudagrass hay or 500 lb animal Adapted from S. Forages 3rd Ed.

Efficiency of Four-legged Manure Spreaders White et al., 2001 J. Environ. Qual. 30:2180–2187

Thou Shalt Soil Test Sample 1/3 of your pastures each year.

Thou Shalt Soil Test Most common cause of poor establishment: Soil pH and/or fertility is too low. Most common cause of poor persistence: Most common cause of poor drought tolerance:

No such thing as a good “quick-fix”. ERTILITY NSECT CONTROL FIRST

Fall Armyworm Fall armyworm infestations can be a problem anytime,… But, the effects are most devastating in drought years.

Fall Armyworm ACES – ANR-1019

Fall Armyworm

Application if above threshold (>3 larvae per ft2) Fall Armyworm Control Application if above threshold (>3 larvae per ft2) Sevin Tracer Lannate (bermudagrass only) Dimlin

No such thing as a good “quick-fix”. ERTILITY NSECT CONTROL FIRST ISK MANAGEMENT

-------------------- Dry lbs/ac -------------- Emergency Forage Base 2005 Total (3 cuts) 2006 Total (4 cuts) SORGHUM/SUDAN -------------------- Dry lbs/ac -------------- SS 211A 26813 a 12944 a Summergrazer III 22053 b 11405 b SS 220 BMR 19246 c 10731 b PEARL MILLET Tifleaf 3 17441 a 10728 a SS 635 17273 a 9309 b Pennleaf 16602 a 8826 b

Nitrate in forage fed to beef cattle. Forage Nitrate (mg/kg 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 restrict to half (1/2) ration 6,500 to <9,000 Limit to half (1/2) ration 9,000 to <15,000 Limit to third (1/3) ration 15,000 to <18,000 Limit to quarter (1/4) ration >18,000 Potentially lethal, very risky, dilute carefully

Feeding hay during the drought - Hay value during drought year: 50-125% more

Drought Risk Management Plan Have an emergency forage base Don’t depend on hay stocks Supplement to stretch hay Cull following a priority list

No such thing as a good “quick-fix”. ERTILITY NSECT CONTROL FIRST ISK MANAGEMENT PECIES

Legume Persistence Species/Cultivars Year-to-year variations Drought Grazing pressure Temperature Soil Conditions Competition

Species/Cultivars Red Clover (Cimarron Plus, Redland Max, Cherokee) Alfalfa (Alfagraze, Bulldog 505, Amerigraze 702, Bulldog 805) White Clover (Durana, Patriot)

No such thing as a good “quick-fix”. ERTILITY NSECT CONTROL FIRST ISK MANAGEMENT PECIES IMING

Drought Recovery Allow the pasture to recover Not too soon! Leave sufficient grazed stubble Tall Fescue: 2 - 3 in. Bermudagrass: ~2 in. Not too soon! Target height to start grazing Tall Fescue: 4 - 8 in. Bermudagrass: 4 - 8 in. Reintroduce pastures slowly

Effect of Grazing on Recovery Grazing is SELECTIVE defoliation Unlike mowing this may allow greater pressure to be placed on a single forage species Shift competitive advantage toward unfavorable species Can alter selectivity with animal species, stocking rate and timing

SUMMARY ERTILITY NSECT CONTROL FIRST ISK MANAGEMENT PECIES IMING

Keys to Pasture Survival… FIRST Maintain soil pH: 6.2 – 6.5 Maintain P/K levels P for energy maintenance and root growth K for persistence (esp. legumes & Bermudagrass)

Keys to Pasture Survival… FIRST Anticipate insect damage Spray if thresholds have been exceeded.

Keys to Pasture Survival… FIRST Follow your drought plan Early Recognition Set up sacrifice areas Save Hay

Keys to Pasture Survival… FIRST Integrate an emergency forage base Monitor nitrate levels Maintain perennial species that will buffer against droughts.

Keys to Pasture Survival… FIRST Leave some stubble Reintroduce pastures slowly

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