WHY ARE WE HERE……

Are we here ….. …to complement your VERY perennial pasture system ..to OPTIMIZE Photosynthesis ….to build “DOWN” the soil. …to understand the NON NUTRTIONAL aspects of grazing. …to CAPTILISE on re growth ….to lower the cost of production PER ACRE.

Planning to Grazing Checklist Fit the cattle to the forage Soil test for crop fertilizer and soil correction; Herbicide History Select a pasture for renovation Have fence and water Plan for fall Plant Aerway or disc Apply soil correction Plant ? Drill < ½ inch, or broadcast, roll into firm moist seed bed Use the weather Grow Watch the weather Assess plant health 4 weeks into crop . Apply foliar biologicals, trace elements Assess DM production 6/7/12 PGG Seeds

Grazing to Planning Checklist Graze Introduce stock gradually to allow for rumen adjustment A offer run off and or roughage Adjust intake ,feed allowance to class of stock . Plan the break Allow 3-4% of bodyweight in DM intake 70% of intake in the crop Adjust allowance to feed production Monitor animal health Assess residual at the break Class of stock determines break Plan Again Residual desired Next crop soil correction Foliar fertilizer Litter/cover Regrowth for water use. 6/7/12 PGG Seeds

Critical Success Factors in PGGSeeds System Plan Plant Grow Graze Plan the break Plan again Soil test Fit the cattle to the forage Length of rotation Plant Date ? Crop to fit rotation Animal Husbandry Management of residue Plant health and Nutrition DM Production budgeting Feed allowance and residue Soil Test, correction for next crop 6/7/12 PGG Seeds

Prescription for success in Planning the crop A soil correction and crop fertilizer recommendation. It makes agronomic and economic sense for the grazing crop at hand AND the next crop. Energy up in the plant ,generated from a balanced soil results in a higher DM production of nutrient dense plants. The next crop, in turn, benefits from this nutritive balance and Organic carbon infusion.

Soil tests are essential A soil correction will recommend large elements, such as Ca, P,K,S, and trace elements such as Boron and Zinc to get the soil to feed the plant A crop fertilizer recommendation feeds the crop, usually N and trace elements. A brassica crop growing 8,000 lb. /DM/ acre requires 50- 100 units of N available IN CROP.

Soil Correction is applying elements deficient in the soil to promote the biology to feed the plant Ca /Mg ratio 6:1 Available P at 20 ppm Sulfur 6.5 ph

Fertilizer Recommendations Limit water, before and after fertilizing. Apply Gypsum before ripping. Immediate per acre 2000lbs of Gypsum or 2000lb of Gypsum 1000lbs of Potassium Sulphate 330 lb 15 - 15 – 15 0 – 0 – 50 – 17 Sulfur Future 2000lbs Gypsum/acre

Prescription for success in Planning the crop The type of livestock dictates the composition of the seed mixture. PGGSeeds cultivars can be grazed in as little as 6 weeks. Weaned calves and lambs will thrive on a digestible mix of leaf Brassica , Plantain and Chicory. Their DM intake from the crop can be as high as 80%. Older cattle, or yearlings will consume a higher roughage diet . Choose the mix to fit the stock.

Pict of cattle grazing TIME TO MOVE. 20 k dm /acre/year is profit ,worldwide

Grow the feed to fit the stock Feeder cattle, weaned calves Finish Beef, Fall / Winter Yearlings ,Fall /Winter Hunter Leaf Turnip/Tonic Plantain Winfred Brassica , forage sorghum, with Hay supplement Hunter/Winfred/ Annual Ryegrass

Prescription for success in planning the crop The longer the grazing crop rotation the higher the return from PGGSeeds multiple grazing cultivars. Capitalizing regrowth while improving the soil health is a path to profitability. You are exploiting free sunlight via photosynthetic conversion of plant material through the cattle’s rumen. You may find growing a grazing cost lowers cost of production, as a full season crop, for greater profit /acre than a row crop.

Utilization, Residual, Animal Performance

Prescription for success in planting the crop A crop planted before ? Aeration and optimum soil to seed contact can be achieved by use of proper tillage tools Care must be taken to insure against herbicide residual Watch the weather!!

Pict of a seed drill

Prescription for success in growing the crop Take a plant tissue sample 4 weeks into the crop. A foliar biological/ trace element fertilizer when the leaves are covering the soil will enhance plant nutrition. Also, any herbicide residual damage is usually remedied. Prior to grazing, or 8 weeks into the crop take a Nitrate test of the plant tissue. Nitrates should be below 2,000 ppm ;Sulfur below 10 ppm.

A foliar crop fertilizer application for a nutrient dense plant and optimum animal performance 11:1 nitrogen sulfur ratio ,in the plant Nitrate levels below 2,000 ppm Soluble plant available P,K Zinc, Boron > 40 ppm ,in the plant

Prescription for success in grazing the crop Animal husbandry and crop management to fit the class of livestock. Introduce stock to the crop. Weaned calves will adapt quickly to the high quality forage and thus have fewer health problems. They can be run at a higher stock density. Yearling cattle and finish beef will benefit from higher roughage supplementation, lower stocking rate

FINISH BEEF 10/19/2019 pictures with comment

Feed requirement for weight gains 3-4 % of bodyweight in DM /day Plants with large leaves Digestible forage FINISH Beef require fresh feed daily. Weaned calves, lambs, require palatable, easily digested feed for good health. Yearling cattle will utilize 30-40% roughage in their diet.

As a general guide line as to the amount of dry matter (DM) that an animal requires on a daily basis is 4% of their live weight. For example a 500 lb beast would require 20 lb of DM. Generally a Brassica crop sown at the rate of 2lb per acre of each would produce approximately 6000lbs in 10 weeks growth . 60 acres * 6000lbs = 360,000lbs divided by 20 (DM) = 18000grazing days That is sufficient to graze 187 *500 lb. cattle for 72 days without grazing of regrowth Alternatively one acre will graze 187 * 500lb cattle for 1 day without grazing of regrowth. ASSUMPTIONS: * 75% UTILISATION 20% RESIDUAL TO CAPITALISE REGROWTH HAY SUPPLEMENTATION OR CEREALS IN SWATH

Prescription for success planning the rotation Feed allowance and intake of the animal are linked to the feed residue left after grazing. Residue after grazing affects regrowth . The biological processes essential for soil health and productive, nutrient dense crops require a dry matter residue of 15-25%

Utilization ,Allowance and Residual affect performance of stock, and the next crop NOT GOOD GOOD TIME

Prescription for success in planning the next crop Assess the crop and the cattle through the season. A joint inspection of the crop with Agronomy ,Cattle and Farmer interests, jointly, will increase profitability AND production. A soil test for correction and fertiliser for the next crop should be taken before the end of the grazing season.

WHAT WE FOUND CULTIVARS DRILLS SOIL CORRECTION PLANT /CROP FERTILISATION MANAGEMENT FENCING/WATERPOINTS

Recommended management practices for success in the system Soil correction /crop fertilizer implementation Grow the feed to fit the Stock Plant before…..? Plant health and nutrition assay prior to grazing Manage crop to fit stock’s DM intake Feed allowance fits residual DM at break Plan the next crop, before and after.

Key “Watch Outs” for Success These are high performance plants that depend on and respond to adequate soil nutrients Test soil before planting Fertilize to meet crop needs (see spec sheet for desired soil fertility and suggested fertilization practices) If irrigated, maintain soil moisture during stand establishment; back off to promote deep rooting; XXX (fill in guidelines) just prior to onset of grazing Unproductive Soil means an Unproductive Crop For E.Tennessee summer/fall grazing program, plant before May 1 Choose the crop type and variety to fit the type of livestock (refer to product descriptions for best pairings) Do tissue test XXX weeks after crop emergence, and apply additional fertilization as needed (seed tech sheet for guidelines) Right Crop at the Right Time in the Right Condition Crop is ready to graze when XXXXX(fill in guidelines about when crop is ready for grazing) Acclimate stock to this high quality feed: (describe approach to introducing stock to the pasture gradually) (describe testing for nitrate (and sulfur?)) Launching Success: Getting Grazing off to a Good Start (describe general approach for setting stocking rates and duration (e.g. deciding when to move cattle) (describe needed availability of “run outs” and/or added roughage feeds; what about water, (salt?) (describe guidelines for crop management after begin grazing, especially if want regrowth and re-graze: irrigation, fertilization, general guidelines about when pull off cattle, when put back on) Keeping Crop and Stock in Shape and in Balance to Maximize Value (comments about leaving 15 to 25% of crop (I believe that is what you indicated) for building soil organic matter) (does this qualify for one of the top points that you want to “burn into” the mind of customers in order to avoid wrecks and virtually assure a good outcome, i.e. a “critical success factor”? Build Soil Productivity