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
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
Presentations on County Agents Only page ID: GeorgiaForages PW: GAAgentsOnly?
Test Your Forages
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
Peanut Hay Quality
Peanut Hay Mineral Content
The Most Popular Question in 2007: “Why are my hayfields green and my pastures brown?” Get to the root of the problem.
What you don’t see…. Roots die back Roots die back even more Graze/Cut Regrowth Begins Graze/Cut Again Adequate Rest
The Long-Range Forecast
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
Fertilization Strategies Nitrogen recommendations for bermudagrass Very high cost ($ /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 ($ /lb of N) Nitrate worries Volatilization potential Residual N? Adapt the standard recommendation for non- standard conditions Split applications! Adjust for weather/precipitation patterns
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: lbs N/acre Pasture: 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: lbs N/acre Pasture: lb N/acre Provides sufficient N to match with available water Moderates the risk of excessive nitrate levels Lessens prevalence of summer annual weeds
Fertilization Strategies Common bermudagrass > tall fescue Proper timing of N is our only tool Fescue rescue Rain + N lbs of N at the first of March 08 –Use 40 – 50 lbs N/a in normal year. 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 lbs of N at the first of March 08 –Use 40 – 50 lbs N/a in normal year. 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
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.
Some Old Friends Photo courtesy of Dr. Ray Smith, TAES
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 $ Red clover $ White clover $22-55 Annual clover $28-83
The effect of annual clover addition on ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass yields. Treatment dry lbs/acre Crimson; 200 lbs N/Acre Arrowleaf; 200 lbs N/Acre No Clover; 200 lbs N/Acre No Clover; 0 N Location: Starkville, MS Source: Knight, W.E Agron. J. 62:
Summer Annuals
Emergency Forage Base
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
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
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
Other Summer Annuals Browntop Millet lbs/acre Foxtail Millet lbs/acre Proso Millet lbs/acre Red River Crabgrass lbs/acre Forage Soybean lbs/acre Source:
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 inches in height Hay/baleage = early head Usually inches Cutting height at or above 8 inches (CRITICAL) Cutting too low will clip below the growing point.
Hay Production School 2008 March 8 th Waynesboro – Burke Co. Ext.
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