6. County Agents Only Page Password Protected  ID: GeorgiaForages  PW: GAAgentsOnly? Download PPT Presentations Training Materials “ Secret Recipe ” Materials Forage News & Views Archive (Email Updates)

8. Forage Resources for Your Bookshelf

10. Georgia Soils

11. Georgia Forages: Grass Species Over 35 forage grasses. Cool Season Annuals Cool Season Perennials Warm Season Annuals Warm Season Perennials

12. Georgia Forages: Legume Species Over 25 forage legumes. Cool Season Annuals Cool Season Perennials Warm Season Annuals Warm Season Perennials

13. Georgia ’ s Grass: A Diverse Forage Base 1)Tall fescue (pasture) 2)Bermudagrass (hay) 3)Some annuals (pasture, hay) 4)Some legumes and forbs. 1)Bermudagrass (hay, pasture) 2)Bahiagrass (pasture) 3)More annuals (hay, pasture) 4)Few legumes and forbs.

14. Forage Productivity Differs Throughout the Year Piedmont

15. Forage Productivity Differs Throughout the Year Coastal Plain

17. Tissue Sampling and Troubleshooting

18. Tissue Sampling 6 in.

19. Troubleshooting

20. Plant Tissue Analysis

22. Most Common Establishment Mistakes

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

24. Poor Stress Tolerance Leafspot Diseases The Stand is Gone! Not Competitive Grows Very Slow Poor Winterhardiness K is for Persistence

25. Other Specialists with Forage Responsibilities: Weeds and weed control issues  Dr. Patrick McCullough, Griffin Insect and insect control issues  Dr. Will Hudson, Athens (Perennial grasses)  Dr. David Buntin, Griffin (Winter annuals) Disease issues  Dr. Alfredo Martinez, Griffin Economic issues  Dr. Curt Lacy, Tifton Soil fertility issues  Dr. Glen Harris, Tifton Weeds and weed control issues  Dr. Patrick McCullough, Griffin Insect and insect control issues  Dr. Will Hudson, Athens (Perennial grasses)  Dr. David Buntin, Griffin (Winter annuals) Disease issues  Dr. Alfredo Martinez, Griffin Economic issues  Dr. Curt Lacy, Tifton Soil fertility issues  Dr. Glen Harris, Tifton

26. Top 10 Weed Submissions 2006 – 9/2007 Georgia Grass Forages 1.Arrowleaf sida 2.Maypop passionflower 3.Verbena sp. 4.Hedge mustard 5.Thistle spp. 6.Wild radish 7.Hemp dogbane 8.Pigweed sp. 9.Dogfennel 10.Camphorweed 172 submissions – 72 species 1.Arrowleaf sida 2.Maypop passionflower 3.Verbena sp. 4.Hedge mustard 5.Thistle spp. 6.Wild radish 7.Hemp dogbane 8.Pigweed sp. 9.Dogfennel 10.Camphorweed 172 submissions – 72 species 1.Dicanthelium sp. 2.Bahiagrass 3.Vaseygrass 4.Rescuegrass 5.Sedge sp. 6.Rush sp. 7.Broadleaf signalgrass 8.Sandbur sp. 9.Foxtail, yellow 10.Smutgrass 120 submissions – 37 species

27. Weed ID Websites http://www.wssa.net/Weeds/ID/index.htm http://www.ppws.vt.edu/weedindex.htm

28. www.georgiaforages.com

29. “If used incorrectly, this will be the biggest limit to your profitability.”

30. What is the difference? 1)Digestible energy 2)How much can be eaten 1)Digestible energy 2)How much can be eaten

31. What is “high quality forage?” Forage that is highly digestible (i.e., high TDN) Large amounts of the forage can be consumed (i.e., high DMI). Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) = TDN * DMI/1.23 Forage that is highly digestible (i.e., high TDN) Large amounts of the forage can be consumed (i.e., high DMI). Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) = TDN * DMI/1.23

32. Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) 75100125150175200225 Heifer, 18-24 mo. Dry cow Mature horse, lt. work Heifer, 12-18 mo. Lactating beef cow Lactating mare Mature horse, mod. work Dairy, last 200 days Heifer, 3-12 mo. Stocker cattle Weanling horse Mature horse, int. work Dairy, 1 st 120 days Dairy calf Quality Required

33. Forage Quality has High Value Now CropMaturityCPTDNSupplement † Cost ‡ -- % -- lbs/hd/day$/hd/day Bermudagrass4 weeks10-1258-620$0 6 weeks8-1051-554.8$0.48 8 weeks6-845-507.5$0.75 Tall FescueLate boot14-1666-700$0 Early head11-1360-630$0 Dough8-1050-545.3$0.53 † Assuming 50:50 corn gluten:soyhulls supplementation for forage quality on low end of the range. ‡ Approximate price = $200/ton (current as of 8-20-2013). Supplementing a Lactating Beef Cow + $2.00/hd/day in hay fed

34. What Affects Forage Quality?

35. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality.

36. The Paradox of Forage Quality and Quantity Digestibility & Palatability

37. Fescue Maturity- Digestibility Majority of hay harvested at hard seed stage Only truly applicable with spring harvest JUST MORE MANURE!!!

38. Bermudagrass Harvest Interval: Effects on Protein and Digestibility McCollough and Burton., 1962 DMI 11.9, 8.8, 9.5 lbs ADG 1.2,.9, 0 lbs Percent, %

39. Harvest Timing Recommendations Hybrid Bermudagrass - 1st cut at 12-16 inches - Subsequent cuttings at 3.5-5 week intervals Tall fescue, ryegrass, orchardgrass, etc. - Spring cut at early flower stage - Mid to late boot stage for higher quality - Subsequent cuttings at 10-12 inches (better quality) Alfalfa - Spring cut at when 10-20% of plants are blooming - Cut at late bud – 10% bloom stage Hybrid Bermudagrass - 1st cut at 12-16 inches - Subsequent cuttings at 3.5-5 week intervals Tall fescue, ryegrass, orchardgrass, etc. - Spring cut at early flower stage - Mid to late boot stage for higher quality - Subsequent cuttings at 10-12 inches (better quality) Alfalfa - Spring cut at when 10-20% of plants are blooming - Cut at late bud – 10% bloom stage

40. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality.

41. Quality Differences in the Major Forage Species Maint. Mod. Production High Production

42. Typical Range in Quality of Common Forages

43. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality.

44. 14 inches

45. Moisture distribution of mixed grass-legume round bales stored on the ground Shinners, University of Wisconsin Twine Wrapped % Moisture Net Wrapped

46. Moisture distribution of mixed grass-legume round bales stored on the ground vs. elevated Shinners, University of Wisconsin Twine Wrapped % Moisture On a Pallet

47. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality.

48. The Effect of Rainfall on DM Loss DM Loss, % Rainfall, in. Scarbrough et al., 2005

49. Crop Moisture Lessens Rain Damage on Bermudagrass DM Loss, % Rainfall, in. Scarbrough et al., 2005 76% Moisture, Not Significant. 40% Moisture 13% Moisture

50. Crop Moisture Lessens Rain Damage on Bermudagrass NDF, % Rainfall, in. Scarbrough et al., 2005 76% Moisture, Not Significant. 40% Moisture 13% Moisture

51. The Effect of Rain on Tall Fescue Hay Turner et al., 2003

53. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality.

54. Heat Damage to Crude Protein Heat Protein Useable Protein Heat-Damaged Protein DM Intake

55. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality. Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality.

56. Yield and Digestibility of Bermudagrass Hybrids

57. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality. Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations

58. CP in Bermudagrass Forage as Effected by N Fertilization Source: Dr. Bill Anderson, USDA-ARS Tifton

59. Effect of N Rates on Bermudagrass CP & Digestibility Burton et al.

60. Does fertility or harvest timing affect quality more?- Crude Protein Colovos et al. 1961 (4X as much N) Bromegrass

61. Does fertility or harvest timing affect quality more?- Digestibility (3.8 X as much N) Colovos et al. 1961 Bromegrass

62. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality. Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations

63. Be Careful of Cutting Height

64. Write this down in BIG BOLD letters! “GRASS GROWS GRASS.”

65. www.georgiaforages.com