1. USDA Special Thanks: Rhonda Miller, Utah State University USDA

2.  Establishment: planting a pasture where there is no existing pasture  Renovation: a series of actions that lead to a long-term change in the plant composition of a pasture USDA ARS

3.  Partial renovation ◦ Rejuvenation or enhancement of existing pasture ◦ Conduct if you have a poor forage stand  winter injury, drought, weed invasion, etc.  Total renovation ◦ Destruction followed by reestablishment of either the same species or another species Species - refers to the type of plant, such as alfalfa, sweet clover, smooth bromegrass, etc. Cultivar - refers to a specific variety within a species. York is a cultivar of smooth bromegrass.

4.  Replace old or diseased pasture species with healthy improved varieties  Extend or increase productivity of pasture  Improve quality of forage  Increase animal productivity  Reduce soil erosion  Reduce noxious weeds www.farmphoto.com

5.  Renovate when: ◦ Pasture is in poor condition and even proper management techniques will not improve the pasture to the desired level UNCE, Reno, Nev.

6.  Seedbed preparation  Seeding methods  Seeding guidelines  Seeding rates  Costs

7.  Seedbed preparation ◦ Seed requirements ◦ Tillage ◦ Other forms of seedbed preparation ◦ Fertility and pH USU, Logan, UT

8. Your goal: Provide a firm seedbed with just enough loose surface soil for shallow seed placement and good seed-to-soil contact  Seed requirements ◦ Adequate soil temperature ◦ Moisture ◦ Oxygen ◦ Seed-to-soil contact  Accomplish by creating a firm, moist seedbed)

9.  Proper seed placement  Good soil-seed contact  Successful establishment www.farmphoto.com

10.  Deep tillage (plow)  Disc  Roller harrow or cultipacker www.farmphoto.com Proper tillage creates a firm seedbed

11. Purpose of tillage ◦ Eliminate existing vegetation ◦ Turn under surface weed seeds ◦ Loosen soil ◦ Incorporate fertilizer ◦ Provide firm seedbed for seeding www.freefoto.com

12.  Close clipping or grazing  Burning  Non-selective herbicides USU, Logan, UT

13.  Base on soil test results  Add lime if pH is low  Add sulfur if the pH is high  Determine a reasonable yield  Add appropriate macro-nutrients ◦ Phosphorus and potassium ◦ Nitrogen

14. Seeding guidelines  Planting windows ◦ Late winter to early spring ◦ Late summer to early fall  Seeding depth ◦ Varies, is species specific  Inoculation of legumes ◦ Ensures proper bacteria present for nitrogen fixation clay.agr.okstate.edu

15. Germination through emergence  Hard seed  Cold temperatures  Improper planting depth  Seed dries out  Crusted soil surface  Toxicity - allelopathic effects, herbicide carryover clay.agr.okstate.edu

16. After emergence  Inappropriate pH  Low fertility  Poor drainage  Drought  Insects  Diseases, winter kill  Inadequate legume inoculation  Competition from weeds/companion crops clay.agr.okstate.edu

17. Seeding methods  Broadcast  Cultipacker  Drilled  No-till  Frost seeding  Companion crop USU

18.  Cheapest and easiest method of seeding  Need to drag or pack the soil after spreading the seed  Tilled seedbed  Seed placement not uniform www.modernforage.com

19.  Consists of two sets of rollers with seed boxes between them  Commonly used on tilled seedbeds  Don’t use on heavy soils www.faivre.com

20.  Directly plants each seed into tilled soil at the proper depth  Need to use a forage drill  Grain drills will result in poor seed placement for small forage seeds UNCE, Reno, Nev.

21.  Plants seed directly into existing vegetation ◦ Solid planting ◦ Band planting  Requires a no-till planter  Reduces erosion  Conserves soil moisture  Reduced fuel, labor, and time requirements www.usda.gov

22.  Seed is broadcast in late winter on soil surface  Freezing & thawing action plus rain will cover seed  Works well with red clover www.freefoto.com UNCE

23. Advantages:  Can be cut or grazed for feed  Provides a quick ground cover  Helps control soil erosion  Reduces invasion of weeds Disadvantages:  Competes for nutrients, light and moisture  Good management is essential USDA

24. Seeding rates  Desired stand  Percent pure live seed  Other factors to consider Intermediate wheatgrass seed

25. Desired stand varies based on:  Forage species planted ◦ Ability to fill in (rhizomes) ◦ Mixture, pure-stand, companion crop  Availability of water Percent pure live seed (PLS) % PLS = % Purity x % Germination % Purity = % of seed that is the desired forage seed % Germination = % of seed that germinates when planted

26. MethodCost per acre (2012) Plowing Moldboard$15 - $30 Chisel$15 - $30 Disc/Harrow Tandem disc$15 - $30 Harrow/Cultipacker$10 - $30 Planting Conventional Drill$10 - $15 No-till$15 - $20 http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/ABM/custrates.htm

27.  Grasses - Irrigated (June 2013)  Grasses – Dryland (June 2013) SpeciesCost/lb (PLS)Seeding Rate (Drill) Orchardgrass$2.22/lb5 lb/acre Timothy$2.40/lb3 lb/acre Tall fescue$1.40/lb8 lb/acre Smooth bromegrass$4.50/lb13 lb/acre SpeciesCost/lbSeeding Rate (Drill) Western wheatgrass$7.50/lb8 lb/acre Sideoats grama$15.90/lb4.5 lb/acre Prairie junegrass$21.95/lb1 lb/acre Blue grama$27.00/lb1.5 lb/acre

28. Reduced yield as stand establishes:  Spring seeding ◦ Reduced number of cuttings first year ◦ Reduced yield per cutting  Fall seeding ◦ No harvest of new crop during establishment ◦ Reduced yield of previous crop during year of establishment  Ground preparation  Time for establishment

29.  Pasture inventory ◦ Land available ◦ Climate ◦ Soil characteristics  Forage use ◦ Livestock ◦ Grazing vs. hay production ◦ Continuous grazing vs. rotational grazing UNCE, Reno, Nev. www.usda.gov

30. Land available  Grazing land ◦ Water source(s) ◦ Sacrifice area  Hay production

31. Climate  Growing season ◦ Frost-free days ◦ Growing degree days (GDD)  Temperature  Precipitation Soil characteristics  Drainage  Water holding capacity

32. Livestock  Different animals have different nutritional requirements and forage preferences ◦ Horses (timothy) ◦ Dairy cattle (perennial ryegrass) ◦ Beef cattle (tall fescue) www.farmphoto.com

33. Grazing vs. hay production  Which will be your primary use?  Many forages that are good for hay production are not good for grazing, and vice-versa ◦ Upright growth habit - better for hay production ◦ Consider trampling effects www.farmphoto.com

34.  Continuous grazing ◦ Easy ◦ But…yields are reduced  Rotational grazing ◦ Requires more management and infrastructure ◦ But…yields are higher USDA NRCS

35. Grasses Legumes Seasonal growth patterns Disease resistance Forage quality Pure stands or mixtures

36.  Growth habit ◦ Bunch ◦ Sod-forming  Stolon  Rhizome  Re-growth ◦ Jointing ◦ Non-jointing  Grasses are more tolerant of poor soil conditions  But…grasses require nitrogen source USDA NRCS Little bluestem

37.  Legumes fix nitrogen from the air  Growth habit ◦ Upright (sainfoin) ◦ Prostrate (birdsfoot trefoil)  New growth ◦ Axillary (sweetclover) ◦ Crown (red clover) ◦ Axillary & crown (alfalfa) clay.agr.okstate.edu

38. ISU

39.  Genetically inherited traits ◦ Select disease-resistant varieties ◦ Select varieties with good winter hardiness  Consider the intended years of use clay.agr.okstate.edu

40. Affects:  Palatability, and thus amounts consumed  Nutritive value ◦ Digestibility ◦ Chemical composition

41.  Advantages ◦ Management is easier ◦ Weed control is easier  Disadvantage ◦ Yield can be lower www.forages.css.orst.edu  Advantages ◦ Less nitrogen fertilizer when legumes present ◦ More tolerant of variation in soil conditions ◦ More competitive against weeds  Disadvantages ◦ Difficult grazing mgmt ◦ If not managed properly grasses will dominate ◦ More difficult weed control

42.  Keep the mixture simple  Similar maturity date  Similar growth habit  Similar palatability clay.agr.okstate.edu

43.  Most productive in the spring and fall  Poor summer production  Bunchgrasses versus sod-forming grasses Western wheatgrass Crested wheatgrassSmooth bromegrass

44.  Productive during summer months  Must be suitable for your area  Bunchgrasses versus sod-forming grasses Prairie sandreed Switchgrass

45.  Fix nitrogen from atmosphere  Some may cause bloat clay.agr.state.edu

46.  Renovation may be partial or total  Partial renovation rejuvenates or enhances parts of an existing pasture  Proper management can aide in partial renovation  Total renovation destroys existing vegetation then re-establishes better vegetation  Plan ahead!

47.  Determine if your pasture requires improvement or renovation  Determine your goals for the improvement or renovation project  Determine the best and most cost- effective method to achieve your goals.  Determine the best plants to use for your area and for your goals.