The Beef Bonanza. just shooting the bull. Johnsongrass The Good and the Bad. Contact Us. McDowell. Inside This Issue NC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

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1 The Beef Bonanza just shooting the bull Fall 2016 Issue Inside This Issue Johnsongrass, the good and the bad 1 Stockpiling Tall-fescue is a Good Way to Cut Down Hay Cost 2 Livestock Judging Team Contest Results 3 Jr. Horse and Livestock Show Results 4 Livestock Show Photos 5 Chesnee Market Report 6 WNC Market Report 7 Contact Us NC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION McDowell Center County Administration Building, Room East Court Street Marion, NC Phone: Fax: Distributed in furtherance of the acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. McDowell county center Johnsongrass The Good and the Bad Written by: Adam Lawing Johnsongrass is a big topic in our area. It's excellent forage for our animals to graze but at the same time, it presents several problems for producers. When we look at the nutritional value of johnsongrass, it is hard to beat. It has an average of percent crude protein and an average of 58 percent of total digestible nutrients (energy). Since it is such a good feed source, why not utilize it and grow more? One reason is that it is noxious and can even be poisonous to our animals. When johnsongrass goes through stresses such as droughts, hard frosts or damages from herbicides that kill grasses, johnsongrass can develop enough nitrate and prussic acid, known as cyanide, to kill livestock in any amount. If you have any pastures that have johnsongrass in them, you need to keep your animals off of them for about a week so the prussic acid has time to dissipate. Another problem of johnsongrass is that it is hard to control and eradicate because there are no selective herbicides labeled for tall-fescue, which is the predominate types of forage in our area. Herbicides like glysophate will kill johnsongrass but they will also kill the grass in the pastures. The best way to control johnsongrass is to spot treat each area of johnsongrass with glysophate or use a weed wick. A weed wick will allow you to use herbicides like glysophate in your pastures because the wick stays saturated with the herbicide and wipes any plant that comes into contact with the wick. Since johnsongrass typically grows faster and higher than fescue, the weed wick is a good method to control pastures that have a large population of johnsongrass. There is a weed wick available to rent in the county. Three things to keep in mind: herbicides are most effective on johnsongrass when they are applied when the plant reaches above 18 inches and until it starts to bloom, it may take years to get a good control on johnsongrass, and the seed can stay viable in the ground for at least 10 years.

2 Fall 2016 Issue: Page 2 Stockpiling Tall-Fescue A Good Way to Cut Down Hay Costs Written by: Adam Lawing If you want to feed less hay this winter, now is the time to start preparing your pastures. Stockpiling fescue is when the grass is allowed to grow and is not mowed for hay and is not grazed this fall in order to have pasture to graze during the winter months. To stockpile your pastures, you first need to graze or clip the tops off in late summer, then between August 15th-September 15th apply 50 lbs of nitrogen per acre and apply the recommended amount of fertilizer from a soil test. Once this is done, keep your livestock off of the pastures until December. The trick to grazing stockpiled pastures is to keep the animals from selectively grazing. To do this, strip graze each pasture and let the animals graze a portion of the pasture at a time. You need a hot perimeter fence to which you can hook a reel of polywire. The other end of the polywire is hooked to the opposite side of the fence with posts every 15 feet. Keep the animals in each section until they graze the grass down to about 3 or 4 inches in height, then move the polywire to the next section. The size of the section the animals are on and the number of animals in the section will determine how long you can leave the animals in each section. Remember for each area the animals are in, they need access to water. Also remember that when grazing stockpiled pastures, you need to have free choice minerals available. If you have any questions about strip grazing, please give me a call. Polywire Reel Grazed Area Stockpiled Area Polywire Hook

3 Fall 2016 Issue: Page 3 4-H Livestock Judging Team State Contest Results The McDowell County 4-H Livestock Judging Team recently competed at the North Carolina State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in July. Youth from across the state competed at the contest that was held at the North Carolina State University's Beef Education Unit. The team consisted of Molly Anderson, Colton Cox, Alyson Biddix, Skyler Murray, Hannah Ellis, John Eric Ellis, Jay English, Haylee Laws, Abbey Hollifield, John Eric Francis, and Caleb Henson. Junior Skillathon: The junior team members are: Jay English, Molly Anderson, Colton Cox and Haylee Laws. Colton Cox: 5th Identification, 8th overall junior Haylee Laws: 2nd Evaluation The junior team placed 2nd Evaluation and was the 5th high team. Senior Skillathon: The senior team members are: Hannah Ellis, John Eric Ellis, and Skyler Murray. Hannah Ellis: 6th Quality Assurance Skyler Murray: 5th Identification, 8th overall individual They were the 2nd place team in Quality Assurance, 4th identification and were the 4th high team. Junior Livestock Judging Division: The junior livestock judging team members are: Molly Anderson, Haylee Laws, Colton Cox and Jay English. Molly Anderson: 5th goats, 1st swine, 1st cattle, 1st reasons, highest overall junior individual Haylee Laws: 4th swine, 4th cattle, 4th reasons Colton Cox: 8th cattle, 3rd reasons The junior team placed 1st in swine cattle and reasons as well as the 3rd high team. Senior Livestock Judging Division: The senior livestock judging team are: Hannah Ellis, John Eric Ellis, Skyler Murray and Caleb Henson. John Eric Ellis: 7th goats, 7th sheep, 10th swine, 8th overall Alyson Biddix: 6th goats John Eric Francis: 2nd goats Hannah Ellis: 10th sheep, 1st cattle, 2nd reasons, 5th overall Caleb Henson: 2nd sheep, 6th reasons, 9th overall Skyler Murray: 5th cattle, 17th overall The team was 1st cattle, sheep and 2nd in reasons and was the 2nd high team.

4 Fall 2016 Issue: Page 4 Junior Horse and Livestock Show Results The 70th Annual McDowell County Jr. Livestock Show was held on August 5th and 6th. This was the first year that we split the show into two days. This year we had 65 youth from the western part of the state showing a total of 155 animals. The animals that were shown were beef, dairy, sheep, goats, swine, rabbits and chickens. A special thing about the show is that is the longest continuous running livestock show in the state of North Carolina. The following Tuesday, we hosted a banquet where we gave out the awards from the show that was sponsored by the Marion Kiwanis Club as well as Countryside Barbeque and Hook and Anchor Dottie Brackett Memorial Scholarship Winner: Megan Lawing Junior Horse Show Results: Horse Showmanship Winners 5-8 Grand Champion: Graham Lytle Reserve Champion: Olivia Moore 9-13 Grand Champion: Savanaha Adkins Reserve Champion: Linen Owens Grand Champion: Maranda Schill Reserve Champion: Rebecca Qurollo Junior Horse Division Winners 5-8 Grand Champion: Adriane Tartaglia Reserve Champion: Graham Lytle 9-13 Grand Champion: Emma Gurley Reserve Champion: Lucas Oliver Grand Champion: Maranda Schill Reserve Champion: Alyssa Botelho Premier Horse Exhibitor: Miranda Schill Junior Livestock Show Results: Premier Exhibitor Goats: Garrett Smith Premier Exhibitor Swine: Ruby Ballard Premier Exhibitor Beef Cattle: Alex Cassavaugh Premier Exhibitor Sheep: Burgin Mackey Premier Exhibitor Dairy Cattle: Jay English Premier Exhibitor Rabbits: Graham Lytle

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6 Fall 2016 Issue: Page 5 CHESNEE LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT August 23, 2016 Chesnee Livestock Market, Chesnee, SC Report for Tuesday Aug 23, 2016 Feeder Steers: Medium and Large lbs (264) (174.15); lbs (315) (173.51); lbs (364) (162.83); lbs (409) (156.13); lbs (531) (139.01); lbs (566) (133.90); lbs value added (570) (142.00); lbs (614) (133.26); lbs value added (600) (139.00); lbs (673) (124.62); lbs (780) (125.50). Small lbs (385) (125.00); lbs (430) (110.00); lbs (470) (119.89). Medium lbs (337) (155.05); lbs (373) (143.13). Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large lbs (233) (152.47); lbs (320) (134.44); lbs (375) (141.24); lbs (413) (141.98); lbs (463) (132.49); lbs (524) (117.63); lbs value added (500) (133.00); lbs (565) (117.64); lbs (619) (117.48); lbs (663) (117.04). Small lbs (380) (114.50). Medium lbs (245) (130.00); lbs (318) (122.44); lbs (378) (124.03); lbs (425) (125.55); lbs (478) (119.60); lbs (639) (108.75); lbs (700) (107.00). Feeder Bulls: Medium and Large lbs (416) (144.20); lbs (478) (138.35); lbs (513) (134.63); lbs (567) (129.23); lbs (614) (130.60); lbs (669) (126.50); lbs (720) (110.36); lbs (770) (111.00). Small lbs (425) (114.44); lbs (490) (108.46); lbs (527) (107.73). Medium lbs (423) (129.99); lbs (476) (125.18); lbs (528) (120.15); lbs (580) (111.97); lbs (670) (113.00); lbs (830) (80.00); lbs (930) (80.00). Slaughter Cows: Breaker percent lean lbs (1583) (71.50). Boner percent lean lbs (1169) (72.64); lbs (1470) (74.50). Lean percent lean lbs low dressing (740) (63.60); lbs (890) (71.59); lbs low dressing (888) (62.04).

7 Fall 2016 Issue: Page 6 WNC REGIONAL CANTON LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT August 29, 2016 WNC Regional Livestock Center, Canton, NC Auction Report Monday Aug 29, 2016 Feeder Steers: Medium and Large lbs (240) (160.00); lbs (295) (154.00); lbs (310) (137.50); lbs (369) (142.04); lbs (413) (134.76); lbs (470) (133.64); lbs (518) (132.90); lbs (572) (125.90); lbs (614) (122.24); lbs (673) (119.31); lbs (745) (125.00); lbs (870) (104.00). Medium lbs (328) (125.06); lbs (376) (128.06); lbs (420) (123.01); lbs (463) (120.49); lbs (528) (113.33). Medium lbs (370) (112.50); lbs (425) (104.09); lbs (510) (100.00). Small lbs (372) (90.93); lbs (425) (87.50); lbs (455) (92.50); lbs full (580) Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large lbs (200) (130.00); lbs (290) (123.75); lbs (321) (129.52); lbs (375) (118.71); lbs (422) (119.02); lbs (468) (119.94); lbs (516) (121.72); lbs (562) (128.00); lbs (627) (110.95); lbs (678) (112.48); lbs (715) (107.99); lbs (775) (105.00). Medium lbs (335) (113.77); lbs (375) (106.52); lbs (455) (107.86); lbs (535) (110.00); lbs (568) (114.00); lbs holstein (580) (93.00). Small lbs (382) (95.15); lbs (435) (87.50). Feeder Bulls: Medium and Large lbs (422) (136.62); lbs (478) (129.81); lbs (531) (123.49); lbs (565) (118.87); lbs (629) (115.19); lbs (663) (115.97); lbs (720) (103.52); lbs (785) (105.00); lbs (853) (99.00); lbs (925) (93.00); lbs (960) (94.00). Medium lbs (415) (122.50); lbs (473) (114.01); lbs (582) (108.68). Medium lbs (423) (113.44). Small lbs (475) (82.50). Slaughter Cows: Breaker percent lean lbs low dressing (1320) (66.52); lbs low dressing (1593) (65.88). Boner percent lean lbs (1146) (71.32); lbs high dressing (1075) (89.00); lbs low dressing (1163) (65.65); lbs low dressing (1430) (62.00). Lean percent lean lbs (855) (72.00); lbs low dressing (900) (66.00).

8 McDowell County Center 60 E. Court Street Marion, North Carolina Compiled and edited by: Adam Lawing Extension Agent Ag and Natural Resources For accommodations for persons with disabilities, contact the McDowell County Center at , no later than 10 business days before the event. Administrative support provided by: Jane McDaniel