Pasture Management. Emily Herring- Pender County Livestock Agent March 29, 2011

Transcription

1 Pasture Management Emily Herring- Pender County Livestock Agent March 29, 2011

2 Thanks to: Chris Teutsch, Virginia Extension Richard Melton, Anson Co Livestock Agent Eve Honeycutt, Lenior and Green Livestock Agent Becky Spearman, Bladen County Livestock Agent Jim Green, former NC Cooperative Extension Forage Specialist

3 What is the goal? Provide Feed Improve Animal Performance Save Money Aesthetically Pleasing Other

4 What are the limitations? Number of acres Soil types Equipment available Facilities available Species to graze Time Desire

5 SOILS ANIMALS MANAGER FORAGES INFRASTRUCTURE

6 Establishing Forages Plan what you will do Write down your plan Keep records what and when did you plant, fertilize, move animals, etc Farm can be simple or complex no right or wrong answer No silver bullets

7 Southern Forages Develop a plan 1. Forage is a commodity you are a forage farmer not just a livestock or horse farmer What is your philosophy? 2. Use reliable information Research based info Try small scale

8 Southern Forages Develop a plan 3. Timeliness Optimum planting dates to establish are CRITICAL Fertilize Herbicide application Adjusting stocking rate Hay cutting

9 Southern Forages Develop a plan 4. Use adapted species and varieties Sandy vs clay Wet vs well drained soils What is volunteering if the field already? 5. Match crop to animal needs 6. Maximize the length of the grazing season diversity can help to have year round pastures

10 Southern Forages Develop a plan 7. Soil testing and fertility 8. Use legumes if possible 9. Stored feed and hay 10. Grazing methods continuous vs rotational

11 TERMINOLOGY Legumes roots have nodules containing bacteria capable of fixing nitrogen and increasing the fertility of the soil Grasses are herbaceous plants that have a parallel leaf vein, fibrous root system and have seeds on elongated sees stalks Sedges monocot plant that superficially resemble grasses. Usually not valued as a forage crop for animals

12 TERMINOLOGY Cool season produce during the winter optimum: o F Warm season produce during summer optimum: o F

13 TERMINOLOGY Annuals Germinates, grows, reproduces and dies in one growing season Must be planted every year Perennial Under suitable conditions, live more than one year Can become dormant at certain times of the year

14 Forage Quality As plants mature, the quality goes down Legumes are higher in quality than grasses Target grazing heights Grazing intensity or hay harvest

15 Primary site of plant food production... The green leaf It is also the primary source of feed!!

16 Challenge... To Recognize Plant s need for REST or protection to replenish energy &/or Leaf area.

17 Growth Phases Growth is slow at first, then rapid until near maturity, when it slows again Keep plants in most active growth stage Graze when plants are at 6-12 inches and leave 2-4 inches of stubble after grazing Recovery time will depend on soil moisture, temperature, leaf area remaining, and animal traffic

18 Growth Phase Activities Aspect Phase Yield TDN... High High Low Growth Rate... Low Rapid Med Leaf Area... Low High V.High

19 Necessities for Plant Growth Sunlight Favorable Temperature Water Nutrients Carbon Dioxide Oxygen

20 Soil Moisture Photosynthesis and Cooling Limited moisture causes growth to stop before photosynthesis Slowed growth causes nitrate accumulation Limited moisture has more effect on yield than quality (except drought)

21 Regrowth Excess energy for regrowth is stored in specific organs in the plant After cutting or grazing, the plant depends on this reserve energy Green leaves near the soil surface (bermuda, fescue, bluegrass) Regrowth is boosted by reserve energy in addition to continued photosynthesis from remaining leaf area

22 Use soil tests free service Lack of nutrients affects yields, not quality Lime as recommended follow reports For fertilization follow reports The Nitrogen rate for hybrid bermudagrass varies with soil type lb per acre Apply lb per acre in April and the remainder in equal increments in June and mid-july or after each cutting. For established crops, apply P2O5 before plants begin new growth.

23 Seasonal Distribution of Growth (lb/acre/day) Warm season plants Bahia Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bermuda Bluestem Browse Corn Crabgrass Dallisgrass Gamagrass Johnsongrass Millet Sorghum-Sudan Soybean Sudan Switchgrass

24 Seasonal Distribution of Growth (lb/acre/day) Cool season plants Alfalfa Bluegrass Brassica Chicory Clovers Fescue Orchardgrass Prairiegrass Ryegrass, annual Ryegrass, perennial Cereal grains 10 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

25 Seasonal Distribution of Growth (lb/acre/day) Cool and Warm season plants Cool-season Warm-season Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

26 Growth Curves for Common Forages KY Bluegrass Orchardgrass Tall Fescue Ladino Clover Red Clover Alfalfa Small Grains Ryegrass Bermudagrass Switchgrass Caucasian Bluestem Sorghum-Sudan Pearl Millet JAN MAR MAY JUL SEPT NOV Cool-Season Grasses Legumes Cool-Season Annual Grasses Warm-Season Grasses Warm-Season Annual Grasses Adapted from Controlled Grazing of Virginia s Pastures, Publication

27 Cool-Season Grasses more digestible and higher in CP longer growing season?? Warm-Season Grasses less digestible and lower in CP more drought tolerant more efficient at using water

28 Warm Season Grasses Perennials Bermuda Bahiagrass Dallisgrass Native Warm Season Eastern Gamagrass Swithgrass Annuals Millet Sorghum Mixes

29 Bermudagrass Hybrid and seeded types Grows in sandy soils Seed: April 1-May 15 Can plant Mar 15-Jun7 Broadcast 6-8lbs/ac or Drill 5-7lbs/ac Grazing: Start at 4-6 in and Stop at 2-3 inches Bermudagrass Growth Pattern Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Month

30 Bermudagrass Growth from April to October Yields range from 3 to 6 tons per acre Nitrogen Recommendations lbs/ac at establishment & at maintenance Optimum ph level= 6.5

31 Bermudagrass Stand Loss Mostly due to management Sometimes due to soil type, drainage, shade Hay not harvested in a timely manner Harvest every four weeks Cut at 12 growth Competition from overseed or weeds Cut overseeded ryegrass off at the latest; April

32 Competitive effect of winter annual overseed

33 Bermuda Hybrid Bermudagrass Hybrids include Coastal, Tifton 44, Tifton 78, Tifton 85, Midland 99, Ozark, Goodwell Hybrids don t make viable seed and are sprigged Adapted to somewhat poorly drained to excessively well drained soil series Seeded Varieties Cheyenne II Wrangler Mohawk Ranchero

34 Seeding Plant seed when soil temperature is 65 degrees or higher at a 4 depth Usually late April or May Prepare the ground as soon as possible in spring to allow the soil to settle (apply lime before preparing seedbed) Use glyphosate (Roundup) or paraquat (Gramoxone Max) to help create a weed-free seedbed

35 Seeding Plant into a well-packed, clean-tilled seedbed Broadcast seed and immediately cultipack Avoid fields with heavy competition such as crab, goose and nut grass No-till seeding - not deeper than 1/8

36 General Rule If you sink past sole of your shoe, seedbed is too soft

37 Broadcast + Cultipack Cultipack, broadcast seed, cultipack Can give excellent results for a relatively low equipment cost

38 Costs Sprigging establishment costs from NCSU budget is $250 Seeded establishment costs from Va Tech is $225-$250

39 Bladen Plots Charles Gillespie s farm in Elizabethtown Becky Spearman, NC Cooperative Extension- Livestock Agent, Bladen County Rick Morris, NCDA Regional Agronomist is a major part of the plots Seeded on May 24, 2007 Used a Brillion seeder Plots were 25 x 70 feet

40 Cheyenne Mohawk Varieties Ranchero Frio - blend of: 50% Cheyenne 2 17% Giant 16.5% Cheyenne 12% Mohawk Wrangler

41 Spearman-Gillespie Elizabethtown Bermuda Trial 2008 Hrvst 1 (1 July) YIELD (lbs/acre) Crabgrass Bermuda MOHAWK RANCHERO CHEYENNE WRANGLER

42 Spearman-Gillespie Elizabethtown Bermuda Trial 2008 Hrvst 2 (14 August) YIELD (lbs/acre) Crabgrass Bermuda 0.00 MOHAWK RANCHERO CHEYENNE WRANGLER Note doubling of scale on Y-axis for Aug harvest

43 Spearman-Gillespie Bermudagrass Trial 2008 Hrvst 3 (Oct 10) 2500 Dry Matter YIELD (lbs/acre) Crabgrass Bermuda 0 Mohawk Ranchero Cheyenne Wrangler

44 Bahiagrass Adapted to sites that may not work well for bermuda Moderate quality Limited varieties Limited production season Plant Feb 15- Mar 15 at 15-25lbs/ac broadcast and 10-20lbs drill Optimum ph= lbs N/ac

45 Can spread to other fields Can be considered a nuisance weed Tough on equipment and animals teeth Bahiagrass

46 Dallisgrass Bunch type grass Best adapted to moist soils Establishment is slow Broadcast seed in March or April Higher quality than bermuda

47 Native Warm Perennial Season Switchgrass Eastern Gamagrass Hard to establish Site specific Bunch grasses Heavy yields Require grazing management Limited overseeding Very efficient nitrogen users Grasses

48 Eastern Gamagrass Switchgrass

49 Annual Forages Supply forage during summer and winter deficit periods Advantages fast germination and emergence rapid growth high productivity and quality provides flexibility Disadvantages Establishment cost: $120 to $140 increased risk of stand failures hard to cure

50 Pearl Millet High Yield Excellent quality Higher leaf to stem ratios than other warm season annuals No Prussic acid Problems Requires grazing management Hard to harvest excess Plant May 1- May 15 or Apr 20-June 30

51 Pearl Millet Better adapted to acid soils (ph 5.5 to 6.5) More cold sensitive than sorghums Good drought tolerance better on sandier soils than sorghums Grazing in days For all animals Variety Selection base on seed cost and availability

52 High quality Limited varieties Limited yield and production data Hard to depend on native establishment Plant after bare soil temperature in the upper 2-4 inches is consistently over 70 degrees Fahrenheit at midday Crabgrass

53 Crabgrass Annual that acts like a perennial (reseed) Excellent forage quality -higher than bermudagrass Red River only variety Seeding rate 1-5 lbs/ac

54 Warm Season Legumes Annual lespedeza Cowpea Sericea lespedeza Forage Soybean Research is needed - try small acres to see how they do

55 Why use legumes? Higher yields and forage quality Improved summer growth Dilution of endophyte infected tall fescue Free nitrogen legumes >30% no additional N needed always inoculate legume seed

56 Annual Lespedeza Tolerant of acidic soils July - September Drought resistant Some articles say they can reseed, but mixed results Two species Korean Striate or common

57 Sericea Lespedeza Long-lived perennial Nonbloating Extremely drought tolerant Tolerant of acid soils Grazed rotationally Poor seedling vigor Establishment difficult

58 Cool Season Grasses Perennials Fescue Matua Bromegrass Annuals Ryegrass Small grains Wheat Rye Oats Triticale

59 Tall Fescue Endophyte issues 2/3 s, 1/3 growth Minimal variety selection KY 31 Max Q BarOptima Long term reliability Clay and loamy soils Excellent Quality Management Forgiving Jan Feb Mar Apr Tall Fescue May June July Aug Month Sept Oct Nov Dec

60 Fescue Best time to plant is Oct Possible: March 1-15 or Oct Nov. 15 Seeding rate lbs/ acre Suppress competition by close grazing or herbicide application Good soil fertility is critical Not good in sandy soils

61 Ryegrass Annual Ryegrass Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Month Annual vs. Perennial Tremendous spring growth Multiple varieties Minimal soil cover at establishment Widely adapted

62 Annual Ryegrass High yielding with excellent quality Regrows after cutting until June Must be controlled if overseed crop Consistent production Requires nitrogen fertilization Overseed bermudagrass or double crop with summer annual

63 Winter Annual Grazing Over seed into short or thin pastures Wheat, oats, rye, ryegrass, triticale Can provide grazing from November - April if conditions are right Use caution grazing (limit graze)

64 Cool Season Legumes White Clover??? Vetch??? Alfalfa???

65 White Clover Excellent Quality Good compliment to perennial grass stand Relatively inexpensive Can limit management options Well adapted varieties Poor drought tolerance

66 Vetch Tolerant of acid soils Relatively high phosphorus requirements Close grazing can destroy regrowth May not be palatable for horses

67 Alfalfa High level of management Expensive to establish and maintain Limited life expectancy Excellent quality Marginal adaptability Well-drained soils Can cause bloat Alfalfa Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Month

68 Putting it all together! Goal: Year-Round Grazing Potential System for NC Stockpiled Small Grain Tall Fescue Bermudagrass Stockpiled JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC Year-round grazing requires management

69 Cattle Recommend Stocking Rates acres per cow depends on mature size of cow Goats 6-8 goats on an acre Horses 1 horse per 2 acres Sheep 5-6 sheep on an acre

70 Evaluate what you have How much land per horse? > 2 acres best scenario with good possibility of providing substantial grazing for horse 1-2 acres need excellent grazing management to maintain stand and keep weeds under control <1 acre can provide exercise and limited grazing, difficult to keep stand of grass intact

71 Economics There are forage budgets available to help you determine prices NCSU Budgets located at: Print version and Excel version available

72 Production costs Operating expenses for one cropping season Fixed costs for machinery and equipment Annual All costs are incurred during a single crop Perennial Costs separated into establishment and annual costs

73 Materials and services Seed Seed Inoculants Herbicide Lime Fertilizer Custom Application costs

74 Other Costs Labor $9 per hour for machinery labor $8.50 for other labor Machinery operating Fuel, lubricants and maintenance and repairs Machinery ownership Fixed costs include depreciation, property taxes, insurance premiums and interest charges

75 Seed or sprigging costs Lime costs $0 - $45 per acre Fertilizer costs depends on the crop and the soil report $130 - $250 per crop

76 Seed cost estimates Here are some seed costs for the recommended seeding rate in 2009 KY 31 tall fescue $65 Max Q $112 Seeded Bermuda $85 - $120 Millet $25 Ryegrass $42 Bermuda sprigs $175

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