LOUISIANA FORAGE FARMER

Transcription

1 P a g e 1 LOUISIANA FORAGE FARMER VOLUME 31, NUMBER 2 CONTENT OF THIS ISSUE 2016 LFGC MEETING NEW LFGC LOGO IS READY FEATURED ARTICLE Cover Crops: To Graze or Not to Graze-Impacts on Soil Health 2016 Pasture and Warm- Season Forage Crop Variety Suggestions Pasture Herbicide Residue Effects on Crimson and White Clover Overseeded Tropical Legumes for Enhanced Utilization of Summer Grass Pasture LFGC and AFGC Annual Meetings The LFGC annual meeting will be held on Friday, December 2, 2016 at the DeWitt Livestock Facility on the campus of LSU-A in Alexandria. The program planning committee will be meeting this summer to plan the agenda for this annual meeting. Please mark this date on your calendar and plan to attend. The AFGC annual meeting will be held on January 22-24, 2017 in Roanoke, Virginia. A farm tour will be held on Jan. 22, a Producer Day will be held on Jan. 23 and research paper and posters will be presented on Jan. 24. For more information on this meeting, go to New LFGC Logo After much hard work and creative design, LFGC now has a new logo. The credit for the development of this new logo goes to current LFGC President Emily King and her co-workers who came up with the design. This new logo replaces the old logo, which has been in place since the inception of LFGC in Beef steers moved to a fresh paddock after finishing a seven day grazing period on an old paddock (left side).

2 P a g e 2 Cover Crops: To Graze or Not to Graze-Impacts on Soil Health T.R. Higgins, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri Cover crops are becoming increasingly popular as a means to protect the soil and improve soil health. An appealing aspect of cover cropping for farmers with integrated crop and livestock systems is grazing potential. The question addressed was, does grazing cover crops have an impact on soil health? The three-year study looked at soil health from the perspective of organic matter content change over time and season, soil density, and earthworm populations. Five cover crops treatments (cereal rye alone and cereal rye with purple top turnips, hairy vetch, crimson clover, or rape) and two grazing treatments (graze or no graze) were used. Cover crops were sown in the fall after corn and were grazed in the spring by meat goats. Once grazing finished the fields were sprayed with glyphosate and the corn or soybean crop was planted and any cover crop residue roller crimped. Soil samples were collected in the spring and fall as were soil density and earthworm population readings. These data were compared across cover crop treatments and grazing treatments. Seasonal variation in organic matter content was observed. Earthworm populations tended to be lower in paddocks that were grazed versus those that were not grazed. We expected that the lower earthworm populations observed after grazing in the spring would recover by the fall, but this did not generally happen. It is possible that grazing changes the organic matter profile from one that decomposes more slowly to one that decomposes more rapidly and thus it may be that grazing does not support higher earthworm populations due to the rapid conversion of the plant material into manure. Introduction 2016 Pasture and Warm-Season Forage Crop Variety Suggestions Ed Twidwell and Wink Alison LSU AgCenter Variety selection is an important decision producers must make when establishing forages in pastures. Many varieties of forage crops are marketed in Louisiana and scientists with the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center periodically conduct variety trials with warm-season forages. This information is used to make suggestions each year concerning warm-season forages for producers to consider utilizing. Suggested varieties listed are ones evaluated in Louisiana and found to perform satisfactorily. Suggested seeding rates are made assuming the use of good quality seed that meets the germination and purity seed standards as determined by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Seed Commission. Perennial Grasses Warm-season perennial grasses grown in the Southern region are of tropical origin and grow mainly during the late spring, summer and early autumn. These grasses become dormant and remain unproductive during the winter months. The optimum planting date for these grasses is from March 1 to June 1, but they can also be planted anytime during the growing season when soil moisture is adequate. Bermudagrass

3 P a g e 3 Bermudagrass can be grown throughout Louisiana, and is adapted to most soil types. Both seed-propagated and vegetatively propagated varieties are available. Seeded varieties should be planted at a rate of 3 to 5 pounds of hulled seed per acre. The hybrid varieties should be planted with enough plant material to give about 7,500 plants per acre. Hybrids: Alicia, Brazos, Coastal, Grazer, Tifton 44, Tifton 85, Russell, Jiggs, Sumrall 007 and Little Phillip #1 Seeded: Common, Cheyenne II, Mohawk, Ranchero Frio, Sungrazer Plus Bahiagrass Bahiagrass is widely grown throughout Louisiana, and is particularly adapted to well-drained sites and will persist on low fertility soils. It should be seeded at a rate of 15 pounds per acre. Argentine, Pensacola and Tifton 9 Dallisgrass Dallisgrass is very productive on alluvial soils and more fertile upland soils in Louisiana. Dallisgrass is noted for having poor seed quality. Seed germinate slowly, often taking four weeks or longer for emergence. There are no varieties of dallisgrass; all seed is common and is imported from countries outside of the United States and seed availability is often limited. Dallisgrass should be seeded at a rate of 5 pounds per acre. Annual Grasses These grasses should be planted between April 15 and August 1. They will be killed by frost in the autumn. Specific variety suggestions for these species cannot be made because of insufficient data. Pearl Millet This species generally does best on well-drained, light, and upland soils. Pearl millet should be seeded at a rate of 25 pounds per acre if drilled and 30 pounds per acre if broadcast. This species does not cause prussic acid poisoning in livestock, but nitrate accumulation can cause toxicity under some circumstances. Sorghum Sudangrass This species generally does best on heavier soil types, although it can also be successfully planted on well-drained soils. Sorghum sudangrass should be seeded at a rate of 30 pounds per acre if drilled and 35 pounds per acre if broadcast. Nitrate accumulation or prussic acid can cause toxicity under some circumstances.

4 P a g e 4 Warm Season Legumes Alyceclover This species is best adapted to well-drained soil types. Seed are planted at a rate of 15 to 20 pounds per acre in May or June. Establishment is slow and weed competition may be a problem. There are no varieties of alyceclover available; only common seed is marketed. Perennial Peanut This is a perennial legume that is adapted to well-drained soil types. It should not be planted on heavy soils that are prone to flooding or being water-logged for extended periods of time. Perennial peanuts would be better adapted in southern parts of Louisiana, but have been shown to survive for several years at locations just south of I-20 in north Louisiana. The two varieties that can be planted are Arbrook and Florigraze. They should be planted at a rate of 60 to 80 bushels of rhizomes per acre from January 1 to March 15. Planting material is scarce, and producers may have to obtain their material from Georgia or Florida. Warm Season Silage and Green Chop Crops Specific variety suggestions for these species cannot be made because of insufficient data. Limited testing is being conducted at the Southeast Research Station near Franklinton. Forage Sorghum This species should be planted from April 15 to June 15 in south Louisiana and from May 1 to June 15 in north Louisiana. It can be planted at a rate of 8-12 pounds per acre if drilled and pounds per acre if broadcast. It can also be planted at a rate of 6-8 pounds per acre if planted in 40-inch rows. Corn for Silage This species should be planted from March 1 to April 15. It should be planted at a rate of 12 to 20 pounds per acre planted in 30 to 40-inch rows. Pasture Herbicide Residue Effects on Crimson and White Clover R. A. Lane and M.J. Anderson Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX To extend the grazing season and provide high quality cool-season forage, southern forage producers frequently overseed warm-season perennial grass pastures with legume crops in autumn. Producers commonly use herbicides in the summer months to control broadleaf weeds in grass pastures. Those herbicides may cause

5 P a g e 5 production issues with fall-planted legumes. In this study, four replicates of each Chaparral (2 oz/a and 2.5 oz/a), GrazonNext HL (1.5 pt/a and 2.1 pt/a) and Grazon P+D (2 pt/a) were applied in a mixed common/coastal bermudagrass pasture on April 15, May 15, June 15 and July 15, Dixie crimson clover and Durana white clover were overseeded across all treatment plots on October 15, Clover density in February, 2014 was significantly reduced in all May, June and July herbicide treatments except Grazon P+D. Clover in nearly all herbicide treatments for all months exhibited at least some degree of phytotoxicity in February compared to the untreated control. The exception was Grazon P+D, which caused less phytotoxic effects than the other herbicide treatments applied in April, May and June. Based on results observed in this study, if a mid-summer herbicide application is made, Grazon P+D would be less likely to contribute to reduced crimson and white clover performance. Under similar conditions, it would be prudent to avoid Chaparral and GrazonNext for summer weed control where fallplanting of legumes is practiced. Overseeded Tropical Legumes for Enhanced Utilization of Summer Grass Pasture K.J. Han and E.K. Twidwell School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA While bermudagrass and bahiagrass pastures are usually productive, their nutritive value is not always adequate to support actively growing beef cattle. A field demonstration was conducted on a commercial beef cattle operation in Folsom LA with a bahiagrass pasture overseeded with the legumes cowpea and mung bean. #1 Grazing was initiated when the overseeded legume crops reached the late vegetative stage and lasted for 35 days (photo #1). Overseeded legume crops enhanced biomass production of the bahiagrass pasture and the nutrient value of the forage. For maximum utilization of the warm-season legume crops, it may be necessary to investigate more intensive grazing management strategies. The CP and TDN contents of the two legume species did not change much during the grazing demonstration periods. The digestibility of soybean (Glycine max L.) forage appeared lower levels than mung bean and cowpea in a report from the southern Great Plains. This may be one of the major advantages of utilizing these legumes for the overseeding application compared with soybean. Pasture utilization in our current grazing demonstration was near 50%. It was observed that the cattle preferred the tropical legume leaves over the stems (photo #2). This observation may be due to the selective grazing by cattle on legume leaves rather than on the whole crop, since 50% of biomass accumulation of mung bean and cowpea is due to leaf biomass (Muchow et al., 1993). Since forage utilization was only 50%, additional grazing research or demonstrations using higher animal stock densities are warranted to investigate the possible enhanced utilization efficiency of this tropical legume overseeding practice. Due to enhanced total forage production and greater CP and TDN contents in the forage, overseeding cowpea and mung bean into # 2

6 perennial permanent warm-season grass pastures may serve as an attractive grazing option for beef cattle producers in the Deep South region of the USA. P a g e 6 This newsletter is a place to share information among the Louisiana Forage and Grassland 2016 LFGC Officers & Board Members President: Emily King Vice-President: John White Second Vice-President: Chris Ebel Secretary: Ed Twidwell Treasurer: Danny Coombs Immediate Past President: Kun-Jun Han Agri-Business Producers Public John White Emily King Kun-Jun Han Mike Goree Cliff Vining Chris Ebel Chad Ducote Jeff Foster Lee Faulk John Roach Coy Fitch Mike Turpin Wedge Barthe Danny Coombs Wink Alison Kyle Wilson Robert Hinckley Rodney Johnson Mike McCormick Ted Miller Yemane Ghebreiyessus 2016 LFGC Membership Dues The annual membership dues for 2016 are now due. If you did not pay your annual dues at the LFGC annual meeting in December, please fill out the form at the end of the newsletter and send it in as soon as possible. LFGC strives to put on some excellent programs and the organization needs your involvement. If you want to continue to receive this newsletter and other publications from LFGC and AFGC, please send in your dues today or risk being dropped from the membership list. The dues are $35 and from this amount AFGC receives $12.50 and LFGC retains $22.50 per member.

7 P a g e 7 LOUISIANA FORAGE AND GRASSLAND COUNCIL ACTIVITIES: * ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN DECEMBER * TOURS AND FIELD DAYS * STATE HAY SHOW * QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER * RECEIVE THE FORAGE LEADER, A NATIONAL PUBLICATION FROM AFGC * RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING PRODUCERS Membership Application Form Louisiana Forage and Grassland Council NAME DATE MAILING ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP PHONE NUMBER ADDRESS Annual Dues are $35 Make checks payable to LFGC or the Louisiana Forage and Grassland Council Mail to: Ed Twidwell LSU School of PESS 220 Sturgis Hall Baton Rouge, LA 70803