Agriculture and Natural Resources Newsletter

Transcription

1 SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2018 Agriculture and Natural Resources Newsletter WHITLEY COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE Important Dates: Sept. 27th-Whitley Co. Cattlemen's Association Meeting, 7 pm Oct. 2nd-Cattle Branding/Freeze Branding Demo Field Day, 5 pm (located at 2448 Cripple Creek Road, Rockholds, KY 40759) Oct. 4th-Master Gardener's Meeting, 4:30 pm Oct. 9th-Computer Class - Bring Your Own Laptop, 10 am Oct. 16th-Whitley Co. Small Farms Meeting, 7 pm Oct. 18th-Estate Planning Class, 10 am Oct. 24th-Farmer's Breakfast, 7 am Oct. 25th-Whitley Co. Cattlemen's Association Meeting, 7 pm Nov. 8th-Holiday Cooking School, 5 pm (located at Laurel London Optimist Club. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Whitley Co. Extension Office) Nov. 22nd & 23rd-Offices Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday Nov. 29th-Whitley Co. Cattlemen's Association Meeting, 7 pm **Unless noted otherwise, all events will be held at the Whitley Co. Cooperative Extension Service, located at 4275 N HWY 25W.**

2 RECLAIMING BROOMSEDGE INFESTED PASTURES AND HAYFIELDS Dr. Chris Teutsch, reprinted from Cow Country News Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicis L.) is a native warm-season grass that can dominate poorly managed pastures and hayfields. While it has little value as a forage, it does provide good nesting habitat for birds such as turkey and quail. However, as a forage crop it definitely falls short. When it is found in pastures and hayfields it is often an indication that something is not quite right. In most cases it is related low soil fertility and poor grazing management. Read on to discover some approaches to reduce broomsedge and promote desirable forages. Soil test and adjust fertility. Many people say that broomsedge infested pastures need lime. This may be true in some cases, but I have found over the years that they are more commonly low in phosphorus. Soil testing is the only way to tell what amendments you need to apply. Manage grazing and clipping to favor desirable forage species. In many cases, there are desirable forage species in broomsedge infested pastures. By adjusting soil fertility and managing grazing to favor these species we can make them more competitive. Normally these species are cool-season grasses. So not grazing them closely and frequently during the summer months will get them ready to grow in late summer and fall when temperature and moisture conditions are ideal.

3 Clip pastures in late summer or early fall. Clipping broomsedge in late summer or early fall once just before it produces seed can reduce shading of desirable forage species, making them more competitive in the stand. Apply nitrogen fertilizer in early fall. After we clip pastures in late summer, applying 60 lb N/A can stimulate desirable cool-season grasses helping to shift the botanical composition away from broomsedge. Feed hay on broomsedge infested pastures. This is low input way of increasing soil fertility over time. Each ton of hay contains approximately 50 lb of nitrogen, 15 lbs of phosphorus, and 60 lbs of potassium. It is important to remember that although feeding hay does bring nutrients into a grazing system, it is a much slower way to build fertility than applying commercial fertilizer or broiler litter. Make sure to move feeding points around the pasture to get a more even nutrient distribution. Burn broomsedge infested pastures. Not the best idea, because native warmseason grasses evolved under burning. This means that burning can actually enhance broomsedge stands. Apply nitrogen in late spring or early summer and graze broomsedge. The idea is make the broomsedge more palatable and graze it during the summer months. The problem with this approach is that desirable forage species will tend to be overgrazed during the summer, putting them at a disadvantage. This approach may actually make your broomsedge problem worse over time. Kill the existing the pasture with nonselective herbicide and reestablish it. Although this is viable approach to controlling broomsedge, without proper soil fertility and grazing management, the broomsedge will come back. In addition, this is by far the most time consuming and expensive approach. Controlling broomsedge in pastures and hayfields will require a sustained effort of improving both soil fertility and grazing management. So make a plan, implement it, and over time you will see reduction broomsedge as your desirable forage species become more competitive. To learn more about integrated weed control in pastures, contact your local extension office or visit the UK Weed Science Website.

4 A SIMPLE LAWN-CARE PROGRAM Start with a tall fescue lawn, if seeding or re-seeding. Test the soil and determine fertility needs, and apply lime accordingly. If the soil test indicates only nitrogen is needed, apply three to four pounds of ammonium nitrate or two to three pounds of urea per thousand square feet of lawn in October. This application can be repeated in December, although it is not necessary. If the soil test indicates that phosphorous and/or potassium are needed, along with nitrogen, apply five to seven pounds of fertilizer per thousand square feet in October. Ammonium nitrate or urea can be used for future applications, but retest the soil every two to four years to see if additional potassium or potash is needed. Mow the grass at a height of three inches, as needed, leaving clippings on the lawn. Refrain from mowing if the turf is under drought stress. If crabgrass has been a repeated problem in the lawn, apply a pre-emergence herbicide no later than midapril. Spot-treat or hand-dig broadleaf weeds.

5 Insect control should usually not be necessary in a low-maintenance tallfescue lawn, nor should disease control products. During periods of drought, allow the turf to go dormant by withholding irrigation. Light irrigation (to keep turfgrass crowns from drying up) may be needed during a sustained drought. The Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service has two offices that provide a variety of materials and programming. For more information on the following programs at our Goldbug Office, located at 4275 N HWY 25W, Williamsburg, contact: 4-H Youth Development Lisa Spaulding, Program Assistant - lisa.spaulding@uky.edu, Expanded Food and Nutrition Program Cheryl Owens, Program Assistant - cheryl.owens@uky.edu, Family and Consumer Sciences Matti Daniels, Agent - matti.daniels@uky.edu, For more information on the following programs at our Extension Community Art Center, located at 428 Main Street, Williamsburg, contact: Fine Arts Cortney Moses, Agent - cortney.moses@uky.edu, Mawnie Belcher, Program Assistant - mawnie.belcher@uky.edu, KSU Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education Andrea Munoz, Program Assistant - andrea.munoz.kysu.edu,

6 EXTRA INFO: It's the time of year to start testing hay. If you would like your hay tested, give Garrard Coffey a call at (606) , or him at garrard.coffey@uky.edu. If you are interested in cattle branding, or participating in a horseman/trailriders club, please contact Garrard Coffey at (606) We are in the beginning stages of keeping records of cattle, land, and hay for sale/lease. If you would like to be included, please contact Garrard Coffey at (606) The Whitley County Cooperative Extension Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. The office closes 11:30-12:30 for lunch. Garrard Coffey Whitley County Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Education garrard.coffey@uky.edu (606) P.O. Box N Hwy 25 W, Williamsburg, Kentucky Disclaimer The listing of product trade names in this newsletter implies no endorsement by the University of Kentucky or its representatives. Criticism of products not listed is neither implied nor intended. The College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information, and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the bases of race, color, ethnic origin, creed, religion, political belief sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1965, Title IX of the Educational Amendments, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to Equal Opportunity Office, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Room S-105, Agriculture Science Building, North Lexington, Kentucky

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8 Whitley County P.O. Box N Hwy 25W Williamsburg, KY 40769