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Adair Co. Agent Report 8/9/2005: Stockpiling grasses for fall and winter pasture By David Herbst Adair Co. Extension Agent for Agriculture Now is the time to begin stockpiling cool-season grass pastures. You can take advantage of good growing conditions to obtain high-quality pasture for late fall and early winter grazing. Stockpiling helps broaden the pasture season for the cow herd, reduces feed and labor costs by lowering the amount of hay needed, and provides an ideal location for the beef cow herd to winter and calve. Its really easy to begin to stockpile. Simply take cattle off pastures now, apply nitrogen fertilizer, and allow grass to accumulate growth until November or December. Then, put cattle on the pasture one section at a time until theyve finished grazing the whole field. Remember to take soil samples for analyses to determine pasture requirements for phosphorus, potassium and lime. Youll need this information to renovate with clover in the spring. There are a number of forages you can feed during the stockpiling period from now until early November. These include sorghum-sudan hybrids, sudangrass, bermudagrass, grass-lespedeza and grass-legumes. Tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are the best grasses to stockpile in Kentucky. Both retain green color and forage quality late into winter, are somewhat resistant to low temperatures and form a good sod. Tall fescue produces more fall and winter growth than Kentucky bluegrass. Nitrogen and moisture are critical to successfully stockpiling grasses. Apply nitrogen in mid-August. Topdress at the rate of 40 to 60 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre for Kentucky bluegrass. Use 40 to 80 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre on tall fescue. Numerous studies have shown that wise fertilizer use and timing produces high production during fall and early winter. In fact, tall fescue crude protein and digestibility are better during fall and early winter than any other time of the year. Yields can be very good when water is available during the stockpiling period. Tall fescue can produce two tons of dry matter up to late November. With adequate water producers can achieve 25 pounds of dry matter for each pound of nitrogen used. After frost, let cattle graze grass-legume fields quickly before plants deteriorate. Then, put animals on the stockpiled grass fields. For the most efficient use of stockpiled fields, establish a strip grazing system by using a temporary electric fence to section off areas of the field. The first grazing area should have water and mineral sources. When animals have grazed this area, move the fence to open a new strip. Repeat this process until the entire field has been grazed. Stockpiled grass is an excellent choice for fall-calving cows because it can be used to meet high nutritional needs after calving and during the breeding season. Grazing stockpiled grasses may offer the most benefit to spring-calving cows in thin body condition during the fall. Growing, weaned cattle can be grazed on stockpiled fescue. Using stockpiled grasses helps lower feed costs when backgrounding cattle. For more information on stockpiling grasses contact the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service by calling 384-2317; or visit the office located at 409 Fairground St., in Columbia. Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin. This story was posted on 2005-08-11 14:45:21
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Slogan contest finalists to be announced August 19 at Roadside Park Adair County Fiscal Court August 9, 2005 monthly meeting Rollen Coomer: Popular Columbian retires after 50 years as barber NEWS? Alltel Phones out AGAIN in Bliss, Gradyville area COMMUNITY NEWS: Mark and Melissa Parrish buying Flatwoods Grocery and Grill Extension service will cook up samples of local produce Friday, July 29, 2005 LETTER: Librarian asks help with new carpet for Children's Area After 51 years in Adair, Bookmobile is making more stops than ever AGENDA: Adair County Fiscal Court regular meeting July 12, 2005 Stargels revive his grandfather's tradition; add 9-hive apiary at Millerfield View even more articles in topic Adair County |
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