A quarterly news publication of The Ohio State University Extension, Editors: Clif Little and Mark Sulc
This newsletter is made possible with support from the Bob & Jewell Evans Foundation
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Contents:

• Eastern Ohio Grassland Program Oct. 10-11, 2002
  
• The Average Performance of 92 Grazing Dairy Farms
• Ergot in Pasture Grasses
• Are Annual Forages for You?
• Nitrogen Timing Means Everything to Stockpiling
  

[top] Eastern Ohio Grassland Program Oct. 10-11, 2002

This fall-scheduled workshop is a unique "hands-on" grassland workshop designed for producers and resource managers. The program begins Thursday, October 10th and ends Friday afternoon, October 11th. A comprehensive series of tours, lectures and presentations from university, NRCS, industry and livestock grazers has been scheduled. At the time of training registered participants will receive resource materials to supplement the presented information. Space is limited to the first 40 registrants. To register contact Clif Little at 740-432-9300.

[top] The Average Performance of 92 Grazing Dairy Farms. 1st Year Report on 2000 Great Lakes Grazing Network's Grazing Dairy Data

The financial analysis is performed for the ninety-two grazing farms using the current market value of asset valuation method (CMV), the NFIFO increases from $369 to $529 NFIFO per Cow and from $1.66 to $2.38 due to changes in asset values. These CMV values are 43% higher than the HC values. A 43% difference is very large. This helps illustrate the fact that farm financial measures which are dependent on the CMV of assets are not very instructive for comparing the financial performance of one farm to another or for comparing the financial performance of one group to another. The measures of profitability calculated in the detailed cost of production and farm earnings reports in the tables, are calculated using the historic cost asset valuation method (HC) to provide a better measure of profit levels generated by operating the farm business. Any comparison between the measures in this report and data based on the CMV of assets will be misleading.

NFIFO (without deducting any labor compensation) is not a common measure. It is used in this project because some comparisons are made between farms that rely mainly on hired labor and farms that rely entirely on unpaid labor. In such cases, this uncommon measure provides additional insight to the comparisons.

[Top] Ergot in Pasture Grasses - by L. H. Rhodes and D. J. Barker

This year's wet spring has provided ideal conditions for the development of ergot in a number of pasture grasses, including tall fescue, orchardgrass, bromegrass, quackgrass, and ryegrass. The elongate black 'ergots' (technically known as sclerotia) are resistant structures of the fungus Claviceps purpurea. These structures replace the normal grass seed and usually (but not always) protrude conspicuously from the enclosing glumes. The size of the ergots varies between grass species, and for the five species above , are about ¼ to ½ inch long. Usually the incidence in each plant is relatively low, with just one or two ergots per seed head. However, this is still a high enough incidence to cause serious problems for animals because each of these small black bodies contains toxic alkaloids which, if ingested, have potentially dramatic effects.

Poisoning of animals by ergot alkaloids results in a condition known as 'ergotism.' Some alkaloids affect the central nervous system and cause 'convulsive' ergotism. Symptoms include erratic behavior, seizures, and in humans, hallucinations. Other alkaloids cause constriction of the blood vessels which results in 'gangrenous' ergotism. When deprived of an adequate blood supply, extremities begin to deteriorate, and animals may lose hooves, ears, or tails. Nearly all livestock animals are susceptible to ergot poisoning, with horses being the most sensitive to the ergot alkaloids. Young livestock are also particularly susceptible. Cattle grazing heavily infested fields are particularly vulnerable to ergot poisoning because they can use their tongues to strip the seeds off the seed heads. Today, knowledge about the cause of ergotism has made this problem rare, but it is still possible for ergotism to occur in animals when they graze heavily infested fields or are given hay contaminated with ergot sclerotia.

Wet conditions this spring have made it difficult to graze or mow fields before grasses have headed out. These moist conditions are also ideal for dissemination of spores and infection of grasses by the ergot fungus. Spores are released from fruiting bodies on the ground and are carried by wind. These spores eventually reach the interior of the floret where they infect the ovary, and the sclerotium begins to form in place of the seed. Secondary spread of the ergot fungus can occur by water-splash of spores produced on the infected ovary, or by insects.

Management can prevent ergotism by avoiding livestock access to infected seed-heads. Scout fields for the presence of sclerotia. Mow ergot-infested fields and do not allow animals to graze these areas until substantial regrowth has occurred. Alkaloids also remain potent in ergot-contaminated hay, and . making hay from ergot-infested fields, therefore, should be avoided. Affected animals should be immediately removed from infested areas and fed a non-contaminated source. Livestock should recover naturally, but in severe cases may be permanently affected.

[Top] Are Annual Forages for You? - Jeff McCutcheon & Clif Little Extension Agents, Agriculture & NR Knox County & Guernsey County

During the summer slump or late fall have you ever wondered if planting an annual forage crop would be the answer to make your grazing program complete? We have all seen the advertisements stating an annual forage will produce so many tons in so many days. Or we have been to field days where annual forages were shown to feed so many grazing animals for so many days. But are annual forages right for you?

Annual forages do have a place in some livestock operations, but they are not a 'miracle cure' for everyone. There are many factors to consider before you plant an annual forage.

The most important factor is deciding if you need additional forage. The perennial, cool season grasses and legumes we have in Ohio can provide a tremendous amount of forage. Managing what you have should be your first step. Have you done all that you can improve your existing forage production? Do you practice managed grazing, stockpiling, and fertility management?

One of the first benefits producers find after adopting managed grazing is that the grazing season is longer. Some producers have achieved close to year round grazing by just changing the way they manage their existing forages. Other producers have successfully evened out their forage production by using nitrogen strategically. The application of nitrogen before a slow or dormant growing period and allowing the grass to stockpile until it is needed is one of the cheapest options for many producers.

After actively managing your cool season forages, then you need to decide when you need additional forage. Generally, we need forage when the production of our perennial grasses declines. In Ohio the decline comes during midsummer, late fall, winter or early spring.

The time of year you need forage will limit the alternative possibilities. Summer annuals, small grains, brassicae and other annuals as groups all have limited times when they can be utilized. Within each group there are some significant differences as to how they are best utilized.

Next you have to consider the cost of producing these annual forages. In most cost comparisons we have demonstrated stockpiled grass as the cheapest feed. Put your own pencil to it. In some cases it may be less expensive to purchase needed forage than plant an annual.

When you start calculating cost per ton of dry matter, do not forget to look at other options. Some low cost alternatives besides planting annuals include crop residues and concentrate supplements. Corn residue is one under utilized feed resource we have in Ohio. Concentrate supplements can be economically used to stretch existing forages.

What livestock are you wanting to graze? Some alternative crops are better suited than others to some particular species of livestock. For instance, grazing corn may be better suited to cattle rather than sheep. In addition, animal species have varying nutrition requirements and different grazing behaviors. These factors will further limit the possibilities of the alternative we may choose.

Can you get the crop established? Do you have access to the equipment needed to get the crop established properly? Can you do it in a timely manner? Some producers have tried an annual and had trouble getting it established. The production of the annual suffered. They then become discouraged about the usefulness of the annual in their system.

How do you plan to use the annual crop planted? Will you graze, cut for hay, wrap or chop for silage? Perhaps you want to use the alternative in a combination of production systems. For example, you could use a small grain for grazing in the fall and chopping it for silage in the spring. You may also want to take advantage of nitrogen application applied to a corn silage field while providing fall growth. Or you would like a legume to contribute to the nitrogen pool for a crop following the annual. Maybe you would like to contribute organic matter to your soil bank.

The final consideration is what will you do with the site planted to an alternative after harvest or grazing. Summer annuals, winter annuals and short season annuals each present unique challenges when following with other crops.

Do you want to reseed to a perennial pasture? One possible fit for annuals is to use them to help renovate an endophyte-infected fescue field. Annuals can be effectively used as a smother crop allowing you to control infected tillers and fescue seed germination, while providing forage production.

Will you plant another annual once this one is harvested? A field dedicated to producing annuals with a rotation of small grains and summer annuals is feasible. This would provide two key times for forage production and eliminate the need to tear up perennial pasture.

Annual forages can provide needed forage at key times during the year and have been used successfully by producers for many years. But several factors should be considered before planting any crop. There are very few cases which would merit destroying a perennial pasture just to plant an alternative annual crop. After looking at all of these factors, are annual forages right for your operation? For assistance in planning, contact a member of the Ohio Forage Team or your local Extension Agent.

[Top] Nitrogen Timing Means Everything to Stockpiling - Clif Little, Extension Agent Agriculture/Natural Resources

Detailed farm record analysis have shown reducing winter feed costs can have a dramatic impact on farm profitability. Stockpiling is one method to reduce the need for purchased feed and/or forage and at the same time improve forage quality.

Stockpiling is simply timing the last harvest or grazing to approximately July 31st. Select a field to be used for late season grazing, i.e. access to water, high, dry, south/southeastern-facing slope and apply fifty units of actual nitrogen per acre to the orchardgrass or fescue pasture. If the weather cooperates, the practice can produce an extra two thousand pounds of forage to be grazed. The forage response to the nitrogen application is in part due to the period of time the grass will have to grow after the nitrogen application.

Studies conducted at the Eastern Ohio Resource Development Center in Belle Valley and on-farm in Guernsey County have revealed the best time to apply the fifty units of nitrogen to be near August 1st. If it rains within a few days of a nitrogen application made at this time it is reasonable to expect a forage response. When the nitrogen is applied later in the year, September and October, the yield response can be lower than the August application. Consider this example: If hay is worth $35/ton, how much forage must I produce to pay for the stockpiling cost? If it costs $25/acre to apply fifty units of nitrogen, the tonnage times $35/ton = $25/acre times = .714 tons or 1428 lbs. You need to grow 1428 lbs. of forage to cover the cost of your fertilizer to make this practice economical. If you are renting the ground this figure could be higher. To make stockpiling pay and to save on feed cost we need the yield response in our forage.

Plan your stockpiling strategy well. Be prepared to apply the nitrogen sometime in August and prior to a rain shower, when possible. Set the area aside and allow it to grow until needed this winter or fall.