A bi-monthly news publication of The Ohio State University Extension, Editors: Clif Little and Mark Sulc
Click here for past issues of this publication.
Click here to subscribe to an e-mail version of Amazing Graze.

Contents:

• Summer Annual Forages
• Springs, Ponds & Streams
• Pasture Soil Quality, Assessing the Evidence

[top] Summer Annual Forages - Rory Lewandowski, Extension Educator, Athens County

Late May into early June is a good time for livestock producers to consider planting warm season annuals to supplement cool season pastures. The warm season annuals most commonly used to provide summer grazing include: sudangrass, sorghum x sudangrass hybrids, corn and millet. All of these crops have the potential to produce up to 3 tons of dry matter (DM) per acre within 50-60 days of being planted. Sudangrass, sorghum x sudangrass hybrids and millet can all provide several grazing passes.

Basic soil fertility levels needed for summer annuals are: soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5, soil phosphorus of 15 ppm, and soil potassium of 100-110 ppm. All of the summer annual crops will respond well to nitrogen and produce more tonnage when nitrogen is applied. If the summer annual is planted into a former grass sod, apply 50-60 lbs of actual nitrogen/acre for a 3-4 ton DM/acre yield. Soil temperatures should be at least 60 degrees F and preferably 65 degrees F at planting. Plant seed about one-half inch deep and use a seeding rate of 30 to 35 lbs/acre for sudangrass and sorghum x sudangrass hybrids, 20-25 lbs/acre for millet. Corn should be planted 1.5 to 2 inches deep at a plant population of 26,000 to 30,000 plants per acre. No-till seeding can be used to plant summer annuals.

Summer annuals can be used as a “safe” pasture paddock for sheep and goats. If the summer annual is being planted into a pasture paddock that was grazed earlier in the spring, then tillage is a preferred method to prepare the seedbed as compared to no-till because the tillage operation will break the lifecycle of the Haemonchus contortus parasite.

Summer annuals grow fast and good grazing management is needed to take advantage of the quality forage they can provide. Grazing must begin before plants get too tall and mature. The Ohio Agronomy guide recommends grazing beginning at 24 to 30 inches in height and to leave six to eight inches of stubble to promote fast re-growth. Based on some forage sampling I have done when sudangrass is at this stage of growth, it is not unreasonable to expect crude protein levels (CP) of 15-18 % and TDN values of 68-72%.

However quality drops off quickly as the plant matures and if it gets above 48 inches or seed heads begin to emerge, then single digit CP values coupled with 50% TDN levels are not uncommon. If the summer annual can be managed to begin grazing at 30 inches and leave 6-8 inches of stubble, then re-growth should allow another grazing pass in about 3 weeks. This is best managed by strip grazing, providing livestock with 1 to 3 days of grazing and then moving them to another strip. Remember to leave a 6-8 inch residual. Corn can be grazed in a similar fashion, or left to accumulate more tonnage before it is grazed. For more information about grazing corn, click on the following link to an OSU Extension fact sheet on this topic: http://ohioline.osu.edu/anr-fact/0011.html. For those without Internet access, contact your county Extension Office and they can provide you with a copy of the fact sheet.

The advantage of summer annuals is that they produce a lot of tonnage during the hot summer months when cool season pastures are growing very slowly. In addition to high tonnage values, they can produce high quality forage when properly managed. The disadvantage is that they are annuals. There is a seed cost and seeding cost associated with them. The best yields are achieved by providing supplemental nitrogen fertilizer. If the weather does not cooperate, the seeding could fail or yield poorly. They probably are not the right plant on steep, hilly paddocks; you must have some relatively level or slightly sloped land to use them. Finally, you must have a plan to follow up with something after they are finished at the end of September.

For more information about summer annuals, contact me at the Athens County Extension office at (740) 593-8555 or a member of the OSU Extension Integrated Forage Team.

[top]Springs, Ponds, & Streams- Clif Little, Extension Educator, Guernsey County

Important elements for maximizing a grazing system include the best-planned paddocks, good fencing, improved forage and livestock genetics, and adequate pasture fertility. However, water distribution is arguably one of the most important elements of pasture based livestock systems. Pasture water systems vary based on livestock species, availability of electric, soils, water supply needed, travel distance to water, and seasonal needs. Each farm has a different set of circumstances and water systems should be developed based on individual farm resources.

In Southern and Eastern Ohio, spring systems are the most often developed water sources. Springs can provide adequate low cost, low maintance water systems. Water quality and quantity are major considerations when developing a spring. The first question to answer about a spring development: “Is this site worth developing?” If a spring is not running in July and August, it may be an intermittent spring and would have limited production. Creating enough storage capacity for a poor producing spring can be costly. When possible attempt to develop springs at high elevations on the farm, this would allow the spring to gravity flow to lower tanks, potentially supplying water to many paddocks. There are many water tank options, whether pressurized or gravity systems are developed. The correct tank to use depends on the livestock species and the time of year you want to provide water. The capacity of the tank should be increased based on travel distance to water. Used, heavy, earth-moving tires are frequently used as water tanks and are inexpensive and freeze resistant. Plan the livestock system of rotation identifying the areas of the farm where freeze proof systems will be needed. Winter watering systems vary in susceptibility to freezing. Many frost-free waters use geothermal energy to keep the system from freezing and each varies in the freeze resistance. Water systems in the wintering area should have the ability to be drained, with lines that can be easily shut-off.

Once the spring volume has been determined and found to be worth developing, if you are concerned about the quality of the water have it analyzed before development. The local OSU Extension office can provide laboratories capable of analyzing livestock water. Cost to develop a spring will vary greatly and can range from $2500-$3000 per spring. Determine your spring development needs by sitting down with professionals experienced in this area to discuss the grazing system.

Ponds are often used as a source of livestock water where there are no springs. Livestock owners desire ponds as a watering source partially because they also have a recreational use value. However, soils, drainage, and cost can limit the practicality of ponds. If you think a pond is what you need contact the local Soil and Water Conservation office for advice before construction. Ponds may be completely fenced off from livestock and piping used to deliver water or fencing can be used limit access to shoreline. The best water in a pond is located near the center and about 2 feet below the surface. Granting livestock unlimited access to ponds and streams can cause bank erosion and water quality issues. For streams and ponds, consider developing limited water access points utilizing fencing, geotextile fabric and stone. As with springs, water quality can be an issue when utilizing ponds and streams.

For help in designing a livestock watering system contact the local USDA/NRCS Conservationist or me at the Guernsey County Extension office at (740) 489-5300. The USDA/NRCS office may also have cost share incentives available to farmers that can help in reducing the cost of your livestock watering system.

[top]Pasture Soil Quality, Assessing the Evidence-Clif Little, Extension Educator, Guernsey County

Plants and organisms are part of a biological community and their presence or absence can indicate the health of a pasture relative to its potential. The soil and plant community is sensitive to agriculture management practices and natural environmental changes. Pastureland indicators help us evaluate productivity and opportunities for improvement.

Soil has physical, biological and chemical properties. Not all soils are created equal. Our management may improve or degrade a soil’s potential. The chemical properties of a soil are often measured by a soil test. These chemical properties include plant nutrients, organic matter, cation-exchange, base saturation, and pH. These factors can directly affect pasture productivity.

Soil organisms, such as earthworms, bacteria and nematodes are also part of a soil’s properties. These organisms can be beneficial or harmful.

The land surface can provide clues related to pasture soil quality. Bare soil, gullies, erosion, stones, shale, compaction, and plant residue are all indicators.

Plant community health is related to the amount of cover, desired plant species, and plant diversity. Management impacts pasture soil quality. Bare patches, excessively trampled areas, grazing height, and manure distribution are all evidence related to pasture soil quality.

A pasture assessment begins with evaluating a baseline of production and comparing that to the desired production for specific soils. A good starting point is the soil survey. The web soil survey is a useful tool for determining forage suitability and yield potential, available at http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app. Comparing farm yield potential using the soil survey and assigning a utilization rate will enable landowners to see how rotational grazing can reduce the need for supplemental feed and increase carrying capacity.

Improving pasture management has a positive influence on soil quality. Some potential benefits include; increased yield, organic matter content increase, erosion reduction, increased water holding capacity and ultimately more profit per acre.

A pasture assessment is a snapshot reflecting and indicating the status of pasture production. Changes in management may improve or reduce pasture soil quality. Conducting a pasture assessment can help in documenting areas for improvement and changes over time. What does your pasture evidence say?

For an evaluation of your pasture contact me at 740-489-5300 or an Ohio Forage Team member.