September Is Pasture Improvement Month

The hot and dry days of September are upon us. Spring born calves are about to reach weaning and the job will be done – right?...Wrong. There are still some details that need tending to. Before I discuss the usual business, let’s reflect back on an unusual 12 months. We have been in the middle of a severe drought and most of us were caught without a drought plan. Mississippi State University Extension Service has developed a quick reference for dealing with drought. It can be found on their website http://msucares.com/livestock/beef/drought.html. Hay will be in short supply this winter. Cattlemen will need to stretch every bale by allocating hay and supplemental feed to match animal requirements. This may not be the year to self feed hay. Hay rings will pay for themselves in the amount of hay saved. Forage testing should be high on your priority list in order to balance supplementation with your hay. If you have excess or need hay, a hay directory is located on the same web site. Be careful when purchasing hay. Some CRP land and abandon fields were baled. This may not be the best hay to feed cattle especially if they are lactating.

Spend some time this month evaluating your grazing program. Subdividing pastures lead to more efficient grazing. Returns per acre will increase when forages are managed to a stubble height of an average of four inches and livestock are rotated from one pasture to another. Start with a two pasture system, then graduate up to a three or four pasture system and then up from there. To determine how many paddocks you need divide the days of rest by the days of grazing then add one. For example, rest 28 days/graze 4 days + 1 = 8. Bermudagrass and bahiagrass usually require 28 to 40 days rest depending on moisture and fertility. The faster the growth, the shorter the rest period. Maximum utilization occurs when rest periods are cut to 14 days or less. This type of fast rotation is more profitable; however, profits may be offset by higher labor requirements.

Many acres will be planted to winter grazing crops this year. Ryegrass will most likely be the crop of choice. Consider adding a bushel of wheat or oat seed per acre to 20-30 lbs of ryegrass seed. Wheat and oats will germinate quickly and provide early fall grazing. This early grazing, when managed, can make huge differences and offset winter feeding cost significantly. Very early growth can be creep grazed by calves while there mamas graze stock pilled Bermuda or bahiagrass. Another alternative is to limit graze early growth by turning the herd in for short periods (one to 6 hours) and then pulling off. Cattle can usually graze to fill in an hour if adequate forage is available. As forage becomes more available, the grazing period can be extended.

Scout pasture for signs of over grazing and seeding damage caused by disease and insects. Make a note of annual and perennial weeds and disease infestation on part or all of the grazing area. Your conservation district may have a pasture sprayer for rent. September is not the best time to control weeds in pastures; however, carpet grass, centipede and other undesirable stands of grasses can be set back or killed with glyphosate in preparation for pasture and hayland planting the following year. Cool season crops can be grown on these pastures until spring planting of perennial forages can be achieved. Planting on the contour will reduce erosion. Plan next years weed control program according to this years notes. Insects tend to feed heavily on early planted forages. Diseases, such as blast, can show up on early ryegrass, but will not affect small grains. This is another good reason to plant a ryegrass small grain mix.

Clovers and other legumes should be planted with winter forages and over seeded into established pastures. They may provide up to 200 lbs of nitrogen per acre after they have been established for six months or greater. With the cost of nitrogen fertilizer projected this fall to be $0.50+ per lb, clover will be a very good alternative for next spring’s flush of perennial growth. The cost of clover seed is generally $3 to $4/lb. At 3 to 5 lbs/acre the returns from clover stands greatly offset the cost of establishment. Clover may be established in many ways. Seed can be broadcast on the surface; they may be roughed in using a disk or other implement that barely scratches the soil surface to provide good seed to soil contact. Plan on setting back perennial growth about 50 to 60 percent for best results. Your conservation districts may have no till planters with clover seed attachments that allow for excellent establishment. Districts have aerators that do a good job in disturbing stands of perennial forages to allow for good soil to seed contact and provide less competition for emergence of cool season plants. All clover seed should be inoculated with the proper Rhizobium bacteria if seed has not already pre-coated.

Due to expected fall rainfall, this month will be the last chance to repair heavy use protection areas. These areas should be reshaped before winter rains set in.

Conditions should be feasible for renovating ponds. Spillways, embankments, and general renovation can increase the life of farm ponds. All troughs and tanks require cleaning of mud and dead plant parts that can accumulate, reduce water consumption, and cause watering facilities not to function properly. Check float valves and remember that the ball in the ball type waterers should never fit flush to the side of the hole in the tank.

As always contact your local NRCS office to see what your soil and water conservation district has in store for you.

Contributed by: Walter Jackson, NRCS State Grazing Land Specialist