The December issue of the Amazing Graze Newsletter is now posted on the Ohio Forage Network website. Follow the newsletter link. In this issue you will find articles entitled: Reducing Feeding Losses for Large Round Bales, “Forage” Oat Update, 2008 Ohio Forage Performance Trials, The Heart of America Grazing Conference.
Be sure to check out the Events Page for grazing/forage related events in the next few months and even into next year.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
2008 Ohio Forage Performance Trials
The 2008 Forage Performance Trials Report is now available. It has been published in a special supplement to Ohio’s Country Journal, but is also online at http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~perf/ and can be requested at any Ohio State University Extension office.
The report includes the performance of varieties of alfalfa, red clover, orchardgrass, tall fescue, perennial and annual ryegrass, teff, sorghum x sudangrass, sudangrass, and forage sorghum in tests planted in 2005 to 2008 across three Ohio sites: South Charleston, Wooster, and Jackson.
The alfalfa trial established in 2007 at Wooster had the highest alfalfa yields, averaging 8.3 tons/acre. High yields were also harvested in the Wooster trial seeded in 2006 (7.6 tons/acre) and at South Charleston in 2005 (7.1 tons/acre). Alfalfa weevil populations were low at all sites. Insecticides were used at all locations for control of potato leafhopper (PLH) in the standard yield trials. No insecticide was applied to the potato leafhopper resistance trial planted in April at South Charleston. High leafhopper populations resulted in significant yield differences among the alfalfa varieties in that test. The best varieties yielded 33 to 35% more than the susceptible check varieties in that trial.
Forage yields of red clover were just under 5 tons/acre in 2008, which was remarkable for a third-year stand. The results demonstrate how newer varieties of red clover yield more and persist longer than “common” red clover.
Orchardgrass varieties differed greatly in yield over the season and all varieties went dormant for part of the summer due to dry weather. The tall fescue trial of endophyte-free varieties at Jackson had low yields in 2008, a trend that began in 2007. Only two harvests were collect in 2007 and three in 2008 due to dry weather at Jackson. A perennial ryegrass trial at South Charleston also had low yields in 2008.
Annual ryegrass varieties were evaluated at South Charleston. They were seeded September 2007, and all survived the winter to varying degrees. Large yield differences were recorded, from a low of 1.74 tons/acre to a high of 5.76 tons/acre.
Warm season grass trials were seeded in June 2008 to compare varieties of teff, sorghum x sudangrass, and forage sorghum. The teff varieties yielded 3.3 tons/acre over three cuttings. Sorghum x sudangrass and sudangrass varieties yielded around 4.0 tons/acre in three cuttings. Forage sorghums yielded from 4.0 to 4.7 tons/acre at one single harvest.
The report includes the performance of varieties of alfalfa, red clover, orchardgrass, tall fescue, perennial and annual ryegrass, teff, sorghum x sudangrass, sudangrass, and forage sorghum in tests planted in 2005 to 2008 across three Ohio sites: South Charleston, Wooster, and Jackson.
The alfalfa trial established in 2007 at Wooster had the highest alfalfa yields, averaging 8.3 tons/acre. High yields were also harvested in the Wooster trial seeded in 2006 (7.6 tons/acre) and at South Charleston in 2005 (7.1 tons/acre). Alfalfa weevil populations were low at all sites. Insecticides were used at all locations for control of potato leafhopper (PLH) in the standard yield trials. No insecticide was applied to the potato leafhopper resistance trial planted in April at South Charleston. High leafhopper populations resulted in significant yield differences among the alfalfa varieties in that test. The best varieties yielded 33 to 35% more than the susceptible check varieties in that trial.
Forage yields of red clover were just under 5 tons/acre in 2008, which was remarkable for a third-year stand. The results demonstrate how newer varieties of red clover yield more and persist longer than “common” red clover.
Orchardgrass varieties differed greatly in yield over the season and all varieties went dormant for part of the summer due to dry weather. The tall fescue trial of endophyte-free varieties at Jackson had low yields in 2008, a trend that began in 2007. Only two harvests were collect in 2007 and three in 2008 due to dry weather at Jackson. A perennial ryegrass trial at South Charleston also had low yields in 2008.
Annual ryegrass varieties were evaluated at South Charleston. They were seeded September 2007, and all survived the winter to varying degrees. Large yield differences were recorded, from a low of 1.74 tons/acre to a high of 5.76 tons/acre.
Warm season grass trials were seeded in June 2008 to compare varieties of teff, sorghum x sudangrass, and forage sorghum. The teff varieties yielded 3.3 tons/acre over three cuttings. Sorghum x sudangrass and sudangrass varieties yielded around 4.0 tons/acre in three cuttings. Forage sorghums yielded from 4.0 to 4.7 tons/acre at one single harvest.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
JAN. 21-22: The Heart of America Grazing Conference
The five-state Heart of America Grazing Conference will offer producers an opportunity to gain information on the advantages of improved grazing systems. Purdue Extension and other Indiana organizations will join with Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio organizations to sponsor the event. The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Columbus, IN on January 21and 22, 2009.
Registration and a tradeshow will start at 4 p.m. EST on Jan. 21st. A 6:30 p.m. banquet will be followed by the conference's keynote speaker, Joel Salatin of Polyface, Inc. Salatin will discuss his farm operation which includes the raising and marketing of “Salad Bar Beef, Pigaerator Pork, Pastured Poultry (eggs, broilers, turkeys), Forage-Based Rabbits, and Forestry Products.
The second day of the conference starts at 8:30 a.m. Topics offered include forage growth and development, ultra-high stock density grazing, getting started in management-intensive grazing, and improving the existing management-intensive grazing system. Following lunch there will be breakout sessions discussing marketing of farm-raised products, utilizing sheep and goats in the grazing environment, economic flexibility in grazing stocker calves or replacement heifers, and alternative forages.
There also will be exhibitor booths on display throughout the two-day event showcasing fencing and livestock watering supplies, pasture irrigation, seed, minerals, and livestock medications.
Individuals may register by December 19 for a reduced price of $65 for both days or $40 for one day. Regular costs (after Dec 19) for the event are $75 for both days or $50 for one day. This fee covers all program materials and meals. Lodging is available at the Holiday Inn for $79 per night per room plus tax. Hotel reservations can be made by calling 812-372-1541 and participants should indicate that they are with the Heart of America Grazing Conference. For more information contact Brad Shelton of Purdue Extension – Washington Co., 806 Martinsburg Rd, Suite 104 Salem, IN 47167; (812) 883-4601 or sheltonb@purdue.edu. A registration brochure is available at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/forages/pdf/2009HOAGC.pdf.
Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access university. If you have special needs call us prior to the event at 812-883-4601 or call 888-EXT-INFO and ask for the Washington County office.
Registration and a tradeshow will start at 4 p.m. EST on Jan. 21st. A 6:30 p.m. banquet will be followed by the conference's keynote speaker, Joel Salatin of Polyface, Inc. Salatin will discuss his farm operation which includes the raising and marketing of “Salad Bar Beef, Pigaerator Pork, Pastured Poultry (eggs, broilers, turkeys), Forage-Based Rabbits, and Forestry Products.
The second day of the conference starts at 8:30 a.m. Topics offered include forage growth and development, ultra-high stock density grazing, getting started in management-intensive grazing, and improving the existing management-intensive grazing system. Following lunch there will be breakout sessions discussing marketing of farm-raised products, utilizing sheep and goats in the grazing environment, economic flexibility in grazing stocker calves or replacement heifers, and alternative forages.
There also will be exhibitor booths on display throughout the two-day event showcasing fencing and livestock watering supplies, pasture irrigation, seed, minerals, and livestock medications.
Individuals may register by December 19 for a reduced price of $65 for both days or $40 for one day. Regular costs (after Dec 19) for the event are $75 for both days or $50 for one day. This fee covers all program materials and meals. Lodging is available at the Holiday Inn for $79 per night per room plus tax. Hotel reservations can be made by calling 812-372-1541 and participants should indicate that they are with the Heart of America Grazing Conference. For more information contact Brad Shelton of Purdue Extension – Washington Co., 806 Martinsburg Rd, Suite 104 Salem, IN 47167; (812) 883-4601 or sheltonb@purdue.edu. A registration brochure is available at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/forages/pdf/2009HOAGC.pdf.
Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access university. If you have special needs call us prior to the event at 812-883-4601 or call 888-EXT-INFO and ask for the Washington County office.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Montgomery County Extension to Offer "Horseman's Dream" Series
The Montgomery County Extension Office will be offering their first ever "Hosremen's Dream" series for horse owners in and around the Montgomery County area. The Horsemen's Dream Series will consist of three different programs scattered throughout the end of 2008 and 2009. Programs offered in the series include:
A Forages for Horses Workshop- This workshop will take place on Monday, November 17 and Thursday November 20. The forages for horses workshop covers everything a horse owner needs to establish and or maintain the proper forages for proper horse nutrition. This workshop will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 on both evenings.
An Equine Environmental and Liability Awareness workshop-Helod on Monday, January 12 2009 and Thursday January 15 2009. The Equine Environmental and Liability Awareness Workshop will not only cover the environmental issues a horse owner must contend with but also the liabilities that come with owning a horse.
A Pasture Walk- After learning all about growing quality forages in the forages for horses workshop, participants will have the ability to go out in a pasture and put that knowledge to "hand's on" use. The date for the pasture walk has not been set but it will take place some time in the spring or summer of 2009. The specific date will be announced at the end of the Equine Environmental and Liability Workshop.
All three events in the Horsemen's Dream series are offered at a price of $65.00 for early registration and $75.00 at the door. With the understanding that, if you register at the door, some of the materials may not be available to you. Early registration deadline is November 3. For more information, and to register, contact Suzanne Mills-Wasniak at the Montgomery County Extension Office.
A Forages for Horses Workshop- This workshop will take place on Monday, November 17 and Thursday November 20. The forages for horses workshop covers everything a horse owner needs to establish and or maintain the proper forages for proper horse nutrition. This workshop will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 on both evenings.
An Equine Environmental and Liability Awareness workshop-Helod on Monday, January 12 2009 and Thursday January 15 2009. The Equine Environmental and Liability Awareness Workshop will not only cover the environmental issues a horse owner must contend with but also the liabilities that come with owning a horse.
A Pasture Walk- After learning all about growing quality forages in the forages for horses workshop, participants will have the ability to go out in a pasture and put that knowledge to "hand's on" use. The date for the pasture walk has not been set but it will take place some time in the spring or summer of 2009. The specific date will be announced at the end of the Equine Environmental and Liability Workshop.
All three events in the Horsemen's Dream series are offered at a price of $65.00 for early registration and $75.00 at the door. With the understanding that, if you register at the door, some of the materials may not be available to you. Early registration deadline is November 3. For more information, and to register, contact Suzanne Mills-Wasniak at the Montgomery County Extension Office.
North Central Ohio Dairy Grazing Conference January 29 and 30, 2009
North Central Ohio Dairy Grazing Conference will be January 29 and 30, 2009 at the Buckeye Event Center in Dalton , Ohio Wisconsin , Abe Collins from Vermont , Marlin Newswanger, Tom Noyes, Jeff McCutcheon, David Barker and local dairy producers from Ohio Fresno , Ohio 43812
Friday, October 24, 2008
Equine Environmental & Liability Awareness Program
The Medina County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) along with Medina County Farm Bureau, NRCS, and Town & Country Seville are presenting the Equine Environmental & Liability Awareness Program to Medina County Equine Operations. The program is set up to address Equine operations facility management in a manner that is friendly to your horses, alpacas, neighbors, and the environment.
The main topics for the program will address
Water Quality
Rules and Regulations
Nutrient Management
Pasture, Hay & Forage Management
Facility Management and Design
Neighbor Relations
Equine Liability Law.
Due to the complexity of these topics, the training session will take place over two evenings
November 19 and 20, 2008 ~ 6:30 to 9:15 each night.
There will be a registration fee to all participants of $20.00 which will be refunded if the participant attends both nights. Farm Bureau members can attend at no charge. Light refreshments will be served.
By attending and completing the training program you will satisfy one of the requirements for a livestock producer to receive cost share assistance from the State or Federal Government programs.
All paid participants will receive a manual for your use and reference. Sorry you cannot receive a manual unless you attend the training sessions. If you have any questions or would like a registration form please feel free to call the office and ask for Jim or Jeff (330.722.2628 ext. 3) or visit our web site at www.medinaswcd.org or contact Medina County Farm Bureau at 330.263.SILO.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Pasture Growth by October 12
The following table shows the growth from pastures participating in the project. For information about the project see the original post. The information is reported in pounds of dry matter grown per acre per day. It contains the reported results as of the posting date. Some reports may be delayed for various reasons. Previous week’s information is updated when it is received. The current table will reflect the total information available.
Week Starting | Fields sampled | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no.) | (pounds of DM per day) | |||
| April 6 | 4 | 18 | 109 | 53 |
| April 13 | 3 | 18 | 118 | 59 |
| April 20 | 5 | 26 | 138 | 73 |
| April 27 | 19 | 20 | 197 | 72 |
| May 4 | 29 | 28 | 211 | 114 |
| May 11 | 30 | 12 | 220 | 92 |
| May 18 | 12 | 15 | 200 | 88 |
| May 25 | 24 | 14 | 172 | 71 |
| June 1 | 19 | 7 | 138 | 45 |
| June 8 | 11 | 9 | 75 | 46 |
| June 15 | 30 | 1 | 239 | 40 |
| June 22 | 28 | 4 | 157 | 37 |
| June 29 | 28 | 2 | 131 | 46 |
| July 6 | 25 | 1 | 119 | 49 |
| July 13 | 21 | 10 | 171 | 59 |
| July 20 | 27 | 1 | 187 | 43 |
| July 27 | 21 | 3 | 143 | 37 |
| Aug. 3 | 21 | 0 | 77 | 17 |
| Aug. 10 | 16 | 0 | 103 | 31 |
| Aug. 17 | 11 | 2 | 34 | 15 |
| Aug. 24 | 15 | 2 | 56 | 20 |
| Aug. 31 | 8 | 5 | 61 | 25 |
| Sept. 7 | 9 | 3 | 23 | 12 |
| Sept. 14 | 12 | 0 | 38 | 18 |
| Sept. 21 | 14 | 0 | 51 | 16 |
| Sept. 28 | 14 | 0 | 57 | 15 |
| October 5 | 10 | 0 | 55 | 14 |
Thursday, October 2, 2008
September Amazing Graze Newsletter now posted
The September issue of the Amazing Graze Newsletter is now posted on the Ohio Forage Network website. Follow the newsletter link. In this issue you will find articles entitled: Planned Winter Feeding, Prussic Acid Poisoning Potential in Frosted Forages, Fall Cutting of Alfalfa.
Be sure to check out the Events Page for grazing/forage related events in the next few months and even into next year.
Be sure to check out the Events Page for grazing/forage related events in the next few months and even into next year.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Last Perry County Pasture Walk for 2008
Fall is slowly approaching, the leaves are starting to fall, the nights are getting cooler, the days are getting shorter...and the pasture walk season is coming to a close for Perry County. The last pasture walk for this year will be held Monday, September 15 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Wyer Farm near Roseville. New and experienced graziers are encouraged to attend. The farm address is:
8898 Butcherknife Rd
Roseville, OH 43777
The Wyers operate a rotationally grazed cow/calf operation. The focus of this event will be to observe and discuss the fencing, water, and paddock layouts, along with discussion of the management of this established grazing system.
This grazing event is free, no reservations are needed. Perry County pasture walks are sponsored by NRCS, Perry County SWCD, and Perry County OSU Extension. Call (740) 743-1325 if you have any questions. Hope to see you there!
8898 Butcherknife Rd
Roseville, OH 43777
The Wyers operate a rotationally grazed cow/calf operation. The focus of this event will be to observe and discuss the fencing, water, and paddock layouts, along with discussion of the management of this established grazing system.
This grazing event is free, no reservations are needed. Perry County pasture walks are sponsored by NRCS, Perry County SWCD, and Perry County OSU Extension. Call (740) 743-1325 if you have any questions. Hope to see you there!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Last Western Ohio Pasture Walk to be held in Shelby County
What an interesting, challenging year it has been for growing forages in Western Ohio. Starting on a beef operation in Champaign County in May, we have traveled to various grazing operations throughout the season and observed how grasses and legumes were growing at various points in the growing season. We followed the Champaign pasture walk with a stop at a sheep operation in Darke County in June. In July, Miami County hosted the walk with a stop at a small horse boarding facility and August brought us to a retired Extension professional's home in Clark County where he is feeding dairy heifers.
Now it is September and there will be one last stop on the Western Ohio pasture walk series to see how our forages are doing going into winter. The final stop will be held on Thursday, September 18 at the home of Tom and Janet Price, located at 18550 Suber Road, outside of Sidney.
The program will be hosted by the Shelby County Extension Office and, once again, Bob Hendershot NRCS grazing specialist will be the primary speaker. No reservations are required for this event, just show up if you are interested in learning more about how to make sure your forages are ready for winter.
Now it is September and there will be one last stop on the Western Ohio pasture walk series to see how our forages are doing going into winter. The final stop will be held on Thursday, September 18 at the home of Tom and Janet Price, located at 18550 Suber Road, outside of Sidney.
The program will be hosted by the Shelby County Extension Office and, once again, Bob Hendershot NRCS grazing specialist will be the primary speaker. No reservations are required for this event, just show up if you are interested in learning more about how to make sure your forages are ready for winter.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Last 2008 Licking County Pasture Walk
The pasture walk season is coming to a close in Licking County for this year. The last pasture walk is going to be on Thursday, September 11, 2008 from 6:00-8:00 at the farm of Alice and Lewis Main. New, incoming, and established graziers are encouraged to attend.
Alice and Lewis' farm address is:
6694 Castle Road
Johnstown, OH 43031
Directions: From Newark, take 16W, and continue on OH-37N/Worthington Rd. Turn right onto Johnstown-Alexandria Rd NW/OH-37, and go about 1.5 miles. Turn right onto CR-21/Northridge Rd NW, and go 3.0 miles. Turn left onto Concord Rd NW, and go 1.4 miles. Turn right onto Castle Rd NW, and go about 0.2 miles. Follow posted signs.
There will be a pasture walk through a portion of the grazing system, main topics of discussion will be establishing a rotational grazing system, and management of a cow/calf operation.
The main speaker for the evening is Steve Boyles, OSU Extension Beef Specialist. Steve will be doing a presentation on management of winter feeding costs.
There will be light refreshments served.
This event is free, no registration is required. Licking County Pasture Walks are sponsored by USDA-NRCS, Licking County SWCD, and Licking County OSU Extension.
If you have questions contact Gina Casto (740)452-8618 Ext 108, gina.casto@oh.usda.gov, or John Johnson (740) 670-5329, john.johnson4@oh.usda.gov.
Hope to see you there!
Alice and Lewis' farm address is:
6694 Castle Road
Johnstown, OH 43031
Directions: From Newark, take 16W, and continue on OH-37N/Worthington Rd. Turn right onto Johnstown-Alexandria Rd NW/OH-37, and go about 1.5 miles. Turn right onto CR-21/Northridge Rd NW, and go 3.0 miles. Turn left onto Concord Rd NW, and go 1.4 miles. Turn right onto Castle Rd NW, and go about 0.2 miles. Follow posted signs.
There will be a pasture walk through a portion of the grazing system, main topics of discussion will be establishing a rotational grazing system, and management of a cow/calf operation.
The main speaker for the evening is Steve Boyles, OSU Extension Beef Specialist. Steve will be doing a presentation on management of winter feeding costs.
There will be light refreshments served.
This event is free, no registration is required. Licking County Pasture Walks are sponsored by USDA-NRCS, Licking County SWCD, and Licking County OSU Extension.
If you have questions contact Gina Casto (740)452-8618 Ext 108, gina.casto@oh.usda.gov, or John Johnson (740) 670-5329, john.johnson4@oh.usda.gov.
Hope to see you there!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Pasture Growth by August 24
The following table shows the growth from pastures participating in the project. For information about the project see the original post. The information is reported in pounds of dry matter grown per acre per day. It contains the reported results as of the posting date. Some reports may be delayed for various reasons. Previous week’s information is updated when it is received. The current table will reflect the total information available.
Week Starting | Fields sampled | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no.) | (pounds of DM per day) | |||
| April 6 | 4 | 18 | 109 | 53 |
| April 13 | 3 | 18 | 118 | 59 |
| April 20 | 5 | 26 | 138 | 73 |
| April 27 | 19 | 20 | 197 | 72 |
| May 4 | 29 | 28 | 211 | 114 |
| May 11 | 30 | 12 | 220 | 92 |
| May 18 | 12 | 15 | 200 | 88 |
| May 25 | 24 | 14 | 172 | 71 |
| June 1 | 19 | 7 | 138 | 45 |
| June 8 | 11 | 9 | 75 | 46 |
| June 15 | 30 | 1 | 239 | 40 |
| June 22 | 28 | 4 | 157 | 37 |
| June 29 | 28 | 2 | 131 | 46 |
| July 6 | 25 | 1 | 119 | 49 |
| July 13 | 21 | 10 | 171 | 59 |
| July 20 | 27 | 1 | 187 | 43 |
| July 27 | 21 | 3 | 143 | 37 |
| August 3 | 21 | 0 | 77 | 17 |
| August 10 | 16 | 0 | 103 | 31 |
| August 17 | 11 | 2 | 34 | 15 |
Friday, August 22, 2008
Dry Forage Samples With a Hair Dryer
Ag Engineer Dennis Buckmaster has developed plans for building a simple homemade tool to determine moisture content of forage samples.
Buckmaster designed the dryer out of a standard home hair dryer and materials available at hardware stores. The homemade dryer is called a "Vortex Dryer", so named because a CPVC pipe is attached to a funnel- or vortex-shaped container made from two round duct reducers.
The Vortex Dryer is easy to use, requires less supervision when drying samples than the microwave oven method, and requires less time to dry samples than a Koster tester.
The Vortex Dryer also gives very accurate results. The error error was -0.1%. Moisture estimates were within 1% of the actual value 95% of the time. There was no statistical difference between the vortex dryer results and those obtained when using the standard drying oven method.
For more information on the Vortex Dryer, including how to build and use one, see the Penn State Extension Fact Sheet entitled "A Vortex Forage and Biomass Sample Dryer", available online at http://www.abe.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/i/I101.pdf.
The Vortex Dryer would be useful for checking forage moisture levels at harvest or feeding time. Earlier this week Bill Weiss alerted Ohio corn silage growers to check their corn for dry matter content, as it is likely to be ready for chopping. The Vortex Dryer would be very useful in determining the dry matter content of corn silage in each field.
Buckmaster designed the dryer out of a standard home hair dryer and materials available at hardware stores. The homemade dryer is called a "Vortex Dryer", so named because a CPVC pipe is attached to a funnel- or vortex-shaped container made from two round duct reducers.
The Vortex Dryer is easy to use, requires less supervision when drying samples than the microwave oven method, and requires less time to dry samples than a Koster tester.
The Vortex Dryer also gives very accurate results. The error error was -0.1%. Moisture estimates were within 1% of the actual value 95% of the time. There was no statistical difference between the vortex dryer results and those obtained when using the standard drying oven method.
For more information on the Vortex Dryer, including how to build and use one, see the Penn State Extension Fact Sheet entitled "A Vortex Forage and Biomass Sample Dryer", available online at http://www.abe.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/i/I101.pdf.
The Vortex Dryer would be useful for checking forage moisture levels at harvest or feeding time. Earlier this week Bill Weiss alerted Ohio corn silage growers to check their corn for dry matter content, as it is likely to be ready for chopping. The Vortex Dryer would be very useful in determining the dry matter content of corn silage in each field.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
How to Determine Corn Silage Moisture
Corn silage chopping should begin soon in Ohio. As described in the recent post authored by Bill Weiss, for good fermentation corn should be chopped when whole plant dry matter is 30 to 35% for bunker silos and 32 to 38% for bags and upright silos.
To check the whole plant dry matter content in your fields, use the following procedure, collect 5 to 10 representative plants from the field. The plants should be uniformly chopped - a chipper shredder or silage chopper provides better chopping than chopping by hand with a meat cleaver or machete. After chopping, mix thoroughly to obtain a representative sample for drying.
Avoid sampling plants from border rows and areas not representative of the majority of the field. Be careful during mixing and subsampling to avoid non-representative grain to stover ratios in the sample to be dried.
Some people prefer sampling only 2 or 3 plants to reduce the chances of a non-representative grain to stover ratio. In this case, it is even more critical that plants be selected carefully to represent the average field conditions. It is best to create two subsamples for % DM determinations, and average the two values.
Dry the sample in a microwave oven or a Koster Tester. Each method requires a good scale that can measure in grams. More information on the microwave oven method is available at http://ohioline.osu.edu/agf-fact/0004.html. For the Koster Tester, refer to the manufacturer's instructions, many of which have posted instructions online.
To check the whole plant dry matter content in your fields, use the following procedure, collect 5 to 10 representative plants from the field. The plants should be uniformly chopped - a chipper shredder or silage chopper provides better chopping than chopping by hand with a meat cleaver or machete. After chopping, mix thoroughly to obtain a representative sample for drying.
Avoid sampling plants from border rows and areas not representative of the majority of the field. Be careful during mixing and subsampling to avoid non-representative grain to stover ratios in the sample to be dried.
Some people prefer sampling only 2 or 3 plants to reduce the chances of a non-representative grain to stover ratio. In this case, it is even more critical that plants be selected carefully to represent the average field conditions. It is best to create two subsamples for % DM determinations, and average the two values.
Dry the sample in a microwave oven or a Koster Tester. Each method requires a good scale that can measure in grams. More information on the microwave oven method is available at http://ohioline.osu.edu/agf-fact/0004.html. For the Koster Tester, refer to the manufacturer's instructions, many of which have posted instructions online.
Corn Silage Ready for Harvest in Ohio
By Bill Weiss
OSU & OARDC, Dept. of Animal Sciences
In many areas of Ohio it has been dry and corn plants are approaching silage stage sooner than normal. To maximize yields of digestible energy and allow for good fermentation, corn for silage should be chopped at 30 to 35% dry matter (for bunker silos) and 32 to 38% dry matter for bags and upright silos.
In many areas of south and central Ohio corn plants contain 30-33% dry matter currently and chopping should be considered. Corn hybrid and local weather have a large effect on dry matter concentrations, so growers should start sampling fields and measuring dry matter now and when target dry matters are achieved they should start chopping. See related posting for information on how to sample and measure corn silage moisture.
With the expected high prices for corn grain, it is extremely important that livestock producers get the maximum nutrient value from their silage. Chopping too early (too wet) or too late (too dry) has substantial negative effects on the nutritive value of corn silage and affects how much grain supplementation is needed. Corn silage made at the incorrect dry matter concentration will reduce milk production (or growth) and/or will require more grain ($$$) to obtain the same milk and growth responses.
OSU & OARDC, Dept. of Animal Sciences
In many areas of Ohio it has been dry and corn plants are approaching silage stage sooner than normal. To maximize yields of digestible energy and allow for good fermentation, corn for silage should be chopped at 30 to 35% dry matter (for bunker silos) and 32 to 38% dry matter for bags and upright silos.
In many areas of south and central Ohio corn plants contain 30-33% dry matter currently and chopping should be considered. Corn hybrid and local weather have a large effect on dry matter concentrations, so growers should start sampling fields and measuring dry matter now and when target dry matters are achieved they should start chopping. See related posting for information on how to sample and measure corn silage moisture.
With the expected high prices for corn grain, it is extremely important that livestock producers get the maximum nutrient value from their silage. Chopping too early (too wet) or too late (too dry) has substantial negative effects on the nutritive value of corn silage and affects how much grain supplementation is needed. Corn silage made at the incorrect dry matter concentration will reduce milk production (or growth) and/or will require more grain ($$$) to obtain the same milk and growth responses.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Pasture Growth by August 3
The following table shows the growth from pastures participating in the project. For information about the project see the original post. The information is reported in pounds of dry matter grown per acre per day. It contains the reported results as of the posting date. Some reports may be delayed for various reasons. Previous week’s information is updated when it is received. The current table will reflect the total information available.
Week Starting | Fields sampled | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no.) | (pounds of DM per day) | |||
| April 6 | 4 | 18 | 109 | 53 |
| April 13 | 3 | 18 | 118 | 59 |
| April 20 | 5 | 26 | 138 | 73 |
| April 27 | 19 | 20 | 197 | 72 |
| May 4 | 29 | 28 | 211 | 114 |
| May 11 | 30 | 12 | 220 | 92 |
| May 18 | 12 | 15 | 200 | 88 |
| May 25 | 24 | 14 | 172 | 71 |
| June 1 | 19 | 7 | 138 | 45 |
| June 8 | 11 | 9 | 75 | 46 |
| June 15 | 30 | 1 | 239 | 40 |
| June 22 | 28 | 4 | 157 | 37 |
| June 29 | 28 | 2 | 131 | 46 |
| July 6 | 25 | 1 | 119 | 49 |
| July 13 | 21 | 10 | 171 | 59 |
| July 20 | 27 | 1 | 187 | 43 |
| July 27 | 20 | 3 | 122 | 32 |
Monday, August 4, 2008
Clark County Pasture Walk to be held Thursday, August 21
The fourth in a series of five western Ohio pasture walks will be held on Thursday, August 21 from 6:30 to 9:00 in the evening. This walk will be held at the farm of retired Extension Agriculture Agent Mike Haubner, located at 8651 Troy Rd. New Carlisle, Ohio.
Bob Hendershot, NRCS grazing specialist will be on hand to discuss pasture fertility management, plant species identification and selection, rotational grazing, and much more. The Haubner farm is currently raising replacement dairy heifers but the information that will be presented will benefit graziers of all species of livestock.
There is no registration requirement, but for more information contact Jonah Johnson at the Clark County Extension Office.
Bob Hendershot, NRCS grazing specialist will be on hand to discuss pasture fertility management, plant species identification and selection, rotational grazing, and much more. The Haubner farm is currently raising replacement dairy heifers but the information that will be presented will benefit graziers of all species of livestock.
There is no registration requirement, but for more information contact Jonah Johnson at the Clark County Extension Office.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Pasture Growth by July 27
The following table shows the growth from pastures participating in the project. The information is reported in pounds of dry matter grown per acre per day. It contains the reported results as of the posting date. Some reports may be delayed for various reasons. Previous week’s information is updated when it is received. The current table will reflect the total information available.
Week Starting | Fields sampled | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no.) | (pounds of DM per day) | |||
| April 6 | 4 | 18 | 109 | 53 |
| April 13 | 3 | 18 | 118 | 59 |
| April 20 | 5 | 26 | 138 | 73 |
| April 27 | 19 | 20 | 197 | 72 |
| May 4 | 29 | 28 | 211 | 114 |
| May 11 | 30 | 12 | 220 | 92 |
| May 18 | 12 | 15 | 200 | 88 |
| May 25 | 24 | 14 | 172 | 71 |
| June 1 | 19 | 7 | 138 | 45 |
| June 8 | 11 | 9 | 75 | 46 |
| June 15 | 30 | 1 | 239 | 40 |
| June 22 | 28 | 4 | 157 | 37 |
| June 29 | 28 | 2 | 131 | 46 |
| July 6 | 25 | 1 | 119 | 49 |
| July 13 | 21 | 10 | 171 | 59 |
| July 20 | 27 | 1 | 187 | 43 |
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Goat Marketing Pasture Walk August 14, 2008
If you are interested in learning about grazing goats and marketing, keep the date of August 14, 2008, 6:00-8:00 p.m. clear on your calendar to attend a pasture walk in Licking County. That evening's pasture walk will be held at Ellis Farms, a goat farm near Newark. Topics of direct marketing goats, and goat grazing management will be covered. Steve Hibinger, former NRCS Grazing Specialist, has been asked to lead this event.
The farm address is:
3744 Chestnut Hills Rd
Newark, OH 43055
Directions from Newark: take OH-13 north to OH-657. Turn left onto OH-657 (Marion Rd) and go about 0.9 miles. Turn left onto Chestnut Hills Rd NE, and go about 1.8 miles. Follow posted signs. Light refreshments will be provided.
Licking County pasture walks are sponsored by USDA-NRCS, Licking County SWCD, and Licking County OSU Extension. For additional information about this event, or if you'd like to be included on the Licking County pasture walk mailing list, call (740)670-5329, or (740) 452-8618.
The farm address is:
3744 Chestnut Hills Rd
Newark, OH 43055
Directions from Newark: take OH-13 north to OH-657. Turn left onto OH-657 (Marion Rd) and go about 0.9 miles. Turn left onto Chestnut Hills Rd NE, and go about 1.8 miles. Follow posted signs. Light refreshments will be provided.
Licking County pasture walks are sponsored by USDA-NRCS, Licking County SWCD, and Licking County OSU Extension. For additional information about this event, or if you'd like to be included on the Licking County pasture walk mailing list, call (740)670-5329, or (740) 452-8618.
Knox County Pasture Walk July 31st!
Want to know more about rotational grazing and sheep?
Tomorrow night, July 31st, there is a pasture walk near Howard, in Knox County at 6:30 p.m. The pasture walk is going to be held at the home of Greg and Bev Miller. Greg and Bev own and operate a rotational grazing system for sheep. Jeff McCutcheon, Extension Educator for Knox County, will be leading the pasture walk.
The farm address is:
25267 Blanchard Rd
Howard, Ohio, 43028
Any individuals with questions about the event should call (740) 392-7806, (740)397-0401, or (740)452-8618.
Tomorrow night, July 31st, there is a pasture walk near Howard, in Knox County at 6:30 p.m. The pasture walk is going to be held at the home of Greg and Bev Miller. Greg and Bev own and operate a rotational grazing system for sheep. Jeff McCutcheon, Extension Educator for Knox County, will be leading the pasture walk.
The farm address is:
25267 Blanchard Rd
Howard, Ohio, 43028
Any individuals with questions about the event should call (740) 392-7806, (740)397-0401, or (740)452-8618.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Fayette County Grazing School in August
The Fayette County Grazing School is a three night event featuring Bob Hendershot, the Ohio NRCS Grazing Specialist. Bob will cover several topics each night important to every livestock owner, whether you are currently grazing livestock or not.
This course will provide you with the tools necessary to develop a Grazing Management Plan. If you are an EQIP applicant, you will likely be required to obtain a Grazing Management Plan to be eligible to apply for grazing practices on your farm.
The classes will be held August 6, 11, and 13, from 6:00-9:30 p.m. at the Fayette County Ag Center. Please plan to attend all three clases, as Bob will cover different topics each night. Cost for the class is $20.00, which includes a 'Pastures for Profit' binder from the Ohio Forage and Grassland Council, and a grazing stick.
Light refreshments will be provided by the Fayette Soil and Water Conservation District. Please RSVP by August 1 to Sara Morris, NRCS District Conservationist, at (740)335-6201 or sara.morris@oh.usda.gov . Please include your name, phone number, and number of people attending.
This course will provide you with the tools necessary to develop a Grazing Management Plan. If you are an EQIP applicant, you will likely be required to obtain a Grazing Management Plan to be eligible to apply for grazing practices on your farm.
The classes will be held August 6, 11, and 13, from 6:00-9:30 p.m. at the Fayette County Ag Center. Please plan to attend all three clases, as Bob will cover different topics each night. Cost for the class is $20.00, which includes a 'Pastures for Profit' binder from the Ohio Forage and Grassland Council, and a grazing stick.
Light refreshments will be provided by the Fayette Soil and Water Conservation District. Please RSVP by August 1 to Sara Morris, NRCS District Conservationist, at (740)335-6201 or sara.morris@oh.usda.gov . Please include your name, phone number, and number of people attending.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Pasture Growth by July 13
The following table shows the growth from pastures participating in the project. The information is reported in pounds of dry matter grown per acre per day. It contains the reported results as of the posting date. Some reports may be delayed for various reasons. Previous week’s information is updated when it is received. The current table will reflect the total information available.
Week Starting | Fields sampled | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no.) | (pounds of DM per day) | |||
| April 6 | 4 | 18 | 109 | 53 |
| April 13 | 3 | 18 | 118 | 59 |
| April 20 | 5 | 26 | 138 | 73 |
| April 27 | 19 | 20 | 197 | 72 |
| May 4 | 29 | 28 | 211 | 114 |
| May 11 | 30 | 12 | 220 | 92 |
| May 18 | 12 | 15 | 200 | 88 |
| May 25 | 24 | 14 | 172 | 71 |
| June 1 | 19 | 7 | 138 | 45 |
| June 8 | 11 | 9 | 75 | 46 |
| June 15 | 25 | 1 | 115 | 29 |
| June 22 | 22 | 4 | 157 | 41 |
| June 29 | 20 | 2 | 131 | 43 |
| July 6 | 16 | 1 | 102 | 35 |
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Pasture Growth by July 6
The following table shows the growth from pastures participating in the project. The information is reported in pounds of dry matter grown per acre per day. It contains the reported results as of the posting date. Some reports may be delayed for various reasons. Previous week’s information is updated when it is received. The current table will reflect the total information available.
Week Starting | Fields sampled | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no.) | (pounds of DM per day) | |||
| April 6 | 4 | 18 | 109 | 53 |
| April 13 | 3 | 18 | 118 | 59 |
| April 20 | 5 | 26 | 138 | 73 |
| April 27 | 19 | 20 | 197 | 72 |
| May 4 | 29 | 28 | 211 | 114 |
| May 11 | 30 | 12 | 220 | 92 |
| May 18 | 12 | 15 | 200 | 88 |
| May 25 | 24 | 14 | 172 | 71 |
| June 1 | 19 | 7 | 138 | 45 |
| June 8 | 11 | 9 | 75 | 46 |
| June 15 | 25 | 1 | 115 | 29 |
| June 22 | 22 | 4 | 157 | 41 |
| June 29 | 20 | 2 | 131 | 43 |
Monday, July 7, 2008
Upcoming Grazing Field Day near Coolville, Ohio July 26th
The next grazing day for the Tri-County Grazing Council is scheduled to begin on Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The Grazing Day will begin at Spectrum Farm, owned and operated by John and Mary Ellen Wozny. John and Mary Ellen raise Murray Grey cattle and manage them through a rotational grazing system.
Fernando Silveira, MV, an assistant professor- clinical, at OSU, will also be at the farm to present and discuss his beef breeding work for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) project strated in 2002. There will be a morning pasture walk of the Wozny's grazing system, including a stop at their field of switchgrass. Scott Bauerbach of Green Valley Coop will have a presentation on livestock minerals. The day will conclude with a visit to a neighboring cattle farm, owned by Larry Simmons and managed by Matthew Atha. This visit will focus on his breeding program, the basis of which is his Heat Watch Estrus Detection System.
Lunch will be provided, sponsored by Green Valley Coop. Please bring your own chairs for the meal and any presentations. There is no fee for this event, and no limit on number of participants, however, there is a registration deadline to make sure there are meals planned for all those attending. Please RSVP to Kevin Wagner at (740) 373-4857 before July 23, 2008 with the number attending.
Directions to Spectrum Farm: From Coolville, take OH7-US50 West/North until it splits. Stay on OH7 to Pomeroy, which narrows to a two-lane road. Turn right onto Brister Road (first road on right). Go about 0.8 miles, the driveway will be on your left through pine trees. Follow posted signs.
For details, contact Kevin Wagner at (740) 373-4857, kevin.wagner@oh.nacdnet.net, or Gina Casto (740) 452-8618 Ext. 108, gina.casto@oh.usda.gov .
This will be an information-filled day! We hope to see you there!
Fernando Silveira, MV, an assistant professor- clinical, at OSU, will also be at the farm to present and discuss his beef breeding work for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) project strated in 2002. There will be a morning pasture walk of the Wozny's grazing system, including a stop at their field of switchgrass. Scott Bauerbach of Green Valley Coop will have a presentation on livestock minerals. The day will conclude with a visit to a neighboring cattle farm, owned by Larry Simmons and managed by Matthew Atha. This visit will focus on his breeding program, the basis of which is his Heat Watch Estrus Detection System.
Lunch will be provided, sponsored by Green Valley Coop. Please bring your own chairs for the meal and any presentations. There is no fee for this event, and no limit on number of participants, however, there is a registration deadline to make sure there are meals planned for all those attending. Please RSVP to Kevin Wagner at (740) 373-4857 before July 23, 2008 with the number attending.
Directions to Spectrum Farm: From Coolville, take OH7-US50 West/North until it splits. Stay on OH7 to Pomeroy, which narrows to a two-lane road. Turn right onto Brister Road (first road on right). Go about 0.8 miles, the driveway will be on your left through pine trees. Follow posted signs.
For details, contact Kevin Wagner at (740) 373-4857, kevin.wagner@oh.nacdnet.net, or Gina Casto (740) 452-8618 Ext. 108, gina.casto@oh.usda.gov .
This will be an information-filled day! We hope to see you there!
Licking County Pasture Walk July 17th
The next Licking County Pasture Walk will be held at the farm of Michael Pitcher on Thursday, July 17, 2008 from 6:30-8:30. Michael and his family have lived on the 40 acre farm for a few years now, and have been working to convert old overgrown sheep pasture into a productive rotational grazing system for raising beef. Topics for the evening walk include rotational grazing establishment, paddock and water layout, and grazing management basics.
If you are just getting into rotational grazing, this stop is a must-see! If you are a seasoned grazier, this walk is a prime opportunity to pass on your grazing knowledge and network with fellow graziers. Light refreshments will be served following the walk. Everyone is welcome, there is no fee or registration for this event.
The farm address: 10650 Honda Hills Rd, Thornville, Ohio, 43076. Directions: From Newark, take Linnville Rd/Linnville Rd SE out of town for about 7.0 miles, and turn left onto National Rd SE/US-40 for about 0.1 mile. Turn right onto Honda Hills Rd SE/Twp Hwy 328, and go approximately 0.2 miles. The driveway will be on your left. Follow posted signs.
Licking County Pasture Walks are sponsored by USDA-NRCS, Licking County SWCD, and Licking County OSU Extension. For additional details, call John Johnson at (740) 670-5329, or Gina Casto at (740) 452-8618. Hope to see you there!
If you are just getting into rotational grazing, this stop is a must-see! If you are a seasoned grazier, this walk is a prime opportunity to pass on your grazing knowledge and network with fellow graziers. Light refreshments will be served following the walk. Everyone is welcome, there is no fee or registration for this event.
The farm address: 10650 Honda Hills Rd, Thornville, Ohio, 43076. Directions: From Newark, take Linnville Rd/Linnville Rd SE out of town for about 7.0 miles, and turn left onto National Rd SE/US-40 for about 0.1 mile. Turn right onto Honda Hills Rd SE/Twp Hwy 328, and go approximately 0.2 miles. The driveway will be on your left. Follow posted signs.
Licking County Pasture Walks are sponsored by USDA-NRCS, Licking County SWCD, and Licking County OSU Extension. For additional details, call John Johnson at (740) 670-5329, or Gina Casto at (740) 452-8618. Hope to see you there!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Miami County Pasture Walk July 17
The third in a series of five pasture walks scattered around Southwestern Ohio will take place on Thursday July 17. Attendance at the five pasture walks allows sheep, beef, goat, and horse producers to gain a unique perspective of various pasture/hay management options at various stages of growth throughout the spring and summer. The walks started at a beef production facility in Champaign county in May, moved to a sheep producer's farm in Darke County in June, and will be held at a horse farm in Miami County in July.
Larry and Kate Carpenter will be our gracious hosts for this stop on the pasture walk tour. The Carpenter’s live at 1905 S. St. Rt. 48, just north of Ludlow Falls, Ohio.
Bob Hendershot, Ohio grazing specialist for NRCS will be on hand to discuss pasture and hay management, horse nutrition, setting up paddocks for intensive grazing, and a good portion of the time will be spent on proper soil testing techniques in a pasture/hay field. Because the Carpenter’s raise horses, this pasture walk will focus primarily on managing pastures for horse production, however the information shared will benefit producers of any type of grazing animal.
The pasture walk will begin at 6:30 and will conclude around 9:00. Anyone interested is welcome to attend and there is no pre-registration or fee required. For more information and directions, contact Tim Fine in the Miami County Extension Office at 937-440-3945, or by email at fine.17@cfaes.osu.edu.
Larry and Kate Carpenter will be our gracious hosts for this stop on the pasture walk tour. The Carpenter’s live at 1905 S. St. Rt. 48, just north of Ludlow Falls, Ohio.
Bob Hendershot, Ohio grazing specialist for NRCS will be on hand to discuss pasture and hay management, horse nutrition, setting up paddocks for intensive grazing, and a good portion of the time will be spent on proper soil testing techniques in a pasture/hay field. Because the Carpenter’s raise horses, this pasture walk will focus primarily on managing pastures for horse production, however the information shared will benefit producers of any type of grazing animal.
The pasture walk will begin at 6:30 and will conclude around 9:00. Anyone interested is welcome to attend and there is no pre-registration or fee required. For more information and directions, contact Tim Fine in the Miami County Extension Office at 937-440-3945, or by email at fine.17@cfaes.osu.edu.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
July Issue of Amazing Graze Newsletter Now Posted
The July issue of the Amazing Graze Newsletter is now posted on the Ohio Forage Network website. Follow the newsletter link. In this issue you will find articles entitled: Bale Cost, The Ohio Pasture Measurement Project, Brassicas, and Pasture vs Confinement Lamb Finishing.
There are over 18 grazing, pasture or forage related events planned for the rest of this summer. Be sure to check out the Events Page for grazing/forage related events in the next few months.
There are over 18 grazing, pasture or forage related events planned for the rest of this summer. Be sure to check out the Events Page for grazing/forage related events in the next few months.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Pasture Growth by June 29
The following table shows the growth from pastures participating in the project. The information is reported in pounds of dry matter grown per acre per day. It contains the reported results as of the posting date. Some reports may be delayed for various reasons. Previous week’s information is updated when it is received. The current table will reflect the total information available.
Week Starting | Fields sampled | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no.) | (pounds of DM per day) | |||
| April 6 | 4 | 18 | 109 | 53 |
| April 13 | 3 | 18 | 118 | 59 |
| April 20 | 5 | 26 | 138 | 73 |
| April 27 | 19 | 20 | 197 | 72 |
| May 4 | 29 | 28 | 211 | 114 |
| May 11 | 30 | 12 | 220 | 92 |
| May 18 | 12 | 15 | 200 | 88 |
| May 25 | 24 | 14 | 172 | 71 |
| June 1 | 19 | 7 | 138 | 45 |
| June 8 | 11 | 9 | 75 | 46 |
| June 15 | 25 | 1 | 115 | 29 |
| June 22 | 22 | 4 | 157 | 41 |
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Pasture Growth by June 22
The following table shows the growth from pastures participating in the project. The information is reported in pounds of dry matter grown per acre per day. It contains the reported results as of the posting date. Some reports may be delayed for various reasons. Previous week’s information is updated when it is received. The current table will reflect the total information available.
Week Starting | Fields sampled | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no.) | (pounds of DM per day) | |||
| April 6 | 4 | 18 | 109 | 53 |
| April 13 | 3 | 18 | 118 | 59 |
| April 20 | 5 | 26 | 138 | 73 |
| April 27 | 19 | 20 | 197 | 72 |
| May 4 | 29 | 28 | 211 | 114 |
| May 11 | 30 | 12 | 220 | 92 |
| May 18 | 12 | 15 | 200 | 88 |
| May 25 | 24 | 14 | 172 | 71 |
| June 1 | 19 | 7 | 138 | 45 |
| June 8 | 11 | 9 | 75 | 46 |
| June 15 | 25 | 1 | 115 | 29 |
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Pasture Growth by June 15
The following table shows the growth from pastures participating in the project. The information is reported in pounds of dry matter grown per acre per day. It contains the reported results as of the posting date. Some reports may be delayed for various reasons. Previous week’s information is updated when it is received. The current table will reflect the total information available.
Week Starting | Fields sampled | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no.) | (pounds of DM per day) | |||
| April 6 | 4 | 18 | 109 | 53 |
| April 13 | 3 | 18 | 118 | 59 |
| April 20 | 5 | 26 | 138 | 73 |
| April 27 | 19 | 20 | 197 | 72 |
| May 4 | 29 | 28 | 211 | 114 |
| May 11 | 30 | 12 | 220 | 92 |
| May 18 | 12 | 15 | 200 | 88 |
| May 25 | 24 | 14 | 172 | 71 |
| June 1 | 19 | 7 | 138 | 45 |
| June 8 | 11 | 9 | 75 | 46 |
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Pasture Growth by June 8
The following table shows the growth from pastures participating in the project. The information is reported in pounds of dry matter grown per acre per day. It contains the reported results as of the posting date. Some reports may be delayed for various reasons. Previous week’s information is updated when it is received. The current table will reflect the total information available.
Week Starting | Fields sampled | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no.) | (pounds of DM per day) | |||
| April 6 | 4 | 18 | 109 | 53 |
| April 13 | 3 | 18 | 118 | 59 |
| April 20 | 5 | 26 | 138 | 73 |
| April 27 | 19 | 20 | 197 | 72 |
| May 4 | 29 | 28 | 211 | 114 |
| May 11 | 30 | 12 | 220 | 92 |
| May 18 | 12 | 15 | 200 | 88 |
| May 25 | 18 | 14 | 140 | 68 |
| June 1 | 18 | 7 | 138 | 46 |
Darke County Pasture Walk June 19
The Darke County Pasture Walk offers a unique opportunity to learn more about grazing. The June 19th educational program will be held at the farm of Michael and Dixie Thompson located at 7357 New Madison-Coletown Rd. Greenville, OH (from Greenville take SR 571 West towards Union City. Turn left on Wagner Rd. then turn left on New Madison-Coletown Rd.). The program will start at 6:30 p.m. and is open to all farmers working with any species of grazing animals.
Managing pastures for maximum forage production not only results in highest yields in terms of quantity, it also means grazing animals will consume the best quality. How do animal managers set up the finest grass/legume smorgasbord for their cattle, sheep, goats or horses? Intensive grazing and rotational grazing are terms that often come to mind, but attention paid to additional details reward farmers with improved performance.
Bob Hendershot, State Grassland Conservationist for NRCS, will lead the pasture walk, examining forage species and weeds. His comments on forage nutrient requirements, grazing paddock layout and harvest management will benefit all who attend.
Once again, anyone who grazes beef or dairy cattle, sheep, goats, horses or other animals are welcome to come, ask questions and offer their ideas. Please register by calling the Darke County OSU Extension Office at 937 548-5215 or email foster.99@osu.edu prior to June 19th.
Managing pastures for maximum forage production not only results in highest yields in terms of quantity, it also means grazing animals will consume the best quality. How do animal managers set up the finest grass/legume smorgasbord for their cattle, sheep, goats or horses? Intensive grazing and rotational grazing are terms that often come to mind, but attention paid to additional details reward farmers with improved performance.
Bob Hendershot, State Grassland Conservationist for NRCS, will lead the pasture walk, examining forage species and weeds. His comments on forage nutrient requirements, grazing paddock layout and harvest management will benefit all who attend.
Once again, anyone who grazes beef or dairy cattle, sheep, goats, horses or other animals are welcome to come, ask questions and offer their ideas. Please register by calling the Darke County OSU Extension Office at 937 548-5215 or email foster.99@osu.edu prior to June 19th.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Determining the Cost of Hay
I’ve had several conversations regarding the cost of hay recently. One person, trying to determine what to charge for essentially renting hay ground, reasoned that if the renter was going to sell small square bales for $5 or more per bale, then they ought to have at least $2 per bale as their share. Another person told me that if there is a lot of grass growing that gets made into a lot of hay then hay will again be cheap ($50-60/ton?) as in past years. The cost of producing hay can be determined from the value of nutrients removed plus the equipment costs. Whether hay is actually worth what it costs to produce it is yet another question.
According to the Ohio Agronomy Guide, each ton of grass hay removes 40 lbs of nitrogen, 13 lbs of phosphate (P2O5) and 50 lbs of potash (K2O). I called two local fertilizer dealers to get prices on per ton bulk quantities. Urea (46-0-0) was quoted at $690 and $788/ton, DAP (18-46-0) was quoted at $1050 and $1375/ton and potash (0-0-60) at $600 and $665/ton. Using these prices to replace the nitrogen, phosphate and potash removed in a ton of hay resulted in a cost of between $61.41 to $70.66 per ton. Since I was using DAP to replace the phosphate removed, this also provided about 5 lbs of nitrogen. The remaining 35 lbs was replaced using urea. Besides the fertilizer cost, there should be something figured in for spreading the fertilizer. Using the 2008 Ohio Farm Custom Rates, the average cost for spreading dry bulk fertilizer is about $4.50/acre.
It is true that hay can be produced without fertilizing. I see it happen all the time here in Athens County. So, should fertilizer cost be part of determining the cost of hay? Yes, because each ton of hay removes those nutrients whether they are replaced or not. It is a matter of pay now or pay later. The soil can get mined to the point where it is no longer practical to produce hay. To restore soil to good productivity then takes a massive investment to restore soil fertility. Every year I get phone calls where people say they will fertilize in the future, or they are waiting for fertilizer to get cheaper because it is too expensive. If your soil fertility levels are good, and you are pretty sure fertilizer prices are going to decrease, then go ahead and delay fertilizing. However, you should still include some fertilizer charge into your hay cost calculation based on that future fertilization.
The next part of calculating the cost of hay production is machinery/equipment expense. I used average cost figures from the 2008 Ohio Farm Custom Rates. These rates are based on survey responses of Ohio farmers. Your own equipment costs may vary, and if you know what they are, plug those in. For those who don’t know, this is a good place to start. Mowing is valued at $11.13/acre, tedding at $6.13/acre, raking at $6.59/acre and large round bale baling and hauling at $8.81 per bale. Since we talk about hay in terms of price/ton, these per acre costs will have to get converted into costs /ton. Here is where fertility will pay some dividends. As tonnage yields increase, the machinery costs of mowing, tedding and raking decrease on a per ton basis.
Let’s consider an example where hay production is at 2 tons per acre and large round bales weigh 1000 lbs. The machinery costs are $5.56/ton for mowing, $3.07/ton for tedding, $3.29/ton for raking and $17.62/ton for baling and hauling the bales. If we need to do one tedding and one raking before baling, our total machinery cost is $29.54/ton. Adding the machinery cost to the lower of our fertilizer quotes ($61.41) results in a total hay production cost of $90.95/ton. At the higher fertilizer quote ($70.66), the cost is $100.20/ton. This does not include the cost of spreading fertilizer.
Now, it may be possible to reduce these hay production costs somewhat. You might find a better deal on fertilizer. Maybe you have an even distribution of 30% or more legumes in your hay mix, so the legumes provide nitrogen. Possibly you can spread some livestock manure that accumulated on a heavy use-feeding pad. You might be able to take out a pass with the rake if the weather is right and just tedd the hay. Maybe your machinery costs are a little lower. The point is, even with some of these conditions, hay is still going to be an expensive commodity. If you are making your own hay, these production costs are there whether that hay is mowed and baled at 15% crude protein and 65% TDN or at 7% crude protein and 48% TDN.
Then again, maybe the best situation is to find a neighbor or some other person who likes to make hay and hasn’t pushed a pencil on the costs. You just might run into a good deal.
Some Pasture Management Do's and Dont's
To this point, (end of May) the 2008 growing season has been good for the cool season forages that make up the vast majority of our pasture acreage. However, barring a very unusual year, we can expect that June and July will bring us stretches of dry weather and hot temperatures. Growth rates of cool season grass pastures will decline. Getting the most out of your pasture demands management, especially as growth rates decline. Here are some management dos and don’ts to consider as we enter the summer months:
- Don’t ignore the seed heads that have accumulated in your pasture paddocks. A plant in reproductive growth producing seeds is not putting energy into leafy growth or producing tillers to fill in thin spots in the pasture sod.
- Do clip seed heads from pasture grasses, allowing the plant to go back into vegetative growth that will result in more total forage being produced over the course of the growing season.
- Don’t ignore uneven grazing patterns in your pasture paddocks. This indicates that selective grazing is occurring, allowing some plants to be overgrazed while others are becoming too mature. In this situation, forage utilization is being compromised.
- Do consider adding more pasture divisions, more paddocks to your pasture system when uneven grazing patterns are noticed. This means you will be grazing your cattle on smaller areas, increasing the stocking density. This will reduce the amount of selective grazing that occurs. Forage utilization will increase, manure distribution will be more uniform and pasture clipping can be reduced. All positives given the high cost of forages, fertilizer and fuel.
- Don’t ignore the take half leave half principle. If this rule is violated and pastures are grazed down too low, the result is that plant root growth stops, and plant root reserves may be used to re-grow leaf tissue, diminishing the vigor of the plant root system. In addition, when adequate leaf cover is not maintained, the sun is able to penetrate to the soil surface, increasing the soil temperature and moisture evaporation from the soil. This will result in reduced plant growth.
- Do pay attention to when it is time to move the cows to a new paddock, and do provide adequate rest periods to allow a paddock to recover to proper grazing height before allowing cattle to make another grazing pass. As we get in to drier and hotter weather, grass growth rates will slow down. Rotation speed between paddocks will also have to slow down to provide the plants with a longer rest or recovery period. Consider the following charts as a guide:
Species | Pre-graze Height IN | Post-graze Height OUT |
Perennial Ryegrass | 6-7 inches | 3 inches |
Orchardgrass | 8-10 inches | 3-4 inches |
Tall Fescue (Endophyte infected) | 5-6 inches | 1-2 inches |
Tall Fescue (Endophyte free) | 8-10 inches | 3-4 inches |
Grass/Legume Pastures (30% or greater legume)
Species | Pre-graze Height IN | Post-graze Height OUT |
Orchardgrass/white clover | 6-8 inches | 2-3 inches |
Tall Fescue/white clover | 5-7 inches | 2-3 inches |
Grass/red clover | 7-8 inches | 2-3 inches |
- Do take some time to look ahead to the summer months and have a plan for slower cool season growth rates. Will you be able to feed hay and hold cattle in a sacrifice area if grass growth stops? Can you manage your pasture rotations to slow them down and give plants an opportunity to re-grow to a proper grazing height? If you think forage will be tight, can you plant a summer annual forage like sudangrass or a sorghum x sudangrass hybrid? If so, this should be planted before mid-June.
- Finally, don’t ignore the economics of management decisions. Do take the time to analyze costs and benefits. If you can’t take advantage of the extra forage and increase in quality that is produced by clipping pasture paddocks or by putting in more pasture divisions, then these may not be good decisions.
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