A2B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 27, 1998
Pasture Growth Rates Recorded
In Penn State Study
Editor’s Note: Craig Williams, Tioga County extension agent is coordinating a
statewide pasture growth study related to rotational grazing. Here’s another
update of the study.
PA Pastuic Gmwlh Charts
1 his week we aic going to look at the pasture giowth in two diKcrcnl tcims One is
Pastuic Giowth per day and the other is Avciagc Cover These charts will he from the study
acioss PA Several Penn State County agents aic measuimg pastuic growth on Faims in
then county and watching how the giowth is different across the state
Pasture Giowth/day is the paddocks that increased in growth and then the mcicase is
divided hy the days between samples For example, it the avciagc of the paddocks
increases 700 lbs this week and thcic wcic 7 days between sampling, then the avciagc
giowth would be 100 lbs per day No data on this chart means that all the measured
paddocks for that week dccicascd in lbs of pastuic
Avc Pastuic Cover is the avciagc amount of grass that is on the all paddocks measuicd on
the (aim As you can sec the Avciagc Cover tends to increase thru the spnng as the glass
glows lastci than the held can consume When this is happening a taster lotalion can be
used oi take paddocks out for hay/haylagc
I will have comments about each County Chail and what has affected the cr.iph
Columbia County
Longci rotations on this farm and paddocks were clipped in Late May, see the decrease in
giowth the week after
2000
1800
1400
1200
1000
Lancaster County
The paddocks were clipped in car ly June and this decreases the charts The giowth on May
-‘'th is off of one paddock and this avciagc is a little high
3000 |-
2500 1
2000 |
I 500 m
1000
500 *
J
Columbia Ave Pasture Cover
Columbia Ave Growth/day
Lancaster Pasture Cover
Lancaster Ave Growth/Day
Bradfoid County
The paddocks weie mowed in Early June and see how the chart;
the giowth/day chart with no data is when all paddocks were gr;
1400
1 350
1300
1250
1200
1 150
1 100
1050
30 I
20 I
10 I
4/30/98 5/7/98 5/1 4/98 5/21/98 5/27/98
Dauphin County
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
5/1 8
/98 5/26/98 6/1/98 6/8/98 6
Bciks County
Notice the Dry wcathci effect on the Ave Covei
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
The Berks County Growth/day shows how the dry weather is 'slo
May the grass was growing 70-100 lbs a day This paddock woi
week If your herd needed to cut 1000 lbs per day, this paddock v
weeks This faim was on two wefck rotations (oi some of this tim
Bradford Pasture Cover
Bradford Growth/day
Dauphin Ave Pasture Covi
Dauphin Growth/day
Berks Ave Pasture Cover
Berks Pasture Growth/Day
ts
*a: