El6-Foraging Around, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 22, 2003 PLAN NOW TO MAXIMIZE GRAZING POTENTIAL Paul Craig Dauphin County Extension One characteristic found in successful farmers is the skill of advanced planning and then following through on that plan. Successful graziers definitely exhibit this skill, in fact grazing probably involves greater levels of advanced planning than some other areas of agriculture. Experienced graziers are observing their livestock and pastures on a daily basis; how ever, most are also thinking and planning for several weeks in the future. They real ize that decisions made today can have a tremendous impact on their future grazing oppor tunities. Their goal is to maxi mize forage quality and utiliz ation by planing for the union of animal needs with forage plant management. Unfortunately for graziers there is no simple textbook for success. That also holds true for any agricultural livelihood. Although there are many ad vocates of these types of guides, in truth, each enter prise has its own unique needs and situations that require flexibility. Pasturing requires a lot of flexibility. The fact that Lancaster Farming Check out our Website! www.lancasterfarmin A lesson well learned... Lancaster Farming’s, classified ads get results! i I) ;r i i j c n the grazing environment is constantly changing due to early spring flush, moisture availability, summer heat and slump, or yearly weather swings forces the grazier to be very flexible and to plan ahead. Planning helps the grazier to recognize potentials and limitations. A plan provides the opportunity to rethink the process and to allow for other considerations. By careful ad vance planning you are better able to maximize the multiple opportunities available from each decision. Advanced planning is a thought process. It cannot be bought in a guide or a book. Successful graziers have it, and most are thinking of graz ing plans for this fall and tak ing steps now to be ready to graze in October, November, and maybe into December. Extending the Grazing Season Available from county ex tension offices is Agronomy Facts #4l “Strategies for Ex tending the Grazing Season.” This fact sheet, written by Marvin Hall and Jerry Jung, highlights strategies or plans that can be used to extend the grazing season and decrease the need for stored feeds. Two strategies are the basis for late STEEL BALE BOXES Report ❖ season grazing—first is stock piling and second is the utiliz ation of forage plants that continue to grow and develop under cooler conditions. Stockpiling Stockpiling is the practice of selecting fields in late sum mer and then managing these fields with the intent of graz ing later in the season. A major factor in selection of fields to be stockpiled is growth characteristics of the grass species. Reed Canarygrass is a spe cies of cool season grass that is very sensitive to day length and night temperatures. As days get shorter in early Octo ber, the plant ceases to grow and rapidly loses forage quali ty. Orchardgrass continues to develop in the fall but shading and leaf disease quickly de grade lower plant leaves. En dophyte-free tall fescue, bromegrass, and ryegrass as forage grass species that have characteristics that favor fall growth and development. Of these three species, perhaps the best suited to stockpiling is tall fescue, due to the fact that tall fescue does not lose its leaves and can retain forage quality even under snow cover. To stockpile tall fescue, ani mals should be removed from paddocks from mid to late August through mid-October. Fertilizing with SO pounds per acre of nitrogen or even a complete fertilizer such as 50-50-50 per acre will provide the nutrients necessary to maximize growth, and devel opment during this time peri od. Begin strip grazing or use 'of small paddocks after frost. ■com Just as planning ahead is important now for fall graz ing, stockpiling will require advanced consideration of grazing plans for spring of 2004. Keep in mind that by accumulating vegetation in the fall for stockpiling, re duced tiller formation will re sult due to competition for light. This causes poor winter survival and slow recovery next spring on heavily grazed paddocks. Frequently, the gra zier who has planned ahead will keep one or two paddocks in reserve for early spring grazing to stagger the spring flush. Paddocks grazed latest, before dormancy, will be slow est to recover in the spring. Late Summer Establishment Another opportunity for late season grazing is to estab lish annual forage crops in mid August/early September. These include small grains (oats, rye, barley, triticale or wheat) and brassica crops, such as turnips and rape. Winter annual small grains can provide grazing in fall and spring if certain management practices are planned and fol lowed. These include seeding three to four weeks earlier than for grain production, in creasing the seeding rate to three bushels/acre, and apply ing 40 pounds/acre of nitrogen at planting. Seeding should be planned early and then if drought conditions are pres ent, establishment can be de layed until soil moisture as sures germination. Moderate grazing in the fall should not reduce spring silage or grain yields. In spring when the plant’s growing point foliar cm* in a transplant solution, you achieve greater fertilizer efficiency with lower rates ...resulting in greater profits. Will Not Rust Equipment... Low Rates per Acre Low Salt... Chloride-Free... Neutral pH 100% Available... Lower Costs, Higher Yields 10-10-10 5-15-15 9-18-9 Above Grades Include Micronutrient Package Ask about 0-0-30, 20-0-0-8 & RGS - the Root Growth Stimulator Buy Direct and SAVE! PARS) Inc. Wjr Elizabethtown, PA • 800-929-2676 CALL TODAY! Reduce your fertilizer bill when you buy direct from ■:'. to* fimit*** swim MmP* * * emerges, grazing should be stopped if silage or grain har vest is intended. Spring oats can also be sown in August for fall graz ing. Sown at 2Vi to 3 bushels/ acre and fertilized with 50 pounds of N, this high yield ing forage is ready in six to eight weeks. In addition, oats have the ability to withstand a heavy freeze without losing quality. Most graziers of small grains will limit grazing by using a temporary fence and strip grazing to reduce tram pling and dunging losses. Nu tritionists recommend adding one ounce of magnesium oxide daily to lactating cow’s normal mineral supplement to reduce the risk of grass tetany and to avoid nitrate poisoning that may result from applying any N fertilizer well before the intended grazing period of small grains. Turnips and rape can be successfully grazed in the fall when planned in late July to mid-August. Maximum pro duction is reached in 80 to 90 days. In Pennsylvania, an av erage carrying capacity of a good brassica stand would be approximately 1,550 ewe grazing or 160 cow grazing days per acre. More complete information on using brassicas can be found in a second Agronomy Fact Sheet #33, available from your local ex tension office. So start practicing what many experienced graziers are already doing. Plan ahead. Begin by looking at your pas ture not thinking about to morrow or next week, but this summer, fall, and the spring of 2004.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers