At the Alfalfa and Stored Forages Conference held in Bowling Green, KY., earlier this month, Edwin Ritchey discussed the core principles of nutrient management in forage systems. The extension soil specialist with the University of Kentucky began his presentation by stressing the importance of taking a representative soil sample that includes at least 20 soil cores collected at the proper depth.

“The first step in a successful soil fertility program is soil testing, and the first step of successful soil testing is soil sampling,” Ritchey asserted. Avoid pulling soil samples in pastures near feeders and waterers, as well as other areas where animals congregate and manure accumulates. And in terms of soil testing frequency, Ritchey suggested the higher the forage removal rate, the more intensive soil sampling must be.

For example, a hayfield that is cut multiple times a year should undergo more frequent soil testing, and thus more frequent fertilization, than a pasture where livestock graze and add nutrients back to the system. No matter how often soil is sampled, though, Ritchey emphasized doing so at roughly the same point in the growing season every time. “If you compare a fall sample to a spring sample, there are going to be differences,” he said.

Once you have the report returned then make sure to consider the recommendations. It is generally accepted that the higher the soil test nutrient value, the less yield response with each additional unit of fertilizer there will be. In other words, maximizing forage yield with greater rates can become less cost-effective, also known as the law of diminishing returns. Overall, he recommended adjusting soil pH in pastures and hayfields before applying fertilizer to ensure the added nutrients are as effective as possible. ~ Excerpt of article by Amber Friedrichsen for Hay and Forage Grower, Feb. 20, 2024. Read the entire article and sign up to subscribe to the online and/or physical copy of the magazine at hayandforage.com.

Buttercups mostly grow as winter annuals, although some species are classified as short-lived perennials. In Kentucky there are different species of buttercups that are known to impact pasture fields, such as hispid buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus), tall buttercup (Ranunculus acris), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), bulbous buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus), and small flower buttercup (Ranunculus arbortivus).  These plants typically produce five, shiny yellow petals beginning in the early spring. Although different species may have somewhat similar flower heads, each of these buttercup species differs somewhat in their vegetative leaf characteristics.  During the time petals are showy new seed has already begun to develop. Waiting until after flowers appear can be too late to implement control tactics. This is one reason buttercups survive year to year and new plants emerge each year. The photo above shows hispid buttercup with mature flowers and new seed forming.

Some buttercup plants may emerge in the fall but most plants emerge from seed during the late winter months when temperatures begin to warm. Buttercup, as a cool season weed, often flourishes in over grazed pasture fields with poor stands of desirable forages.  Therefore, pasture management practices that improve and promote growth of desirable plants during these months is one of the best methods to help compete against the emergence and growth of this plant.  Whereas, livestock animals allowed to overgraze fields during the fall and winter months is one of the main factors that contribute to buttercup problems.  Mowing fields or clipping plants close to the ground in the early spring before buttercup plants can produce flowers may help reduce the amount of new seed produced, but mowing alone will not totally eliminate seed production.  The photo above shows hispid buttercup with mature flowers and new seed forming.

For chemical control, herbicides registered for use on grazed grass pastures that contain 2,4-D alone will effectively control buttercup. Depending on other weeds present herbicide products that contain dicamba+2,4-D (eg. Weedmaster, Brash, Rifle-D, etc.), aminopyralid (eg. GrazonNext, Duracor), or triclopyr (eg. Crossbow) can also be used.  However, legumes such as clovers interseeded with grass pastures will be severely injured or killed by these other herbicide products.  For optimum results apply a herbicide in the early spring (March or early April) before flowers are observed, when buttercup plants are still small and actively growing in a vegetative growth stage.  For best herbicide activity wait until daytime air temperatures is greater than 60 F for two to three consecutive days.  Consult the herbicide label for further information on grazing restrictions, precautions, or other possible limitations. 

For fields heavily infested with buttercup a variety of control tactics may be needed.  Apply a herbicide to help reduce the population of buttercup plants in the spring plus use good pasture management techniques throughout the year to help improve and thicken the stand of desirable forages. The field photo at the bottom of the page shows a pasture field in late April with flowering buttercup. ~ Article by Dr. J.D. Green, UK Extension Weed Scientist

Recently Hank Bendorf passed away at 84. We know him for his support of KY forage agriculture. Jimmy Henning, Garry Lacefield and myself (Ray) know him as a mentor and friend. Hank was also instrumental in the early career of Ray and Jimmy. He was President the Alfalfa Council, the American Forage and Grassland Council, and the Forage and Grassland Foundation. He was director of the American Seed Trade Association and The Canadian Seed Trade Association, and one of the founders of the National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance. He received the merit certificate and medallion award from the American Forage and Grassland Council.

Hank was a family man first and foremost. Hank will be remembered as a kind, fair man who always had a story to share. He will also be remembered as a man who left a rich legacy in forage agriculture.

Matt Isaacs’ story of improvements on his farm earned him the title of 2024 National Forage Spokesperson. It is the second consecutive year a Kentucky producer has won this American Forage and Grassland Council contest.

Isaacs and his wife Madison purchased 70 acres recently that was previously in no-till tobacco and row crop production to add to the 55 acres they already owned. His plan was to design a grazing system that would increase his capacity and efficiency for his forage and beef enterprises. “I wanted to do things better and make sure everything I did added value to my operations,” said Isaacs who runs a cow-calf operation and custom hay operation and is partners in a much larger farming operation with his parents Tim and Ann Marie Isaacs.

Matt is quick to point out that changes in his operation took time to implement. He has also done a significant amount of research, including finding available resources, attending farm shows, reading lots of literature and asking questions of fellow farmers and industry supporters.    He has a great relationship with Adam Estes, his extension agent. The two have been lifelong friends and often bounce ideas off each other. “Matt is always willing to try new things,” Estes said. “He does an excellent job with forages, fertilization and keeps his farm in great working condition. He comes from a family of hard workers.”

Matt admits that forages were not always his top priority when he started in the business. He changed his focus to cattle production to forages after talking with local producer Clayton Geralds. “He told me that I have to realize that I am really just a dirt farmer. I use the dirt to grow the forages and the cattle consume the forages and then I see the gains and the cycle continues,” Isaacs said. “That really stuck with me.”

Soil testing is a critical part of making sure his ground and grasses have the nutrients they need. He soil tests at least once year and twice in some years. He’s also willing to participate in research projects. A recent research project allowed him to see how sorghum could be used as silage in his feeding operation both alone and when mixed with corn silage. Isaacs encourages other young farmers to start out with the basics and find approaches that work for their operation and to make the most of cost-share opportunities. “Don’t try to be like somebody else and use the resources that are available to you to improve your operation,” he said. “Remember that not everything happens overnight.”

His grazing system is always evolving. Not only does Isaacs change up his grazing rotation each year but he also evaluates the pastures and makes renovations when necessary. “Pastures are never where you want them to be,” he said. “Components in forage mixes will die out while other parts will take over and you just have to evaluate and adjust.”

~Excerpt of article by Amber Friedrichsen, Hay and Forage Grower Magazine. Feb. 27, 2024. Read the entire article and sign up to subscribe to the online and/or physical copy of the magazine at hayandforage.com.

The following awards were presented at the 43rd KY Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference in Bowling Green.

UK Thomas Poe Cooper Leader Award

2024 Winner: Clayton Geralds, successful hay producer in Hart County, KY. Past President of KFGC and the National Hay Association. This is one of the top awards given by UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

Schnitzler Producer Award

2024 Winner: John Adams, successful hay producer and farm and community leader in Russell County, KY.

Thompson Industry Award

2024 Winner: Justin Henderson, Caudill Seeds and long-term KFGC supporter and KFGC board member.

Lacefield Public Service Award

2024 Winner: Kimberly Field, director of KDA Hay Testing Program. Long-term KFGC supporter.

Kentucky producers, county agents and University personnel were recognized for their contributions to the forage industry at the recent American Forage and Grassland Council annual meetings in Mobile, AL. Matthew Isaacs, from Hart county, won the National Forage Spokesperson Contest and KFGC was recognized as the nation’s leading affiliate forage council for 2023. Brandon Sears, ANR agent in Madison county, was presented with the AFGC Merit Award. UK faculty were given two of the highest AFGC awards with Dr. Jimmy Henning receiving the Distinguished Grasslander Award and Dr. Ray Smith receiving the Allen Illumination Award. Former UK graduate student Jesse Morrison, now a associate professor at MS State, was also presented with an AFGC Merit award. 

• Continue grazing stockpiled tall fescue if available.
• Assess grass stands. If thin, consider adding legumes.
• Begin frost seeding with at least 6 lb/A red and 1 lb/A white clover on closely grazed pastures.
• Consider applying nitrogen in mid to late February on some pastures to promote early growth.
• Sign up for shared use drills for spring renovation.
• Service and calibrate no-till drills.
• Apply lime and fertilizer according to soil test if not done in fall.

There’s still time to sign up for the Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference Feb. 8, 2024 at the Warren County Extension office in Bowling Green. We have an excellent lineup of speakers, with the theme of the conference “Getting Into the Hay Business.” We will hear how top producers in KY and OH got started in the hay business and other speakers will overview the basics of hay production, marketing, and how hay fits into rations for horses and cattle. A highlight of the conference will be Dr. Garry Lacefield, who started the conference 43 years ago. Garry will give his personal reflections on alfalfa production in KY over the last 50 years. For details and registration go to the Events tab on the Forage Website or call Caroline Roper at 513-470-8171 to hold a spot and pay at the door.

Legumes are an essential part of a profitable grazing systems. Clover’s superpower is its ability to fix nitrogen from the air into a plant available form. After photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation is the second most important biochemical process on earth. Clover also increases forage quality and quantity and helps to manage tall fescue toxicosis.

Strong nitrogen cycles can develop in well managed  pastures and hayfields. Nitrogen enters the system via imported hay and supplements, nitrogen fixation in legumes, and atmospheric deposition (minor amounts). Nitrogen leaves the system via volatilization, denitrification, leaching, runoff, and animal products removed. A cow-calf pair will consume approximately 280 lb N/year in the grasses and legumes they’re consuming of which 200 lbs is retained in the grassland ecosystem (Lory and Kallenbach, 1999).  

Over time, clover stands in pastures can thin and will require reseeding. Although there are several approaches for reintroducing clover back into pastures, perhaps the simplest and most cost-effective is frost seeding. Frost seeding is accomplished by broadcasting clover seed onto existing pastures or hayfields in late winter and allowing the freezing and thawing cycles to incorporate the seed into the soil. It works best with red and white clover. Below you will find a few tips for enhancing frost seeding success. 

· Control broadleaf weeds—Ideally, broadleaf weeds should be controlled prior to seeding legumes since most herbicides will damage clover seedlings.  This is best accomplished by controlling weeds the season prior to renovation.  See AGR-207 “Broadleaf Weeds of Kentucky Pastures” for information. 

· Soil test and adjust fertility—Prior to frost seeding clover, soil test pastures and hayfields ]then lime and fertilize according to the soil test recommendations. 

· Suppress sod and decrease residue—The existing sod must be suppressed and plant residue reduced prior to seeding to allow seed to reach the soil surface. This is best to accomplished by hard grazing in late fall and early winter.  

· Ensure good soil-seed contact—Good soil-seed contact is required for seed germination and emergence.  In frost seedings, this occurs when freeze and thaw cycles form cracks in the soil surface, often referred to as a honeycomb. Soil to seed contact can be enhanced by dragging pastures after broadcasting seed.   

· Seed on proper date—Frost seeding is best accomplished in late winter (February).   

· Use high-quality seed and adapted varieties—  Choose clover varieties that have been tested in Kentucky.  See current variety test results at the UK Forage website. 

· Legume mixtures for Kentucky—In Kentucky, a good mixture for renovating pastures with is 6-8 lb/A of red clover, 1-2 lb/A of ladino or intermediate white clover.  On rented farms or where soil fertility is marginal, adding 10-15 lb/A of annual lespedeza can be beneficial. 

· Use correct seeding rate—Make sure to maintain and calibrate broadcast seeding equipment prior to planting (see video on KYForages YouTube) so as not to seed at too high or too low a rate. 

· Inoculate legume seed—Most improved clover seed comes with a lime-based seed coating that contains the proper rhizobia bacteria, but if it’s bare seed make sure to inoculate. Store extra seed in a cool dry location and reinoculate after one year.  

· Check seed distribution pattern—When using a spinner type spreader/seeder make sure and check your spreading pattern. In many cases small seeded forages are not thrown as far as you think.  This can easily be done by driving over a large tarp or laying out buckets or cake pans perpendicular to your drive pattern and weighing the amount of seed in each.

· Use GPS guidance—Simple portable GPS guidance systems will allow you to maintain a consistent distance between passes and speed. Without GPS research has shown that many people waste seed by too much overlapping. 

· Control post-seeding competition—Not controlling post-seeding competition is one of the most common causes of stand failures.  One of the best management practices is to leave cattle on pastures that have been overseeded with clover until the clover seedlings have germinated. Then remove animals from the pasture and allow the clover to reach a height of 6-8 inches.  Some producers flash graze the pasture once the grass starts to shade the clover seedlings. If the existing vegetation is not controlled, the new clover seedlings will be shaded out. 

~ Excerpted from article by Chris Teutsch in Cow Country News (Jan. 2024)

Q red clover was recently released from the breeding program of Dr. Ken Quesenberry at the University of Florida (he did his PhD under Dr. Norm Taylor at UK). Although it’s being sold in KY this year, we have just been able to include it in our variety tests so we currently have no idea if it will survive KY winters. It was developed to have tolerance to 2,4-D, but without KY testing we recommend that you  wait for local data before incorporating into your frost seedling mixtures.