The Forage Leader - American Forage and Grassland … · after several periods of frost to bury the seed ... The Forage Leader ... French Lick, IN PLEASE VISIT

history to develop a sound fertility program. Soil samples should be taken to the depth of the plow layer for seedings to be made into a tilled seedbed. For no-till seedings, two sets of soil samples should be taken; one from the 0- to 2-inch depth to determine surface pH and fertility and a second to approximately 10 inches deep. The shallow sample is especially important for fields that are already planted to a no-till crop because surface applications of nitrogen (N) fertilizers to no-till crops frequently cause

High yielding, high-quality forages provide the foundation for profitable feeding programs for dairy and other livestock. Obtaining thick, vigorous stands is dependent on proper seeding practices and favorable seedbed and environmental conditions. The key factors for obtaining these type stands are presented below. Planning Ahead Establishing an excellent forage stand is critical and should begin at least 1 year in advance; but ideally as much as 2 years prior to the actual

seeding, especially for no-till seedings. Lime and Fertility Adjustments A key to establishing and

maintaining productive forages is adequate fertilization based on soil test recommendations. Knowledge of soil pH and existing levels of nutrients can be used along with the field

after several periods of frost to bury the seed (soil expansion when frozen and contraction when thawing). Although many of you already use frost seeding when overseeding clover, I will take you through the most important steps to insure successful establishment almost every time. First let me provide some background as to why soil to seed contact is so important for all forage establishment and especially so for clover establishment. This is taken from journal article by P.M. Dowling

entitled “Establishment and survival of pasture species from seeds sown on the soil surface.” It was published in the Australian Journal of Agricultural Research in 1971 (Vol. 22. pp. 61-74). When clover seed germinates on top of the ground the elongating root (radical) starts to push the seedling away from the soil surface (Figure a). The root continues to further elongate and grow but doesn’t penetrate the soil surface (Figure b). As soon as dry weather comes the seedling dies.

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Gavel

Exchange

2

PFGC 50th

Anniversary

2

Competition

Information

3

Calendar of

Events

4

AFGC

Updates

5

Frost Seeding Clover Submitted by S. Ray Smith, University of Kentucky  

The Forage Leader S P R I N G 2 0 1 1

S P E C I A L

P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

Calendar of

Events

Competitions

Continued on Page 5

There are many advantages to overseeding clovers into existing pastures including: higher yields, improved quality, nitrogen fixation, and longer season production. The most common method is called frost seeding. Frost seeding works very well with clover, but is “hit or miss” with alfalfa and most forage grasses. Frost seeding simply means broadcasting seed onto the soil surface in the winter and allowing the soil movement that occurs Continued on Page 6

A Guide to Successful Forage Establishment Submitted by: Marvin Hall, Pennsylvania State University; John Jennings, University of Arkansas; Glenn Shewmaker, University of Idaho

P A G E 2

PFGC Motto

“Farmers, industry

and educators

working together

for better forage

programs”

Bob Hendershot

with AFGC newest

member George

Hawbaker, son of

Rick and Terri

Hawbaker

PFGC holds 50th Anniversary Event

Gavel Exchange I am writing this in the winter with the cold, winter wind blowing, snow falling and the water outside is in that hard stage. I can only dream about the spring, with green grass, legumes and forbs; the new lambs running and jumping in the pasture. Oh the smell of fresh grass. Well back to the cold reality. Winter does give us some time reflect and also plan for the future. How can we get some more quantity and quality from the forages that we grow? What can be changed to get better utilization of the forages that are available? Should I add some more legumes and/or some new grass genetics to the sward? What alfalfa variety should I plant in that new hay field? Is there a better way to design and layout the temporary paddock grazing and livestock watering system? It takes some time to find the answers to all those type of questions. Winter is the time many of us do more reading; attend meetings and conferences to learn more about what we need to do to improve our forage industry. AFGC and your affiliate council is part of the

informing and educational process. We also should be looking at our organization the same way. What can AFGC and the affiliate councils do to improve?

I encourage you to be part of your affiliate’s education programs and invite others to attend. Let people at other forage and grazing related events know that AFGC and the network of affiliate councils is out there helping to improve the forage industry. Get others involved have them come and join your forage and grassland council. We need to work to let others know what AFGC and your affiliate council are doing with the new and exciting things happening in the forage and grassland world. How many at those other forage events are not members of AFGC and your affiliate council? Does your affiliate have a booth at those events sharing what you and AFGC are doing? Recruiting new members, maintaining existing members and growing affiliates are some of

the things your board of directors talked about at the fall board meeting. We made a list of events that AFGC should try to have presence at. I will be at two in January and two more February. We all need to communicate better to engage, grow and maintain our membership. We all need to be better advocates to increase the understanding and the importance of forages and their inclusion in everyone’s life. The purpose of AFGC is to advance forage agriculture and grassland stewardship. The goal is to be recognized as the leader and voice of economically and environmentally sound forage agriculture. We all share that purpose and goal.

Best regards,

Bob Hendershot 2010-2011 AFGC President

T H E F O R A G E L E A D E R

PFGC held an extremely successful 50th Anniversary Celebration with great food, great friends and many shared memories. Here are a few highlights from the event: Photo to left: Display of historical items from print to hats that have been developed by PFGC over the past 50 years. Photo to right: Dr. Garry Lacefield and Dr. John Baylor after presentation of the Forage and Grassland Foundation’s Appreciation Award.

2011 AFGC National Competitions P A G E 3

NATIONAL PHOTO CONTEST was established to recognize, through photography, the multi-faceted uses of forages. Any AFGC member may submit an electronic photo (up to 2 photos per class, in .jpeg format) with a description and noting which class is represented—Production, Utilization, Research, People, or Other. There is a $10 fee per entry. Photos will be enlarged to an 8 x 10 by AFGC, framed and displayed at the Annual Conference. Photos will be judged and the tope photo in each class will receive a cash award, certificate and recognition. Deadline to submit photos is May 1, 2011!

YOUTH IN GRAZING MANAGEMENT COMPETITION is an essay competition for youth in the forage industry. Age categories are 14 and under; 14-18; and 19-22. Each contestant must submit an original essay, either typed or legibly hand written, on any subject matter pertaining to grazing management. Essays will be judged by a panel of three judges and cash awards and certificates will be given to the top three essays in each group. Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2011!

AFGC NATIONAL AWARDS Do you have a colleague, friend or industry partner that you feel is worthy of national industry recognition? If so, then please take a moment to submit a nomination. AFGC presents the following industry awards during the AFGC Annual Meeting: MERIT AWARD is presented to individuals who have made superior contributions in some phase of forage and grassland agriculture. DISTINGUISHED GRASSLANDER AWARD is presented to individuals who have served the forage and grassland segment of agriculture with distinction. Recipients have spent a career working with forages and must be at least 55 years of age. MEDALLION AWARD is the highest recognition given by AFGC. The recipient must have made such outstanding contributions on behalf of forages and grasslands and AFGC to have earned national recognition for work in research, teaching, Extension, production, or industrial development. ALLEN AWARD OF ILLUMINATION recognizes individuals who have illuminated in others a passion for grazing lands and grazing animals and an appreciation of their essential role in human existence. It is given to those who inspire others to achieve a greater depth of understanding of grazing lands and to recognize that such understanding comes through teamwork and collaboration across multiple disciplines.

EMERGING SCIENTIST COMPETITION is a competitive program requiring nomination by an AFGC member and then selection by the Emerging Scientist Committee. Nominees must not have completed their last degree more than one year prior to July 1st of the year they participate. Competitors are required to submit abstracts and conduct a 10-12 minute oral presentation during the AFGC Annual Conference. The top three competitors will receive cash awards, certificates and plaques recognizing their achievement. Deadline is February 15, 2011!

THE FORAGE BOWL is an undergraduate and graduate team competition that is held annually at the annual conference. The format is similar to the popular game show Jeopardy. Colleges and Universities throughout the United States are encouraged to send teams to compete. The top teams will receive cash awards and recognition in The Forage Leader and on the AFGC website. Study questions are available to teams who sign up. Deadline to enter a team is May 1, 2011!

FORAGE SPOKESPERSON COMPETITION is intended to highlight and represent the diversity of forage operations used by forage producers in North America. Producers, representing and nominated by an AFGC Affiliate Council, compete by giving a 15 minute presentation on “How They Use Forages in Their Operations” during the AFGC Annual Conference. The top three contestants will receive cash awards, plaques and recognition by AFGC. Deadline to nominate a producer is May 1, 2011!

A complete list of competition rules and guidelines is available at www.afgc.org.

NATIONAL HAY CONTEST began to recognize top quality hay being produced by AFGC members. The contest has 8 Forage Classes that may participate. Contestants may participate by submitting a hay sample (see contest guidelines for details) along with a $20 entry fee. Samples will be lab tested and judged. Cash awards are given to the top 3 samples in each class along with a certificate and other recognition by AFGC. This contest has several specifications in regards to sample submission, etc. so it is highly recommended that you review the guidelines before submitting a sample. The deadline to submit samples is April 15, 2011!

P A G E 4

February 2011

February 1-2, 2011—Mid-America Alfalfa Expo

February 11, 2011—Ohio Forage & Grassland Council Annual Meeting

February 15, 2011—deadline for Emerging Scientist Nominations

February 15-16, 2011—PA Professional Crop Producers Conference

February 24, 2011—31st Kentucky Alfalfa Conference

T H E F O R A G E L E A D E R

AFGC National Office is undergoing some changes to improve services to our members. We welcome feedback on what you feel would be a beneficial service that is not currently being provided or a service that you think needs to be improved. Some of the completed projects include the following: New online database to house

membership information Online credit card processing with

real time receipts Revised Forage Leader layout New website Development of an AFGC

Facebook Page Affiliate Outreach Program

AFGC UPDATES

March 2011

March 4-5, 2011—Appalachian Grazing Conference

April 15, 2011—deadline for National Hay Contest samples

Future Events

June 12-15, 2011—AFGC Annual Conference in French Lick, IN

PLEASE VISIT WWW.AFGC.ORG FOR

MORE DETAILS ON UPCOMING EVENTS.

Some of the improvements still in progress are as follows: Committee job descriptions Board Member job descriptions Revised Policy & Procedure Manual Competition promotion to increase

involvement Revitalizing the certification

program.

Important to note If you have not logged into the

AFGC website as a member lately please check it out. The login is your email address and afgc2010. There are some nice changes!

The name of the AFGC certification has changed. The new name to more clearly reflect the area of expertise is CERTIFIED FORAGE AND GRASSLAND PROFESSIONAL.

AFGC is also encouraging Affiliate Councils to contact the national office to discuss membership submissions so that a mutual procedure for membership processing can be developed based on the needs of the council. We want to make the process is efficient so that members receive benefits timely!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

April 2011

Mark your calendars for the AFGC 2012 Annual Conference January 9-12 at the Crowne Plaza in Louisville, KY

A Guide to Successful Forage Establishment P A G E 5

Weed Control & Herbicide Carryover A strategy for weed management during forage establishment needs to be developed and generally implemented long before the crop is seeded. Residual herbicides from previous crops must also be considered in this strategy. Weed competition coupled with hot, dry temperatures make spring forage establishment without an adequate weed control program difficult. Autotoxicity Alfalfa should not be replanted immediately after an old alfalfa stand. This is because alfalfa produces chemicals that can damage new alfalfa seedlings and cause long-term yield reduction, even though the plants may appear normal. Species and Variety Selection The selection of the “best” species and variety is extremely important because it will affect production for the entire life of the stand. Decisions about which species to use must be made in the context not only of individual farms but even individual fields.

Cost is often the main factor considered when choosing a forage variety. However, cheap seed of older varieties can prove to be more expensive in the long run than more expensive newer varieties with improved characteristics. Since establishment costs are spread over the life of the stand, persistence is a primary consideration for profitability.

Seeding Guidelines Seeding at Proper Time Optimum spring seeding dates vary with location. However, seeding too early in cold, wet soils can result in poor germination, seedling loss due to fungal diseases, and weak stands. On the other hand, seeding too late in the spring can cause seedings to fail due to stress from high temperature and lack of moisture as well as weed competition. High summer temperature and lack of moisture are why late-summer seedings are preferred over spring seedings in the South. Seeding Depth Forage seeds have a small supply of stored energy to support the developing seedling so proper seeding depth is very important. Seeds placed too deep are not likely to emerge. Seeds placed on the surface, at a shallow depth, or in a loose or cloddy seedbed often do not have adequate seed-soil contact which can result in desiccation and seed death. A firm seedbed is essential for proper seed placement and for good seed-to-soil contact. Both of which are important for successful establishment. Forage seeds should be covered with enough soil to provide moist conditions for germination but not so deep that the germinating shoot cannot reach the surface. Seed-to-Soil Contact Forage seeds need to absorb at least their own weight in water before germination is initiated. Adequate seed-to-soil contact ensures rapid water movement into the seed and consequently rapid emergence. Field situations that do not promote good seed-to-soil contact, such as cloddy or loose soil, generally result in extended germination periods and sporadic emergence. The use of press wheels on a grain drill or cultipacking after seeding can improve seed-to-soil contact. Seeding With or Without a Nurse Crop. A nurse crop of a small grain or a small grain-pea mixture is often used with spring seedings of forages in the northern U.S.A. to provide quicker ground cover than forage seedlings alone, help reduce wind

and water erosion and weed invasion during forage establishment. It also provides a usable crop for grain, bedding, silage, or pasture.The nurse crop canopy adds a degree of difficulty when controlling insects that might attack the forage plants. The decision to use a nurse crop during forage establishment should be based on site-specific conditions including erosion potential, weed populations, and the individual producer’s forage needs during the establishment year. Nurse crops are not commonly used in the southern United States.

Management of New Seedings Forages planted at the proper depth, and with optimum moisture and temperature, will begin emerging quickly and will have 25‑30 plants per square foot visible within 30 days. Optimizing growth of new forage seedlings by minimizing weed and insect pest competition, maintaining optimum soil fertility and employing optimum harvest management will pay dividends over the life of the forage stand. Weeds often invade new plantings, and the stand may be reduced if weeds are not controlled. Clipping such stands may be necessary, but it should not be done too early, or only the tops of the weeds will be removed, leaving active buds on the

stubble to produce new branches and even more competition. Clipping too frequently can reduce seedling development as well as yields the following year.

REFERENCES: Hall, M. H., Jennings, J. A., and Shewmaker, G. E. 2004. Alfalfa establishment guide. Online. Forage and Grazinglands doi:10.1094/FG-2004-0723-01-MG.

Continued from Page 1...

P A G E 6       Frost Seeding Clover  On the other hand, when the seed is physically restrained, the elon-gating root drives into the soil (Figure c). As the root growth and top growth continue the seedling is anchored and growing well (Figure d). Obviously no one is going to go into the field with little pins to hold down every seed like the researchers did in the figures, but all you have to do is to make sure that there is soil covering the seed. Only a shallow covering of soil is required (¼” is fine). The key to frost seeding is to broadcast the seed on the surface when the temperature is too cold for germina-tion and when there is still 4 to 6 weeks of winter conditions remaining (4 to 6 weeks when there is a chance for night time temperatures to drop below freez-ing). In Kentucky and surrounding states mid-February is a good target. This date will need to be adjusted based on the environmental conditions in your area. Remember though that it is better to frost seed a little early, rather than a little late. Clover seed that is broadcast on the surface and not covered by soil has almost no chance of establishing a stand (Figures A & B). Below are six important steps when frost seeding clovers: Step 1. Soil Testing. Have the soil tested and apply the needed lime and fertilizer. In general, clover needs a higher soil pH and fertility level than grasses. This is best done the previous fall, but can be done anytime. However, DO NOT use nitrogen. Added nitrogen stimulates grasses, which increase competition with the young clover seedlings. When weeds are an issue then herbicides pro-vide a good option, but remember that most herbicides have a waiting period before seeding clover. Follow the label directions for rates and grazing restric-tions when herbicides are used before seeding clover. Follow the label direc-tions for rates and grazing restrictions when herbicides are used.

Step 2. Reduce the vegetative cover on the soil. This is best done by heavy grazing in late fall and early winter or by close mowing. The prob-lem with mowing is that often there is still dead grass residue left on the surface. Removing the excess grass cover will make it easier to get the clover seed in contact with the soil. This can also be accomplished by low rates of “burn-back” herbicides like gramoxone. Caution should be exercised when applying gramoxone to tall fes-cue sods. Tall fescue is more sensitive to gramoxone and sods can be damages if you are not carefully. For a more information on sod suppression contact your local extension agent. Step 3. Select the clover species to be used. This will depend on the soil and the planned use of the forage. For example, if a pasture will be used for hay as well as grazing then a mixture of red clo-ver and ladino clover works well. Ladino white clover is very persistent under grazing is much of the U.S. If you are not sure, refer to extension publication in your state. Step 4. Use the right variety and the recom-mended seeding rate. Select varieties that per-form well in your area. The best varieties for your area and the proper seeding rate can be found in your states forage extension publica-tions. Also make sure to use the right kind of high quality inoculant mixed with the seed just before planting. Use a sticking agent to be sure that the inoculant sticks to the seed. Much of the clover seed currently available is pre-inoculated. Check the seed tag or inoculum bag for the “plant by” date. Since clover seed can be expen-sive and we tend to use lower seeding rates, it is especially important to calibrate seeding equip-ment. It is much better to take a few more min-utes calibrating a seeder before you get started, than running out of seed two-thirds of the way through your pasture. For more information on seeder calibration see “Calibrating Forage Seed-ing Equipment” available at http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/418/418-121/418-121.html. One additional note is to pay attention to the actual width that seed is being broadcast. In many cases small seeded forages are not spread as wide as people expect, causing skips in the pasture. Step 5. Frost Seed in a Timely Manner. Make sure and overseed pastures on time since 4-6 weeks of freezing temperatures are needed to successfully incorporate seed into the soil. Also make sure that the seed makes good contact

with the soil. With frost seeding this is done by following Step 2 above. Allowing livestock ac-cess to pastures after broadcasting seed can en-hance soil to seed contact through hood ac-tion. However, it is important to remove live-stock from the pasture as clover seedlings start to grow. Step 6. Control grass and weed competition after clover starts to grow. This step is one of the most critical ones. Many attempts at renovation have failed simply because the grass was allowed to grow and reduce the light, nutrients, and water available to the young clover plants. The grass must be kept short by grazing or mowing until the new clover plants are 3 to 4 inches tall. Stop grazing if the animals begin biting off the young clover leaves. Grazing and mowing should be stopped for several weeks to allow the clover to become well established. After this, the field should be mowed or grazed on a schedule that will help keep the particular clover species in good condition. A rotational grazing system is highly recommended to maintain clovers in pas-tures. Obviously, frost seeding is not the only way to plant clover seed, it is just an easy way. If you are in a region of the country where frost does not occur regularly, or you were not able to get on the pasture early enough, then a no-till seeder is an excellent method to overseed clover into an existing pasture. No-till seeders are the preferred methods when overseeding alfalfa and grasses (as described in the other article in this issue). Whatever overseeding method you decide to use, it is important to be timely. Pay-ing a little more attention to detail at seeding, can pay dividends later on. So start making plans now and be ready to overseed as soon as the weather breaks!

Continued from Page 1...

P A G E 7

American Forage and Grassland Council Board of Directors Officers

Bob Hendershot, President Howard Straub, President Elect Chad Hale, Senior Vice President Ray Smith, Vice President Roger Staff, Secretary/Treasurer Miles Kuhn, Immediate Past President

Producer Directors

V. Mac Baldwin Coy Fitch Terri Hawbaker Brad Keith Jana Malot Gary Wilson

Industry Directors

Chris Agee Ron Atherton Jeff Medlin Byron Sleugh Joel Reagan Roger Kaiser

Public Directors John Andrae John Jennings Robert Shoemaker Ray Smith Roger Staff Chris Teutsch

Affiliate Council President

Gary Wilson AFGC Staff

Tina Bowling, Executive Director The Forage Leader Editorial Staff

Dr. Ray Smith, Technical Editor Dr. Chris Teutsch, Technical Editor Tina Bowling, Managing Editor

The Forage Leader is published quarterly by the American Forage and Grassland Council. For editorial or sponsorship information, please contact AFGC via mail, phone, fax or e-mail. AFGC, PO Box 867, Berea, KY 40403. Telephone 800.944.2342. Fax 859.623.8694. E-mail [email protected]. All material © American Forage and Grassland Council.

WWW.AFGC.ORG

American Forage and Grassland Council

PO Box 867 Berea, KY 40403

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