Parsons, Kansas —
“The most economical forage harvesters you have are livestock. They don’t need diesel and they drive themselves,” says Pat Miller, University of Missouri Extension Agronomy specialist. She recommends producers start planning now to increase their forage for next year. It has been noted that low fertility fields are more likely to have stands reduced following a drought. So once we have enough rain to allow the soil to be probed, Miller suggests taking a soil test. A good test consists of 20 to 30 six-inch cores taken from the field and mixed together. For more information, see guide MU Extension guide sheet G9217. Many pastures receive only nitrogen fertilizer annually and, over time, phosphate and potash levels go down.
The drought and heat have taken their toll on the forages so stands may need to be over-seeded with grasses or legumes. Seeding should be delayed until adequate moisture will allow for the newly seeded plants to root deeply. Legumes can be “frost seeded” by mixing the seeds with a winter fertilizer application. The freezing and thawing of the soil will work the legume seed into the ground. Another way to plant the grass and legume seed would be to drill the seed next spring. Many Soil & Water Conservation Districts have drills available for rent.
If brushy weeds have taken over the field and herbicide use is warranted, seeding may need to be delayed for several years. Be sure to check herbicide labels for planting restrictions. Some may restrict legume planting for over a year or until a field bioassay is done. Miller explains that the process for a bioassay involves taking some of the treated soil and planting seeds in it to see how they grow.
Miller notes that rotational grazing will stretch short forage supplies. Using fences to divide pastures into smaller paddocks will increase utilization of forage supplies by reducing forage waste due to trampling and selective grazing. If allowed to pick and choose, livestock will keep going back to the new regrowth and avoid areas with mature growth. Rotational grazing will also help manure to be more evenly distributed across the pastures, reducing fertilizer needs.
“Feeding hay is expensive,” Miller says. So make plans now to better utilize pastures for your forage needs.
For more information, contact specialist’s name, number, e-mail or visit your local Extension Center or extension.missouri.edu. £
Crops
Plan now to increase next year’s forage
- Crops
-
-
Plant now, add nitrogen later
When the rain faucet shuts off, plant first and apply nitrogen later, advises Peter Scharf, University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist and professor in plant sciences at the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
-
MU Field Scouting Report: No freeze damage to wheat, delayed corn planting
Wheat is in the flag leaf to early boot stage. No freeze damage to the wheat head was seen. Temporary phosphorus deficiency, identified by purpling on leaf tips, was seen due to cold weather.
-
Corn planting dates and cold temps cause concern
“The possibility of temperatures nearing 32 degrees or below, there is concern among producers for damage of the wheat head,” said Jill Scheidt, agronomy specialist with the University of Missouri Extension in Barton County. According to Bill Wiebold, state specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, wheat is the most sensitive to freezing temperatures when the heads are coming out and flowers are beginning to form.
-
Wildcat Extension Report: Can gypsum fix what ails your soil?
A man much wiser than me once said that the easiest way to change your soil is to move. Unfortunately, this is not always an option for most producers. Soils in southeast Kansas are classified, in general, to be heavy clay soils.
-
Kansas wheat growers should be aware of crop diseases
With forecasts of snow still a possibility and the wheat just starting to green up in parts of Kansas, it may surprise some wheat growers to know that March is an important month for wheat disease development.
-
Cover crops can provide many benefits
Having plant growth in fields year-round can improve the soil, according to Tim Reinbott, superintendent of the University of Missouri Bradford Research Center. He says using cover crops in the fall and spring can provide large benefits.
-
Drought impacts U.S. soybean quality results
According to a recent soy-checkoff-funded study, the overall oil levels in last year’s U.S. soybean crop increased over the previous year, while average protein fell. United Soybean Board (USB) Customer Focus Action Team Chair Sharon Covert says U.S. soy’s biggest users pay attention to those results.
-
Midwest soil could take up to two years to recover
The Midwest suffered the worst drought in years last summer, and Midwest soil has been suffering from a drought since early 2010. As a result, crops have wilted and farmers have fallen on hard times. Now, a University of Missouri researcher says that it may take at least two years for crops and soil to recover.
-
Ag profitability conference addresses crop concerns
Corn and soybean producers face wide-ranging harvest price possibilities for the crops they plant this spring.
-
Local growers get latest on new herbicides
Controlling herbicide resistant weeds was the hot topic during the Andrew County Ag. Update conference on Thursday, Jan. 17 in the Clasbey Center in Savannah, Mo.
- More Crops Headlines
-
Plant now, add nitrogen later
