|
|
|
Search: |
or Search by Keyword: |
|
|
|
|
|
No, the title is not a misprint. "To" should not replace "of" in
the title, although it would make sense in a forage article. Actually,
in this article, "of" is most appropriate. Now is a good time
to take "stock" of your pastures. In other words, it is time
to assess pastures and their condition.
The dry summers and mild winters of the past four years have adversely
impacted many farms and ranches that depend heavily on warm season grass
production for their forage supply. Warm season grass stands have deteriorated
while cool season forages have prospered. There are numerous instances
where long-established stands of bermudagrass, lovegrass, and Plains bluestem
have almost completely died out. Ryegrass overseeded into bermudagrass
has taken over once productive bermudagrass pastures. Native grass stands
have seen a marked increase in Texas wintergrass, cool season annuals,
and undesirable forbs or "weeds". Weeds, such as ragweed, broomweed,
milkweed, and bitter sneezeweed, just to mention a few, have reached intolerable
thresholds for many producers. If any or all these scenarios describe conditions
in which you have more experience than desired, taking stock "of" your
pastures is more important than taking stock "to" your pastures.
Taking stock of your pastures simply means assessing the condition and
trend of the pastures. That is the easy part. The more difficult problem
is addressing what needs to be done to improve the situation. The fact
is, it is difficult to do everything in one year, so pasture improvements
need to be prioritized relative to the return and associated risks involved.
Pastures with good soils and introduced grasses usually can be improved
more quickly, but it can be costly. Native grass pastures and introduced
grasses on shallow or rocky soils should be a lower priority. Management
practices to enhance native grass stands may not necessarily be costly
from a monetary standpoint, but they may require more time to recover.
The rest of this article, in a problem and answer format, will focus on
management practices to improve introduced pastures and native grass pastures,
respectively.
Introduced pastures
Problem: Excessive cool season annuals, such as ryegrass, in
warm season introduced forages, such as bermudagrass or Old World bluestem,
that prohibit grass production in the spring, but warm season forage is
still present.
Answer: Remove cool season annuals from warm season forage
stands by early May through intensive grazing or haying. In extreme cases,
apply herbicide, such as Round Up, to cool season annuals during the
winter well before the initiation of bermudagrass or Old World bluestem
growth (in February for example). Fertilize according to soil tests in
early May.
Problem: Excessive cool season annuals in a historically
warm season perennial grass pasture with little or no warm season
perennial grasses present.
Answer: There is no easy answer. If optimistic, one
can apply an herbicide, such as Round Up, to the cool season forages
in winter, February for example. Then, based on soil tests, apply
phosphorus and potassium needs to soil. If warm season grasses
emerge in the spring, add nitrogen and control weeds. This will
often work for bermudagrass, but results are not always rapid.
It is usually less successful with Old World bluestem and lovegrass.
Another solution would be work the soil, surface only, with an
implement instead of applying Round Up. An additional step would
be to add seed of a recommended variety to the disturbed area.
Most hybrid bermudagrass varieties are propagated by sprigs, but
there are some good forage producing seeded varieties of bermudagrass
that will work to restore forage production of an area. Old World
bluestem and lovegrasses will respond better with this treatment.
The most drastic situation would be to prepare a good seedbed and
replant with a recommended variety that is suitable for the region,
soil type, and level of management. This last option is also the
most expensive.
Problem: Long-established warm season pasture that has died out
leaving land bare and weedy.
Answer: Again, there are no easy answers. The obvious solution
is to replant, but the soil type and the previous pasture type might
lend itself to other considerations. Hybrid bermudagrasses will probably
need to be replanted the following spring (the earlier the better) if
there has been little recovery over the summer. Soil fertility should
be addressed using current soil tests. Weeds will also need to be controlled.
Sprigged varieties of adapted bermudagrasses are usually more productive
than seeded varieties, especially on sandy and loamy soils. Seeded varieties
are, many times, easier and quicker to get established on heavier soils
and clays. If pastures are to be grazed only, the seeded varieties may
have an advantage over sprigged varieties. Old World bluestems work best
on loams and well-drained clay soils. Lovegrasses are best suited for
sandy and loamy soils. Kleingrass mixes well with Old World bluestem
on heavier soils south of the Red River and west of I-35. Dallisgrass
mixes well with bermudagrass on heavier soils east of I-35. Crabgrass
can be added to plantings in sandy and loamy soils. Such mixtures are
not always recommended, but should be considered along with cost. Grazing
or harvesting should be limited and controlled during the initial year
of establishment to increase the likelihood of success.
Problem: Intermittent patches of warm season perennial grasses
in a once complete stand.
Answer: Appropriate fertility according to soil tests
will certainly improve the situation. Bermudagrass with good fertility
and management tends to recover more quickly than Old World bluestem
and lovegrass. Broadcasting seed at a light rate with fertilizer
in the spring can help fill in the stand more rapidly. Light tillage
and weed control will also aid in re-establishment. For best results,
bermudagrass and Old World bluestem should be seeded in April while
lovegrass should be planted in February.
Native grass pastures
Problem: Good stand of desirable native grass that has a heavy
weed infestation, but desirable native grasses are present in abundance.
(Desirable native grass in this article are identified as big bluestem,
little bluestem, switchgrass, indiangrass, eastern gamagrass, and sideoats
grama, although there are other desirable native grasses also.)
Answer: If possible, graze the weed, or forbs, and annuals
early in the growing season (April) but defer pastures from grazing
at least during May and June. If weeds are limiting forage production
of desirable native grasses, spray appropriate herbicide to reduce
competition from undesirable weeds. Remember, not all weeds are undesirable
with many being beneficial to wildlife and livestock. All native grass
stands will have some forbs/weeds present. The increased presence of
undesirable weeds are usually a sign of range deterioration due to
over-grazing, drought, disturbance, or a combination of these factors.
With proper grazing management, this can be overcome in time. It is
important to maintain plenty of residual plant material (minimum of
4" height) during the dormant season.
Problem: A good stand of native grass that has a marked
reduction in desirable grasses and forage production, and a dramatic
increase in undesirable forbs or weeds.
Answer: First, determine the amount of desirable native
grasses present. If noticeable, consider herbicide application
in spring and defer grazing throughout the growing season. Grazing
management should be targeted to allow for proper graze and rest
periods for the desirable grasses in the subsequent growing season.
Again, maintain plenty of residual plant material during the dormant
season. It may take several years for pastures to recover.
Your problems, as well as solutions, may vary from these examples. Management
after an action plan is implemented is as important as the action itself. Alternatives
to improve deteriorated pastures should be considered as well as cost, timing
factors, and probability of success. In order to begin addressing the needs,
one has to take stock of their pastures. It may mean changes in management
of cattle and pastures including reducing livestock numbers, at least short-term,
in order to prevent losing further stock in the "roots" of the livestock
enterprise - the forage supply. For more information, visit with a forage and
pasture specialist.
|
|