Signaling the start of fall forage season

Recent rains could not have come at a better time. As I write this article at the beginning of August, farmers are wondering how the remaining days of the growing season will turn out, hoping they can grow some grass for their livestock, making preparations to chop corn silage and are planning for small grain planting.

By the way, 2009 barley and wheat variety trials information are available now at our office or online if you search for Virginia Extension and then find the subject small grains.

Farmers have been planning since spring for “fall” planting of perennial grasses, mostly orchard grass destined for hay but also other grasses needed for pasture as well.

Thin stands need some help with extra seed in place; fertility adjusted and weed pressure minimized. The ideal time is now as soil moisture is adequate from the rains, the calendar says it’s the right time of year running through the month of September. These long-term efforts at re-establishing orchard grass are about to pay off once seed is in the ground and the new stands
become established.

We also know that we now have the chance to stockpile some growth from fescue stands that are allowed to accumulate into the end of fall. This stockpiled material is one of the remaining opportunities for reasonable cost feeding of grazing livestock in the winter.  Ideally we ask producers to encourage stockpiled growth with 60 to 80 pounds of nitrogen per acre at this time of year, an affordable option now that nitrogen is down. 

Studies at the Southern Piedmont Research Station at Blackstone by Dr. Chris Teustch show that fescue can accumulate up to 2,500 pounds per acre without added nitrogen, if fertility levels are at least medium.

To obtain this yield you need an active nitrogen cycle in your soil that could include nitrogen from clover or animal manure and most important from decaying organic matter (one percent organic matter equals 1,000 lbs.N/acre).

You can plan for more production if you apply nitrogen, and from historic yields at multiple locations across Virginia we can expect a one to three ton hay equivalent yield response from up to 80 pounds of nitrogen per acre.

From this, you could project that stockpile yields could double if nitrogen is applied. You be the judge, pencil out costs and be sure to save nutrients for fields that will give you a response.