PR-862: 2024 Long-Term Summary of Kentucky Forage Variety Trials

Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Jimmy Henning, Chris Teutsch | January 10, 2025 (New)

Forage crops occupy approximately 7 million acres in Kentucky. Forages provide a majority of the nutrition for beef, dairy, horse, goat, sheep, and wildlife in the state. In addition, forage crops play a positive environmental role in soil conservation, water quality, and air quality. There are more than 60 forage species adapted to the climate and soil conditions of Kentucky. Only 10 to 12 of these species occupy the majority of the acreage, but within these species there is a tremendous variation in varieties.

PR-857: 2024 Annual and Perennial Ryegrass and Festulolium Report

Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Tim Phillips, Chris Teutsch, Jimmy Henning | December 11, 2024 (New)

Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) are high quality, productive, cool-season grasses used in Kentucky. Both have exceptionally high seedling vigor and are highly palatable to livestock. In Kentucky, winter survival can be an issue for many annual ryegrass varieties, so before planting, review winter survival results in this publication.

PR-852: 2024 Red and White Clover and Annual Lespedeza Report

Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch, Jimmy Henning | December 11, 2024 (New)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a high-quality, short-lived, perennial legume used in mixed or pure stands for pasture, hay, silage, green chop, soil improvement, and wildlife habitat. This species is adapted to a wide range of climatic and soil conditions. Stands of improved varieties generally are productive for 2½ to 3 years, with the highest yields occurring in the year following establishment. Red clover is used primarily as a renovation legume for grass pastures and hay fields. It is a dominant forage legume in Kentucky because it is relatively easy to establish and has high forage quality, yield, and animal acceptance.

PR-856: 2024 Timothy and Kentucky Bluegrass Report

Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Tim Phillips, Chris Teutsch, Jimmy Henning | December 11, 2024 (New)

Timothy (Phleum pratense) is the fourth most widely sown cool-season perennial grass used in Kentucky for forage—after tall fescue, orchardgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass. It is a late-maturing bunchgrass that is primarily harvested as hay, particularly for horses. It also can be used for grazing or wildlife habitat.

PR-860: 2024 Cool-Season Grass Horse Grazing Tolerance Report

Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch, Jimmy Henning, Tim Phillips, Laurie Lawrence | December 6, 2024 (New)

Cool-season forages such as Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and orchardgrass are dominant pasture grasses for horses in Kentucky. Variety evaluations for yield have been carried out for many years, but little work has been done to evaluate varieties of these grasses for persistence when subjected to close, continual grazing by horses.

PR-853: 2024 Alfalfa Report

Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Jimmy Henning, Chris Teutsch | December 4, 2024 (New)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has historically been the highest-yielding, highest-quality forage legume grown in Kentucky. It is an important part of Kentucky’s cash hay enterprise and is an important component in dairy, horse, beef, and sheep diets.
Choosing a good variety is a key step in establishing a stand of alfalfa. The choice of variety can impact yield, thickness of stand, and persistence.

AGR-6: Weed Control Recommendations for Kentucky Grain Crops, 2025

Travis Legleiter | November 6, 2024 (Minor Revision)

The use of herbicides suggested in this publication is based on research at the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and elsewhere. We have given what we believe to be the most effective herbicides, with the most suitable rates and times of application.

PR-851: 2024 Kentucky Soybean Variety Performance Trials

Dalton Mertz, Bill Bruening, Cam Kenimer, Phillip Shine | October 30, 2024 (New)

The Kentucky Soybean Variety Performance Trials are conducted to provide an unbiased and objective estimate of the relative performance of soybean varieties commercially available in Kentucky. Annual evaluation of soybean varieties provides farmers, seed producers, and other agricultural workers with current information to help them select the varieties best adapted to their locality and individual requirements.

PR-849: 2024 Kentucky Hybrid Corn Performance Test

Cam Kenimer, Phillip Shine, Dalton Mertz | October 23, 2024 (New)

The objective of the Kentucky Hybrid Corn Performance Test is to provide relative performance estimates of hybrid seed corn sold in Kentucky. The test attempts to treat every hybrid similarly in an unbiased manner. Agronomic practices that meet or exceed university guidelines are implemented at each location.

AGR-277: Using a Rising Plate Meter to Measure Pasture Growth: A Practical Guide

Echo Gotsick, Ray Smith | October 14, 2024 (New)

Knowing pasture yields is very helpful for all livestock operations, especially cattle farms. High animal productivity is only possible with access to adequate quantities of high-quality forage. Previous research has shown a correlation between forage height and pasture yield. Height can be measured with tools as simple as a ruler, but this method often does not produce accurate yield estimates because pasture density is not taken into account.