PR-831: 2023 Kentucky Small Grains Variety Performance Trial

Bill Bruening, Cam Kenimer, Dalton Mertz, Gene Olson, Phillip Shine, Dave Sanford | July 12, 2023 (New)

The objective of the Kentucky small grain variety performance trial is to evaluate varieties of wheat, oat, barley, triticale, and cereal rye that are commercially available or may soon be available to Kentucky farmers. New varieties continually are being developed by agricultural experiment stations and commercial firms. Annual evaluation of small grain varieties and selections 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.

4BA-08MJ: 4-H Agricultural Land Judging and Homesite Evaluation in Kentucky

Bob Pearce, Edwin Ritchey | April 17, 2023 (Minor Revision)

Land judging is a way of appraising the physical nature and capability of soils. Certain soil properties, such as slope, depth, and color, that can be seen, felt, or measured, are reliable indicators of soil characteristics that impact crop growth and productivity. Land judging does not replace soil testing. Laboratory tests that determine the chemical and physical nature of soil help us predict plant response to lime and fertilizer, estimate the amount of a waste product that can be safely applied to the soil, and determine the limitations for uses such as homesites and roads.

AGR-273: Soil Acidity: What It Is, How It Is Measured, Why It Is Important

John Grove, Edwin Ritchey | April 13, 2023 (New)

Soil chemical health is strongly related to soil acidity. This acidity consists of acidic cations, hydrogen (H+), aluminum (Al3+), and in some soils, manganese (Mn2+). The acid cations are neutralized by basic anions, carbonate (CO32-), hydroxyl (OH-), and oxide (O2-) provided by materials such as agricultural, hydrated/slaked, and quick/burnt limes, respectively. Lime application rates are based on the amount of acidity measured in your soil sample.

ID-274: Economic Efficiency in Organic Dairy Operations

John Allison, Kenny Burdine, Ray Smith | April 3, 2023 (New)

Organic dairy operations have historically commanded a higher milk price than conventional dairy operations (Organic all milk price 2021 average: $31.55 per hundredweight (USDA AMS, 2021), Conventional all milk price 2021 average: $20.25 per hundredweight (USDA ERS, 2021)). However, the economics of decision-making and management still play a pivotal role in farm profitability.

AGR-270: Restoring a Flood-damaged Lawn

Kenneth Clayton, Paul Rideout, Jason Vaughn, Beth Wilson | March 14, 2023 (New)

Flooding across Kentucky has been an increasing problem in recent years and has caused significant damage to many properties, including home lawns. The deterioration or death of turfgrass is often caused by grass being smothered with silt and sand deposits left from the flood or grass being submerged under water for prolonged periods. Lack of oxygen to the plant can cause death when submerged, and the rate of death is often worse with higher water temperatures. Repairing these areas is important for reducing chances of erosion as well as allowing a return to the regular use of the lawn.

ID-123: Livestock Waste Sampling and Testing

Doug Overhults, Monroe Rasnake | March 13, 2023 (Revised)

It is estimated that about 25 million tons of animal manure are currently produced on Kentucky farms each year. Most of this is deposited by grazing animals on pastures where the nutrients are recycled. However, an increasing percentage is accumulated in feed lots, barns, poultry houses, lagoons, and other facilities until it can be spread on the land.

ID-199: Prechilling Switchgrass Seed on Farm to Break Dormancy

Holly Boyd, Cindy Finneseth, Tom Keene, Laura Schwer, Ray Smith | March 13, 2023 (Revised)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a warm-season, perennial bunch-type grass native to the North American Tallgrass Prairie. It has been investigated as a renewable energy crop due to its high productivity across a wide geographic range including various environmental conditions and soil types. Switchgrass has also been used for erosion control, summer grazing in pasture and hay systems for cattle, native prairie restoration, wildlife habitat, fiber production, and as an ornamental grass.

AGR-16: Taking Soil Test Samples

Lloyd Murdock, Greg Schwab, Frank Sikora, Bill Thom | March 13, 2023 (Revised)

The most important part of making fertilizer recommendations is collecting a good, representative soil sample. Soil test results and fertilizer recommendations are based solely on the few ounces of soil submitted to the laboratory for analysis. These few ounces can represent several million pounds of soil in the field. If this sample does not reflect actual soil conditions, the results can be misleading and lead to costly over- or under-fertilization. It is necessary to make sure that the soil sample sent to the laboratory accurately represents the area sampled.

AGR-271: Frost Seeding Clover: A Recipe for Success

Jimmy Henning, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | March 2, 2023 (New)

Legumes are an essential part of a strong and healthy grassland ecosystems. They form a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria in which the bacteria fix nitrogen from the air into a plant-available form and share it with the legume. Clover also increases forage quality and quantity and helps to manage tall fescue toxicosis. In the past, the positive impact of clover on tall fescue toxicosis has always been thought to simply be a dilution effect, but new research from the USDA's Forage Animal Production Unit in Lexington shows that compounds found in red clover can reverse vasoconstriction that is caused by the ergot alkaloids in toxic tall fescue. The primary compound found in red clover is a vasodilator called "Biochanin A."

AGR-272: Preemergence Herbicides for Kentucky Lawns

Kenneth Clayton, Jason Vaughn, Beth Wilson | February 16, 2023 (New)

Herbicides are used to control unwanted plants in many different locations. Postemergence herbicides are sprayed on actively growing weeds. In turfgrass, several herbicides are used to control weeds before they germinate and begin to grow. These are called "preemergence herbicides" and are commonly sold as "weed preventers." They control germinating weed seeds and subsequent growth. Therefore, to be effective, preemergence herbicides must be present in the upper soil surface before weed seeds germinate.