Numbered Publications: AGR
AGR-16: Taking Soil Test Samples
Lloyd Murdock, Greg Schwab, Frank Sikora, Bill Thom | Mar. 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-1: Lime and Fertilizer Recommendations, 2020-2021
Josh McGrath, Edwin Ritchey | Mar. 13, 2023 (Revised)
Recommended nutrient additions, based on a soil test, are only made when a crop yield or economic response has been measured for that crop under Kentucky soil-climatic conditions. Many field studies have been conducted by the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station under Kentucky farm conditions to determine the extent of any primary, secondary, or micronutrient needs. Yield and soil test data from these studies serve as guidelines for establishing recommendations contained in this publication. Recommendations in this publication strive to supply the plant nutrients needed to achieve maximum economic return assuming good management practices.
AGR-265: Soil Sampling and Nutrient Management in Small Ruminant Pastures
Jimmy Henning, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch, Josh McGrath, Edwin Ritchey | Mar. 13, 2023 (Major Revision)
Pastures for sheep and goats are fertilized to ensure a reliable supply of energy, protein, and other nutrients for a long season of grazing. Management of plant nutrients maintains a balance of improved grasses and legumes and improves forage species’ competitiveness with many pasture weeds.
The most important part of obtaining fertilizer recommendations is collecting a representative soil sample to send to the lab. Soil test results and fertilizer recommendations are based solely on 10 to 20 ounces of soil submitted to the lab for analysis, which are assumed to represent several million pounds of soil in the field. If this sample does not reflect actual soil chemical conditions, the results can be misleading and cause costly over- or under-fertilization.
AGR-271: Frost Seeding Clover: A Recipe for Success
Jimmy Henning, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Mar. 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 | Feb. 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.
AGR-268: Evaluating Cool-season Perennial Grass Pastures using the UK Horse Pasture Health Score Card
Krista Lea, Ray Smith | Dec. 19, 2022 (New)
Providing quality forage is essential to horse health, and pasture can provide a significant portion of the horse's forage needs. Objective evaluation of a pasture's condition can help determine appropriate pasture management practices. The UK Horse Pasture Health Score Card can be used to evaluate horse pastures and determine what improvements should be made.
AGR-235: Baleage: Frequently Asked Questions
Jimmy Henning, Brandon Sears, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Dec. 13, 2022 (Minor Revision)
Baled silage, or "baleage," is an excellent method for forage harvest, storage, and feed efficiency. This publication focuses on common questions about baleage. Together with AGR-173: Baling Forage Crops for Silage, this information will help producers better understand the production and use of baleage as livestock feed.
AGR-269: Barn Management for Curing Connecticut Broadleaf Cigar Wrapper Tobacco
Andy Bailey | Dec. 6, 2022 (New)
Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco is used primarily for cigar wrapper and binder and was traditionally grown in Connecticut and Massachusetts but has also been grown in Pennsylvania. In recent years, these areas have not been able to supply leaf buyers with enough wrapper leaf to meet the increasing demand for natural leaf cigar wrapper. Therefore, growers in Tennessee and Kentucky have been producing Connecticut Broadleaf to market as cigar wrapper tobacco.
AGR-267: Ordering/Casing Burley and Dark Tobacco - Post-Curing Management Practices
Andy Bailey, Bob Pearce | Sep. 8, 2022 (New)
Market preparation of burley and dark tobacco involves removing cured tobacco from the curing facilities (takedown), removing the stalks from the stick (bulking), removing cured leaves from tobacco stalks (stripping) and packaging for the market (baling). These processes can only be performed when cured leaves are sufficiently pliable to avoid breakage.
AGR-50: Lawn Establishment in Kentucky
Gregg Munshaw | Jul. 29, 2022 (Minor Revision)
The methods you use, the grass you select and the time of year that you plant your lawn will often determine the quality and ease of maintenance. When it comes to establishing a new lawn, the key is to do everything properly from the start so you will not have to try to fix the lawn once it is established.
