Numbered Publications: AGR
AGR-266: Chemical Topping of Burley Tobacco
Andy Bailey, Bob Pearce | Jun. 17, 2022 (New)
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.
AGR-172: Weed Management in Grass Pastures, Hayfields, and Other Farmstead Sites, 2021
J.D. Green | May. 19, 2021 (Major Revision)
Weeds can reduce the quantity and the stand life of desirable forage plants in pastures and hayfields. These unwanted plants are often more aggressive than existing or desired forage species and compete for light, water, and nutrients. Weeds can also diminish the quality and palatability of the forage available for livestock grazing, and certain weed species are potentially poisonous to grazing animals. Therefore, it may be desirable to initiate weed management strategies that reduce the impact of weeds on forage production.
AGR-263: Growing Wheat for Forage
Jimmy Henning, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Apr. 14, 2021 (New)
Wheat is a multipurpose crop that can be used for cover crops, stored forage or grazing. As much as 25% of Kentucky's wheat acreage is not harvested as grain but used for cover crop or forage production. Wheat has excellent winter hardiness and can be sown later in the fall than barley. Wheat is a good choice for planting following corn or soybean harvest to capture residual nitrogen, build soil organic matter and prevent erosion. Wheat provides high quality, early spring growth, but has limited fall growth compared to grazing types of cereal rye.
AGR-48: Bermudagrass: A Summer Forage in Kentucky
Jimmy Henning, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Apr. 6, 2021 (Minor Revision)
Bermudagrass can be used successfully as part of a livestock forage program to supplement summer production of cool-season grasses. It is high-yielding, sod-forming, warm-season perennial grass that is most productive on well-drained, fertile soils. Bermudagrass is widely grown in the southern United States for pasture and hay.
AGR-232: Crabgrass
Jimmy Henning, Tom Keene, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Apr. 6, 2021 (Minor Revision)
Crabgrass possesses significant potential for supplying high quality summer forage although it is considered a weed by many. A primary advantage of crabgrass is that it is well adapted to Kentucky and occurs naturally in most summer pastures, especially those that have been overgrazed. It is also highly palatable and a prolific re-seeder. Planting an improved variety of crabgrass is recommended because the production of naturally-occurring ecotypes varies greatly. Crabgrass is best utilized by grazing.
AGR-86: Growing Lespedeza in Kentucky for Cattle, Sheep and Goats
Jimmy Henning, Garry Lacefield, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Apr. 6, 2021 (Major Revision)
Annual and perennial lespedezas are grown in Kentucky for pasture, hay, and soil stabilization. Lespedezas are warm season legumes that complement cool-season grasses in both pasture and hay situations. They are more tolerant of less fertile, more acid soils, but have lower yield potential than other forage legumes such as red clover and alfalfa.
AGR-264: Improving Kentucky Small Ruminant Pastures
Jimmy Henning, Krista Lea, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Apr. 2, 2021 (New)
For many small ruminants, quality pasture can provide almost all nutrients needed for maintenance or light work for much of the year. Pasture reduces the cost of keeping livestock while minimizing impacts on the environment. Below are some guidelines for improving pastures.
AGR-207: Broadleaf Weeds of Kentucky Pastures, 2021
J.D. Green | Mar. 23, 2021 (Major Revision)
A guide to the identification and control of broadleaf weeds in Kentucky pastures.
AGR-262: Utilizing Drought Stressed Soybeans for Forage
Jimmy Henning, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch, Katherine VanValin | Feb. 10, 2021 (New)
Although soybeans are commonly grown as a grain crop, they can be grazed or harvested as either a hay or silage crop. This most commonly occurs when the grain potential of the soybean crop has been reduced by drought, hail damage, or early frost. A realistic forage yield expectation for drought stressed soybeans would be 1.5 to 2.0 tons of dry matter per acre. The objective of this article is to provide practical tips for successfully, grazing, conserving and feeding drought stressed soybeans.
AGR-173: Baling Forage Crops for Silage
Jimmy Henning, Ray Smith, Chris Teutsch | Jan. 11, 2021 (Major Revision)
Forage may be stored for winter feeding when pasture production is limited, for use in confinement feeding systems, or for cash hay. Dry hay is the most popular storage method since it stores well for long periods and is better suited to cash sale and shipping than high moisture forages. However, silage may be more suitable in situations where hay curing is difficult. It is possible to make high quality silage or haylage using long (unchopped) forage crops baled with large round balers, although balers may need modification to handle wet material.
