PR-619: 2010 Summer Annual Grass Report

Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Ray Smith | Jan. 3, 2011 (New)

Summer annual grasses provide an important forage crop option for producers in Kentucky. These grasses are mainly used as emergency or supplemental hay and pasture crops, but little information is available on their yield potential. The purpose of this publication is to summarize the University of Kentucky 2007-2010 forage yield trials with sudangrass, sorghum/sudangrass, millets, and teff.

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PR-617: 2010 Cool-Season Grass Grazing Tolerance Report

Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith, Eric Vanzant | Jan. 3, 2011 (New)

Cool-season grasses such as tall fescue and orchardgrass are the primary pasture grasses in Kentucky. Other species such as perennial ryegrass, festulolium, and prairie brome can be used in pasture systems. Little is known about the effect of variety on the grazing tolerance of these cool-season grass species.

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PR-615: 2010 Alfalfa Grazing Tolerance Report

Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Eric Vanzant | Dec. 15, 2010 (New)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the highest yielding, highest quality forage legume grown in Kentucky. It forms the basis of Kentucky's cash hay enterprise and is an important component in dairy, horse, beef, and sheep diets. Recent emphasis on its use as a grazing crop and the release of grazing-tolerant varieties have raised the following question: Do varieties differ in tolerance to grazing? We have chosen to use the standard tolerance test recommended by the North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference. This test uses continuous heavy grazing to sort out differences in grazing tolerance in a relatively short period of time.

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PR-616: 2010 Red and White Clover Grazing Tolerance Report

Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Eric Vanzant | Dec. 15, 2010 (New)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a high-quality, short-lived, perennial legume that is 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 are generally productive for two and a half to three years, with the highest yields occurring in the year following establishment. Red clover is used primarily as a renovation legume for grass pastures. It is a dominant forage legume in Kentucky because it is relatively easy to establish and has high forage quality, high yield and animal acceptance.

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PR-614: 2010 Timothy and Kentucky Bluegrass Report

Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith | Dec. 15, 2010 (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 can be used for grazing or wildlife habitat.

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PR-609: 2010 Alfalfa Report

Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Ray Smith | Dec. 6, 2010 (New)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has historically been the highest yielding, highest quality forage legume grown in Kentucky. It forms the basis 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.

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PR-612: 2010 Tall Fescue and Brome Report

David Ditsch, Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith | Dec. 6, 2010 (New)

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a productive, well-adapted, persistent, soil-conserving, cool-season grass that is grown on approximately 5.5 million acres in Kentucky. This grass, used for both hay and pasture, is the forage base of most of Kentucky's livestock enterprises, particularly beef cattle.

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PR-610: 2010 Red and White Clover Report

David Ditsch, Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Ray Smith | Dec. 6, 2010 (New)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a high-quality, short-lived, perennial legume that is 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 are generally productive for two-and-a-half to three years, with the highest yields occurring in the year following establishment. Red clover is used primarily as a renovation legume for grass pastures. It is a dominant forage legume in Kentucky because it is relatively easy to establish and has high forage quality, high yield, and animal acceptance.

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PR-613: 2010 Annual and Perennial Ryegrass and Festulolium Report

Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith | Dec. 6, 2010 (New)

Annual ryegrasses are increasing in use across Kentucky as more winter-hardy varieties are released and promoted. Annual ryegrass is productive for three to four months and is used primarily for late fall and early-to-late spring pasture.

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PR-611: 2010 Orchardgrass Report

Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith | Dec. 6, 2010 (New)

Orchardgrass (Dactylus glomerata) is a high-quality, productive, cool-season grass that is well adapted to Kentucky conditions. This grass is used for pasture, hay, green chop, and silage, but it requires better management than tall fescue for greater yields, higher quality, and longer stand life. It produces an open, bunchtype sod, making it very compatible with alfalfa or red clover as a pasture and hay crop or as habitat for wildlife.