Integrated Pest and Crop Management Newsletter Vol. 17, No. 2 February 20, 2007 Building a Successful Forage System in Missouri By Robert Kallenbach Last summer’s drought reduced hay and pasture production by more that 50 percent in many regions of Missouri. This, coupled with a near doubling in commodity feed prices, has led to something of a financial crisis for many beef and dairy producers this winter. While the options for dealing with this issue are limited until spring, it is a good time to consider strategies for improving forage production for next year. Cow/calf producers rely on forage to supply more than 85 percent of all feed units to the herd. Yet, many producers do not think critically about the contribution of forages to the profitability of their beef or dairy operations. They should. As far as forages go, pasture is a far more economical way to deliver feed to cattle than is hay. Recent analyses show that forage from pasture costs 40 to 60 percent less than stored forage (hay, silage) per pound of beef produced. That is substantial. Records supplied by IRM-SPA from real beef operations show that the most profitable producers feed the least stored forage, relying on pasture more days of the year. Successful forage systems consider more than annual forage yield or short-term beef production per acre. They consider plant persistence, long-term sustainability, cost per unit of beef produced and ultimately, profitability. Graziers should consider all of these factors before developing a forage system for their farms. From a biological perspective, there are three important concepts to understand when planning a forage system. They are: 1. Forage yield and yield distribution 2. Forage quality 3. Stand persistence or reliability Although these factors are interrelated, let’s take a look at each of them separately. Forage yield and yield distribution Many producers consider yield the most important attribute for any forage. And no doubt, forages that do not yield well cannot be a part of a productive forage program. But annual yield alone should not be used to select forages for pasture-based systems. For these systems, distribution of yield through the growing season is far more important than annual yield. As an example, let’s consider the two forages in Figure 1 (page 5). Notice that forage A and forage B have the same annual yield. However, forage A produces 80 percent of its growth in May where forage B has a more even distribution of yield throughout the growing season. Forage A might be great for hay production, but forage B would be far superior for season-long grazing. Although forages vary in their seasonal yield distribution, no forage is productive during all seasons of the grazing year. An important principle for developing a productive forage program for a cow-calf operation is utilizing the inherent differences in seasonal growth patterns to provide grazing for as much of the year as possible without making the system so complex that it cannot be managed. Forage quality Almost any "mainstream" forage can be managed for high quality feed. Some forages inherently contain more energy and protein than others, but nearly any can be managed to produce beef. The overriding concept here is that forage must be kept in a vegetative stage of growth to be of acceptable quality for optimum beef production. In practice, this means that most coolseason grasses, mixtures of cool-season grasses and legumes, and short warmseason grasses like bermudagrass and caucasian bluestem, should be grazed when the grass reaches eight to ten inches in height. Tall warm-season grass pastures should be grazed when the grass reaches 12 to 18 inches. Waiting any longer than this will reduce forage quality and beef production. Keeping the grass in a vegetative stage of growth may be diffi cult to accomplish on a whole farm basis, especially in late spring. During this time of year, grass growth often exceeds what the herd can consume. Paddocks that become more mature than the guidelines mentioned above should be "skipped" in the rotation and the herd "moved forward" to less mature paddocks. The "skipped" or mature paddocks should be harvested for hay or silage or grazed by other livestock as soon as is feasible. These paddocks can again be part of the rotation for the herd after the forage has been harvested and shows eight to ten inches of regrowth. Stand persistence or reliability Many producers undervalue longterm stand persistence of many perennial forage species. Considering that it costs $50 to $150 per acre to establish a new forage, it pays to make stands last. Although we tend to equate persistence with the survival of individual plants, from a producer’s perspective, we are more interested in the persistence of yield or productivity. In some cases, stand persistence may be the survival of individual plants, but in other instances, it may involve the natural reseeding capability of a species (i.e., annual lespedeza or crabgrass). What is important to know, is what mechanism the species you have or desire uses to persist. For instance, birdsfoot trefoil is a short-lived perennial legume. It is short-lived because it is susceptible to several root and crown rot diseases. But if birdsfoot trefoil is given a 45 to 60 day rest period to reseed every other year, stands can last almost indefinitely. Its mechanism for persistence is reseeding. Similarly, annual lespedeza and crabgrass pastures can almost act as perennials if allowed a period to reseed each year. On the other hand, a species like alfalfa does not reseed well. Instead, it relies on the survival and development of the individual plants that were seeded. Thus, its mechanism for persistence is plant longevity. Species that use this mechanism to persist must be carefully selected so that adapted varieties are planted. Selecting varieties that show resistance to common diseases, insects or that can tolerate less than ideal soil or environmental conditions are most important for these types of forages. Another mechanism for persistence is vegetative propagation. An example is smooth bromegrass. Smooth bromegrass has rhizomes or "underground runners" that continually develop new plants to thicken the stand. Forages that use this persistence mechanism are often among the easiest to maintain. In summary, understanding what mechanism your forages use to persist is the first key to managing to maximize stand life. The soil environment is another factor that influences stand persistence. The most important aspects of the soil environment are the depth, drainage and fertility of your soils. As an example, alfalfa is one of the most productive and nutritious forages available on welldrained and fertile soils. However, it does not survive well on poorly drained soils and does not tolerate low soil fertility. In this situation, a better choice might be to plant reed canarygrass and manage it to provide quality feed. Forages should also be selected for cold hardiness and drought tolerance. Many forages might survive a mild winter or a wet summer, but what happens when growing conditions are less than ideal? It is under these conditions that differences in forage species become apparent. For instance, if we have a wet, cool summer, both timothy and orchardgrass persist quite well, but because timothy has a shallower root system it does not persist as well when the weather turns dry. Management also plays a vital role in stand persistence. Almost no forage can survive poor management and be productive. The major management factors that influence stand persistence are grazing frequency, residual leaf area after grazing and planned rest periods for reseeding or fall growth. MU Extension Publication M169, A Guide to the Common Forages and Weeds of Pastures can help producers choose those forages that best fit their circumstances. Robert Kallenbach Associate Professor University of Missouri kallenbachr@missouri.edu ********************* Winter Reality Check By Pat Guinan The recent cold and snowy weather is a reminder of what winters can be like in Missouri and, believe it or not, the verdict is still out whether this meteorological winter (Dec-Jan-Feb) will be below normal since December and the first half of January were unusually mild. Much below normal temperatures will need to continue throughout this month in order to offset the early winter warm spell. In addition to the recent cold spell, Missouri has experienced three major winter storms, including an historical ice storm. For many locations, it has been the snowiest winter in 12 years the coldest winter in four years. If you think Missouri’s been experiencing some mild winters of late, you’re absolutely right. According to Figure 1, only five of the past 20 winter seasons have been colder than normal. In fact, four of the past nine winter seasons have ranked in the top ten warmest winters on record for Missouri since 1895. Currently, we are experiencing one of the warmest winter trends on record for the state. Additionally, Figure 1 illustrates mild and cool winter trends in the past. For example, from 1920 to 1954, 27 out of 35 winter seasons were above normal. A cool period followed shortly thereafter (1957-1985) when 17 out of 28 winters were below normal. It is very diffi cult to pinpoint all the underlying causes that result in these regional temperature trends for Missouri and which ones have the largest influence. Still, the recent trend toward warmer winters gives us more reason to pay closer attention to these climatological changes. Pat Guinan Climatology guinanp@missouri.edu ********************* Missouri Watershed Information Network The Missouri Watershed Information Network, or MoWIN, provides assistance in locating and accessing information relative to Missouri watersheds. Our intent is to make it easier for you to find the information you need. The services of MoWIN are available to anyone seeking information related to watersheds in Missouri. This may range from professionals looking for technical data, elementary students conducting research for class reports, to someone anxious to know what they can do to improve the condition of their watershed. Inquiries may be sent to MoWIN by e-mail, telephone Toll Free 1-877-H2O-SHED (426-7433), submitting a written request and/or visiting the MoWIN offi ces (205 Agricultural Engineering Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211). Visit the Website at http://www.mowin.org. ********************* Potential For Fall-Applied Nitrogen Losses Not Eliminated By Recent Cold Snap By John Lory The recent cold snap has caused the lowest soil temperatures registered in nine years in six-inch soil temperature data recorded at Novelty, Missouri. Soil temperatures have remained below freezing since late January, the longest period of sub-freezing temperatures in the nine-year record. Typically, soil temperatures averaged 2.7 degrees above freezing during this period. This cold spell represents a sharp contrast to warm soil temperatures in late December and early January. During a three-week period, 14 days had the highest soil temperatures recorded in the nine-year record. During this period, soil temperatures averaged over eight degrees above freezing compared to a long-term average of just over three degrees above zero. Farmers who apply fall nitrogen depend on cold soils to hold nitrogen in the soil over-winter. Ideally, anhydrous ammonia is injected into soils that rapidly reach near-freezing temperatures. Cold soil temperatures inhibit the conversion of the anhydrous to nitrate, which is highly mobile in the soil. Applying anhydrous ammonia too early in the fall, or unusually warm winter soil temperatures coupled with excessively wet soils in winter or spring, can lead to significant losses of fall-applied nitrogen. Despite the cold snap, the potential to convert anhydrous to nitrate has been above average since mid-November. There is a high probability that anhydrous ammonia applied without inhibitors before mid-November in northern Missouri has converted to nitrate. Be aware that a wet late winter or spring could lead to significant losses of fall-applied nitrogen despite the current cold snap. To see current six-inch soil temperatures underneath soybean stubble at nine locations across northern Missouri, visit the Website http://agebb.missouri.edu/weather/reports/soysoil6.asp. John A. Lory Division of Plant Sciences and Commercial Agriculture Program loryj@missouri.edu ********************* Check Out these Websites By Kevin Bradley If you haven’t visited our Weed Science Website lately, you might want to check it out. Point your browser to: http://www.plantsci.missouri.edu/weedscience/ to see some of our latest results and recommendations. We now have links to some of the slide show presentations that we have been giving around the state under the "Extension" section, so you can see our results and see what we are saying about various weed management topics. Also, under the "Research" section, you can see results from various weed management trials that were conducted in Missouri last year. This section is searchable by crop, weed and herbicide. In addition to this Site, I encourage you to check out http://www.glyphosateweedscrops.org. This is a Website of the Glyphosate, Weeds and Crops Working Group, which is a group of more than 24 weed scientists representing 16 different universities that have joined together to provide information pertaining to the management of glyphosate resistant weeds and proper stewardship of glyphosate. At this Site, you can download or purchase some of the publications that have been written by this group so far, like Biology and Management of Horseweed, Biology and Management of Wild Buckwheat, Understanding Glyphosate to Increase Performance and Facts about Glyphosate Resistant Weeds. More publications will be available soon, including one on the biology and management of waterhemp, so be sure to bookmark and revisit this Site in the future. Kevin Bradley Plant Sciences bradleyke@missouri.edu ********************* Frost-Seeding Legumes into Missouri Pastures By Craig Roberts February is an ideal month for frostseeding in Missouri. The ground is still frozen in February, making it easy to drive over the field without getting stuck or causing ruts. Also, the ground is often covered with snow, which marks tire tracks during seeding. Finally, February occurs right before the repeated cycles of freezing and thawing, a process that can pull seed slightly below the soil surface as the soil expands and contracts. In Missouri, the three most common forages to frost seed are legumes, namely annual lespedeza, red clover and white clover. These three legumes are seeded into tall fescue, the predominant pasture grass of Missouri. If seeded as the only legume, annual lespedeza is seeded at a rate of 10 lbs. pure live seed per acre. White clover is seeded alone at ½ lb or pound, and red clover is seeded at 6 lbs. There are two major factors that affect the success of frost seeding legumes, both during establishment and in seedling expression in a grass pasture. The first is residue. If the grass pasture has been grazed hard, it will have minimal amounts of thatchresidue. If it has not been grazed hard, it is likely to have too much residue. This residue forms a thatch that suspends legume seed above the soil, thereby preventing effective germination. In these cases, pastures can be grazed lightly to "hoof in" the seed. A second factor is fertilization, and this factor comes into play after germination. Assuming legumes germinate effectively, they can be crowded out if the fertilization plan favors the grass. If a pasture is nitrogen fertilized in the early spring, it will encourage grass growth to the point of choking out the legumes. Below are data collected by McGraw and Kallenbach in Missouri. The data show that spring N applications reduce the amount of annual lespedeza in a tall fescue pasture in August. As a rule, only 25 lb/acre of N should be applied in spring if legumes are desired. If more N is applied, producers must be sure the pasture is grazed hard enough to prevent a grass canopy forming over the legumes. Craig Roberts Plant Sciences robertscr@missouri.edu ********************* Additions to the University of Missouri Variety Testing Program Website By Bill Wiebold Variety selection is among the most important decisions a farmer makes. Yield potential and the ability of the variety’s genetics to protect that yield potential from pests and stresses are directly related to profitability. Although several variety characteristics are important to consider, each variety selection should be centered on yield. Selection for yield is more diffi cult than it sounds. Weather, soil and other environmental factors greatly affect yield. I recommend using multiple sources of information about varieties. The best sources of information are welldesigned, replicated tests conducted by unbiased groups or organizations. The MU Variety Testing Program (MUVT) is one of those sources. In 2006, MUVT tested 278, 27 and 377 different corn, grain sorghum and soybean varieties. Information about these varieties is available in print at local extension offi ces or on the MUVT Website: a g ebb.mi s s our i . edu/ c roppe r f / . MUVT has recently added some additional tools to its Website to help farmers and their advisers compare and select varieties. After logging onto the Website and selecting a crop (corn, grain sorghum or soybean), you can browse through the various tests conducted in each region. Toward the bottom of the main page of each crop is a link labeled "Interactive Corn Test Results," "Interactive Grain Sorghum Test Results," or "Interactive Soybean Test Results." After selecting this link you will be presented with two choices "Headto- Head Variety Yield Comparison" and "Search Specific Location Results." For corn and grain sorghum pages, the word "hybrid" will be used instead of "variety." The "Head-to-Head Variety Yield Comparison" link allows you to compare the yields of any two varieties in all of the tests and locations in which both varieties were tested. You will be asked to select the two varieties from a dropdown list of all entered varieties. Varieties are grouped by company. After submitting the two variety names, you will see one or more small tables containing the yields of both varieties in all location where the two varieties were tested. The differences in yield for the two varieties will be calculated and an LSD will be presented. This LSD is the number of bushels for which the two varieties must differ before you can be confident that they are truly different in yield. The "Search Specific Location Results" allows you to summarize data for a specific location. After selecting a region and a location within that region, you have four choices of summarizing the data. For example, selecting "All Varieties for a Single Company" will quickly allow you to determine if a variety of interest was entered into the test. Other selection choices allow you to view subsets of the data instead of information for all varieties. Another useful part of the Website is the "Characteristics of Varieties" link located along the left side in the main page. This section displays variety characteristics by company for all tested varieties. Characteristics common for all three crops include the seed treatments applied to the entered variety and maturity. Other characteristics are specific for the crop, but, in most instances, relate to biotech traits, pest resistance or tolerance and herbicide resistance. The characteristics are provided by the company that entered the variety and are not tested by MUVT. Bill Wiebold Ag Extension Plant Sciences 573-882-0621 wieboldw@missouri.edu ********************* 2007 Crop Insurance By Ray Massey Every year there is something new in crop insurance for Missouri crop producers. Sometimes it is a new type of insurance policy or a new crop eligible for insurance coverage. This year the big change is likely to be the cost of the premiums—and subsequent payouts should you have a claim. The reason farmers will see higher premiums in 2007 is because of higher crop prices. Should a producer have a claim, the insurance company will be paying greater indemnities due to the higher prices for corn and soybeans. It appears that the cost of enjoying higher commodity prices is paying higher premiums. The price elections for yield-based insurance (actual production history (APH)) in the table below show the difference in prices from 2006 to 2007. The price elections for revenue-based insurance (crop revenue coverage (CRC), revenue assurance (RA) and group risk income plan (GRIP)) will be announced on March 1, when the average February futures price quotes can be computed. Another change in 2007 is the claim reporting deadline. Insured producers are responsible to notify their insurance company within 72 hours of an initial discovery of damage. This discovery cannot be later than 15 days after the end of the insurance period. The end of the insurance period typically is the harvest of the crop, but can occur sooner if there is total destruction or abandonment of an insured crop. To guarantee adequate consideration of a claim, do not wait to report damage. Because crop insurance is subsidized by the federal government, it has historically paid more out in indemnities to farmers than has been paid in premiums by farmers. For a historical perspective of crop insurance in Missouri, go to www.agebb.missouri.edu and look under the Farm Management link for "Crop Insurance in Missouri." *************************************************************** * Commodity 2006 * price election * 2007 price election * * Corn * $2.00/bu * $3.50/bu * * Soybeans * $5.15/bu * $7.00/bu * * Grain Sorghum * $1.95/bu * $3.30/bu * * Cotton * $.53/lb * $.53/lb * * Rice * $.08/lb * $.0975/lb * *************************************************************** ********************* Romance Lures Growers to Plant Vineyards, Sound Planning Prevents Business from Dying on the Vine ByEileen Yager COLUMBIA, Mo. - Would-be vineyard owners have many reasons for going into the grape-growing business. The "romance of the grape" is at the center of most reasons, according to Justin Morris, food scientist. "About No. 10 is ‘I’d like to make money,’" said Morris, director of the Institute for Food Science and Engineering at the University of Arkansas. "You’re not going to get to have this romance unless you know how to make money," Morris told new and potential growers at the 2007 Missouri Wine and Grape Conference at Lake of the Ozarks. The Beginning Viticulture session drew 180 people who learned what it takes to make money from a vineyard ? everything from selecting a good site to finding a grape buyer before vines go in the ground. This was the first year a beginners session was part of the annual growers conference. Topics included soil preparation, trellises, drainage and irrigation, choosing the right varieties, pruning and training vines, and managing pests and diseases, as well as financial considerations. Andy Allen, a University of Missouri Extension viticulture specialist said, "Our goal was to give them an honest picture of what they’re getting into and increase their chances of success." "It can take $10,000 to $15,000 an acre to get a vineyard established," Allen said. "That’s a huge investment that takes a long time to recoup." Producers won’t see their first crop until year three when vines are mature enough to withstand the weight of the grapes. However, well-tended vines will produce for 25 to 30 years or more. "The things you do in the first year can affect the plants two or three years later, or even longer," said Allen, who is with the Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology at the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Unlike an annual crop, where mistakes in the first year can be corrected the next year, once vines are planted growers can’t change things without incurring large expenses, he said. Allen said he was pleased that many workshop participants, such as Skip and Patti Moreland, were educating themselves before establishing a vineyard. "It’s a smart thing to do," Allen said. The Morelands, who own 10 acres near Union, Mo., are considering putting in a vineyard when they retire in five to seven years. "We don’t plan on retiring and doing nothing," Patti said. Skip said the couple was exploring options whether to grow grapes commercially or as a hobby. "We want to see what we’re getting into," he said. "You could throw away a lot money very quickly, and for what purpose?" For the Morelands, the grape and wine conference also was a chance to talk with grape growers and make connections with wineries. The couple plans to continue their education during the next several months, taking part in ICCVE’s Grape Production Short Course, which begins Feb. 22. Sessions will be held each month through October at Les Bourgeois Winery in Rocheport, Mo. The course fee is $300 per person for Missouri residents and $400 per person for out-of-state attendees. For more information, or to register, contact the MU Institute at 573-882-6656; or online at http://iccve.missouri.edu/. Source: Andy Allen, 573-882-6752 Eileen Yager Communications Offi cer 573-882-0604 yagere@umsystem.edu ********************* Weather data for the Week Ending February 19, 2007 By Pat Guinan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Monthly | Growing Weekly Temperature (deg. F) |Precip (in.)|Degree Days^ -----------------------------|------------|------------ Ext- Ext- Depart| Depart|Accum Depart Avg.Avg. reme reme from |Feb 1 from |since from Station County Max.Min. High Low Mean avg. |Feb 19 avg |Apr 1 avg. ------------------------------------------------------|------------|------------ Corning Atchison 30 9 50 -4 20 -11 | 0.18 -0.45 | * * St. Joseph Buchanan 31 12 56 -1 21 -13 | 0.19 -0.50 | * * Brunswick Chariton 32 10 53 0 21 -12 | 0.00 -0.94 | * * Albany Gentry 30 6 52 -8 20 -12 | 0.05 -0.88 | * * Auxvasse Audrain 32 12 57 -1 22 -11 | 0.43 -0.68 | * * Columbia Boone 33 13 58 0 23 -13 | 0.65 -0.57 | * * Sanborn Field Boone 35 15 60 3 25 -11 | 0.63 -0.58 | * * Williamsburg Callaway 34 13 59 -1 23 -10 | 0.69 -0.42 | * * Novelty Knox 29 8 48 -6 19 -13 | 0.09 -0.72 | * * Linneus Linn 31 9 52 -5 20 -12 | 0.04 -0.83 | * * Monroe City Monroe 30 10 50 -3 20 -13 | 0.04 -0.82 | * * Versailles Morgon 37 17 61 3 26 -11 | 0.85 -0.30 | * * Green Ridge Pettis 34 15 55 2 24 -10 | 0.45 -0.62 | * * Lamar Barton 38 20 59 8 28 -10 | 1.05 -0.22 | * * Cook Station Crawford 38 16 61 4 27 -11 | 1.16 -0.30 | * * Alley Spring Shannon 41 16 62 4 29 -9 | 1.75 +0.42 | * * Round Spring Shannon 40 16 62 4 28 -10 | 1.68 +0.35 | * * Delta Cape | | Girardeau 37 20 54 10 28 -11 | 2.38 +0.28 | * * Cardwell Dunklin 41 23 59 17 32 -9 | 0.78 -1.97 | * * Clarkton Dunklin 39 22 57 13 31 -9 | 1.66 -0.60 | * * Glennonville Dunklin 40 23 57 15 31 -10 | 2.17 -0.01 | * * Charleston Mississippi 38 21 56 12 30 -10 | 1.34 -1.42 | * * Portageville- | | Delta Center Pemiscot 40 23 57 14 32 -9 | 1.50 -1.22 | * * Portageville- | | Lee Farm Pemiscot 40 23 58 14 32 -9 | 1.23 -1.47 | * * Steele Pemiscot 41 23 57 16 32 -9 | 0.76 -2.11 | * * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Complete data not available for report ^Growing degree days are calculated by subtracting a 50 degree (Fahrenheit) base temperature from the average daily temperature. Thus, if the average temperature for the day is 75 degrees, then 25 growing degree days will have been accumulated. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pat Guinan, Commercial Agriculture Program (573) 882-5908