Photo Credit: Livestock and Forages Team
Livestock and Forages Program Team in Action:
Wow!! Times are surely different than they were two months ago, but some things do not change. Extension agents and specialists are still busy helping the citizens of SC. The Livestock and Forages team has offered numerous webinars over the past couple of months with attendees from over ten states and three different countries. The team has significantly increased scholarly work output with newsletters, blog posts, and Land Grant Press publication submissions. All of this work, in conjunction with continued presence through farm visits and one-on-one assistance to ensure livestock and forage producers have Extension’s help during these unprecedented and challenging times. Thank you to ALL of our Extension Team for continuing to offer high-quality innovative programs and demonstrations to producers. Below, you will see a highlight of some of their great work.
Livestock and Forage Winter Annual Plot Summary- In collaboration with the SC Grazing Land Coalition
The SC Grazing Land Coalition assisted with purchasing seed that was used to implement demonstrations at Pee Dee REC, as well as in Orangeburg, Abbeville, and in the Upstate. Clemson Extension Livestock and Forages Agents that were involved with demonstrations include Amber Starnes, Gary Coleman, Chris and Cassie LeMaster, and Lee Van Vlake.
The demonstration plots were planted to showcase how to utilize winter annuals in warm-season perennial grasses to extend the grazing season, improve soil health, reduce input costs, and reduce hay feeding. Several species and varieties were planted at Pee Dee REC and in Orangeburg to exhibit winter annual species/varieties that are suited for the Pee Dee Region and Low Country regions’ climate and soil types. Forages that were planted include; Crimson Clover, Alfalfa, Ball Clover, Red Clover, Durana Clover, and Arrowleaf Clover, Hairy Vetch, Ladino Clover, Turnips, Forage Oats, Jumbo Ryegrass, Prine Ryegrass, Passerel Ryegrass, Marshall Ryegrass, and Big Boss Ryegrass.
In the Upstate, ten strips of various winter annual forage species and blends were planted on a farm in Cherokee County. The pasture selected had been used as a sacrifice pasture for cattle during the drought and composition had shifted to mainly bermudagrass with some drought-damaged fescue. The plots were planted to display appropriate winter annual varieties for the Upstate, soil health benefits, and the forage response to grazing. The strips were drilled with a no-till drill and included Rays Crazy Mix by Kings Agriseeds, two ryegrass varieties- one diploid and one tetraploid, ryegrass mixed with crimson clover, and varying mixtures of crimson clover, ryegrass, hairy vetch, winter peas, and daikon radishes. When appropriate grazing height was reached in April 2020, cattle were allowed to graze. After cattle had grazed to a certain point, they were removed and forage re-growth was monitored.
Two more plots were planted by producers in McCormick and Abbeville County. These plots consisted of Marshall Ryegrass, Durana Clover, and Brook Oats overseeded on drought-damaged Fescue pastures. Fertilizer applied was 17-17-17 with pelletized lime added to it. The grazing mixture performed well, and bulls are currently being grazed on the plots.
Results from these demonstration plots displayed the difference in maturity rates at a certain date and production among the annuals in order to give producers an idea of available options that would work with their operations. Most producers in the Lowcountry and Pee Dee Region are inter-seeding winter annuals into dormant bahiagrass and bermudagrass. In the Upstate, winter annuals can be drilled into bermudagrass pastures or in mixed pastures to dilute the effects of toxic fescue however, care must be taken to not completely destroy the fescue stand.
Implementing these demonstration plots in a setting similar to how they will be planted on SC forage and livestock operations provides useful information for producers. Highlighting the benefits of a no-till drill and the role it plays in implementing a successful winter annual plan is extremely important. These plots were able to distinguish what winter annuals will work and which ones are not suited for each area. The plots also highlighted the benefits to soil health through nitrogen fixation and multispecies mixes that can be planted together to increase plant diversity. One mixture that performed extremely well includes forage oats, crimson clover, hairy vetch, and ryegrass. All of these species mature at different times, which in turn increases grazing season and gives producers options for ways to feed less hay and lower input costs. These differences could be due to weather, climate, soil type, or fertilization/management.
Submitted by: Dr. Matt Burns, Livestock and Forages Team Leader
