Training On Winter Pasture Production Set Aug. 14 At Overton

Jul 16, 2015

By Robert Burns

Reducing winter hay feeding one among many topics

Hay stocks may be up, but nutritional quality is down, which makes growing winter forages a good way to reduce winter feeding costs, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service forage specialist. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Robert Burns)

 East Texans have made a lot of hay so far this year, but because rains delayed harvesting, fertilization and herbicide treatments, much of it may be of low quality, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agronomist.

“That’s why it’s as important as ever to be able to produce high-quality winter forages this year,” said Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist, Overton.

Corriher-Olson and her colleague, Dr. Jason Banta, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, Overton, will be conducting a training, “Winter Pastures for Central and East Texas,” on Aug. 14.

The training will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton.

“One of the big problems with hay from overly mature summer forages is often low energy content,” Corriher-Olson said. “We’ll be discussing how to make up for this as well.”

Registration for the program is $60 before Aug. 5 and $75 before Aug. 11, after which registration will be closed. Registration includes lunch and program materials. Register online by going to https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu, entering “pasture” in the search window, or call Extension Conference Services at 979-845-2604.

Corriher-Olson said the program will address many of the issues people commonly have about establishing winter pastures:

— Cool-season forages and variety selection.

— Monthly and seasonal forage production potential.

— U.S. Department of Agriculture Internet soil survey demonstration.

— Establishment and fertilization.

— Grazing and utilization strategies.

— Impact of cool-season annuals on warm-season perennials.

— Appropriate mineral supplementation.

— Armyworms and other cool-season forage insects.

— Estimated costs of establishment.

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