Search Site   
News Stories at a Glance
Deere 4440 cab tractor racked up $18,000 at farm retirement auction
Indiana legislature passes bills for ag land purchases, broadband grants
Make spring planting safety plans early to avoid injuries
Michigan soybean grower visits Dubai to showcase U.S. products
Scientists are interested in eclipse effects on crops and livestock
U.S. retail meat demand for pork and beef both decreased in 2023
Iowa one of the few states to see farms increase in 2022 Ag Census
Trade, E15, GREET, tax credits the talk at Commodity Classic
Ohioan travels to Malta as part of US Grains Council trade mission
FFA members learn about Australian culture, agriculture during trip
Timing of Dicamba ruling may cause issues for 2024 planting
   
Archive
Search Archive  
   
Meeting discusses key to restoring drought damaged hay
An important meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 6 at the Food Workers Union Hall located at 913 Lebanon Street near the intersection of I-75 and State Route 63 in Monroe, Ohio. The focus of the meeting will be hay and pasture management: what you need to know to help your forages recover this next spring from last summer’s drought.<br>
It is being advertised as part of the statewide series of meetings, the District Sheep and Goat Programs. <br>
It is of course important to lamb and goat producers, but if your cattle, horses or alpaca, etc., are eating hay and pasture that was damaged by last
summer’s weather, you will benefit as well.<br>
Gary Wilson, Ohio State University Extension educator of agriculture and natural resources in Hancock County, Ohio, has had a great deal of experience both on his farm and as part of his job. He will resource the meeting which will begin promptly at 7 p.m. <br>
There is a $10 registration fee to cover our cost and to provide you with some refreshment. Please call the office at 513-887-3722 or 513-424-5351 Ext. #3722, or email:  bartels.2@osu.edu by March 3 for your reservation.<br>
In April of last year, I wrote an article encouraging livestock and horse owners to get the animals on the pasture and to take off a little growth so that the pasture didn’t get ahead of the animals.
Last April was good for plant growth after the big freeze that hurt hay production.<br>
This year we have a whole different story. As we approach March 1, we need to think about getting as much growth as is reasonable on the pasture before you “turn out.” Last summer’s heat and drought really stressed our pasture. Many of us allowed the animals to graze the plants much shorter than we would have if hay supply had been ample. <br>
The grass this spring needs a chance to grow new roots and to build carbohydrate supplies before it is harvested by the animals. Much of the grass may just disappear if not allowed to rest this next summer. You then will be left with a bunch of broadleaf weeds to control. <br>
We would recommend keeping the animals in the sacrifice lot as long as you can. If you give into the temptation to turn out with the first sprig of green, it will probably cost you in the long run.
This winter will give many of us the opportunity to make a frost seeding. <br>
It’s not too late, but you don’t have a whole lot of time for the freezing and thawing to get the seed worked into the ground.
Clovers, lespedeza, birds foot trefoil and even alfalfa to a lesser extent can be successfully frost seeded.<br>
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Steve Bartels may write to him in care of this publication.
2/27/2008