You probably don't want to think about summer forages and grazing with all of the talk about dangerous wind chills, the polar vortex, and lots of snow. However, you should be because spring and summer are just around the corner.

This is a good time to study new developments in forage varieties and pasture grass species.

The 2014 seed and forage guides are out, and varietal test results have been published. If seed is not yet ordered for frost seeding, planned renovation, new pasture development, or for summer annuals, it should be done before supplies are reduced. Key points in pasture and forage development include choice of adapted varieties and species that will persist for several years and adding legumes to provide nitrogen. Some research has recommended diversifying pasture and forage systems to include warm season species in the summer and annual cool season species in the fall. Why should summer annuals be considered by all dairy producers? They are very drought tolerant and can fill a gap in feed when other species experience the "summer slump". They are great emergency forages during dry weather and are multipurpose, so you can be use them for grazing, silage, or for baling.

During the summer of 2013, we planted two summer annuals for grazing for the first time at the University of Minnesota West-Central Research and Outreach Center dairy in Morris. BMR sorghum-sudangrass and teff grass were planted to create a more uniform and extended forage supply. These grasses were seeded with a drill on May 28, 2013, but because of the late spring, this was about 2 weeks later than what we had planned.

BMR sorghum-sudangrass has increased in popularity due to the BMR gene and increased NDF digestibility (5 to 10% higher than regular sorghum-sudangrass). The plants have thick stems and are very leafy. Sorghum-sudangrass has moderate regrowth potential, but you should not graze or cut for forage until the plants are at least 18 inches tall to reduce prussic acid concentration. The ideal height for forage is 18 to 36 inches tall. When grazing sorghum-sudangrass, animals should be moved so they leave 6 to 8 inches of stubble, but they might waste 20 to 30% of the forage through grazing. Lastly, sorghums and sudangrasses are luxury consumers of potassium, so they should not be used for dry cow forages. For seeding rate, we seeded our fields and pastures at 20 pounds per acre.

Teff grass is native to Northern Africa. Teff is drought tolerant and can be seeded into many different soil types. With this grass, you will have high yield with competitive forage quality, and will have rapid growth for 9 to 12 weeks. The seed is very, very small, and we seeded our pastures at 8 pounds per acre.

Both of these annuals should be planted at 60 to 65 degree soil temperature and planted 1 to 1.5 inches deep. Perhaps manure should be added as a fertilizer before planting because they have nitrogen requirements that are similar to corn.

The table shows averages for forage quality of BMR sorghum-sudangrass, teff grass, and cool-season grasses during 2013. The cool-season species consist of mixtures of smooth bromegrass, orchardgrass, red and white clover, and alfalfa. The dry matter of the sorghum-sudangrass was low because the cattle grazed the fresh forage in the early vegetative state. The summer annuals were not as high in crude protein as the cool-season grasses. However, with lower crude proteins, we probably improved nitrogen utilization of the milking herd. The ADF values of the grasses were very similar and are within the range of low 30s to mid-50s. All of these grass species were high in digestibility. The NDF levels were higher for the summer annual grasses compared to cool-season species. However, the total tract NDF digestibility (TTNDFD) was lowest for the teff grass. The TTNDFD is a measure of how much of the fiber is digestible, how fast the fiber digests, and how long a cow holds the fiber in the digestive system. The summer annuals were similar to the cool-season grasses for sugar and non-fiber carbohydrates, and they provided similar net energy for lactation and milk per ton as the cool season grasses.

Remember, sorghum-sudangrass and teff grass are not replacements for cool-season forages, but should be added to a forage program to complement the cool-season grasses. If there is a drought or dry weather, these two forages may prevent you from having to buy expensive hay during a drought. If you need any assistance with these unique forages or would like more information please contact me at 320-589-1711 or hein0106@umn.edu.

Results for forage quality of BMR sorghum-sudangrass, teff grass, and cool-season grasses during 2013 at the University of Minnesota-WCROC dairy.

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Plan now for summer forages and grazing

As the February 28 deadline approaches for Fairview-area farmers to insure their pasture and hay land this year, above-average to normal snow cover across the Peace region and much of the province has livestock producers feeling hopeful about the potential growth theyll get on their hay and pasture once the snow melts this spring.

We had a relatively dry fall so all of the snow weve gotten so far this winter should definitely help kick-start growth on forage crops in the spring depending on how slow or fast it melts and how much of that moisture soaks in. There is very little frost in the ground so that should help in terms of snow melt moving into the ground this spring, says Calvin Yoder, a forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) in the Peace region. He adds the thick blanket of snow should also help insulate perennial forage plants, reducing the risk of winterkill this year.

Dry Soil Conditions Beneath the Snow

In the M.D. of Fairview, provincial moisture maps show that soil moisture beneath the snow as of late January is generally moderately low to low. Snow cover is generally moderately high.

Perennial hay and pasture crops depend on plenty of moisture early in the spring for healthy growth, says Yoder. So in the end, it always comes down to spring moisture and rainfall in late May and early June. Thats what really makes or breaks our forage production across the region every year, he says.

Last year, dry conditions in early spring and late summer triggered more than $4.4 million in hay and pasture insurance in some areas across the province, including the M.D. of Fairview, says John Kresowaty, with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC). AFSC is the Crown corporation that provides crop insurance to Alberta farmers on behalf of the provincial and federal governments.

When the rain finally came in late May and June, we ended up with strong growth on hay and pasture in most regions, says Kresowaty. He notes last years total payout is among the lowest in more than a decade due to favourable precipitation and good growing conditions in June and July. The highest payout years for hay and pasture insurance were during the droughts of 2009 when $56 million was paid in claims, and 2002 when $89 million was paid out.

Of course, nobody can predict what will happen this spring, says ARD provincial soil moisture specialist, Ralph Wright. It could be wet or the snow could melt quickly and things could turn hot and dry. If its a cold spring, the snow could linger, delaying hay and pasture growth. Theres still two months of winter left. Anythings possible. Its really a wait-and-see game because weather is so random, says Wright.

7.5 Million Acres Insured

Unpredictable weather is the biggest reason Alberta producers insure about 7.5 million acres of hay and pasture across the province every year through AFSC Perennial Insurance programs, says Kresowaty.

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AFSC reminds producers of Feb 28 deadline for hay and pasture insurance 0

COLUMBIA, Mo. Winter seeding clover over grass pastures works best in February. Frozen fields are ideal and a snow cover makes seeding easier.

Adding a legume to fescue or other cool-season grass makes money, says Rob Kallenbach, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist. Investing in clover seed is more profitable than investing in Wall Street, he said.

There are at least four reasons for overseeding legumes into grass pastures, Kallenbach says. It is so easy. But the main reason is legumes add pounds of gain on beef calves.

Weve recommended adding clover for years, Kallenbach says. But now, with the price of calves, it means more money.

Four years ago, calves sold for a dollar a pound. Now they can double that.

MU grazing studies show an extra quarter pound of gain a day from calves on clover-mix pastures.

If that doesnt sound like much, multiply that out by 200 days from birth to weaning. Thats an extra 50 pounds per calf, Kallenbach says. Do the math for your herd for all your calves.

Clover makes a big difference in diluting toxins from endophyte-infected tall fescue. Endophyte, a fungus in the fescue, cuts calf daily gains and reduces milk from mama cows.

Results are even better on nontoxic fescues.

For all those benefits, the investment in seed and labor is modest, Kallenbach says.

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Seed legumes on snowy frozen field, says MU forage specialist

Print Create a hardcopy of this page Font Size: Default font size Larger font size David Davis

Posted: Wednesday, February 12, 2014 2:11 pm

It's time to think about frost seeding clover By David Davis Clark County Extension Agent Central Kentucky News |

Incorporating clovers into an existing grass pasture or hayfield is a beneficial practice and should be considered by all livestock producers.

Having established clover in a pasture or hayfield decreases the need for nitrogen application if it contains more than 25 percent clover. This is because clovers have nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in their roots. These bacteria take nitrogen from the atmosphere, convert it to a form taken up by the grasses and legumes, and make it available in the soil for grasses and legumes to take up.

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It's time to think about frost seeding clover

The location may be a little different from previous matches but dont expect the intensity to lose its luster.

Getting district play started with a strong effort could go a long away for playoff seeding as Denison (6-3-1) faces Sherman (4-6-1) in the District 17-4A opener Saturday at noon at Denison High School after being pushed back from Friday night due to the weather.

With Munson Stadium and its artificial playing surface under construction, the Jackets are playing their home matches on their grass, but mostly dirt, practice field behind the high school.

Theres definitely some adjustment, Denison head coach Scotty Voight said. Its a challenge coming from what weve had in the past. If youre able to go out and play the way we play, it should be fine.

Last season the rivals were on virtually on the same level in making the postseason. With four teams advancing in the five-team district and Anna going winless, the only question by the end of the regular season was seeding.

Any game in district is going to be important, Voight said. You dont want to have that mentality to make it up on the other end. You look a third and fourth but with this team you want to be No. 1.

Sherman won the first match-up, 3-2, before Denison rebounded in the re-match with a 3-1 victory and that turned out to be the slightest difference in the final standings.

The Jackets took third place with nine points, just a point in front of the Bearcats.

Thats the biggest difference, Sherman head coach Chico Aleman said. We will be competitive for a playoff spot. If you get in, who knows? You can never predict what will happen.

Denison, which is attempting to make consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in program history, has almost equaled it victory total from last season. The Jackets won their first four games and need just one more win to match a season ago when they finished with a 7-12-2 mark.

The rest is here:
Sherman, Denison to clash in district soccer

Work on a $700,000 project designed to reduce some of the worst impacts and risks from the flooding that plagues Kaeo is on schedule and now more than 50 percent complete.

Bruce Howse, Land/Rivers Senior Programme Manager for the Northland Regional Council, says the work on the project began late last year and aims to protect the town from destructive, high-speed floodwater rushing through it.

Mr Howse says while the scheme includes a roughly 1km long network of three-metre high stopbanks, it is not designed (nor intended to) stop flooding from occurring.

"What it is designed to do is to deflect damaging, high-speed floodwaters away from the town with a series of stopbanks and essentially convert it into slow-speed back-water flooding."

Mr Howse says the work - at this stage expected to be finished on schedule at the end of next month - is being funded via a roughly 50/50 split between central government ($386,000) and a targetted rate on approximately 2200 local properties.

He says good progress has been made to date overall, with a several-hundred metre long flood wall on the Whangaroa College grounds complete and scheme drainage and the works main stopbank from the Pohue Pa to the college progressing well. A large spillway cut upstream of those works was also about 50% complete.

Mr Howse says collectively, the Kaeo works will slow the speed of future floods and should make them much less damaging and dangerous.

"Its definitely not a silver bullet solution but it will make it easier for residents to protect flood-prone properties with sandbags and other tools like flood shutters."

"Kaeo is built on a floodplain and has flooded for as long as recorded history. Its position and local geography means a practical and affordable solution to stop flooding from happening competely is simply not possible."

Meanwhile, Mr Howse says a temporary river crossing for machinery to haul earth across the Kaeo River from the spillway to the stopbanks has also been working well.

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Kaeo flood risk reduction works 'progressing well'

Published: Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, 12:01a.m. Updated 16 hours ago

Quaker Valley athletes and community groups who use Chuck Knox Stadium next fall will be greeted with a new artificial turf district leaders say will be safer.

Board members last week approved, 8-1, spending about $439,500 to replace turf at the stadium in Leetsdale.

Board member Marianne Wagner voted no, citing unknown costs of any drainage work beneath the surface.

The cost that doesn't include whatever it's going to cost for cleaning out the drains if they need to be cleaned out, she said. So I think it's going to be more than this.

Administrative services Director Joe Marrone said crews will inspect the drains. He was unsure of what conditions might be like in the drains.

If we find we have a bad sewer or something under there an unforeseen condition that might be an additional cost, we'll come back to (the board), Marrone said.

The field's current surface was installed in 2004, district leaders said.

Several Quaker Valley High School sports teams use the field, including girls soccer, boys soccer, football, girls lacrosse and boys lacrosse. In addition, the marching band, cheerleaders and middle school sports use the field.

Outside of Quaker Valley-sanctioned events, community groups and sports teams use the surface.

Continued here:
Quaker Valley scores $439K deal for new field turf

Published: 1/31/2014 8:16 PM | Last update: 2/1/2014 12:05 AM

Interfaith Housing Services has received a two-year, $360,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to launch a mutual self-help new housing construction program in rural communities of less than 30,000 people.

"Basically it's designed to help qualified families build their own home at a lot lower cost because of their sweat equity," said Interfaith Housing Director Julia Westfahl.

Westfahl said the program is being launched in Lyons, where the city has donated building sites and waived permit fees, and Interfaith President and CEO John Scott said they want to launch a similar project somewhere in Reno County soon.

Westfahl said they want to build three to five houses on adjacent lots at the same time, so the future occupants can help each other build their houses by contributing 25 to 30 hours a week of labor, less if more than one family member is working.

No family takes possession of its home until all the families' homes are completed, Westfahl said.

Scott said that the family's sweat equity will reduce construction costs. When the house is completed, it may appraise at $140,000, but the family may need only a $90,000 mortgage to pay off the construction loan, leaving them with $50,000 in equity in their new home.

Scott said the family's labor on their house will work out to be worth about $30 an hour in savings on the construction cost and ultimately the reduction in their mortgage.

"That's a pretty good part-time job," he said.

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Sweat equity is rewarded with building program

Golf course architect Larry Packard has passed has away at his home at the age of 101. Born on November 15, 1912 - before the start of World War I, he worked on over 600 golf courses and was a former president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.

Larry Packard

For over 80 years, "like what you do" was Packard's motto. Born in Northampton, Mass., he became interested in landscape architecture in the 1930s when the United States was in the grip of the Great Depression. One particular job at Westover Field Air Base in his home state involved planting grass along two runways, each two miles long. This was an enormous undertaking as it was before the days of motorized seeding equipment. Packard's keen work drew attention from the government, which sent an informant to find out how he did it with such precision.

Another of Packard's assignments as a wartime architect was to devise a camouflage scheme for the airbase to prevent enemy attack. Packard did such a good job that even some of the American fighter pilots couldn't find the runways to land. His expertise was later sought out to design an airport in Chicago, known today as O'Hare, which is now the world's fourth busiest.

Packard's work eventually led from runways to fairways. After World War II, he began his career in golf course architecture with an entry-level position in the firm of Robert Bruce Harris, where he became friends with renowned architect Robert Trent Jones. During the next 50 years, Packard designed over 350 new golf courses and redesigned another 250. His signature touch was the "double-dogleg" hole. In addition to the United States, Packard designed courses in Egypt, Japan, China, South Korea, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

By 1970, Packard was elected president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, where he made significant expansions to the membership and was instrumental in changing the face of the organization. That same year, Innisbrook Resort opened its gates, with Packard designing the first layout, the Island Course.

Packard subsequently designed the resort's other three courses: North, South and Copperhead, which annually hosts the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship. The time spent on Innisbrook's 900 acres led to Packard to make his home there.

On his 100th birthday in 2012 at the Innisbrook restaurant, which bears his name, Packard had some advice for those who asked about the secret to his longevity: "It's all about what you eat and what you put into your body," he said. "No salt; don't eat a lot of butter and fats. You also have to be happy, and make sure you like what you do every day."

"We are saddened to lose a titan of the golf industry and a cornerstone of the Innisbrook community," said Sheila C. Johnson, founder & CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts. "Larry was a truly wonderful and exceptionally accomplished person. He was, and still is, an inspiration to us all, and our thoughts are with his family at this time."

Packard leaves behind two children, Pamela Sharkey and Roger Packard, the latter of whom followed in his father's footsteps as a golf course architect.

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Architect Larry Packard Passes Away at Age 101

Extreme weather brought water flooding back to the notoriously waterlogged Churchill playing fields between Greenfield and Uppermill.

Diggle FC boss Richard Devy said: There has just been a big revamp with a new drainage system but certain parts are susceptible to getting heavily under water. Were still in a bedding-in period with the new system.

Contractors still have some work to carry out in certain areas but I dont think it will ever be 100 per cent.

Changes included excavation and the installation of new drains, pitch levelling, cultivation and seeding.

A new hard-standing grasscrete parking area space for a grass running track, a permanent 100-metre sprint track and new long-jump pit were also built.

Uppermill FC manager Simon Tait said the drainage system is working well - but a high river level caused by the rain has restricted its functionality.

He said: Its a shame were unable to play as regularly as we would like, but its all down to the terrible weather. The excessive rain has raised the level of the river and the drains cant disperse it.

We are very happy with the new system and once the weather eases off, things will get back to normal.

Councillor Barbara Beeley, chair of the Saddleworth and Lees District Executive, said it was important to keep working towards rectifying the problems at the site.

She said: I know people have raised concerns its not quite right. We will continue to address these concerns, though Id ask residents to bear with us. The pitches arent yet ideal, but teething problems with something of this scale are normal.

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Heavy rain leads to more flooding - after £410,000 revamp