A G R I C U L T U R E & N A T U R A L R E S O U R C E S

July 2020

For updated information on how COVID-19 is affecting our office, please check our website at http://madison.ca.uky.edu/, Facebook page, or call our office at 859-623-4072.

CAIP Cost-Share Program Sign Up July 27 - August 14!

Applications for the 2020 CAIP program will be available July 27-August 14 at the Madison County Conservation District. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Madison County Conservation District and the USDA Service Center is currently closed to the public. However, hardcopy applications will be available for pickup Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm outside the USDA Service Center/Madison County Conservation District door, located at 1024 Ival James Blvd., Richmond, or by snail mail. Electronic versions of the application are available on the district website: http://www.mccdky.com/, or by email at madisoncountyconservation@gmail.com.

Completed applications can be returned to a secure drop box at the USDA Service Center/Madison County Conservation District front door, scanned and emailed to the address above, or by snail mail at the address above. Applications must be turned in by August 14th at 4pm or postmarked by then.

For questions please contact the Madison County Conservation District at 859-624-1981 x 3. Due to limited staff availability, if there is no answer, please leave a message and someone will return your call.

ATTENTION Plowing Ahead Subscribers… This may be your last newsletter! We will transition to an electronic newsletter

mail distribution system starting with the August 2020 issue.

So, how do you continue to receive this newsletter?

1. If you are already receiving this newsletter by email, you are good to go and need to do nothing! 2. To be added to our email list, call 859-623-4072 and give us your email address. Your email address will not be sold,

distributed or used in any other way than to distribute information to you from the Madison County Cooperative Extension Service. We respect the ability to contact you in an electronic format and we take very seriously.

3. If you do not want to switch to email newsletters, you have the option to call us and request a hard copy version be mailed to you. Above all, we want to make sure that we get timely agriculture information to those that want it.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for your patience during this transition.

Brandon Sears County Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural Resources

859-623-4072 or brandon.sears@uky.edu

Beating the Heat

Tips for Dealing with Heat Stress in Cattle Dr. Katie VanValin, Assistant Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

Heat stress is a problem that can affect cattle throughout the United States. However, in Kentucky and across the southeast cattle are at risk for experiencing more frequent and severe heat stress events than in other regions of the country. Heat stress occurs when cattle cannot dissipate or get rid of excess heat, and there are a multitude of factors that can impact how susceptible an individual animal is to heat stress. These factors include things such as breed, stage of production, age, and hair coat color which can make it difficult to predict an animal’s susceptibility to heat stress. Heat stress results in decreased growth and reproductive performance and in severe cases even death; thus, it is not a problem that should be overlooked.

Cattle can be particularly susceptible to heat stress compared to other species because they are unable to sweat effectively, which means they rely on respiration to try and dissipate heat. Thus, a common sign that cattle are experiencing heat stress is excessive panting and increased respiratory rate. Furthermore, the cattle GI tract features the rumen, a large fermentation vat. While the rumen is what allows cattle to take human inedible protein and convert it to human edible protein in the form of beef or milk, this process also generates heat that the animal must dissipate. It is thought that this might be partially responsible for the decreased feed intake observed in cattle exhibiting heat stress.

Grazing endophyte infected fescue can also lead to more severe heat stress compared to grazing other forages. The endophyte produces ergot alkaloids resulting in decreased blood flow to peripheral tissues and the skin making it more difficult for cattle to dissipate heat. Additionally, the rough or retained winter haircoat can also make it more difficult for cattle to dissipate heat. This means cattle consuming endophyte infected fescue may have to work harder than cattle consuming other forages to regulate their body temperature, and this increased effort can lead to increased maintenance energy requirements.

Unfortunately heat stress is a complicated issue, and there is not a magic number on the thermometer to pinpoint when cattle will experience heat stress. In addition to animal factors, there are a number of environmental factors that affect the likelihood that cattle will experience heat stress. These factors include things such as temperature, wind speed, humidity, and solar radiation. Fortunately, some weather services such as the UK Ag Weather Center use those individual environmental factors to produce a heat stress forecast which categorizes the current conditions as either normal, alert, danger, or emergency.

While we can’t control the weather, there are a number of steps that can be taken to help alleviate heat stress in cattle.

Watch the weather before working or moving cattle - Observe the weather as well as livestock heat stress forecasts and avoid working or moving cattle during times of excessive heat or when heat stress forecasts are elevated. It is best to work cattle in the early morning hours during hot summer months. Avoid moving or working cattle in the evening, because this is the time that cattle are working to dissipate heat accrued during the day.

Shade - Solar radiation plays an important role in an animal’s susceptibility to and ability to cope with heat stress. Ensure cattle have access to shade, each animal requires 20-40 square feet of shade to be comfortable. Shade is especially important to cattle housed in feedlots or dry lots as the surfaces in these facilities can give off more heat compared to pasture conditions. If using an artificial shade structure, ensure that it is at least 8 feet tall to allow ample air movement underneath the structure.

Ventilation - If cattle are housed in confinement such as an enclosed barn or building, fans can be used to improve circulation of air throughout the building. Ventilation should be an important part of any facility remodeling or design.

Water - During periods of excessive heat cattle can consume over 25 gallons of water per head per day. If using a stock tank, ensure there is enough area for multiple animals to drink at once. Ensure water flow rates are fast enough to keep up with increased water intake. Regardless of water source ensure the water provided is clean and cool. When water temperature is above 80 degees F intakes can be decreased, so ensure water lines are not exposed to direct sunlight. Intake can be decreased if the water is dirty, so ensure a clean water source free of algae.

Continued next page...

Beating the Heat… Continued Mineral - Minerals are a required nutrient and a complete free choice mineral should be provided for cattle on pasture

365 days of the year. With increased water intake associated with heat stress, urination will also increase and along with-it excretion of certain minerals. Provide mineral in a location where cattle will readily consume it, as intake is key to any mineral program!

Feeding time - For cattle on feed, heat production will peak 4-6 hours after feeding. So, cattle fed in the morning will have peak heat production from feed intake during the hottest part of the day. Thus, cattle should receive ~70% of their feed 2-4 hours after the hottest part of the day.

Decrease dietary energy - Again for cattle on feed, research has shown that decreasing dietary energy can lower heat load for cattle during extreme heat. Work with a nutritionist before making dietary changes!

Pasture selection - If possible, avoid grazing endophyte infected fescue pastures during periods of extreme heat. This may not be feasible for all operations. Cattle should be on pastures that provide ample shade during the hottest parts of the day and allow for easy access to the water source from the shaded locations.

Fly control - When cattle are battling with flies, they tend to cluster together making it difficult to affectively dissipate heat. Also, fly avoidance behaviors exhibited by cattle, such as foot stomping, tail switching, and head movements require energy and can further exacerbate heat stress.

Take care of yourself- Last but certainly not least risks to human health are often overlooked when discussing heat stress on livestock operations. The most important part of any beef cattle operation are the people behind it. So, take precautions and be able to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke!

Is Rained On Hay Any Good? A lot of hay has been cut in recent weeks. The weather was good, but not perfect, as Kentucky weather is notoriously unpredictable. If you got some rain during haymaking, you are not alone. What happens to quality for rained on hay? The majority of the damage from untimely rains is the loss of soluble nutrients from the hay (the sugars). Even before rain damage, we lose some sugar during plant respiration that occurs from the time forage is cut until it reaches about 50% moisture content. Rainfall will extend the length of time that the hay is wetter than 50% moisture, leading to more loss of sugars from respiration.

Rainfall also leaches the soluble sugars from hay. The amount of leaching depends on the forage type, the hay moisture content when it rains, the concentration of soluble sugars, and the number, amount and intensity of rainfall event(s). Leaf shatter can also be significant in legumes, especially on nearly dry forage.

Hay that has been rained on during curing will also have greater levels of dirt as well as higher numbers of microorganisms that will cause molding in the bale. Finally, the extra tedding and raking that may be needed to cure the crop can lead to further losses, especially in legume hay.

Research done by Dr. Mike Collins, retired UK forage scientist, gives us some insight into the question of how much quality is lost due to rain. Dr. Collins measured the digestibility of alfalfa and red clover forage which experienced rain at different times after cutting. In 1980, one inch of rain that fell soon after clipping had little negative impact on forage digestibility (as measured by IVDMD – a laboratory estimate of the extent of digestion of a forage in the rumen). In a second study, 1.6 inches of rain during curing (after some drying had occurred) caused significant losses in digestibility. Getting 2.4 more inches of rain on almost dry hay caused further damage, truly making some of the forage of little value (for example, 36% digestibility in rain-damaged late-bloom alfalfa). With severely rain damaged hay, it may better to leave it on the field, chop it up with a rotary mower to speed decomposition and minimize shading of the next crop. Continued next page...

Is Rained On Hay Any Good? Continued Similar research at the University of Arkansas found dry matter losses were below 2% for second cutting orchardgrass with up to 3 inches of simulated rainfall when the forage was 67.4% moisture (moisture level just after cutting). Dry matter losses quadrupled to 8% when the same amount of water fell on forage at 15.3% moisture (moisture level desired for making dry hay).

In the end, deciding what to do with rain-damaged hay is a judgment call. Many factors come into play such as when the rainfall occurs during curing, the amount and intensity, and how dry the crop was when rained on. I find it helpful to know that rain immediately after cutting can do minimal damage. (Dr. Jimmy Henning, UK Extension Forage Specialist excerpt from June 18 Farmer’s Pride.)

Complete Pasture Renovation The easiest solution is often not the best solution. Some producers regularly overseed pastures and apply herbicides, but their pastures are still not productive. If a pasture has major issues like fescue endophyte toxicity or major weed issues, then you can be wasting your money by trying short term solutions that are not working. The best long term solution can be complete pasture renovation. Below are basic steps that have proven successful on many farms throughout the southeast.

Lime and fertilize to soil test recommendations.

Make sure that high endophyte fescue has not gone to seed this summer. Clip seedheads.

Stop grazing in early July and allow five to six inches of regrowth.

Spray with glyphosate in mid to late-July-- 4-6 weeks before planting

Allow weeds and toxic tall fescue to regrow.

Re-spray glyphosate in late August to early September before planting.

Plant early to mid-September with novel tall fescue, orchardgrass or other perennial grass species.

Seed with a no-till drill at 20 lbs/acre and no deeper that ¼ to ½ inches deep.

To achieve better ground cover, set drill at 10 lbs/acre, seed twice with the 2nd pass perpendicular to 1st.

Apply a low rate of Urea (100-125 lbs/acre) at seeding or in October to enhance stand establishment.

For broadleaf weeds, wait until new grass seedlings reach the 4 leaf stage (4-6”) before spraying.

Allow good sod development before grazing. Be patient and wait for the stand to develop.

If you must graze, wait until plants are 8” tall and flash graze (a large number of animals for a day).

Ideally, manage with light grazing or a hay harvest next spring. Overgrazing can ruin a new stand.

To incorporate clover, frost seed the following February after weed issues have been controlled.

Managing Mosquitoes As we move into the heart of the summer months, mosquito activity often begins to increase. That can mean more hungry mosquitoes searching for blood meals! There are a number of practices we can adopt to reduce the number of mosquitoes or their biting. This includes reducing the breeding sites by eliminating standing water, excluding them from your house, and using repellents to prevent biting when outside.

Reducing Breeding Sites In its lifetime, the Asian tiger mosquito usually stays within 100 yards of where it developed as a larva, so eliminating standing water around areas outside where you spend time has real benefits. While some containers, such as rain barrels, bird baths, buckets, and pet dishes are obvious breeding locations, others, like children’s toys, used tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, and tarps over boats or equipment, may be harder to spot. Whenever possible, standing water needs to be drained frequently. In places where standing water cannot be drained, mosquito larvicides should be used to eliminate mosquito larvae. There are now several active ingredients on the market.

Reduce Shelter for Mosquitoes Adult mosquitoes rest during the day in shady, humid locations, such as the cover of dense vegetation. Remove tall weeds and thin overgrown vegetation to reduce the protected places where mosquitoes can hide during the day. Increasing air movement reduces humidity and moisture favorable for mosquitoes. Residual insecticides applied to shrubbery around the yard can help to reduce mosquito biting.

Excluding Them from Your Home Use properly installed screening around all doors and windows to prevent mosquitos from entering the home. If you spend lots of time on your porch, screening the porch may be an option.

Protect Yourself from Bites When spending time outdoors while mosquitoes are active, consider using commercial mosquito repellents. When used as directed, mosquito repellents are safe and effective. The CDC lists a number of different effective active ingredients for repellents on their website, https://www.cdc.gov/features/stopmosquitoes/index.html. Besides repellents, covering exposed skin with long pants and long sleeved shirts reduces exposure. Clothing can be treated with permethrin for added protection, but do not use permethrin directly on your skin. Permethrin treatments to clothing can provide protection after multiple washings. When using insecticides to control mosquitoes or repellents to reduce biting, always read and follow the label directions. (Dr. Ric Bessin, UK Entomology Extension Specialist)

UK Extension Entomology Resource Page: https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/extension-entomology

The Asian tiger mosquito is a common day-biting mosquito in Kentucky (Photo: Ric Bessin, UK).

Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud! Whether it’s spring, summer, fall or winter, you can Plate It Up with delicious recipes that put a new twist on your favorite Kentucky Proud foods. Visit http://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/piukp-recipes to find all the Plate It Up recipes using Kentucky Proud products.

Madison County Beekeepers Association Meetings at the Madison County Extension Office are cancelled until further notice. For more information about the Beekeepers Association, call Kent, 859-623-3576 or Paul, 859-582-6172.

I Bought a Farm… Now What? Les Anderson, Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

Episode 13 - Heifers Turned Out to portion of Paddock 1 – Lehmkuhler and Anderson Episode 14 - Fencing Complete and Heifers turned out to full Paddock 1 – Anderson Episdoe 15 - End of May: Heifer Moving Day – Anderson Episode 16 – Looking at Heifers - Anderson Episode 17 – Grass inventory and heifer evaluation – Anderson Episode 18 – Moving heifers out of paddock 4 - Anderson Lots of ground covered in these videos. To watch this docuseries, follow this link to the Department of Animal & Food Science YouTube page, subscribe, and click the notification bell. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu4t18Zo2E_4_DBBELPjPMg There are also many other great beef cattle production related topics and presenters from the UK Beef Extension Team!

BQCA Certification is Available Online! The Kentucky Beef Quality and Care Assurance (BQCA) Certification is now available online. Producers can access the online BQCA program by visiting kybeefnetwork.com or http://afs.ca.uky.edu/beef/irm and clicking on “Beef Quality & Care Assurance”. The Beef Quality & Care Assurance certification costs $5 and can be paid online prior to the accessing the course.

This online process is similar to how in-person BQCA trainings are conducted. Upon successful completion of the course, your training will be processed by the Kentucky Beef Network and your BQCA training card will be mailed to your county Extension office at the end of each month. If you should need your BQCA number sooner, you can call KBN at 859-278-0899 or email at kbn@kycattle.org.

If a farmer cannot access the online course or wishes to wait until in-person trainings are available, and they had a valid BQCA number on March 1, 2020, their existing BQCA certification will remain active until live trainings are available again. These steps have been approved by the Governor’s Office for Ag Policy staff for compliance in the CAIP program.

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