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USDA
Special Thanks: Rhonda Miller, Utah State University
Stewardship through ManagementPasture Establishment and Renovation
USDA
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Goals Establishment:
planting a pasture where there is no existing pasture
Renovation: a series of actions that lead to a long-term change in the plant composition of a pasture
USDA ARS
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Type of renovation Partial renovation
◦ Rejuvenation or enhancement of existing pasture
◦ Conduct if you have a poor forage stand winter injury, drought, weed invasion, etc.
Total renovation◦ Destruction followed by reestablishment of
either the same species or another speciesSpecies - refers to the type of plant, such as alfalfa, sweet clover, smooth bromegrass, etc. Cultivar - refers to a specific variety within a species. York is a cultivar of smooth bromegrass.
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Benefits of renovation Replace old or diseased
pasture species with healthy improved varieties
Extend or increase productivity of pasture
Improve quality of forage Increase animal
productivity Reduce soil erosion Reduce noxious weeds
www.farmphoto.com
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When to renovate? Renovate when:
◦ Pasture is in poor condition and even proper management techniques will not improve the
pasture to the desired level
UNCE, Reno, Nev.
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Factors to consider when establishmenting forage
UNCE, Reno, Nev.
Seedbed preparation Seeding methods Seeding guidelines Seeding rates Costs
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Forage establishment Seedbed preparation
◦ Seed requirements◦ Tillage ◦ Other forms of seedbed
preparation◦ Fertility and pH
USU, Logan, UT
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Seedbed preparationYour goal:
Provide a firm seedbed with just enough loose surface soil for shallow seed placement and good seed-to-soil contact
Seed requirements◦ Adequate soil temperature◦ Moisture◦ Oxygen◦ Seed-to-soil contact
Accomplish by creating a firm, moist seedbed)
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A firm, moist seedbed is essential for:
Proper seed placement Good soil-seed contact Successful establishment
www.farmphoto.com
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Seedbed preparation
Deep tillage (plow) Disc Roller harrow or
cultipacker
www.farmphoto.com
Proper tillage creates a firm seedbed
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Seedbed preparationPurpose of tillage◦ Eliminate existing
vegetation◦ Turn under surface weed
seeds
◦ Loosen soil◦ Incorporate fertilizer ◦ Provide firm seedbed for
seeding
www.freefoto.com
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Other forms of seedbed preparation Close clipping
or grazing Burning Non-selective
herbicides
USU, Logan, UT
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Seedbed preparation: fertility and pH
Base on soil test results Add lime if pH is low Add sulfur if the pH is high Determine a reasonable yield Add appropriate macro-
nutrients◦ Phosphorus and potassium◦ Nitrogen
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Forage establishmentSeeding guidelines
Planting windows◦ Late winter to early spring◦ Late summer to early fall
Seeding depth◦ Varies, is species specific
Inoculation of legumes◦ Ensures proper bacteria
present for nitrogen fixationclay.agr.okstate.edu
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Why forage seedings failGermination through emergence
Hard seed Cold temperatures Improper planting depth Seed dries out Crusted soil surface Toxicity - allelopathic effects,
herbicide carryoverclay.agr.okstate.e
du
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Why forage seedings failAfter emergence
Inappropriate pH Low fertility Poor drainage Drought Insects Diseases, winter kill Inadequate legume inoculation Competition from weeds/companion crops
clay.agr.okstate.edu
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Forage establishment Seeding methods Broadcast Cultipacker Drilled No-till Frost seeding Companion crop
USU
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Broadcast seeding Cheapest and easiest
method of seeding Need to drag or pack
the soil after spreading the seed
Tilled seedbed Seed placement not
uniform
www.modernforage.com
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Cultipacker seeding Consists of two sets of rollers with
seed boxes between them Commonly used on tilled seedbeds Don’t use on heavy soils
www.faivre.com
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Drill seeding Directly plants
each seed into tilled soil at the proper depth
Need to use a forage drill
Grain drills will result in poor seed placement for small forage seeds
UNCE, Reno, Nev.
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No-till seeding Plants seed directly into existing vegetation
◦ Solid planting◦ Band planting
Requires a no-till planter Reduces erosion Conserves soil moisture Reduced fuel, labor, and
time requirementswww.usda.gov
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Frost seeding Seed is broadcast in late
winter on soil surface Freezing & thawing action plus
rain will cover seed Works well with red clover
www.freefoto.com
UNCE
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Companion crop seedingAdvantages:
Can be cut or grazed for feed Provides a quick ground cover Helps control soil erosion Reduces invasion of weeds Disadvantages: Competes for nutrients, light and moisture Good management is essential
USDA
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Forage establishmentSeeding rates Desired stand Percent pure live
seed Other factors to
consider
Intermediate wheatgrass seed
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Seeding ratesDesired stand varies based on: Forage species planted
◦ Ability to fill in (rhizomes)◦ Mixture, pure-stand, companion crop
Availability of water
Percent pure live seed (PLS)% PLS = % Purity x % Germination
% Purity = % of seed that is the desired forage seed
% Germination = % of seed that germinates when planted
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costs: TillageMethod Cost per acre (2012)
Plowing Moldboard $15 - $30 Chisel $15 - $30Disc/Harrow Tandem disc $15 - $30 Harrow/Cultipacker $10 - $30Planting Conventional Drill $10 - $15 No-till $15 - $20
http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/ABM/custrates.htm
Forage establishment
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costs: Seed Grasses - Irrigated (June 2013)
Grasses – Dryland (June 2013)
Species Cost/lb (PLS) Seeding Rate (Drill)Orchardgrass $2.22/lb 5 lb/acreTimothy $2.40/lb 3 lb/acreTall fescue $1.40/lb 8 lb/acreSmooth bromegrass $4.50/lb 13 lb/acre
Species Cost/lb Seeding Rate (Drill)Western wheatgrass $7.50/lb 8 lb/acreSideoats grama $15.90/lb 4.5 lb/acrePrairie junegrass $21.95/lb 1 lb/acreBlue grama $27.00/lb 1.5 lb/acre
Forage establishment
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costsReduced yield as stand establishes: Spring seeding
◦ Reduced number of cuttings first year◦ Reduced yield per cutting
Fall seeding◦ No harvest of new crop during establishment◦ Reduced yield of previous crop during year of
establishment Ground preparation Time for establishment
Forage establishment
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Additional factors to consider Pasture inventory◦ Land available◦ Climate◦ Soil characteristics
Forage use◦ Livestock◦ Grazing vs. hay production◦ Continuous grazing vs. rotational grazing
UNCE, Reno, Nev.
www.usda.gov
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Pasture inventoryLand available
Grazing land◦ Water source(s)◦ Sacrifice area
Hay production
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Pasture inventoryClimate Growing season
◦ Frost-free days◦ Growing degree days
(GDD) Temperature Precipitation
Soil characteristics Drainage Water holding capacity
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Forage useLivestock Different animals have
different nutritional requirements and forage preferences◦ Horses (timothy)◦ Dairy cattle (perennial ryegrass)◦ Beef cattle (tall fescue)
www.farmphoto.com
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Forage useGrazing vs. hay production Which will be your primary use? Many forages that are good for hay
production are not good for grazing, and vice-versa◦ Upright growth habit - better for hay production◦ Consider trampling effects
www.farmphoto.com
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Forage use Continuous grazing
◦ Easy◦ But…yields are reduced
Rotational grazing◦ Requires more
management and infrastructure
◦ But…yields are higher
USDA NRCS
USDA NRCS
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Plant characteristics
USDA NRCS
Grasses Legumes
Seasonal growth patternsDisease resistance
Forage qualityPure stands or mixtures
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Grasses Growth habit
◦Bunch◦Sod-forming
Stolon Rhizome
Re-growth◦Jointing ◦Non-jointing
Grasses are more tolerant of poor soil conditions
But…grasses require nitrogen source
USDA NRCS
Little bluestem
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Legumes Legumes fix nitrogen
from the air Growth habit
◦ Upright (sainfoin)◦ Prostrate (birdsfoot trefoil)
New growth◦ Axillary (sweetclover)◦ Crown (red clover)◦ Axillary & crown (alfalfa)
clay.agr.okstate.edu
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Seasonal growth distribution
ISU
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Insect and disease resistance and winter hardiness
Genetically inherited traits◦ Select disease-resistant varieties◦ Select varieties with good winter hardiness
Consider the intended years of use
clay.agr.okstate.edu
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Forage quality
Affects: Palatability, and thus
amounts consumed Nutritive value
◦ Digestibility◦ Chemical composition
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Pure stand Advantages
◦ Management is easier◦ Weed control is easier
Disadvantage◦ Yield can be lower
www.forages.css.orst.edu
Advantages◦ Less nitrogen fertilizer
when legumes present◦ More tolerant of
variation in soil conditions
◦ More competitive against weeds
Mixture
What should I plant?
Disadvantages◦ Difficult grazing mgmt◦ If not managed properly
grasses will dominate◦ More difficult weed control
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Principles for composing mixtures
Keep the mixture simple Similar maturity date Similar growth habit Similar palatability
clay.agr.okstate.edu
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Cool-season grasses Most productive in the spring and fall
Poor summer production Bunchgrasses versus sod-forming grasses
Characteristics of individualgrasses & legumes
Western wheatgrass
Crested wheatgrass Smooth bromegrass
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Warm-season grasses Productive during summer months
Must be suitable for your area Bunchgrasses versus sod-forming grasses
Characteristics of individual grasses & legumes
Prairie sandreed Switchgrass
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Legumes Fix nitrogen from atmosphere
Some may cause bloat
clay.agr.state.edu
Characteristics of individual grasses & legumes
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Summary Renovation may be partial or total Partial renovation rejuvenates or
enhances parts of an existing pasture Proper management can aide in
partial renovation Total renovation destroys existing
vegetation then re-establishes better vegetation
Plan ahead!
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Homework Determine if your pasture
requires improvement or renovation Determine your goals for the
improvement or renovation project Determine the best and most cost-
effective method to achieve your goals.
Determine the best plants to use for your area and for your goals.