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Agriculture and Natural Resources Blog
Kenny SimonInstructor - Animal Science
Phone: (501) 671-2179Email: ksimon@uada.edu
Many producers have experienced poor hay yields this year. Conversations eventually turn to options for more hay or to reduce the hay requirement this winter. Based on University of Arkansas research, several options can be considered for fall and winter forage that can stretch that short hay crop.
Many of these options have been proven in the 300 Days Grazing Program. Recently a producer commented that he thought the 300 Days Grazing Program only worked in north Arkansas. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Most of the forage practices can be implemented more easily in south Arkansas due to the forage base and climate. Dr. Paul Beck’s research at the Southwest Research and Extension Center at Hope conclusively showed that adding three simple practices to a bermudagrass pasture base can extend a grazing season to well over 300 days. But, each of those practices requires advanced planning so don’t wait until you need forage to realize you didn’t start soon enough.
Here are ten forage options that can extend the grazing season based on our research and demonstrations. Many of them can be planted in mixtures to gain a longer productive season. For example, spring oats or forage brassica can be mixed with annual ryegrass. The oats or brassica provide fall grazing and the ryegrass provides grazing the next spring. Seeding rates of each species in a mixture can be reduced by 25-50% to achieve a final seeding rate per acre. Generally, nitrogen fertilizer should be applied at the time of planting at 50 lbs N per acre. Consider rotational or strip grazing to get more grazing days per acre. To calculate pasture set up for strip grazing or paddock size for your preferred pasture rotation, see our new online calculators on the Arkansas Forage Advisor website. Check with your county extension office for more details.
Stockpiled bermudagrass
Browntop millet (earliest maturing warm-season annual)
Sorghum/sudan
Pearl millet
Corn
Stockpiled fescue
Spring oats
Cereal rye or wheat
Ryegrass
Forage brassica