Rejuvenating Forage Stands Can Improve Production

Feb 23, 2021

A number of producers take time over the winter to evaluate their farming and ranching operation.

Rejuvenating pastures or hay stands can help to improve productivity.

Range Management Extension Specialist Luke Jorgenson says over time when pastures are grazed and forage stands are baled, nutrients are lost.

"For grass hay you're taking off 40 pounds of actual nitrogen, and just over 10 pounds of phosphorus from each dry ton of forage that you're taking off and over time that really adds up."

He says fertilizing perennial tame hay stands can help to improve forage quality, yield and longevity of the stand.

"Depending on your soil zone you can expect 10 to 30 pound per acre of forage dry matter increase, for every pound per acre of actual nitrogen applied. And again, this is for grass forage, and then the unpredictability of that yield response is due mostly to moisture."

Environmental factors have a big impact on forage production, as well whether it's moisture or topography, soil texture or salinity.

He notes maintaining a healthy forage stand with good fertility and vigor can help improve resilience in tough conditions.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.