Soil Science Commons^™

Why Aren't Big Square Balers Used More In Kentucky?, Tom Keene

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The history of making hay dates back for centuries and centuries. When mankind began to grow crops and livestock rather than being nomadic, they had to have some type of forage to feed their livestock during the cold and winter months. Since that time there has been a slow and steady progression from harvesting material by hand to today’s modern hay making equipment that maximizes time, labor, fuel, etc. However some countries to this day still use the methods that are thousands of years old when it comes to hay making.

Alfalfa For Summer Grazing, Roy Burris, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is most commonly used as a hay crop in the United States. However, with proper management, it can be utilized as a grazing crop with very good results. Liveweight gains per acre are quite high for grazing beef cattle with total season grains of 500 to 800 pounds per acre being reasonable. The authors realized 732 lb/acre of gains on 16 acres of alfalfa in 1991, with beef steers at Princeton.

Lessons Learned In Australia--Uk Forages Study Tour, Traci Missun, S. Ray Smith, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

In September 2013, twenty Kentuckians traveled to Australia to tour farms and attend the International Grasslands Congress. The group included ten county agents, five farmers, four UK faculty/staff and a teacher. This study tour allowed participants to gain a new perspective of agriculture and how Australian farmers deal with adversity. Farmers there face many challenges each year with change in precipitation, ranging from severe drought to flooding. These challenges have forced them to incorporate different methods to be successful, including intensive grazing, use of overhead and drip irrigation for pasture and hay production, and fallow farming.

Alfalfa Baleage/Silage Preservatives: Do They Work? Are They Economical?, S. Ray Smith

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

There are many variables with silage production including - type of silage operation (silo, bunk, tube, or wrapped bale), weather, packing or bale density, speed of covering. Therefore, no two silage crops are ever the same, which is why researchers are reluctant to give blanket statements regarding when and how to use silage inoculants. There has been a lot of good research though in recent years about the effect of silage inoculants under various management and conditions. What follows is an overview of this research and some general recommendations. Much of this overview was taken from a very good fact …

Role And Importance Of Alfalfa In Wku Teaching/Research/Farm Programs, Elmer Gray

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is the oldest and most widely grown forage legume in the world and in Kentucky, where approximately 250,000 acres are produced. It has gained this top position through producing forage suitable for most classes of livestock, by being drought tolerant, and by fixing atmosphere nitrogen.

Foreword And Recipients Of Kentucky Alfalfa Awards [2014], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.

Limitations And Benefits To Cultivating Tobacco, Edwin L. Ritchey, Gary K. Palmer

Plant and Soil Sciences Research Report

Historically, between-row cultivation for weed control has been an integral part of tobacco production. In one season, a grower might perform five or more cultivations and several hand weeding operations for adequate weed control. Early herbicide chemistries would control some weeds, but not all, forcing the producer to cultivate and hand weed. The development of better herbicides improved the range of weeds controlled, sometimes to the point that cultivation for weed control was not warranted. Many producers are so accustomed to cultivating they have forgotten why cultivation was necessary. The decision to cultivate should largely be based on the presence …

Impact Of Climate Change On Wheat Production In Kentucky, Kathleen Russell, Chad Lee, Rebecca L. Mcculley, David Van Sanford

Plant and Soil Sciences Research Report

Summary:

• From 2002 to 2012, Kentucky winter wheat ranged in value from $52 million to $209 million.
• Climate change and variability have the potential to significantly impact this important economic enterprise within our state.
• This report summarizes the current state of knowledge of the potential of climate change to impact wheat production in Kentucky and surrounding states.

Comparison Of Herbicide Systems For Dark Fire-Cured Tobacco, William A. Bailey, Tim Lax, Bobby Hill

Plant and Soil Sciences Research Report

Field experiments were conducted at Murray, KY in 2005, 2006, and 2007 to compare dark tobacco tolerance and weed control from various herbicide systems applied prior to transplanting. Herbicide treatments included sulfentrazone at 0.38 lb ai/A (12 oz/A Spartan 4F) applied pretransplant (PT), clomazone at 1 lb ai/A PT (2.67 pt/A Command 3ME), sulfentrazone at 0.38 lb ai/A plus clomazone at 1 lb ai/A PT, pendimethalin at 1.48 lb ai/A (3.6 pt/A Prowl 3.3EC) applied pretransplant incorporated (PTI), pendimethalin at 1.48 lb ai/A PTI followed by sulfentrazone at 0.38 lb ai/A PT, pebulate at 4 lb ai/A PTI (2.67 qt/A …

Boron Nutrition Of Burley And Dark Tobacco, Laura Ann Frakes Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

The incidences of suspected Boron (B) deficiency have increased recently in Kentucky tobacco fields, potentially due to recent changes in management practices. The symptoms observed in the field include; hollow stalk, stunted growth, deformed or no bud formation, small slits on the lower leaf midrib and uncontrollable breaking of the midrib approximately two inches from the stalk. B is a micronutrient tobacco needs in minute amounts, however excessive additions of B could cause toxicity. The objectives of this work were to 1) establish critical points for B sufficiency, 2) describe and define B deficiency and toxicity symptoms and 3) develop …

Determining Hillslope Diffusion Rates In A Boreal Forest: Quaternary Fluvial Terraces In The Nenana River Valley, Central Alaska Range, Laurel Anne Walker

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

The subarctic boreal forest biome is predicted to experience higher magnitudes of warming than other biomes due to climate change. The effects of this warming will be pronounced in areas underlain by discontinuous permafrost where melting permafrost and distinct changes in vegetation patterns are expected. To better understand rates of hillslope diffusion in the boreal forest I have used a geomorphic process modeling approach, using data from a sequence of Quaternary fluvial terraces located in the Nenana River valley of central Alaska. I hypothesized that diffusion rates here would be slower when compared to the mid-latitudes, and faster on north …

Biomechanical Effects Of Trees And Soil Thickness In The Cumberland Plateau, Michael Shouse

Theses and Dissertations--Geography

Previous research in the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas suggests that, on relatively thin soils overlying bedrock, individual trees locally thicken the regolith by root penetration into bedrock. However, that work was conducted mainly in areas of strongly dipping and contorted rock, where joints and bedding planes susceptible to root penetration are more common and accessible. This project extended this concept to the Cumberland Plateau, Kentucky, with flat, level-bedded sedimentary rocks. Spatial variability of soil thickness was quantified at three nested spatial scales, and statistical relationships with other potential influences of thickness were examined. In addition, soil depth beneath trees was compared …

Monitoring The Influence Of Acid Deposition On Soil And Implications To Forest Health In The Daniel Boone National Forest, Tyler M. Sanderson

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Combustion of fossil fuels has contributed to many environmental problems including acid deposition. The Clean Air Act (CAA) was created to reduce ecological problems by cutting emissions of sulfur and nitrogen. Reduced emissions and rainfall concentrations of acidic ions have been observed since the enactment of the CAA, but soils continue to receive some acid inputs. Soils sensitive to acid deposition have been found to have low pH, a loss of base cations and a shift in the mineral phase controlling the activity of Al³⁺ and/or SO₄^2-. If inputs continue, soil may be depleted of base …

Field-Scale Water And Solute Transport, Yang Yang

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Spatial variability of soil properties complicates the understanding of water and solute transport at the field scale. This study evaluated the impact of land use, soil surface roughness, and rainfall characteristics on water transport and Br^- leaching under field conditions by means of a new experimental design employing scale-dependent treatment distribution. On a transect with two land use systems, i.e., cropland and grassland, rainfall intensity and the time delay between Br^- application and subsequent rainfall were arranged in a periodically repetitive pattern at two different scales. Both scales were distinct from the scale of surface roughness as described …

2014 Weed Control Recommendations For Kentucky Grain Crops, Jonathan D. Green, James R. Martin

Agriculture and Natural Resources Publications

The use of herbicides suggested in this publication is based on research at the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and elsewhere. We have given what we believe to be the most effective herbicides, with the most suitable rates and times of application. Use of trade or brand names in this publication does not imply approval of the product to the exclusion of others which may be of similar or suitable composition.

Herbicide registrations and labels are constantly being revised and changed; therefore, herbicides recommended in this publication were registered for the prescribed uses when the publication was printed. If the registration …

Kentucky Forage Spokesperson Contest, Kentucky Forage And Grassland Council

Kentucky Grazing Conference

No abstract provided.

Can We Graze 300+ Days?, Glen Aiken

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Dependence on stored feeds during the winter months has been necessary in order to maintain body condition and meet nutrient requirements of cattle herds; unfortunately, cost of stored feeds typically are a major part of the farm budget. We know, all too well, that hay shortages and unstable feed ingredient markets have reduced profit potential in cattle production. This has further placed higher demands on supplies of co-product feeds to cause prices of these alternative feeds to rise and make them less cost effective. There will likely be less reliance on concentrate and co-product feeds as the forage-based livestock industry …

Pastures For Horses, Robert Coleman

Kentucky Grazing Conference

The horse evolved as a grazing animal. In order to consume enough forage to meet the horses’ nutritional needs a significant amount of time would be spent each day grazing. The pattern of selecting forage-moving to the next area starting to graze again can easily translate into 14 to 16 hours of grazing activity each day. The level of grazing activity will also be affected by the available forage and the daily access to pasture.

Pastures For Goats And Sheep, Greg Brann

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Pasture for sheep is not that different than that for cattle but pasture for goats is very different. Sheep are grazers like cattle whereas goats are browsers like deer. Even though grass and clover are not a goats preference if all of the forage present is grass and clover goats will eat it. Due to goats and sheep being more prey animals than cattle they don’t like to wade off into tall vegetation, also it takes more energy for them to move through tall growth. Many plants that we traditionally consider weeds become desirable forbs when goats or sheep are …

The Role Of Weed Control In Profitable Pastures, Scott Flynn, Pat Burch

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Pasture weeds compete for resources such as space, water, and nutrients. This competition reduces forage yield which in turn reduces the carrying capacity of a pasture. Although herbicide applications are needed to gain a quick upper hand on weed control most producers are deterred due to cost, the potential loss of pasture legumes, labor, or the belief that herbicide applications are required frequently to keep weed population under control. However, herbicide use in pastures should not be looked at in this manner but instead as an investment that can pay for itself very quickly and easily, and be long-term especially …

Role Of Legumes In Pastures, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Successful livestock production is dependent on forage programs which supply large quantities of adequate quality, homegrown feed. A major percentage of the feed units for beef (83%) and dairy (61%) cattle come from forages. In addition, forages supply an estimated 91%, 72%, 15% and 99% of the nutrients consumed by sheep and goats, horses, swine and ruminant wildlife, respectively.

(How I Think About) Kentucky's Pastures: One Of Kentucky's Untapped Resources, Jimmy C. Henning

Kentucky Grazing Conference

One of the privileges of old(er) age is the prerogative to take liberties with assigned tasks. At the risk of confusing producers and offending more scientifically-current forage scientists, the topic of pasture as an untapped resource presented an opportunity to address task from an unexpected angle. Certainly, Kentucky’s pastures are a resource with untapped potential. But the idea that their value as a resource depends on how we think about them is one worth pursuing.

Foreword And Kfgc Award Winners [2013], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe

Kentucky Grazing Conference

No abstract provided.

Photo Highlights From The 33rd Kentucky Alfalfa Conference, Krista Cotton

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.

Finishing Beef On Alfalfa, Todd Powell

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Powell Farms started in 1996 with 15 acres of Alfalfa hay intended for cow/calf feed. A neighbor and his friends bought every bale that year. Over the next 14 years the only alfalfa hay our cows got to eat was when a cutting got wet and was rolled. As with any business when the economy starts to take a downward trend, it is wise to start looking for new and innovative ways to market your product.

Making And Marketing Hay For The Horse Industry, Todd Clark

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.

Fertilizer: How Much Is In Each Bale?, Dennis Hancock

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

What do you see when you look at a bale? Certainly, many would say it is a source of feed for our livestock. Others see a commodity that is sold to their customers. These are the most important aspects of any forage. But, there is one other intrinsic value worth noting… its nutrient content. In a sense, it is a bale of fertilizer.

Our Experience With Roundup Ready Alfalfa, Clayton Geralds

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

We raise approximately 500 acres of alfalfa with approximately 175 seeded to Roundup Ready varieties. We established our first field in 2006 and a second in 2007. Roundup Ready alfalfa was not available for additional seedings until 2011. We have seeded over 100 additional acres in 2011 and 2012.

Key To Success When Harvesting Alfalfa As Baleage, S. Ray Smith

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is an excellent forage for high-producing cows and universally considered one of the highest-quality forages. Cows efficiently use the high levels of protein, calcium and high-quality fiber in alfalfa for producing milk and meat. The palatability of alfalfa is high, especially when the leaves are maintained during harvest. Typically, cows will eat more alfalfa than grass because the fiber content is usually lower in alfalfa. Harvesting alfalfa as baleage vs. hay greatly improves the chances maintaining high quality because there is less leaf loss and less loss of soluble carbohydrates. The most important factor is harvesting high quality alfalfa …

Alfalfa For Grazing, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

High grain prices, increasing nitrogen prices, droughts, need for higher quality pasture plants and improved alfalfa varieties have all contributed to a greater interest in and opportunity for alfalfa as a grazing crop.