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Cool-Season Forage Considerations for Fall and Winter

PERRY MOBLEY

As we quickly approach the fall months, it is time to think about your annual cool-season forage production program. Each year presents a different and sometimes unique set of circumstances and challenges, and this year is no different in that respect.

Weather Conditions

Increased amounts of rainfall this year have prevented producers from getting into the field for timely hay cuttings, which could lead to a shortage of hay and stored feed going into the winter. Pastures have been able to produce an excess of forage since mid-June. Cattle cannot keep up with this excess growth and have been seen in “brisket-deep grass” losing body condition, especially near the coast due to the dominant species there. The rapid growth and increased water content in perennial grasses has caused the forage to decline rapidly at a much faster pace than what we would expect as we approach the latter part of summer. Because of the wet, humid and lower-than-average temperatures this summer, it has been a perfect setup for increased internal parasite infestations in cattle. Producers should monitor cattle’s body condition scores closely and may need to implement an additional deworming to what they would usually do in most years. Consider offering your cattle a high-quality protein supplement to help improve rumen microbe function to utilize all of the low-quality, abundant forage that is available and ensure that a high-quality mineral is available at all times to reduce loss of body condition. Products can be found that contain both in the same package. This loss in body condition can lead to expense in trying to catch them up and lost performance in terms of reproduction, calf vigor, overall health and weight gain.

Cost of Production

Winter annual forage programs vary significantly across our region, but increased cost of production of cool-season annual forages will certainly affect most producers this year. Increased cost of seed can be attributed to several factors. One major factor is the sheer demand driven by government policies and industries looking to offset their carbon emissions. Cover crops are a big part of this and most of the annual forages used double as cover crops. Another factor is the short supply of some winter annuals due to the poor growing or harvesting conditions in the areas of the country where they are traditionally grown. Ryegrass production is projected to be off by 10% due to drought conditions in Oregon. Lastly, fertilizer prices continue to be very strong this year. Budgeting and planning are critical as we head into the fall and winter months.

Insects

This summer has proven to be one of the worst armyworm outbreaks in recent memory. Producers in Louisiana and Mississippi have been battling them since May, and they are now being found in most of our region. Producers should be vigilant and diligent in scouting until the first frost as armyworms feed in existing forage for this year’s hay supply, posing a risk for early-planted forages, and can destroy new stands of cool-season grasses. A fairly new threat to our region, the striped grass looper has affected the coastal regions for several years now. They are spotted in late summer to early fall and are less discriminating in their food preferences, eating any grass that is available to them.

Disease

Finally, the last thing to be on the lookout for this fall with your cool-season annuals is disease, specifically gray leaf spot. Last fall, a tremendous outbreak of gray leaf spot, also known as “blast,” was seen in ryegrass and a few other small grain species. The common denominator in the worst cases was early planting dates that subjected them to more heat and humidity than what a cool-season plant can tolerate. Some varieties of ryegrass were affected more than others, with Marshall ryegrass seeing the most damage. The reason for this is twofold. Marshall ryegrass is the most common variety planted, so the law of averages was against it. While Marshall is still a good choice of variety, it’s a very old variety – meaning it has less disease resistance than many others on the market. As for ryegrass in general, there is not one single variety that can claim resistance to gray leaf spot, but there are varietal differences in degrees of tolerance to this disease. The best way to manage disease is to plant when growing conditions are best, which means the conditions for gray leaf spot development will be less conducive. Unfortunately, there are no labeled fungicides on the market for this problem in forage grasses.

To summarize, I would encourage every livestock producer to evaluate all aspects of their fall and winter production from a feed and forage standpoint. First, book the seed you might need to ensure against potentially higher prices as we enter the fall months as supplies get even tighter. Next, utilize as much additional forage as possible. Finally, mitigate the risk associated with disease and pests this fall by implementing best management practices. As I said in the beginning, every year brings its own unique set of challenges and opportunities. The problems we face this year are challenging, without question, but the choices we make to manage these can be the difference between winning and losing.

If you have any questions, please consult with your local Co-op or GreenPoint Ag location.