e voice of the Ozarks

High fertilizer prices can take a big chunk out of a producer’s budget. Therefore, producers planning to fertilize their fields may want to consider strategies to ensure they are getting the most benefit for their money. “There is no reason to fertilize a field with nutrients that are not needed,” Tim Schnakenberg, field specialist in agronomy with the University of Missouri Extension, said. “Yet, farmers and ranchers who put a standard ratio of fertilizer on the same ground year after year are gambling and often miss opportunities to have positive impacts on forage production.”

Extension forage specialists recommend producers utilize soil test results to guide their decisions on the proper fertilizer blend. Following a soil test for each field is the only way for producers to know the specific phosphate, potash, and lime needs for that field.

“It pays to have a prescription recommendation for each field instead of guessing with fertilizer blends that only have a shotgun effect on fertilizing,” Schnakenberg added. It’s not too late to get a soil sample submitted and to use those results for the next three to four years to implement a more precise fertility approach to farming.

Nitrogen Application

For producers planning to add nitrogen to fields with cool season stands, the nitrogen should be applied anytime from late February through April. “The earlier the better for maximum growth such as for hay fields, however, if it is needed on pasture, nitrogen can be staggered in various fields later during the spring following grazing,” Schnakenberg stated.

Nitrogen application may be needed on farms with a high stocking density. However, if the farm has a low or moderate stocking density, additional nitrogen may not be necessary. “Usually, the biggest bang for the buck on nitrogen will happen in August for fall growth,” Schnakenberg shared. “Spring nitrogen often just propels grass growth faster and in some cases we won’t have enough cattle on the place to fully utilize it all.”

Evaluation of Stands

Due to last year’s drought, forage specialists advise producers to evaluate their stands this spring to make sure there is enough grass for the season. This would include developing a short-term and longterm plan for thickening the stand. “Our stands are open enough that weeds will likely be a severe problem in 2023, occupying space that should have forage in them,” Schnakenberg said.

Instead of trying to establish a permanent stand of tall fescue or orchardgrass in the spring, which may not survive the summer, experts recommend choosing an alternative. This year some producers have used forages such as turnips, annual ryegrass, clover or spring oats to get by. Another alternative producers may want to try is adding forage crabgrass and lespedeza. Those two forages will come up in time to fill gaps in the summer.

For producers with very thin stands of permanent grass, another option would be to drill in summer annuals such as sorghum sudangrasses or millets in mid-May to help stretch the for-age through the summer months. “Once we get through the summer, we are hopeful that we can have a less droughty fall where we can plant tall fescue and/or orchardgrass back in our stands around early September,” Schnakenberg stated. “If there is excess crabgrass or foxtail in fields, we may have to delay planting to when cooler weather starts to taper off their growth in the fall.”

Current Programs

Now-4/12 Taney County Get Your Taxes Prepared FREE! – call 417-546-4431

Now-4/13 Stone County Get Your Taxes Preparted Free! – call 417-357-6812

1st Monday of Every Month – Clover Coffee – 8:30-10 a.m. – Newton County Extension Office, Neosho, Mo. – for more information call 417-455-9500

March 2023

13 Building It from the Ground Up “Sheep and Goat Production” – 6-9 p.m. –Buffalo Alumni Building, Buffalo, Mo. – 417-745-6767 or 417-345-7551

13 Preparing for Farm Succession Workshop – Free Workshop, but space is limited – 6-8:30 p.m. – Hillside Christian Church, Marshfield, Mo. – to register call 417-859-2044 or visit muext.us/ABPevents

14 Poultry Butchering Workshop – Douglas County Fairgrounds, Ava, Mo. – for more information contact Webster County Extension Office at 417-859-2044

14 SW MO MU Extension Beef Cattle Conference – 4 p.m. – SW MU Research Extension Education Center, Mount Vernon, Mo. – Cost: $25 per person, meal included – for more information 417-276-3313 or davismp@missouri.edu –register at go.ozarksfn.com/r37

16 How To Manage Nuisance Wildlife In The Yard, Garden and On the Farm –6-8 p.m. – Howell County Extension Office, 1376 Bill Virdon Blvd., West Plains, Mo. – Class is free, but pre-registration is required – call 417-256-2391

16 Preparing for Farm Succession Planning – 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – Online via Zoom – Cost: Free – register online at muext.us/ABPevents

17 Barn Quilt Class – Hermitage, Mo. – call 417-745-6767 to register

17 Free Cattle Grading Workshop – 6-8:30 p.m. – South Central Regional Stockyards, Vienna, Mo. – questions 573-438-2671 – register at 573-422-3359 or muext.us/CattleGradingWorkshop

18 5th Annual Road to the Backdrop Showpig Sale – 4 p.m. – Free meal provided by MFA Incorporated – Lawrence County Fairgrounds, Freistatt, Mo. – for more information contact Creighton at 417-496-2513, Rick at 417-491-4364 or Mike at 417-389-2043

18 Waking Up to Roses – 10 a.m. – Newton County Extension Office, Neosho, Mo. – Free event – for more information call 417-455-9500

20 Barn Quilt Class – 4-9 p.m. – Laclede County Extension Office, 186-D Adams Street, Lebanon, Mo. – Cost: $45 – to register call 417-532-7126

20 Building It from the Ground Up “Economics of the Livestock Business” –6-9 p.m. – Buffalo Alumni Building, Buffalo, Mo. – for more information contact Terry at 417-745-6767 or Katie at 417-345-7551

21 Nuisance Wildlife Conflict Workshop – 6-7:30 p.m. – MU Extension Office Meeting Room, 186-D North Adam Avenue, Lebanon, Mo. – for more information or to pre-register contact Lyle at 417-895-6880 ext. 1644 or Jonetta at 417-532-7126

21 Talk On Soil and Nutrient Management in the Garden – 6-8 p.m. – Cost: Free – 2436 Tanner Bridge Road, Jefferson City, Mo. – for more information call 573-634-5463 or dhakald@missouri.edu – register online at go.ozarksfn.com/oei

22 Apple Grafting Workshop – 1:30-3:30 p.m. – Lybyer Room, MSU-West Plains, 605 W. Main Street, West Plains, Mo. – Cost: $20 – class size limited – for more information contact Patrick at 417-859-2044 or byerspl@missouri.edu – register online at go.ozarksfn.com/pgv

22-23 Artificial Insemination School – Southwest Research Center, 14548 State Road H, Mount Vernon, Mo. – for questions call 417-256-2391 – register online at go.ozarksfn.com/2l4

22 Bull Breeding Soundness Clinic – Countryside Veterinary Clinic, Aurora, Mo. – to schedule an appointment call 417-678-4011

22-23 MU Extension Feedlot School – Kirksville, Mo. – Cost: $400 – for more information and to register visit cvent.com/d/zlqx37

23 Bull Breeding Soundness Clinic – Diamond Veterinary Clinic, Diamond, Mo. – to schedule an appointment call 417-325-4136

23 Home Food Preservation Workshop – 5-6 p.m. – Cost: Free – Crane Public Library, 201 Main Street, Crane, Mo. – to register call 417-357-6812 or visit go.ozarksfn.com/g78

23 How and Why to Renovate Tall Fescue Pastures Workshop – Mount Vernon, Mo. – to register visit TallFescueMO23.eventbrite.com

24 Apple Grafting Workshop – 6-8 p.m. – MSU Bond Learning Center, 2401 S. Kansas Expy, Springfield, Mo. – Cost: $20 – class size limited – for more information contact Patrick at 417-859-2044 or byerspl@missouri.edu –register online at go.ozarksfn.com/pgv

28 Bull Breeding Soundness Clinic – Dake Veterinary Clinic, Miller, Mo. – to schedule an appointment call 417-510-5105

28 Pasture Weed Management and Livestock Fly Control Workshop – 4-6:30 p.m. – Cost: Free – 1376 Bill Virdon Blvd., West Plains, Mo. – for more information contact Sarah at 417-256-2391 – register go.ozarksfn.com/04d

29-31 HACCP Training for Food Processors – MU Campus, Columbia, Mo. –Cost: $450 – for more information and to register visit bit.ly/HACCPcourse

29 Pasture Weeds & Livestock Fly Control Workshop – 2-4 p.m. – Free event –Webster County Extension Center, 800 S. Marshall Street, Marshfield, Mo. – pre-registration required, seating is limited – call 417-859-2044

30 Tomato Grafting Workshop – 6-8 p.m. – Cost: $15 – Greene County MU Extension Office, Springfield, Mo. – for more information contact Kelly at 417-881-8909 or mcgowank@missouri.edu – register online go.ozarksfn.com/hh0

April 2023

1 Barry County 4-H Scholarship Banquet – 6:30 p.m. – Crowder Event Center, Cassville, Mo. – for more information call 417-847-3161

6-5/11 Missouri Master Pollinator Steward – Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon – Online via Zoom – Cost: $100 – for more information contact Kathi at 660-542-1792 or mechamk@missouri.edu – register online at go.ozarksfn.com/45n

6 Private Pesticide Applicator Training – 9-11 a.m. – Online via Zoom – for more information contact Tim at 417-357-6812 or SchankenbergC@missouri.edu – register online at go.ozarksfn.com/k56

7 Hay School at Wurdack Extension Farm – 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – Wurdack Farm, 164 Bales Road, Cook Station, Mo. – Cost: $35 per person or $55 per farm couple – to register call 573-729-3196 or visit go.ozarksfn.com/3jt

10-12 Grazing School – University of Missouri Southwest Research Center, Mt. Vernon, Mo. – for more information call 417-847-3161

10 Produce Safety for Community Gardens and Home Gardeners – 6-8 p.m. –Online via Zoom – Cost: Free – register by April 10 at 4 p.m. – for more information contact Justin at 573-324-5464 or justin.keay@missouri.edu –register online at go.ozarksfn.com/5nm

17-5/22 Inspired by Annie’s Project, Value Added Agriculture Series – Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. – Online via Zoom – Cost: $75 – for more information contact Karisha at 660-397-2179 or devlink@missouri.edu – register online at go.ozarksfn.com/t2r

May 2023

10 Private Pesticide Applicator Training – 2-4 p.m. – Online via Zoom – for more information contact Valerie at 660-895-5123 or tatev@umsystem.edu – register online at go.ozarksfn.com/mvp