may include spiny pigweed and cocklebur. Make sure and always following instructions on the herbicide label. Allow crabgrass to reach a height of 6-8 inches before grazing. Allowing crabgrass to become well established before grazing will increase season long productivity. Stop grazing at 3 -4 inches. By leaving residual leaf area, the regrowth of crabgrass will be more rapid and overall productivity will be increased. Crabgrass pastures can be grazed again once they reach a height of 6-8 inches. Apply 30-40 lb N/A in mid-summer. If you are getting plenty of rain, you might consider applying a small amount of nitrogen in midsummer. This will increase late summer growth and improve crude protein levels. Allow stands to go to seed at least once during the growing season. Crabgrass is a summer annual grass that behaves like a perennial through prolific reseeding. This means that it must come back from seed each year. Therefore, allowing it goes to seed ensures that there will be plenty of
volunteer seed for next year. Plant a winter annual in late summer or early fall. Crabgrass is productive from June until September. Planting a winter annual grass like annual ryegrass or a small grain can provide late fall or early spring grazing. As these winter annuals are grazed out, crabgrass will germinate and fill in. OR
This month’s FEATURED VIDEO is Optimizing Existing Forage Resources: Using What the Good Lord Gave us! This presentation was given as part of the 2020 Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council VIRTUAL Fall Grazing
Thicken stands up in the fall by interseeding cool-season perennial grasses. If you want to get more cool-season perennial grasses in the pasture, interseeding the pastures in the fall is the best option. This avoids competition from crabgrass and other summer annuals grasses and broadleaves. This interseeding is best accomplished using a no-till drill.
Conference held on October 27, 28, and
I realize that crabgrass isn’t for everyone, although most everyone has it in their pastures. It is just another resource that you might be able to use to make it through those hot and humid summer months!
is “Crabgrass” by Chris Teutsch,
29. Proceedings of this conference are available at https://uknowledge.uky. edu/ky_grazing/ This month’s FEATURED PUBLICATION Ray Smith, Tom Keene, and Jimmy C. Henning. It can be accessed at http:// bit.ly/342CcRK or found at your local extension office FENCING TIP Avoid using metal t-posts in electric
Figure 2. Impact of nitrogen fertilization on the dry matter yield of crabgrass. Maximum yield was achieved at a nitrogen rate of 305 lb N/A. However, the economic rate likely lies between 100 and 150 lb N/A applied as a split application.
fencing applications. Metal T-posts are durable, easy to install, and cost competitive. Unfortunately, they are also dead grounds if the insulators fail. In contrast, posts constructed of wood, plastic or fiberglass have no or limited conductivity and will not result in fence failure is an insulator cracks or breaks. FORAGE MANAGEMENT TIPS • Graze summer annuals pastures and fertilize if regrowth is desired. • Identify pastures to stockpile for winter grazing. Pastures should be well
Figure 3. Impact of nitrogen fertilization on the crude protein concentration of crabgrass at the second harvest. Crude protein increased in a linear manner as nitrogen fertilization rate increased. Like other summer annuals, nitrogen fertilization improves both yield and forage quality.
drained and have a strong sod. Limit summer grazing so that they are ready to grow as conditions cool and rain comes in late summer. • Do NOT mow hayfields or graze pastures closer than 4-5 inches. • Soil test pastures to determine nutrient needs. • Use UKY variety testing results to select varieties that will be planted in the fall. • If drought occurs, confine animals to one pasture and feed hay.
July • Cow Country • 21
