Highlights and Presentations from the 2018 Forage Legume Conference

by | Mar 23, 2018 | Alfalfa, Conference, Educational Training, forage, Forage & Pasture, Legumes, pasture

105 cattle and hay producers, industry representatives, extension agents, and researchers from three states took part in the Forage Legume Conference in Marianna, FL. Credit: Doug Mayo

Jose Dubeux, Forage Management Specialist, North Florida Research and Education Center, lead the team that organized the Forage Legume Conference, that was held on March 15, 2018, in Marianna, Florida. There were 105 cattle and hay producers, industry representatives, as well as extension and research faculty, and students from the University of Florida that participated in the event.  The morning session featured presentations from five forage experts from Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.  The morning session concluded with a panel of four forage producers, who have successfully integrated legumes on their operations.  The afternoon session featured a tour of forage legume research at the Marianna Beef Research Unit, at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center.

Legumes are plants that are able to secure their own nitrogen from a symbiotic relationship with specific beneficial bacteria.  Adding legumes to forage grass systems offers many benefits, such as increased soil nitrogen availability for the grass, higher nutrient quality for increased animal performance, and increased production from extension of the grazing season.  The six invited speakers provided the most current research-based recommendations for integrating legumes into grazing and hay operations.  Many of the participants at the Conference asked for a copy of the presentations that were provided, so the purpose of this article is to share them in a printer friendly PDF format.

1.  Alfalfa in the South

Dennis Hancock, UGA Forage Extension Specialist.

Dr. Dennis Hancock, UGA Forage Specialist, provided an update of several years of research and on-farm testing for interseeding alfalfa into Bermudagrass hay fields.  The main idea of this project was to evaluate use of alfalfa to reduce nitrogen fertilization, and also increase hay nutrient quality. In addition to the presentation below, Dr. Hancock also has a web page with links to more information on this topic:  Alfalfa in the South

Presentation link:  Hancock – Alfalfa in the South

 

2.  Integrating Rhizoma Peanut in Grazing Systems

Dr. Lynn Sollenberger, UF Agronomy Department, shared the results of several years of research on techniques to integrate rhizoma peanut (aka perennial peanut) into bahigrass pastures.  The main concept was to develop a management system which could reduce or eliminate nitrogen fertilization, with equal or improved animal performance.  His team’s research has been focusing on variety selection, timing of planting, and the challenges with the grass suppression and weed control needed to establish strips of rhizoma peanut in existing bahiagrass pastures.

Presentation link:  Sollenberger – Integrating Rhizoma Perennial Peanut Into Grazing Systems

 

3.  Using Clovers in the Southern Coastal Plains

Dr. Don Ball, emeritus Alabama Forage Extension Specialist, shared some of his vast knowledge from a career of research and on-farm work with integrating clovers into grass based grazing systems.  In his presentation, Dr. Ball answers the key question of, “Why grow clovers?”

Presentation link:  Ball – Clovers in the Coastal Plains

 

4.  Warm Season Annual Legumes:  Past, Present, and Future

Dr. Joe Vendramini, Forage Specialist, UF Range Cattle Research and Education Center, provided a presentation summarizing research that his team has conducted on three warm season annual legumes:  aeschynomene, cowpea, and sunn hemp.  Aeschynomene is a proven reseeding annual legume that grows better in wetter, poorly drained soils than other legumes.  Cowpea can be utilized as a cover crop, or temporary grazing, but was not competitive when integrated into grass pastures.  Sunn hemp has shown real potential, so current research is focusing on the best varieties and management techniques to integrate it with grass pastures.

Presentation link:  Vendramini – Annual Warm-Season Legumes

 

5.  Economics of Forage Legumes vs. N Fertilization

Chris Prevatt, UF Livestock Economist, shared a presentation that analyzed comparison of past research on grazing systems that included legumes, versus grass systems for stocker cattle performance.  He is also currently contributing to the ongoing research with Jose Dubeux’s team by calculating the cost/benefits of rhizoma peanut/bahiagrass systems, as compared to traditional nitrogen fertilized grass only systems.

Presentation link: Prevatt – Legume Economics vs N Fertilizer

 

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For more information on forage legumes, contact your local County Extension Agent, or use the links to fact sheets on the following topics:

 

Doug Mayo
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