Managing Winter Pastures

Winter feeding of the cow herd accounts for 40 to 50% of the total variable cost for producing weaned calves. Because winter nutrition is vital to both the calf’s health and the cows reproductive performance, adequate nutrition is essential. Cool season grasses...
Fertilizer Basics for Pastures and Hay Fields

Fertilizer Basics for Pastures and Hay Fields

Soil fertility and plant nutrient management is an important part of agroecosystems. Agroecological approaches to soil fertility and nutrient management begin with soil testing. A soil test will tell you soil pH. Soil pH affects the availability of nutrients to the...

Two New Limpograss Varieties Released

Brad Buck, UF/IFAS Communications & Joao Vendramini, Forage Specialist, Ona RCREC The University of Florida, in partnership with Florida Foundation Seed Producers Inc., has released two new limpograss cultivars so ranchers can increase the forage variety they feed...
Understanding Your Forage Test Report

Understanding Your Forage Test Report

Just as soil testing can provide vital information on how to fertilize crops, forage testing can provide vital information on how to supplement hay fed to livestock.  Feed and fertilizer are simply too valuable these days to simply guess, or just use the same amount...
2014 Southeast Hay Contest Results

2014 Southeast Hay Contest Results

Dennis Hancock, UGA Forage Extension Specialist and SE Hay Contest Coordinator The Southeast Hay Contest celebrated its 10th year in 2014.  This contest is a cooperative extension effort of Auburn University, Clemson University, the University of Florida, and the...

Temporary Pastures Can Hide Ugly Surprises

Using row crop land for cool season grazing is one of the great opportunities for North Florida livestock operations. Early crops come out in time to allow seedbed preparation for planting, and late harvested crops can be aerially over-seeded with ryegrass. Corn and...