Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Jimmy Henning
Major Program: Forages
The University of Kentucky Forage Team met in a multi-day retreat format to set goals for educational outcomes for the statewide forage extension program. Information inputs included KFGC priorities.
Author: Clay Stamm
Major Program: Forages
~~As Extension Agents, we strive to identify programing needs in our community, and address those needs to the best of our ability. During the spring of 2017, we were hearing repeated reports of struggles with Johnson grass control in crop fields, home lawns, and along roadways. As this subject was being brought up in multiple community meetings that we were attending, we decided it was time to act! In an effort to address the rising issue of Johnson grass control in the county, the Exten
Author: Samuel Cofield
Major Program: Forages
The Trigg County Cooperative Extension Service in conjunction with the Trigg County Ag Committee hosts events throughout the year to increase public knowledge of agriculture. It is important to all involved in agriculture to inform the increasingly urban population about their farming practices so that they can understand and appreciate how important farming is to the local economy. The tour is designed to give attendees a firsthand look at modern farming and conservation methods. &n
Author: Keith Center
Major Program: Forages
Hay and pasture production is a leading component of agriculture production in Elliott County. According to the 2016 United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Statistics Service data indicated over 20,000 tons of hay are harvested on approximately 9,000 acres of farmland in the county. Extension agents in Carter, Elliott and Rowan counties adapted an educational program on hay production initiated by ANR agents in western Kentucky to meet the needs of farmers in eastern Kentucky. The
Author: Christin Herbst
Major Program: Forages
According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, Carroll County has 53,562 acres of land in 278 farms. 11,514 acres (across 194 farms) are in hay and forages. All livestock producers in the county deal with two things—forages and manure. These two things are intertwined. The quality of one affects the quality of the other, and so it is extremely important to make sure both are high quality, and to utilize those resources correctly.To improve quality, a producer must fir
Author: Ricky Arnett
Major Program: Forages
For all livestock producers especially beef cattle producers forages are the most expensive feed source to produce. Livestock represent the largest sector of agriculture in Green County. Hay being a crucial part of livestock systems, it is important that we minimize the amount of hay fed, while also producing and feeding high quality hay to lower our cost per head. Past participants of the Center of Kentucky Master Cattlemen program expressed the need of further education on hay production
Author: Matthew Chadwick
Major Program: Forages
Forage Demo plotsThis past summer the Calloway County Extension office assisted local beef producer Odom Farms in hosting a warm season summer annual demonstration plot. Odom Farms is a participant in the state wide Beef IRM program that assist farmers increase their reproductive profitability, they are currently the only participants in the purchase region. Upon the initial evaluation of their cowherd it was determined that they needed to increase their body condition scores significantly over
Author: Will Stallard
Major Program: Forages
As of December 2015 Kentucky was home to 652 dairies with 30 of those in Lincoln County. Many of these dairies rely on corn silage as the main part of their feed ration because of the yield and quality of the forage. A group of UK Cooperative Extension Agents for Agriculture and Natural Resources and UK Specialists see the need from local leaders to analyze quality and yield data between varieties for their producers. In 2017 there were 4 locations for growing and analysis of 2
Author: Myron Evans
Major Program: Forages
~~Hay testing continues to increase as more and more farmers obtain knowledge about what a valuable management tool they are and how to use the results as indicated by the 104 samples taken by agent in 2017. This was the most agent has taken in one year in Carter County and was also the most of any agent in the 2017 Annual East Ky Hay Contest. the 104 was also 25% of the 400 samples taken in 14 counties. Tom Keene spoke to 60 producers at a Northeast Area Livestock Association
Author: Dee Heimgartner
Major Program: Forages
Nutrition is an important part of a balanced diet and human food has a nutrition facts label on the package to read and help in deciding on nutritious food. A balanced diet is important for livestock also but there isn’t a label on the side of a hay bale for producers to read. It is also hard to guess the nutrition values of hay because quality can be greatly varied. Forage quality is affected by many factors including maturity stage, temperature, fertilizer, amount of leaf retention, and
Author: Roger "Darrell" Simpson
Major Program: Forages
Feed is the number one cost associated with beef cattle production. This agent worked with Dr. Chris Teutsch, Extension Forage Specialist to conduct a forage tour highlighting utilization of current and potential forage crops. Twenty Three producers attended the tour where they gained knowledge on utilizing endophyte friendly fescue, annual ryegrass, crabgrass, and wheat. Although the cooperating farmer on the tour had initially decided to destroy some species and replant new; he changed his min
Author: Lyndall Harned
Major Program: Forages
Once again, as in the past, Boyd County was a major participant in the 2017 annual East Kentucky Hay Contest. This is not only from the stand point of the number of samples submitted, over 50, but also as to why we have so many. Now, after we announce the sampling dates, we take samples from those who contact us asking for us to sample their crops, we do not go around to the farms asking the producers to let us take samples. Those whose forages we sample have taken the reason for having their fo
Author: Paul Sizemore
Major Program: Forages
Much of the Hay produced in the area is stored outside resulting in a great deal of waste, low nutrient levels and low digestibility. This can lead to many issues in the herd when the winter weather comes barreling in. To address the need for improved forage quality and to increase farmer understanding of the economics of hay production a four night series titled “East Kentucky Hay School” held by the agents in Owsley, Lee, Wolfe and Breathitt Counties and a group of specialists from
Author: Tommy Yankey
Major Program: Forages
Tall Fescue, a cool season perennial grass, is the most predominant forage in the U.S. covering over 36 million acres. It is extremely prevalent because it possesses desirable characteristics including tolerance to drought, flooding, heavy grazing pressure and a long growing season. However, tall fescue can have a negative effect on livestock. A fungal endophyte that grows in the plant is responsible for producing ergot alkaloids, that proves to be toxic to livestock causing ta
Author: Brandon Sears
Major Program: Forages
Madison County is ranked 2nd in the state for production of hay other than alfalfa. Local seed dealers sell thousands of pounds of forage seed each year to maintain pasture and hayfields. Over the past several years, many changes and improvements have been made in the area of seed coatings and technology. Some of these changes have required farmers to adjust seeding rates and rethink settings when using No-Till drills to plant their forage crops.On January 9th, Dr. Jimmy Henning and Dr. Ray Smit
Author: Whitney Carman
Major Program: Forages
Fescue has been the most consistent forage for hay and pasture in Grayson County. Some people will claim that fescue is the only thing keeping Grayson County from eroding into the twin lakes. Although fescue has provided adequate forage and erosion control, it also has its faults when it comes to endophyte, and summer growth. In Kentucky, we have a growth slump in the summer, and for the average producer, that’s an important time of year for cattle growth and reproduction. The Agriculture
Author: Chelsey Anderson
Major Program: Forages
Since 2014, Master Stocker, Master Cattlemen, Master Grazer, and Applied Master Cattlemen, have all been conducted in the four county area. Together over ### individuals participated in those courses. With that being said, the four county area agents decided they would try a newer program that was put together by the tri-county area agents (Adair, Green and Taylor), Master Haymaker. The program started in fall of 2017 and carried through the winter months of 2018. The program consisted of seven
Author: Gary Hamilton
Major Program: Forages
In Montgomery County, livestock represent the largest sector of agriculture. Hay is a crucial part of livestock systems in Montgomery County, and while we want to minimize the number of hay feeding days due to cost, producing and feeding high quality hay for those days is crucial. Livestock producers and past Master Cattlemen participants expressed the need of further their education on hay production to local Extension Agents. In response, the Montgomery, Bath, Menifee and Nicholas County
Author: Tad Campbell
Major Program: Forages
With the Buffalo Trace counties representing a large portion of rural area, forage production plays a vital role for agriculture across the five counties. With one of the largest alfalfa producing counties in the state along with high ranking grass hay production, offering a program to focus on improving forage quality would benefit local producers and agriculture operations in the Buffalo Trace Counties. The area Agriculture and Natural Resources Agents worked with specialist, agen
Author: Don Sorrell
Major Program: Forages
During the fall of 2017, the Campbell County Agriculture Council identified the need for an in-depth program on pasture management. During a second meeting of the Ag Council, specific program topics were identified. These pasture management topics became the foundation for the spring 2018 Master Grazer (MG) Program. The ANR agent worked with UK Forage specialists to develop the PowerPoints for this four session program. The MG program was taught by the Campbell County ANR agent and include
Author: Gary Bell
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Metcalfe County Hay and Straw Auction was held on Saturday January 27th 2018 at the Metcalfe County Fairgrounds. This year Barren, Metcalfe, and Monroe Counties partnered to make the sale a tri-county event. This was an opportunity to keep money in the local economy by making excess hay available to those needing feed for the remainder of the winter. The Metcalfe County Fairboard was also able to raise operating money from the sale commission.Twenty seven lots of hay and
Author: Gary Bell
Major Program: Forages
Barren, Metcalfe and Monroe County are nestled in the rolling hills of the Eastern Mammoth Cave Area in South Central Kentucky. In these counties, beef cattle are a major agriculture commodity. These three counties account for over 77,500 brood cows (USDA-NASS, 2015) and over $48 million dollars of cash sales. In the fall of 2017 Agriculture Extension Agents in these counties identified a need to redirect producer’s attention back to the basics of forage production. The Forage 101 ser
Author: Christopher Schalk
Major Program: Forages
Barren, Metcalfe and Monroe County are nestled in the rolling hills of the Eastern Mammoth Cave Area in South Central Kentucky. In these counties, beef cattle are a major agriculture commodity. These three county account for over 77,500 brood cows (USDA-NASS, 2015) and over $48 million dollars of cash sales. In the fall of 2017 Agriculture Extension Agents in these counties identified a need to redirect producer’s attention back to the basics of forage production. The Forage 101 serie
Author: Corinne Belton
Major Program: Forages
Shelby County is known for raising superior livestock and horses, due in large part to the county’s success producing its number one crop: forages. Thus, the demand for high quality hay and other stored forages is continually increasing and producers are seeking ways in which to differentiate their end-product, whether that be the forage itself or the animals that consume it.Shelby and Henry counties partnered to host the Master Haymaker series consisting of seven sessions taught
Author: Bryce Roberts
Major Program: Forages
Spencer County is known for raising livestock, due in large part to the county’s success in producing its number one crop: forages. Thus, the demand for high quality hay and other stored forages is continually increasing and producers are seeking ways in which to differentiate their end-product, whether that be the forage itself or the animals that consume it.The Master Haymaker series consisting of seven sessions taught by UK specialists. These sessions provided participant
Author: Clay Stamm
Major Program: Forages
Soil sampling is one of our most fundamental, basic, building blocks for proper agricultural practices. However, many producers still choose not to soil test, even when the test are offered for free through the local extension office. During the spring of 2018, I was approached by a Hispanic farm manager that wanted to increase the quality of the farms soil and forages in order to extend grazing seasons. Through an initial office visit I explain the process of soil sampling to the client and he
Author: Will Stallard
Major Program: Forages
According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, Lincoln County ranked 6 in the state in terms of land used for forages for all hay and haylage, grass silage and greenchop with 38,233 acres. After receiving several phone calls from different forage producers late last summer asking what the best winter annual was to plant for hay production the next spring and opportunity came up to setup a test plot on farm. After consulting with university forage specialists we determined the forages to test were
Author: Levi Berg
Major Program: Forages
Henry County is known for raising superior livestock and forage, due in large part to the county’s success producing beef cattle and forages. Thus, the demand for high quality hay and other stored forages is continually increasing and producers are seeking ways in which to differentiate their end-product, whether that be the forage itself or the animals that consume it.Shelby and Henry counties partnered to host the Master Haymaker series consisting of seven sessions taught by UK specialis
Author: Jimmy Henning
Major Program: Forages
A Menifee County producer asked for help in understanding why his Yak (Bos grunniens) would not consume vegetative high quality tall fescue, even in fall when most palatable. Initial farm visits could find no apparent reason for this refusal of forage. At the suggestion of the UK County Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Mary McCarty, a replicated forage species study was designed and planted during spring, 2018. The forages included toxic endophyte, friendly endophyte and endophyte fre
Author: Jimmy Henning
Major Program: Forages
The winter of 2017-18 was wet and warm, leading to extensive pugging and muddy conditions in horse paddocks on Kentucky farms. In response to this problem, a forage demonstration was implemented on the Knapper Farm in Mercer County. Perennial ryegrass was overseeded into muddy horse pastures during the first week of April 2018 at a seeding rate of 50 lb/A (double normal pasture seeding rate). At least one area will be fenced off to allow better establishment and to be able to compare with paddoc
Author: Jimmy Henning
Major Program: Forages
A central Kentucky thoroughbred horse farm experienced a high incidence of fescue toxicosis symptoms in pregnant and foaling mares during early 2017. The UK Plant and Soil Science Forage Group was contacted by the farm at the advice of the consulting veterinarian. After a farm visit, the farm agreed to a program of pasture evaluation. Fields were samples for species composition, endophyte infection level, and ergovaline content. After being presented results showing damaging levels of infected t
Author: Jimmy Henning
Major Program: Forages
A central Kentucky thoroughbred horse farm experienced a high incidence of fescue toxicosis symptoms in pregnant and foaling mares during early 2017. The UK Plant and Soil Science Forage Group was contacted by the farm at the advice of the consulting veterinarian. After a farm visit, the farm agreed to a program of pasture evaluation. Fields were samples for species composition, endophyte infection level, and ergovaline content. After being presented results showing damaging levels of infected t
Author: Colby Guffey
Major Program: Forages
The Clinton, Cumberland, Wayne and Russell County Extension Agents partnered to host the Master Haymaker Series in 2017/18. Since 2014, Master Stocker, Master Cattlemen, Master Grazer, and Applied Master Cattlemen, have all been conducted in the four county area. Together over 40 individuals participated in those courses. With that being said, the four county area agents decided they would try a newer program that was put together by the tri-county area agents (Adair, Green and Taylor), Master H
Author: Tommy Yankey
Major Program: Forages
Rotational grazing is a management strategy used to maximize forage growth. Generally, the leaves of plants are much more palatable and nutritious than stems. In order to maximize forage growth, livestock are strategically moved through a series of fresh pastures in order to provide a grazing rest period for plants to regrow their leaves; which in turn photosysthensize more plant tissue; which then grow at a faster rate because there is more leaf material.After a period of significan
Author: Kevin Lyons
Major Program: Forages
Barren, Metcalfe and Monroe Counties are nestled in the rolling hills of the eastern Mammoth Cave Area in south-central Kentucky. In these counties, beef cattle are a major agriculture commodity. These three counties account for over 77,500 brood cows (USDA-NASS, 2015) and over $48 million dollars of cash sales. In the fall of 2017, Agriculture Extension Agents in these counties identified a need to redirect producer’s attention back to the basics of forage production. &n
Author: Kevin Lyons
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Metcalfe County Hay and Straw Auction was held on Saturday, January 27th 2018 at the Metcalfe County Fairgrounds. This year Barren, Metcalfe, and Monroe Counties partnered to make the sale a Tri-County event. This was an opportunity to keep money in the local economy by making excess hay available to those needing feed for the remainder of the winter. The Metcalfe County fair board was also able to raise operating money from the sale commission. Twenty-seven lots of
Author: Gregory Drake
Major Program: Forages
Forage Production is an important enterprise on Butler County Farms. The most recent census data indicate Butler County has 14,496 acres of forage production. This causes Butler to rank sixty second in forage production in the state. The agriculture program, working with the Butler County Stockman’s Association has offered a comprehensive education program to improve forage production. The year started with a forage field day. At the field day Dr. Chris Teusch
Author: Keenan Bishop
Major Program: Forages
A local producer with good management practices was concerned about a decline in forage on certain pastures despite rotational grazing and annual soil testing and amendments. This cooperator was also our Farm City Field Day Host.We enlisted the help of Dr. Jimmy Henning who asked Krista Lea to assist. With the help of our summer intern, Alex Brodie, and Morehead freshman, Conner Dailey, we developed a plan to asses the different fields and try and determine what was occurring. Krista traine
Author: Keenan Bishop
Major Program: Forages
We partnered with UK Forage Specialists and Pennington Seed to demonstrate the benefits of replacing KY-31 fescue with an endophyte friendly type for beef production. Two cooperators agreed to participate. One was a cow calf operation while the other backgrounded calves.Both farms were sampled for endophyte levels in the test field and control fields and will be regularly through the years. The test areas were then burned down and reseeded with Jessup Max-Q fescue.The cow calf producer will make
Author: Jonathan Oakes
Major Program: Forages
Since 2014, Master Stocker, Master Cattlemen, Master Grazer, and Applied Master Cattlemen, have all been conducted in the four county area. Together over 40 individuals participated in those courses. With that being said, the four county area agents decided they would try a newer program that was put together by the tri-county area agents (Adair, Green and Taylor), Master Haymaker. The program started in fall of 2017 and carried through the winter months of 2018. The program consisted of seven s
Author: Tommy Yankey
Major Program: Forages
For most of my career farmers have been reluctant to spray pastures for weed control using herbicides for fear of losing their legumes. Even though in many cases the farmers overestimate the actual percentage of legumes in their pastures and would be ahead to spray hard to control weeds such as Tall Ironweed, cocklebur, etc. In many cases the weeds make up 30-40% of the pasture. Costing the farmer decreased carrying capacity and the loss of additional lbs of gain. This ag
Author: Philip Konopka
Major Program: Forages
With the Buffalo Trace counties representing a large portion of rural area, forage production plays a vital role for agriculture across the five counties. With one of the largest alfalfa producing counties in the state along with high ranking grass hay production, offering a program to focus on improving forage quality would benefit local producers and agriculture operations in the Buffalo Trace Counties. The area Agriculture and Natural Resources Agents worked with specialist, agents, and local
Author: April Wilhoit
Major Program: Forages
The Buffalo Trace counties represent a large portion of rural area, and forage production plays a vital role for agriculture across the five counties. With one of the largest alfalfa producing counties in the state along with high ranking grass hay production, offering a program to focus on improving forage quality would benefit local producers and agriculture operations in the Buffalo Trace Counties. The area Agriculture and Natural Resources Agents worked with specialist, agents,
Author: Brandon Sears
Major Program: Forages
Burley tobacco production in Madison County has declined dramatically since the mid-1990’s, falling from a top 3 producer in the state to its current position of only 8 growers and not enough acreage to be listed as a tobacco growing county by National Ag Statistics Servie. Among other enterprises, former tobacco farmers have increased the number of beef cattle in their operations to offset lost tobacco income. Madison County currently ranks 2nd in the state for beef cattle production with
Author: Mary McCarty
Major Program: Forages
2017 Fall Ag Field Day was held at a Beef Farm and alternative forages and weed control was the concentration of presentations at the event. After hearing the alternate forage presentation by Dr. Jimmy Henning yak (Bos grunniens) producer requested a farm visit to check out the forages that his yak was consuming and what they were passing up. At the farm visit a few weeks later it was found that the yak would not consume vegetative high quality tall fescue, even in fall when most palatable. Init
Author: Eric Baker
Major Program: Forages
In the post-burley tobacco era, livestock and forage production are a major portion of the agricultural economy in Estill and Madison County. Madison County harvests 52,000 acres of hay not including alfalfa each year and Estill County harvests 8,410 acres. Most livestock producers invest significant time, machinery, infrastructure, and finances into forage production. With this investment, producers look for more efficient ways to produce more tonnage of stored forages with higher nutritional v
Author: Thomas Keene
Major Program: Forages
In order for people in eastern Kentucky to have and maintain economic stability (now that coal production has been almost eliminated), animal agriculture has the opportunity to play a big role in that process. Cattle and other species currently graze river bottoms and hillsides that primarily consist of tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus). While this has been part of animal agriculture for many years in eastern Kentucky many thousands of acres of reclaimed mine remain unproductive
Author: Christopher Teutsch
Major Program: Forages
Rotational stocking increases pasture productivity by 30%. Fencing is a key component of improved grazing systems. In recent past, high row crop prices encouraged farmers to tear fences out and convert marginal farmland from pastures to row crops. As row crop prices have moderated, there is increased interest in converting marginal row crop land back to pastures. The Kentucky fencing school was established in 2017 and is a partnership of cooperative extension, the Kentuck
Author: Christopher Teutsch
Major Program: Forages
In 2018, the Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference was held in Cave City, KY. The focus of the conference was intensive alfalfa management. Topics covered included selecting improved varieties, establishment, managing soil fertility, weed control, insect and disease management, harvesting high quality forage, and a look forward into the future of alfalfa production. This was one of the best alfalfa management programs offered in the United States in 2018. In fact, our keyn
Author: Christopher Teutsch
Major Program: Forages
Forage presentations given at conferences held in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and some at the regional and national level were captured in real-time using a software package called CAMTASIA. Videos were then produced and posted on the KYForages YouTube Channel, which has 1,190 subscribers. In the past year, these videos have been viewed more than 73,000 times with a total watch time of 883,000 minutes. Although majority of views come from the United States and Canada (77%), pe
Author: Lindie Huffman
Major Program: Forages
Soil is literally and figuratively the foundation of all of life. Managing soil fertility is imperative to producing food to feed the world and our livestock. The Pendleton County Extension Office, like all Extension offices across the Commonwealth, provides soil testing for farmers to understand what lies beneath the crust and agents provide valuable information on how to provide ample nutrients to improve and maximize yield of vegetables, fruits, row crops, and forages.In 2017, the Pendleton C
