Extension
It Starts With Us
Forages
Agriculture Sustainability
David Embrey
Forages
Chemical Management
Beef
Given Edmonson County’s location, geography, and available land, the most practical, especially large scale, agriculture applications employ the use of forages on most operations. The majority of forages are pasture and/or hay for feeding cattle and horses. On a smaller, but no less important, scale other ruminants such as goats, sheep, wild life, etc. are nourished through forage production.
Input provided by individual producers, County Cattlemen Association, County Extension Council, County Ky Farm Bureau Board, and County Ag Development Board.
Producers will increase/improve their use of forages and depend less upon processes feed stuffs. They will use more legumes and increase use of a larger variety of forage species. More livestock producers will utilize improved grazing practices and depend less upon stored feeds.
Producers will begin to increase use of legumes, seed in more and diverse forage species, and plan and implement rotational grazing practices.
Producers will gain more knowledge of forage production and use, learn the value and practice of rotational grazing, and aspire to implement as many of these ideas into their own operations as possible.
Initial Outcome: Producers will increase knowledge of forages and rotational grazing practices.
Indicator: More producers aspiring to increase use of diverse array of forage species and want to implement rotational grazing into their operation.
Method: Verbal and written follow-up surveys
Timeline: After each educational session and within 2-4 months of each session.
Intermediate Outcome: More legumes and other forage species seeded in, and an increase in the number of producers implementing rotational grazing practices.
Indicator: How many producers increase use of legumes and start or expand rotational grazing practices.
Method: Verbal and written follow-up surveys, and farm visits
Timeline: 2-4 years
Long-term Outcome: Increased and sustained use of legumes, more forage species, and rotational grazing practices.
Indicator: How many producers employ and continue to maintain legumes, rotational grazing, and more forage species.
Method: Verbal and written follow-up surveys, farm visits, and general observation.
Timeline: 4-8 years
Audience: All forage and livestock producers.
Project or Activity: Fertilizer Decisions for Hay and Pasture
Content or Curriculum: Analysis of the need, use, and cost of fertility of forages
Inputs: County Ag Agent, PowerPoint presentation, Forage enterprise budget, specialists if necessary.
Date: October - March
Audience: All forage and livestock producers.
Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicator training
Content or Curriculum: Pest Identification, proper handling, use, and storage of pesticides
Inputs: County Ag Agent, County office meeting room, power point presentations, and pesticide cards
Date: November/December and/or January/February
Audience: All forage and livestock producers.
Project or Activity: Fencing Update
Content or Curriculum: Types of fencing available, fencing hardware, planning a fencing system, fencing methods
Inputs: County Ag Agent, County office meeting room, power point presentations, and professional fencer(s) if available
Date: October/November and February/March
Audience: All forage and livestock producers.
Project or Activity: Horse Pasture Renovation and Maintenance
Content or Curriculum: Establishing, renovating, and maintaining healthy horse pastures and proper fencing for maximum use of available forages
Inputs: County Ag Agent, County office meeting room, power point presentations, specialists, field demos if possible.
Date: Late Fall/Early Winter and/or early Spring
Audience: All forage and livestock producers.
Project or Activity: Stockpiling forages for Winter grazing
Content or Curriculum: Planning, fertility, grazing schemes, and timing of use
Inputs: County Ag Agent, County office meeting room, power point presentations, field demos if possible, and specialists if available.
Date: August - January
Author: David Embrey
Major Program: Forages
The main staple of a ruminant animal’s diet is forages. In Edmonson County, the approximately 18,000 domestic ruminant animals owned by individuals get their forages from roughly 55,000 acres that are also grazed by wild ruminant animals. Ruminant animal owners must use some land for grazing and some for making hay for the winter months. Close, continuous grazing depletes stand, as does cutting too low in hayfields, leading to the need for completely re-seeding or renovating forage stands.
