Chris Teutsch, Adam Barnes, Curtis Dame, Deanne Heimgartner, Vicky Shadrick, Darrell Simpson, Tom Miller, and Shane Boggle

Forage systems in Kentucky are based on cool-season grasses that are productive during the spring and fall, but have limited growth during the summer months.  In contrast, warm-season annual grasses and legumes are highly productive during the summer months.   The objectives of this project were to introduce cattle producers to improved summer annual cultivars and to demonstrate how they could fit into forage systems in Western Kentucky.  

Working with local extension agents in Caldwell, Muhlenberg, Hopkins, Crittenden, Livingston, Webster, and Ballard counties, five on-farm demonstrations were conducted.   In late May and early June, a BMR sudangrass (var. ‘AS9302’), a pearl millet (var. ‘Wonderleaf’), a forage soybean (var. ‘Large Lad’), and mixture of three were planted in 2-acre strips on each of the five farms. When the plots reached 30 to 40 inches in height, they were sampled for yield and nutritive value and grazing was initiated.  The demonstration areas were subdivided with temporary fencing and rotationally stocked.   Averaged over locations, sudangrass, pearl millet, forage soybean, and the summer annual mixture yielded 5,138, 5,259, 2,234, and 4,654 lb DM/A, respectively.  At three of the five locations, a summer field day was held to highlight the use warm-season annuals in grazing systems.  The field days were attended by more than 200 participants from five states.