Author: Andy Mills
Planning Unit: Meade County CES
Major Program: Farm Management
Plan of Work: Improved Management Practices, Animal Science, Grain & Forage Crops
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
At the end of every winter -beef producer are left with a problem area where cattle were fed hay all season. These heavy use areas are normally compacted very rough from cattle track ruts, and normally covered in weeds. These areas, depending on the number of cattle fed, can range from one acre up to four acres. Usually starting in December the animals will be placed back in thee heavy use area to start the winter feeding again. Most cattle are not removed from these areas until April and it takes until sometimes in May before the soil is dry enough to till and smooth out. Most producers do not want to have to work the ground and replant something every year only to have it destroyed by cattle the following winter. Over the past few years the ANR agent with the advice of University of Kentucky Extension forage specialists has been using different forages in these heavy use areas. Summer annuals work great but most have to be replanted every spring. Crabgrass is a summer annual that has proven to be forage of choice. When seeded and managed right. It tends to reseed well and will establish itself the following year. So far only two producers have tried the crabgrass following University of Kentucky recommendations and believe it to be the answer. Public demonstrations at one of these farms will happen in the near future to educate beef producers on managing heavy use areas.
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