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AGRICULTURE &NATURAL RESOURCE

NEWSLETTER

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IN THIS ISSUE:

A Note From Your Agent:

Cooperative Extension Service

Consider removing bulls from the cow herd by theend of the month and keep them away from thecows. A short calving season can concentrate laborduring the calving season; group calves by age sothat it is easier to find a convenient time tovaccinate, castrate, dehorn, etc.; and provide amore uniform group of calves at market time.Mid-July is a good time to deworm cattle, use aproduct that is effective against inhibited ostertagia.Re-implant calves which were implanted at birth ifthe type of implant and amount of time indicate.Calves which haven’t been vaccinated for blacklegshould be. Spraying or using a pour-on for flieswhile cattle are gathered can supplement other flycontrol methods. Remember to work cattle early inthe morning when it is cool and handle them gentlyto minimize stress.Watch for pinkeye and treat if necessary. Minimizeproblems by clipping pastures, controlling face fliesand providing shade. Monitor the bulls’ activity andphysical condition as the breeding season windsdown.Fescue pastures tend to go dormant in July andAugust, so look for alternatives like warm seasongrasses during this period of time. Try to keep theyoung calves gaining weight. Go to pastures whichhave been cut for hay to have higher quality re-growth when it is available.Consider cutting warm season grass pastures forhay, if reserves have not been restored yet.

De-worm calves in mid-July with a product that iseffective against inhibited ostertagia.Fall-calving cows should be dry and pregnant now.Their nutrient needs are minimal, and they can bemaintained on poor pasture to avoid over fattening.Keep a good free-choice mineral mix available at alltimes. You can use a lower phosphorus mineralsupplement now, if you want to save a little money.These cows are regaining body condition after along winter feeding period.Get ready for fall calving and plan to have goodpasture available at calving and through thebreeding season.

Spring-Calving Cow Herd

Fall-Calving Cow Herd

Sell heavier grazing cattle before rate ofgain decreases or they get into aheavyweight category. This will alsorelieve grazing pressure as pasture growthdiminishes. They can be replaced withlightweight calves after pastures recover.Lighter cattle which are kept on pastureneed to be rotated to grass-legume orwarm-season grass pastures to maintain adesirable level of performance. Re-implantthese calves and deworm with a productthat is effective against inhibitedostertagia.

Check pastures for downed wild cherrytrees after storms (wilted wild cherryleaves are toxic to cattle).Be sure that clean water is alwaysavailable, especially in hot weather. Makeroutine checks of the water supply. Cattleneed 13 to 20 gallons of clean water in hotweather. Cattle should have access toshade.Maintain a weed control program inpermanent pastures and continue to “spot-spray” thistle, honey locust, etc.Have forage analyses conducted onspring-cut hay and have large, roundbales covered. Begin planning the winter-feeding program now. Most of the hay wascut late due to a wet spring.Start soil testing pastures to determinefertilization needs for this fall.

Stockers

General

Timely TipsLes Anderson, Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

Drought continues to impact the high plains area stretching down to the pan handle of Texas. The dry conditionswill continue to impact pastures potentially lowering beef cattle numbers at year’s end. The recent hightemperatures and limited rain will dry out pastures and limit forage regrowth on recently cut hay fields here in theCommonwealth. As forage growth slows, supplementation may be needed to provide beef cattle adequate levelsof nutrients to support target production levels and limit condition loss of lactating cows.

Fibrous coproduct feedstuffs that are low in starch but high digestible fiber work well for supplementing cattle on ahigh forage diet. Soybean hulls, corn gluten feed, beet pulp, distillers grains, wheat midds, and rice bran are a fewcommonly available feedstuffs that would be lower in starch and high digestible fiber. These feedstuffs would behigher in available energy than most pasture forages that are going or already dormant. Depending on the maturityand digestibility of the forages, supplements could provide twice as much energy on a dry weight basis. Therefore,supplementation would need to be limited and not offered free-choice to avoid over conditioning as well as to avoiddigestive upsets.

Cottonseed hulls are lower in digestible energy than the supplements listed above and most cool-season forages.Cottonseed hulls would be deemed as more of a forage replacement than a supplement. The crude protein valueis low ranging from 4-6% typically and the protein is relatively low in digestibility. The acid detergent value isreported to be high, near 65%, leading to a relatively low calculated Total Digestible Nutrient (TDN) value ranging34-42%. Work at North Carolina has shown that self-fed diets containing 30% cottonseed hulls are effective fordeveloping 2-6 month old dairy heifers. Many commercial precondition and creep feeds contain cottonseed hullsas a fiber source. The price of cottonseed hulls can be a limitation for their utilization. Having a nutrient contentlower than typical fescue hay, the price paid should be similar or less than what one would pay for hay.

Starch containing feedstuffs such as wheat, barley, corn and oats are available to supplement energy to grazingcattle. Due to negative associative effects in the rumen when feeding starch supplements to cattle consuming apredominate forage-based diet, these feedstuffs should be limited if one wishes to avoid lowering fiber digestibility.Previously, summaries of supplementation research would indicate that offering 0.3% of body weight or less wouldminimize negative associative effects of starch supplementation. This would be equivalent of approximately 3-3.5pounds of corn per 1,000 pounds of body weight. Supplementation with starch containing feeds can lead to adecrease in ruminally available nitrogen and amino acids needed by the microbes on low quality forage diets.Therefore, to mitigate negative associative effects protein supplementation may be necessary. Other researchershave demonstrated that providing protein supplementation with starch containing feedstuffs, levels as high as 6-8pound/1,000 lb of body weight have had minimal impacts on fiber digestion.

Providing supplementation to cattle grazing pastures, the impact on forage intake will be dependent uponassociative effects that may occur in the rumen. Providing protein to correct a ruminal nitrogen source deficiencymay enhance fiber digestion and increase dry matter intake having a positive impact. Supplementing withexcessive starch and reducing rumen pH and limiting available nitrogen sources for microbes will lead to lowerintakes. In general, forage and supplement exchanges often average 2-3:1 in which forage intake decreases 2-3pounds for each pound of supplement consumed at lower levels of supplementation. There is a wide degree ofvariability in the actual forage intake response and one should monitor cattle and observe body condition to ensuresufficient nutrient intake to support the desired level of performance.

If you are faced with limited pasture forage or hay, consult with your nutritionist or county Extension agent todevelop a feeding program for your herd. There are many feedstuffs that can be utilized to develop the most cost-effective feeding program that delivers the nutrients the cattle need to achieve your desired level of performance.Here’s hoping you all get some timely rainy.

Supplementing to Stretch Pastures Jeff Lehmkuhler, PhD, PAS Associate Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

Lime and fertilize to soil test recommendations.Make sure that toxic fescue has not gone to seed this summer.Stop grazing in early July and allow five to six inches of regrowth.Spray with glyphosate 4-6 weeks before planting – mid to late-July.Allow weeds and toxic tall fescue to regrow.Re-spray glyphosate before planting – late August to early September.Plant early to mid-September with novel tall fescue, orchardgrass or other perennial grassspecies.Seed with a no-till drill at 20 lbs/acre and no deeper that ¼ to ½ inches deep.To achieve better ground cover, set drill at 10 lbs/A, seed twice with the 2nd passperpendicular to 1st.Apply a low rate of N at seeding or in October to enhance stand establishment (40-50lbs/N/acre).For broadleaf weeds, wait until new grass seedlings reach the 4 leaf stage (4-6”) beforespraying.Allow good sod development before grazing. Be patient and wait for the stand to develop.If you must graze, wait until plants are 8” tall and flash graze (a large number of animals fora day).Ideally, manage with light grazing or a hay harvest next spring. Overgrazing can ruin a newstand.To incorporate clover, frost seed the following February after weed issues have beencontrolled.

The easiest solution is often not the best solution. I know of many producers who regularlyoverseed pastures and apply herbicides, but their pastures are still not productive. If a pasturehas major issues like fescue toxicity or major weed issues, then you can be wasting yourmoney by trying short term solutions that are not working. The best long term solution can becomplete pasture renovation. Below are the basic steps that have proven successful on manyfarms throughout the southeast.

Complete Pasture Renovation

Implement rotational grazing.Incorporate deep-rooted legumes into

Incorporate warm-season perennial

Incorporate warm-season annual

Feed hay.Utilize commodities to extend

Stock for five-year drought.Wean or sell calves early.Sell cows. Chris Teutsch, excerpt from June Cow Country News

It may seem ironic to be talking about drought when we have such a wet winter and spring, butparts of KY were dry in late May, early June and they may be dry again after this bout of wetweather. It’s important to remember that drought is a part of Kentucky’s agricultural landscape. Long-term weather records indicate that we can expect a moderate drought once every fiveyears and a real doozy once every decade or so.

Developing and implementing a drought management plan can significantly reduce theeconomic and emotional impact of drought on your operation. The time to develop this plan isbefore it gets dry. The strategies that are used will depend on the resources you have on yourfarm and your long-term goals. Drought management strategies include:

pastures.

grasses into grazing system.

grasses into grazing system.

pastures.

Managing Pastures During Dry Times

Potato leafhopper, a small bright green insect which migrates annually from the gulf coastto Kentucky on wind currents (Figure 1), can cause significant injury to alfalfa if leftunmanaged. It does not normally impact the first cutting of established alfalfa stands. Infestations in later cuttings can stunt growth and reduce yields. The most commonsymptom of leafhopper damage is yellowing of the leaves, commonly referred to as “hopperburn” (Figure 1). Although nutrient deficiencies can also cause yellowing of the leaves,damage from leafhoppers can be distinguished by a characteristic inverted yellow “V” atleaf tip (Figure 1).

Scouting and Economic Thresholds

Determining leafhopper populations requires the use of a sweep net with a 16-inch openingand a 3-foot handle. Sampling is accomplished by quickly walking through the stand as 10sweeps are collected in a back and form motion that grazes the top of the alfalfa canopy. Adult and nymph leafhoppers should be immediately counted. Sampling should beconducted in three to five areas of the field and then averaged. Economic thresholds forthe application of insecticides can be found in Table 1. In general, if the number ofleafhoppers collected in 10 sweeps equals the height of the alfalfa plant in inches, theeconomic threshold has been reached. For stands that are under high levels of stress, theeconomic threshold levels are lower. Conversely, stands that are vigorously growing andunder lower levels of stress possess higher economic thresholds. If potato leafhopperresistant cultivars were used, economic thresholds are three times higher than thoseoutlined in Table 1. If the alfalfa stand is 7 to 10 days from harvest, treatment is NOTrecommended. Following harvest, regrowth should be closely monitored for reinfestion. Insecticide recommendations can be found in Table 2. For a more information on themanagement of insects in alfalfa, contact your local extension office or visit the entomologywebsite.

Potato Leafhopper Management in Alfalfa

Adult potato leafhopper (left), characteristic leaf burn (middle), and inverted yellow “V” damage at leaf tip (right).

Potato Leafhopper Management in Alfalfa CONTINUED

Ticks are always a concern for those of us who like to go outside to hike or hunt and for those of us who work inoutdoor settings. Ticks are annoying blood thieves and they are also potent disease vectors, second only tomosquitoes. We have long had to contend with species such as the blacklegged deer tick, the Lonestar tick, andthe American dog tick. Now, unfortunately, there is a new species we need to keep our eyes open for, the Asianlonghorned tick. This tick, species name Haemaphysalis longicornis, has been confirmed in three differentcounties in Kentucky: Floyd, Martin, and Metcalfe. In Floyd and Martin counties, the samples were retrievedfrom a black bear and an elk, respectively. In Metcalfe County though, the sample came from a domesticatedcow, which was reported to have hundreds of this tick living on it.

BackgroundThis is an exotic species, native to China, Korea, and Japan. It has spread previously to Australia and NewZealand, where it feeds on a variety of wild and domestic animals and humans. The Asian longhorned tick hasonly recently (2017) established populations in the United States. Thus far it has been confirmed in Arkansas,Delaware, Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvannia, SouthCarolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. This pest will have consequences that affect Kentucky wildlife and ouranimal industries. It has been found feeding on cow, deer, raccoon, opossum, cat, coyote, elk, fox, sheep goat,groundhog, horse, black bear, Canada goose, chicken, cottontail, red-tailed hawk, and skunk. Asian longhornedticks are small, reddish brown ticks. Unlike the Lonestar tick with its distinct white dot or the American dog tickwith its cream-colored patterns, the Asian longhorned tick has no distinctive markings to aid in quickrecognition. The unfed adults are smaller (3 to 4 mm long) than the other adult hard ticks that we commonlyencounter.

Figure 1: Asian longhorned ticks are small, only a few millimeters in length. They are a reddish-brown color butdo not have many distinguishing features. (Photo courtesy of James Gathany at the Center for Disease Control).

Potential IssuesThis species is an aggressive biter and frequently builds intense infestations on animal hosts that can cause stress, reduced growth, and severe blood loss. The reason for their rapid buildup on hosts is that the female tickscan lay eggs without mating; it only takes a single fed female tick to create a population of ticks. Potentially,thousands can be found on an animal. It is also a suspected vector of several viral, bacterial, and protozoanagents of livestock importance. There is ongoing testing of ticks collected in the United States to determine whatdiseases these ticks are potentially vectoring to animals.

This species is capable of disease transmission to humans as well, though the pathogens associated with it in itsnative range have not been found in the U.S. However, recent laboratory research indicates that this speciescould be a competent vector for spotted fever rickettsia, a disease that has had increased incidences in this state.However, we do not yet know if these ticks are able to pass these germs in nature.

Asian Longhorned Tick: A New Tick in TownBy Ric Bessin and Jonathan Larson, Entomology Extension Specialists

Beef Management Webinar Series Recordings:http://afs.ca.uky.edu/beef/videos/beef-management-webinar-series

"I Bought a Farm... Now What" Videos: http://afs.ca.uky.edu/beef/videos/i-bought-a-farm

Figure 2: If you see odd looking ticks on your or your pests or if you have livestock experiencing high tick loads, please let an Extension agent know. We want to keep close tabs on this pest in Kentucky. (Photo: Eric Day, Virginia Tech University).

PreventionWhile hearing about a new biting pest is stressful, hopefully you are already protecting yourself from tick bites when in tick habitat. Personal protective measures, such as the use of EPA-approved insect repellents and 0.5% permethrin-treated clothing, are effective against Asianlonghorned ticks. Wearing light colored clothing, tucking your pants into your socks, and checkingyourself frequently helps to spot ticks before they have a chance to attach. For help with tickcontrol on cattle, please refer to this Extension publication: Insect Control for Beef Cattle (ENT-11)

If you find a suspect tick on you or if you have an animal experiencing higher than normal tickloads, please let us know. You can submit a sample to your local Extension office and ask for themto mail it to us on campus or you can direct an email with photos to the Entomology Department.

Asian Longhorned Tick: A New Tick in Town CONTINUED

Beef VideosCheck out videos from the BeefExtension Team at theUniversity of Kentucky, coveringmany great topics that can bebeneficial for you.

WEDNESDAYS AT 11AM

UK forestry extension offers weekly webinar ‘From the Woods Today’

Prior to each show, a new linkwill be placed on

www.FromTheWoodsToday.com

RECORDINGS AVAILABLE OF PRIOR SESSIONS

WEDNESDAYS AT 2PM

JULY 28- Corn & Soybean Virtual Field Day (9:00AM) VIA ZOOM (PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED)

JULY 29- From the Woods Today (11:00AM) VIA ZOOM

JULY 29- Hort Webinar Wednesday: Tips & Tricks for Reducing Disease in Saved Veg. Seed (2:00pm) VIA ZOOM

JULY 30- Managing Farm & Family in 2020 (7:00PM) VIA ZOOM (Session 2)

AUGUST 1- Farmers' Market Customer Appreciation (8:00AM) **NO MEAL THIS YEAR DUE TO COVID***

AUGUST 5- From the Woods Today (11:00AM) VIA ZOOM

AUGUST 5- Hort Webinar Wednesday (2:00PM) VIA ZOOM

AUGUST 6- Managing Farm & Family in 2020 (7:00PM) VIA ZOOM (Session 3)



AUGUST 13- Managing Farm & Family in 2020 (7:00PM) VIA ZOOM ( Session 4)



AUGUST 20- Virtual Pest Field Day (10:00AM) VIA ZOOM



OCTOBER 1- Beef Bash Virtual Field Day (10:00AM)

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