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The Grass Pad Pasture Primer

Pasture Management Tips

Olathe Grass Pad Warehouse 425 N. Rawhide Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-4100 Stilwell Grass Pad Warehouse 8160 W. 199th Street Bucyrus, KS 66013 913-681-8948 Bonner Springs Grass Pad Warehouse 23750 W. 43rd Street Bonner Springs, KS 66226 913-422-4433 North Kansas City Grass Pad Warehouse 11500 NW Barry Rd Kansas City, MO 64153 816-891-9100 Lee’s Summit Grass Pad Warehouse 1711 NE Rice Rd. Lee’s Summit, MO 64086 816-525-8885 LoveLand Grass Pad Warehouse 9900 F Street Omaha, NE 68127 402-331-5262

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Good Pasture

The average horse (1,000-lbs) needs a good two acres of good pasture for grazing. The average horse goes through about 17 lbs. of forage per day, or over 6,000-lbs. per year. On a poor pasture (short and thin grass) it may take12 to 15 acres to produce this much forage or hay. Most Horse pastures are far less than lush. There are common problems in maintaining a high-quality

pasture; soil compaction, incorrect choice of pasture seed, over-grazing and weed control. Heavy soils, equipment traffic, standing water and thousands of hoof steps all contribute to the problem. Low spots, grass clumps, broadleaf weeds and dominate clover stands are all sure signs of soil compaction. The best time to over-seed is either fall or spring. Fall is preferable because of less weed pressure. Since fall is behind us, let's talk pre-spring.

Frost Seed In our part of the country where the ground freezes, and has been frozen for a while now, a simple way to add new plants (seed) in your pasture is to frost seed. Frost seeding is an opportunity to over-seed, between the freezing and thawing cycle, before the spring rains. It is a low-cost method to over-seed the thin grass stands in the pasture or to introduce new forage species into an existing pasture turf. All you needed a broadcast spreader and seed. Frost seeding is done in late-February through mid-March. It is a good time to overseed thin pastures or thin spots in your pasture. Frost seeding should be given serious consideration as there are times when spring conditions are too wet and muddy to work the ground for seeding. Once you have done the frost seed, allow the horses to hoof the seed into the pasture surface. When the seed begins to germinate, rotate the horses to another pasture. For best results, allow the new plants to get well established before heavy grazing. Once plants have reached 6-8", it can be grazed down to 3-4". Continues to rotate pastures, don't overgraze the first year.

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Forage Seed

The primary characteristics needed in pasture grass are wear tolerance and the ability to tolerate soil compaction. Pasture turf cover must grow aggressively during all the seasons the pasture is in use. Healthy grass is essential in providing forage for grazing and producing hay. In the wild, grass species adapted to our area from their seed heads in summer and naturally re-seed themselves every fall. Continuous grazing and mowing prevent this natural cycle of rejuvenation. Over-seeding is an opportunity to imitate nature. Fresh seed introduces vigorous young plants into existing turf stand. These young introductions replace diseased and damaged grass plants and fill in bare spots caused by summer drought stress, insect pests and over-grazing. Seed research programs select new grass plant varieties for improved characteristics of appearance, color, drought and disease tolerance, insect resistance, and durability. These special proprietary varieties should be chosen for their improved performance over older common species. Poor quality pasture can be upgraded by choosing improved varieties. These varieties have improved palatability, feed value, digestibility, and yield. Pasture Perfect – The Brand of Choice

Renovator Special Mix is formulated for renovating existing pastures, providing superior feed value, season-long grazing, endophyte-free forage, and high yield. Renovator Special is easily established by frost seed, broadcast or drilled.

The Renovator Special Mix formulation: 50% DUO Festulolium - adds excellent forage production for many years, highly palatable and digestible - a cross between a tetraploid perennial ryegrass and Meadow Fescue – heat and drought tolerant – looks similar to fescue with the taste of ryegrass. 25% Tonga Tetraploid Perennial Rye – adds aggressive growth, top feed value, and great grazing ability – performs especially well in spring & fall. 25% Rival Brand Annual Ryegrass – establishes very quickly and provides high-quality pasture in the first year. Crude protein runs from 12% to 20%; in a lush pasture the protein runs in the low 20's. The seeding rate for pastures or hayfield renovation varies; 20-lbs per acre if good, 40-lbs per acre if poor.

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Feed the Grass – Fertilizer A pasture can become very productive when the plants are fed. When comparing feed costs to maintaining a fertile, productive pasture, a few dollars spent on soil nutrients is a wise investment. The cheapest feed is under your horse's hooves. Give your pasture three meals per year to keep it healthy (you eat 3-times a day for the same reason). Replace the vital nutrients the grasses need to help them combat weeds and repair damage. An accepted rule to apply up to 150-lbs of nitrogen per acre each year. Instead of one application, split it up and help the budget in the process. Apply Grass Pad's commercial bag of LoveLand Renovator fertilizer (with slow release) the rate of 50-lbs per acre. Do the application in 1) February – March, 2) mid to late May, and 3) September. Early December is an excellent time for a late fall application to stimulate tillering (this is one of the best treatments for over-grazed pastures).

Soil Samples Consider having a soil sample taken to determine the pH of the soil and the levels of phosphorous and potassium, if you have not done so in the past three years. It is best to take the sample in the winter when the grass is dormant. Taking a soil test about every three years is usually sufficient – test at the same time of the year (Note: Some horses are prone to a genetic condition called HYPP, which is triggered by potassium excess. Other conditions may be caused by soil imbalances).

Weed Control The best and least expensive way to control weeds is to develop a healthy and dense pasture turf. (More on weed control coming up). Ben Franklin had it right; the time to start is RIGHT NOW!

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March

Endophyte-free Seed Some farmers and ranchers have asked about maintaining endophyte-free hay and pasture ground. A friend of a friend has offered the opinion that when the endophyte-free seed is planted into a field where the existing grass already had the endophyte infection; the new plants will pick up the endophyte infection. The friend's opinion is all too common. The problems with endophyte in pastures are real and potentially very costly for a horse, sheep, and cattle operations. Endophyte causes health problems that include abortions, hoof and leg problems, low conception rates, rough hair coat, and poor health in all grazing animals and poor rates of gain in cattle and sheep. Many pastures across the south have had K-31 Tall Fescue planted in them at one time or another. Most of those pastures were not well managed. The fescue was allowed to head out and produce seed that fell to the ground. Some of those seeds germinated and grew the next year, but many of the seeds laid dormant in the ground for several years, waiting for the soil to be disturbed so they could grow. When the soil is tilled for a new pasture, some of those K-31 seeds will germinate and grow. How many seedlings germinate and grow is different in each field. Most may have very few that survive, and some may be thick with K-31 plants. So now the question of why to plant endophyte-free pastures has to be answered. By planting endophyte-free pastures, you can virtually eliminate endophyte problems. If the new pasture is seeded properly and at an adequate rate, even if K-31 germinates and grows, you will have a very low endophyte infection in the pasture. If the pasture is properly managed (clipped, rotated, fertilized, over seeded) then the K-31 should be so diluted that there should not be a problem with endophyte poisoning. The endophyte fungus does not spread from plant to plant. By planting endophyte-free varieties, you can greatly reduce the percentage of endophyte-infected plants in the pasture. By planting K-31 or allowing it to take over, the pasture can you "save money"? Let's see, you will promote endophyte poisoning and profit loss from those fields for generations; does that save money???

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Pasture Perfect – Brand of Choice If the newly seeded pastures are left to go to seed and not fertilized, clipped, grazed properly, or cut for hay at the right time then the K-31 may eventually be the species that will take over the field. K-31 is well adapted to this climate and area. However, when managed properly, Renovator Special Mix and Show Horse will perform very well for years of profitable, endophyte-free forage production. A pasture management program that includes overseeding or frost seeding on an annual basis with Renovator Special will be very helpful in keeping the pasture thick enough that the K-31 will not be able to get a foot-hold in bare spots. An endophyte-free or low endophyte pasture will be a profitable pasture and will provide a more palatable and more appealing pasture for your horses. It will save time, effort and money over the long haul and the resulting payoff will last for years to come.

Kentucky 31 (K-31) History Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a widely used forage crop. It is insect and nematode resistant, tolerates poor soil and our weather conditions well and has a long growing season. It also has a downside. Most tall fescue is infected with a fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium coenphialum) that is toxic to forage animals. Tall fescue was brought to the USA from Europe in the late 1800s. It was officially discovered in Kentucky in 1931, tested at the University of Kentucky and released as "Kentucky 31" in 1943. It became popular with farmers in the mid-to-late 1940s and 1950s, spreading quickly in the Midwestern and Southern states. Early producers were excited by the ease with which they could establish and maintain a stand. However, conflicting reports began circulating. For some reason, animals were not performing well when allowed to graze tall fescue. Research into the causes of poor animal performance resulted in the discovery of a small fungus that grows between the cells. This fungus came to be known as the "endophyte" because it was "in" (endo) the "plant" (phyte). Follow-up research revealed that this endophyte could produce ergot-like alkaloids under certain conditions.

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Endophyte and Grazing Animals Toxins that result from the endophyte create some problems. Cattle, horses, and sheep do not gain and can lose body weight despite constant grazing. Reproductive problems show up such as low conception rates and poor offspring survival. Cattle grazing infected tall fescue have elevated body temperatures and loss of blood flow to the extremities, causing "fescue foot" and other symptoms. It is estimated that the losses to the beef cattle industry alone or well over $600 million a year. Studies show that cattle grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue decrease the feed intake and lower their weight gains. They also produce less milk, have higher internal body temperatures and respiration rates, retain rough hair coat, demonstrate unthrifty appearance, salivate excessively, have a poor reproductive performance and maintain reduced serum prolactin levels. Research shows that the endophyte can reduce weight gain by more than 50% in steers fed on pasture. It also shows that the seed head is the most toxic portion of the plant. Horses, particularly mares, grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue are prone to reproductive problems such as late-term abortions and stillborn foals, prolonged gestation periods and dystocia, thickened or retained placentas, laminitis (founder), poor conception rates, decreased prolactin and progesterone levels and agalactia. Foals that survive in the uterus will be larger than normal, have overgrown hooves, poor suckling reflexes, uncoordinated and lowered body temperatures. They may also have poor immunity due to the lack of colostrums produced by the mare. Because horses are sensitive to the toxins in endophyte-infected fescue, even the lowest of endophyte can produce equine Fescue Toxicosis.

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April Weeds – persistent & frustrating Probably the most serious and frustrating pest problem in the pasture is weeds. No pasture is immune. Weeds are the opportunists of the plant world, always ready to take advantage of any failure in the pasture maintenance program. They thrive in thin turf and unfertilized compacted soil. The proven and best way to control weeds is to develop a healthy and dense pasture turf. It is also the most cost-effective solution to the problem. Lush and thick pasture grass greatly reduces the need and expense of herbicides. Reduce the weed competition. Regular overseeding with improved forage varieties and routine fertilizer applications will create a dense and healthy grass stand.

Perfect Pasture – grow your own

The perfect pasture doesn't just drop out of the sky. It is the result of seeking the best, abandoning the comfortable and exploring the

unknown. This idea can be scary for the farmer or rancher who feels most comfortable using the same mix that his father planted in years past. To improve your pasture, you must do something different.

The only thing that is going to fall out of the sky and grow in your pastures is weed seeds! How do you get the perfect pasture? It begins with those little things that we sometimes take for granted; seed. Is there much difference? Is it best to buy the same seed we've been using? How do I know if there is anything better? Will it work on my place? These and many other questions cause hesitation and sometimes fear. Heck, pasture seed is all the same; ain't it?

Improved Varieties – better stuff Over sixty years of research and hundreds of thousands of dollars have generated many improved forage seed varieties. These varieties will yield better, feed better and meet your needs better. Maybe you and your neighbor have continued to use Kentucky-31, and maybe you are still using it because of the price? Folks, you get what you pay for.

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Since it is officially springtime, dormant and frost-seed times are passed. There are some thin and bare spots in your pasture that should be addressed. These areas will fill with weeds if you don't seed them. A good choice for spring over-seeding is a combination of annual and perennial ryegrass. There is a tremendous difference between the new varieties and the old varieties. Now you can get the endophyte-free tetraploids that not only yield, they also provide extremely high feed value. Your animals will be gaining as they are grazing. In the past survivability has been a downfall. Tests have shown that "Rival Brand Annual Ryegrass" and "Tonga Tetraploid Perennial Ryegrass" varieties are very persistent and are being used with great success. Grass Pad's "Renovator Special Mix" combines these ryegrasses with DUO Festulolium to renovate existing pastures and is the best choice to use in the springtime of the year.

Forage Program – develop one In a particular area, forage production may be very similar. At the same time, there are vast differences in the levels of production, efficiency and profitability of forage programs. Many factors influence the success of a forage/livestock operation, and the approaches taken in developing a forage program rank high on the list. The approaches taken are influenced by the concepts and attitudes of the producer. There is no one plan that fits all forage production programs. There are many factors to be considered before developing a program; soil types, topography, other farm successes, financial resources, labor resources, type of livestock operation, and your objectives. There is no one right or wrong forage program. There are many options, and one must make careful choices. Forage/Livestock production is complex. Development of a good program takes thought and planning. It is wise to make a written plan as it helps clarify objectives, identify problems and define needs and opportunities. A producer's overall forage production philosophy has an important influence on the type of forage program developed. All of these basic concepts should be considered and deserve some thought if you want to develop and maintain a good forage program.

Forage – the basic commodity

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While the USA has a livestock industry, we can be proud of, some parts of the world out-produce the USA because they are more efficient. Differences in climate may explain part of this, but philosophy in management is often the deciding factor.

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May Grass – natural horse feed Productive, well-managed pasture can provide most of the nutritional needs for horses during the growing season, including protein, vitamins and minerals. Good pasture management can greatly extend the period of grazing because adequate pasture is available for your horses, without the need for additional hay. Horses grazing on well-managed pastures will be in better condition and have improved health compared to those grazing on poorly managed pastures. Poorly managed, abused, worn-out pastures not only supply a little or no feed but are frequently the source of many internal parasites found in horses. Poor pasture management results in feeding more supplemental feed; reduced plant vigor and productivity of the grass stand and increased weed problems. All of these increase the cost of keeping your horses.

Grazing – management it The goal is to utilize as much of the available forage as possible and maintain dense pasture. Pastures should be divided for rotational grazing; two acres of well-managed pasture should provide good grazing and excise for the average horse. Let your horses graze for about a week in a pasture and then rotate to another pasture. This practice helps to keep the grass growing more vigorously and increases the carrying capacity per acre. Moreover, by rotating the grazing pattern you can break the life cycle of some parasites. Rotate your horses before any part of the pasture is grazed down to the ground. When pasture grass is grazed below 2-inches, it weakens and thins grass stands, and allows weeds to invade. Overgrazing is a major reason for the loss of grass and encroachment of weeds. Weeds lower the forage yield of pasture and compete with the desirable forage grasses and legumes for water, light and nutrients. Some weeds may be harmful to your horses. Proper fertilization and grazing management are the easiest weed control measures.

Weeds – get ‘em out & keep ‘em out In nature, grasses are more competitive than most weeds, especially annual weeds and perennials with roots that do not grow as deeply as roots of healthy, deep-rooted grass. Weeds

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are very good at what they do for a living, and in spite of your best efforts, some will survive and establish in your pasture. Plants can be separated into two groups based on plant morphology; grass and broadleaf plants. A good understanding of weed life cycles, reproduction and spread is important to implement an effective weed control program. Weeds can be classified as annuals, biennials and perennials based on their life cycle. Annuals are plants that grow from germinated seed mature and produce seed for next year's generation in one year or less. Annual weeds are the most abundant type of weed in cropland and pastures. They are easier to kill than biennial or perennial weeds. Summer annual weeds germinate in the spring, grow, mature and produce seed and die before winter. Winter annual weeds germinate in late summer or fall, over winter they mature and produce seed by late spring or early summer, and then die. Examples of annual weeds are crabgrass, foxtail, downy brome, and henbit. Biennials are plants with a two-year life cycle. Biennial weeds germinate and develop a deep taproot and a compact cluster of leaves (rosette) in the first year of their life cycle. In the second year the stem elongates and the plant flowers, produces seed, and dies. Biennial weeds are most susceptible to herbicides when they are in their first year. An example of a biennial weed is the common thistle. Perennials are plants that live for two or more years. Perennial weeds go dormant in the winter and produce new foliage in the spring and summer. They can spread by seed, stems, bulbs and rhizomes. Perennials include dandelion, curly dock and many other weeds, trees and shrubs. Spot spraying with selective herbicides is an effective weed control measure. The key to selecting an herbicide (a pesticide used for killing plants) is proper identification of the undesirable plant. A weed can be defined as "a plant out of place", or "a plant growing where it is not wanted". April showers bring dandelion flowers, henbit, chickweed, mare's tail, and thistle; wherever there is a winter bare spot, now there is a spring surprise. No matter how good your pasture looked last fall, it now looks like a salad bar. Now that warm weather and warm nighttime soils are becoming the norm; it is time to identify and spot spray the existing weeds in your pastures. PASTURE PRO gives a good weed kill and helps the grass fill in the bare spots.

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PASTURE PRO is labeled specifically for areas where non-lactating animals will be grazing immediately. What this means is you do not have to remove your studs, geldings or barren mares from the pasture while you are spraying. It is a 2, 4-D based herbicide that controls broadleaf weeds and brush in pastures. NOTE: Always read and follow label directions before using any pesticide. Remember, the key to pasture management is strong, healthy grass!

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October Fall—Best Time for Weed Control Now is the prime time to control broadleaf weeds. Fall always has been and always will be the best time. Good perennial weed control can be obtained with fall, and late fall weed sprays. Late fall sprays can be done in late November and even early December in some years. For extremely late applications, the recommendation is to use Ester formulations.

Why Do Fall Applications Work In the fall soil, temperatures remain warm, even though air temperatures can get quite cool. Weeds are still making carbohydrates and translocating them to the root to store as food. When herbicides are applied to the foliage in the fall, they are absorbed by the leaves. They then move downward to the root where they cause rapid cell division and elongation. If enough herbicide is taken to the root, the plant cannot make enough carbohydrates support this cell growth. Even if weeds with a large root mass are not completely killed in the fall, they are weakened. They then are easily controlled with a follow-up spring application. In the spring, the opposite phenomenon exists. Soils are cold, and the plant is translocating carbohydrates up to make new leaves. When spring applications are made, often the leaf tissue is killed, but the plant has enough stored food reserves to re-sprout underground buds and grows new leaves and stems.

Weeds Best Controlled With Fall Sprays Late fall applications work best on perennial weeds and winter annuals. The "big three" are most easily controlled in the fall; dandelion, clover, and ground ivy. Wild violet is best sprayed in the fall but may require two applications or a follow-up spring shot. Most winter annuals germinate in the fall. The ones that do can be controlled then. Early fall applications will also control existing summer annuals like spurge and oxalis, but they may have already produced seed that will germinate the following summer.

How Late Is Too Late for Fall Sprays It is virtually impossible to pick a date on the calendar. Every year is different. Anytime soil temperatures are above 50F or 55F, at one-inch depth, excellent weed control can be obtained

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using Amine formulations. Soil temperatures in our area often remain this warm right up to "turkey day"; Thanksgiving. When soil temperatures approach 50F or lower, ester formulations should be used. Don't expect to see a dramatic twisting of the leaves, with late fall applications. Often, the weed leaves will turn red, purple or yellow. The weed foliage may still be apparent in the early spring, but the turf (grass) will readily fill in. Remember, we are killing the roots!

Can Fall Seeded Pasture Be Treated Much of the turf in the Midwest was thinned this season by the not dry weather. By now your pasture seed should have been planted. Fall seeding and fall herbicide applications are compatible! Grass seeded in late August or early September may be sprayed in late October or November. Assuming conditions have favored germination and growth of the newly seeded turf. The rule of thumb, for the newly seeded lawn, the new grass should have been mowed two to three times before applying any herbicide. In the pasture let your new seed grow from four to six weeks, mow the new grass to a height from four to six inches, and then spray your weeds. Early fall applications of broadleaf herbicide can also be made in early September and wait 3-weeks for seeding.

Summary

Fall is the best time of the year to control most broadleaf weeds. Applications can be successfully made much later than many people think. 2, 4-D is an active ingredient in many herbicides. It is used to control broadleaf weeds in selected crop, range, turf, and landscape areas. 2, 4-D is available in "ester" and "amine" formulations. Ester vaporizes readily and results in vapor drift that can travel long distances. Volatilization can occur when air temperatures reach or exceed 85F. The ester formulation is most effective in

cool to cold weather because its penetrating affects the leaf cuticle. The amine salt formulation is non-volatile. During warm weather (temperatures above 85f) only amine formulations of 2, 4-D should be used. Amine rates are usually higher than ester rates to compensate for reduced absorption. Ester formulations for pasture and range are: Cleanout (Clear Pasture), LV 400 Amine formulations for pasture and range are: Hi-Dep, Pasture Pro Several factors influence the effectiveness of post-emergence herbicide applications. Control is easiest to achieve when the weed is small, healthy, and actively growing. As weeds age, changes in the leaf surface, growth habit, and

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physiological functions occur. These changes result in reduced herbicide uptake and translocation. Herbicides are a useful tool for controlling weeds, but they only provide short-term relief. The best approach is to use an integrated system that includes; proper seeding, good fertilizing plan, cool season forages, and rotational grazing practices.

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November Forage Nutrition for Horses What's the best forage for your horse's needs? What affects the nutrient content of the plants in your pasture? Do you have highway grass; looking lush and thick when driving by, but thin with bare spots when walking through it? Do you have an easy keeper that doesn't need healthy grass because it makes him unhealthy? Let's consider some factors to help understand what affects nutrient content in forage plants. The demise of many good horses can be attributed to ignorance. The lack of knowledge can cripple and be a killer.

Carbohydrates in Forages There are two basic types of carbohydrates in forages. One is Structural Carbohydrates that is in cell walls and includes cellulose and hemicellulose. The second in Nonstructural Carbohydrates (TNC) that is inside cells and includes sugars, starch and fructan (a type of sugar). The TNC are the ones that can cause problems with laminitis (founder) and in horses that have metabolism challenges. Note: There are also Non-fiber Carbohydrates (NFC), a fraction of plant nutrients calculated by proximate analysis that includes NSC plus pectin and organic acids. The levels of TNC in a plant vary with the rate of photosynthesis and respiration. Photosynthesis is the plant's creation of sugars from sunlight energy, water, and carbon dioxide. Respiration converts those sugars into energy for growth. The TNC accumulate in many plant parts (leaves, stems & roots) when the rate of photosynthesis exceeds the rate of photosynthesis exceeds the rate of sugar utilization (respiration and growth). TNC will happen when there are very sunny days and cool nights; normally in the spring and fall seasons. The rates of photosynthesis and respiration determine in large part the amount of TNC in the pasture and hay. Knowing that shade slows photosynthesis, you might choose to put the horse prone to founder in a shady pasture instead of the sunny one, so his forage is not as "rich." Alternatively, if you want lower-sugar hay, cut your hay field after a few days of cloudy weather. Lack of sunlight slows photosynthesis reducing the production of sugars that can be detrimental.

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Things to know about forages and carbohydrates:

Lower portions of stems are higher in TNC than upper portions (overgrazed pastures tend to higher concentrations of TNC than healthy plants).

Developing seed heads are very high in TNC.

Stems have more TNC than leaves.

TNC is often high in stem bases, stolons and rhizomes (underground stems and roots) of mature plants.

Carbohydrates are usually high in spring and fall (cool temperatures and bright sunlight).

Fructans occur on cool-season grasses under cool conditions.

Mature grasses have lower TNC.

Some TNC is lost from harvested hay while drying time, especially if it has been rained on (TNC is water-soluble).

Protein content is high when photosynthesis is high and increases with nitrogen application.

Mineral content varies with many factors; plant part, stage growth, soil moisture, soil fertility, and harvesting conditions.

Remember, the textbooks offer generalities about forage; real values must be measured. Visual observation for judging forage quality is not a good indicator; forage analyzes are best. Moreover, much of the "organic hype" is a hoax. There is no scientific basis for a lot of it.