As we transition into a new month, it is always good to remind ourselves about forage management practices that remain or become a focus. Below are forage management practices that transition from other months or are first noted for this time of year.
- Take soil tests so proper amount of lime and fertilizers can be applied.
- Continue scouting for potato leafhopper in alfalfa fields. This insect stunts growth and reduces yield. Insecticide application should be applied when the economic threshold occurs. A “rule of thumb” that I use is .1 leafhopper per inch of plant height per sweep with a 15-inch diameter sweep net. Harvest is another option if economic threshold has been reached and the crop is ready to be harvested.
- Seed adapted summer-annual grasses, legumes, and brassicas as a double crop pronto after harvesting soft red winter wheat or spring oat grain. This task should be completed before mid-July.
- Do not overgraze. Residual height should be no less than 4 inches with cool-season grass and cool-season grass/legume pastures.
- Provide supplemental forage during periods of low pasture production.
- Remove livestock from cool-season grass pastures and turn them out on summer-annual grass pastures, if available and ready to be grazed.
- Purchase forage seed to be sown in August from a knowledgeable seed company. Make sure the forage is adapted to the selected site.
- Remember to purchase the specific rhizobia inoculant for the legume to be seeded so legumes can fix their own nitrogen.
- Cut hay if ready for harvest.
- Northern Indiana: Till fields intended for an August seeding of perennial cool-season grasses and alfalfa. Incorporate recommended fertilizer that has been determined by a soil test.
- If you typically buy hay for winter feeding, consider buying it out of the field from a local producer now. Prices are typically lower now than in the winter.
- Cut brush and unwanted trees in pastures. Treat stumps with a herbicide labeled for the control of regrowth.
Being timely with implementation of management practices is critical for most success. Develop a plan and follow through so most opportunity of success can occur. An excellent source of forage information is the Purdue Forage Field Guide. Forage Field Guide, fourth edition (purdue.edu)