Person County Cooperative Extension

Amazing Grazing March - April 2008

HORSE REFERENDUM On March 5, 2008, the horse owners of North Carolina will have an opportunity to vote whether to continue to assess themselves $2.00 per ton (.05 cents per bag) on horse feed to provide funds to promote the interests of the horse industry. Any resident of North Carolina, nine years or older, who owns or leases an equine may vote at their county extension office during regular business hours. All voters must sign a certificate of eligibility swearing that they are eligible, and will provide proof of such if asked. The feed assessment program began in 1999. A favorable vote will authorize continuation of the feed assessment for an additional three years. The assessment is voluntary. Those who choose not to participate in the assessment program can send their feed receipts to the North Carolina Horse Council and receive a full refund of the assessment they have paid. Various areas of the horse industry has benefited from the assessment, these include: Extension Horse Husbandry, REINS Operating Funds, 4-H Horsemanship Schools and Camps, Equine Research Projects and training for Animal Response Teams. I encourage every horse owner to get out and vote on this referendum. CATTLEMEN'S MEETING The Person County Cattlemen's Association in conjunction with the Person County Cooperative Extension Service will conduct their next educational program on Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 6:00 PM (please note time change) at the Person County Office Building Auditorium. Dr. Mark Alley, Veterinarian and Clinical Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, will be presenting a program through a web cast on Understanding Toxic Plants in Pastures. This should be a very informative meeting, so mark your calendars. This meeting has been approved for 2 hours of Pesticide Credit in K, L, N, D, X and 2 hours of Continuing Education Credit for Animal Waste Operators. There will be a meal starting at 6:00 PM costing attendees $5.00. Please call our office at 599-1195 by March 11 to let us know if you will be attending. This will help us better plan for the meal. Hope to see you on the 13th. STEAK FUNDRAISER The Person County Cattlemen's Association will hold their steak supper fundraiser on Friday, April 4, 2008 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the Person County Office Building. The cost is $12.00 per plate which will include, steak, baked potato, salad and dessert. The steak dinner will be available eat-in or take-out. A drawing will be held for door prizes. The proceeds from the fundraiser will help support the Person County Cattlemen’s Association Endowment for the Rocky Carver Memorial Scholarship and local youth participating in 4-H livestock activities. Tickets are available from Cattlemen's Association Members or at the Extension Office. Come out for a great meal and support the Cattlemen's Association. SUPPORT OUR YOUTH Come support several Person County youth as they participate in the 63rd Annual Central Piedmont Jr. Livestock Show & Sale. The event will take place April 16 and 17 at the Central Carolina Holstein Barn in Orange Grove south of Hillsborough. Animals will be exhibited by the youth beginning at 1:00 PM on Wednesday and lasting well into the evening. The show will continue at 8:30 AM Thursday. The culmination of this event is the Market Animal Sale on Thursday evening. These kids have worked extremely hard with their project animals, and community support is very encouraging. Come join us for some fun-filled days and nights. Let's show these kids that their hard work and enthusiasm for agriculture is appreciated. HAY The Governor’s Hay Relief efforts are still in motion. My understanding is that as long as money is available from the state, the hay supply and the need for hay continues, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture will continue to ship hay in for resale. Again, this is NOT free or subsidized hay. You are reimbursing the state for the cost of the hay and the transportation costs. The closest pick-up site is the Tobacco Research Station in Oxford, located at 300 Providence Road. The phone number for the Oxford Research Station is 919-693-2483. If you are interested in getting hay from this site, please call this number to check on availability, hours and other procedures/protocols. You may need to leave a message as this is a research station and folks are working outside. If you are in need of very large quantities of hay, this is probably not your best source for hay. You should check the North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Hay Alert website or call the Hay Alert toll free number at 1-866-506-6222 for direct sources. Additionally, there are a few local sources for hay, call the Extension Office for names and numbers. The Ag/Equine Partners Hay Relief Program has been established to help producers offset the cost of transporting hay to their farms from outside of North Carolina. The program will reimburse producers at a rate of $1.00 per loaded mile, up to $500.00. Reimbursements will be made on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. These funds are dependent upon donations. Producers are eligible for reimbursement on a maximum of 3 loads delivered on or after December 4, 2007. Hay in the emergency hay program is not eligible for cost-share on transportation. Forms and other details are available on the Hay Alert website . I realize this has been a difficult time for all livestock owners. Many of you have sold animals that you felt you could not keep. Please keep in mind that even though times are tough, starving an animal is a criminal offense. The lack of feed is not a legitimate excuse. If you have questions or need assistance, please call the Person County Extension Office at 599-1195. NINE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE FOR THE COMING GRAZING SEASON The article has been adapted from an article written by Dr. Matt Poore, Professor and Extension Ruminant Nutrition Specialist, at North Carolina State University and printed in the February edition of The Carolina Cattle Connection. It was written specifically for beef cattle, however, many of the ideas can be used for other livestock species. Remove cows from pastures of the duration of the feeding period. This will allow the grass to accumulate some reserves to be able to initiate spring growth. Scout pastures and evaluate stand survival. This will help you determine what improvements need to be made. Soil sample and plan fertility program. Fertilizer is high. Knowing the pH and phosphorus and potassium levels will improve fertilizer efficiency so you’ll get the most bang for your buck. Scout pastures for weeds and spray in a timely manner. Overgrazing and outside hay that was brought in may increase weed pressure. Eliminating these weeds will allow the plant species you do want to utilize the fertilizer and rain. Frost-seed clover early in February. The addition of legumes in pastures can reduce nitrogen needs. Drag sacrifice/feeding areas and anywhere manure piles are built up. This will allow the nutrients in the manure to be more widely available. Clean up feeding areas. Areas around hay rings increase the chance of nutrient runoff, are a habitat for various flies and are ideal for weeds to grow. Removing residual hay can reduce these potential problems. Visit with your extension agent and/or conservationist to get help planning further subdivision and water development. Cost-share funds are available and with the high cost of fertilizer and feeds, grazing management is going to become even more important. Plan to use lower cattle pressure on your pastures during the coming year. Pastures are going to need several years to recover from the drought in order to handle pre-drought cattle numbers. MARCH BEEF MANAGEMENT CALENDAR Spring Calving Herds Move pregnant heifers and early calving cows to calving area about 2 weeks before due date Continue calving Check cows 3 to 4 times per day, heifers more often - assist early if needed Keep calving area clean and well drained, move healthy pairs out of large pastures 3 days after calving Ear tag and dehorn all calves at birth; castrate male calves in commercial herds Give selenium and vitamin A & D injections to newborn calves Feed cows extra energy after calving; some protein may be needed also Keep high quality, high magnesium, high selenium minerals available Fall Calving Herds Pull bulls to maintain a 60-75 day calving season Remove bulls to bull pasture and check condition Begin creep feeding or creep grazing calves if desired Plan marketing strategy for calves Begin feeding high magnesium minerals to prevent grass tetany Make first selection of replacement heifers Order fertilizer; start getting equipment ready Last chance before frost to seed clovers this spring (early in month) APRIL BEEF MANAGEMENT CALENDAR Spring Calving Herds Finish calving Check cows 3 to 4 times per day, heifers more often-assist early if needed Keep calving area clean and well drained, move healthy pairs out to large pasture 3 days after calving Ear tag and dehorn all calves at birth; castrate and implant male calves in commercial herds Give selenium and vitamin A & D injections to newborn calves Feed cows extra energy after calving; some protein may be needed also Implant calves at turnout if not implanted at birth Keep high quality, high magnesium, high selenium minerals available Get breeding soundness exams done on bulls Fertilize pastures and hay fields according to test Begin managed intensive grazing Fall Calving Herds Creep graze calves while on cows Wean calves based on marketing plan for calves Implant calves at turnout Pregnancy check cows 60 days after bulls were removed Continue feeding high magnesium minerals to prevent grass tetany Fertilize pastures and hay fields according to test Begin managed intensive grazing MARCH FORAGE REMINDERS Apply nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to the cool-season grasses to increase spring production. Begin grazing of fall-planted fescues, orchardgrass, and clovers when growth reaches about 6 inches. Over seeding clovers (ladino, red, and alfalfa) into grass pastures should be completed early. Scatter manure droppings in pastures where hay was fed or where cattle congregated during the winter. Dig weed-free bermudagrass sprigs and plant them before growth begins. Consider using a herbicide. If pure stands of alfalfa are to be planted on prepared seedbeds during the spring use a pre-emergence herbicide because weeds will be more troublesome than they are for autumn plantings. Control winter annual weeds in dormant bermudagrass with herbicides or by burning. Grass tetany may be a problem as rapid grass growth and cool, wet weather prevails. Check alfalfa plantings made last fall for nodules. If there are no nodules or they appear ineffective, consider "emergency" application of inoculant. APRIL FORAGE REMINDERS Fertilize cool-season grasses if you have not already done so. Watch for symptoms of grass tetany. Spray for alfalfa weevil according to recommendations. Harvest fescue and orchardgrass pastures or hay fields as soon as the seed heads begin to flower. Winter annual pastures should be completely used before grazing begins on other pastures which may be harvested as hay. Harvest alfalfa (second year stands or older) in the bud state (before flowering begins). To maintain clover in grass pastures and maintain quality, develop a rotational grazing system which cattle can graze forage to a 2-inch height before moving them to another pasture. Fertilize warm-season grasses (bermuda, bahia, dallis, switchgrass, flaccidgrass) as soon as dormancy breaks. Get all hybrid bermudagrass established this month unless irrigation is available. Seed bahia grass or switchgrass during mid-April or May in the Piedmont.

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