EXTENSION REPORT

With rain finally starting to be seen around the area, most livestock producers are breathing a small sigh of relief. However, while we may be seeing pastures green up and forage become available for livestock; many producers are also looking at empty hay barns and overgrazed pastures. With this situation in mind, many producers have looked or are looking at the possibility of planting summer annuals to supplement their pasture and hay situation. While these summer annuals can definitely produce substantial amounts of forage in a relatively short amount of time, there are a couple of things that producers should keep in mind when considering summer annuals as an option.

The first is the time frame for planting summer annuals. When we discuss summer annuals in our region, we are talking about millet (both pearl and brown top) and Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids and sudangrass. Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, sudangrass, and Browntop millet can all be planted as late as August (early August). Pearl millet however, should already be in the ground. Planting dates are somewhat variable from year to year based on weather and other factors, but should be followed pretty strictly to ensure satisfactory stands and growth of forage. Producers should also be aware that by planting summer annuals late (here we’re talking about those planted in August) you can expect to get one cutting or one graze down.

Another factor to consider with summer annuals is that when compared to your summer perennials, they are expensive to produce. They require fairly high nutrient levels (fertilizer and lime) in order to produce the amounts of forage that are possible with these grasses. Summer annuals also require more intensive management than do our summer perennials. Millets and sudangrass should be grazed when they are 18-24” tall and sorghum-sudangrass when it is 22-30” tall. All should be grazed to a height of 6-8”. It should be noted that it can be difficult to get uniform grazing of these annuals, and intensive grazing management strategies should be employed. When cutting for hay, the summer annuals should be cut when they are 30-40” tall, and should leave a 6-8” stubble. It should also be noted that if you don’t have a mower conditioner it will take nearly a week for the hay to dry enough to bale.

Producers should also be aware that there are a couple of disorders associated with these summer annuals. Nitrate poisoning and prussic acid poisoning are possible with summer annuals. Toxic levels of nitrates are not uncommon in summer annuals, particularly if the plants are stressed from drought (hopefully we won’t see this again). Prussic acid poisoning can occur with the sorghum-Sudangrass and sudangrass, usually after a frost.

While there are several negatives associated with the planting of summer annuals that should be considered when evaluating your situation and deciding whether you should plant summer annuals, there are also definite places and times when summer annuals work very well and can be a positive addition to a livestock operation.

It’s also time to start thinking about planting winter annuals. Producers should decide what winter annual(s) they are going to plant and also begin considering varieties. Now would also be a good time to pull a soil sample if you haven’t done that already. Soil amendments should be made following soil test recommendations. There is some very good variety and planting information available on the Animal Science and Forages website. There is also some very good information about upcoming events on the website.

Upcoming Programs

Beef Cattle Nutrition Series

One event to give special attention to is the upcoming nutrition series. The Beef Cattle Nutrition Series will be hosted over interactive video at the Mobile County Extension Office on 1070 Schillinger Road. The topics and dates for these short courses are Assessing Cattle Nutrition Needs and Feed Sources, July 31st, 6:45-9:00 p.m.; Reducing Stored Feed Needs, August 28th, 6:45-9:00 p.m.; Weaned Calf Development and Economics, September 25th, 6:45-9:00 p.m.; Commodity Feeds in Detail, October 30th, 5:45-8:00 p.m.; Applied Nutrition Tools, November 27th, 5:45-8:00 p.m. The registration fee is $50 per person for the entire series or $15 per night. Producers can download a brochure and register for classes on-line at the Alabama Cooperative Extension System Animal Science and Forages website, www.aces.edu/animalforage. As always, if I can be a help then feel free to give me a call at (251- 238-0373 or kellewi@auburn.edu.

Email address: kellewi@aces.edu
Phone number: 937-7176 or 943-5611, 928-0860, ext. 2222

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability