Livestock & Forage Update | September 2021
General County Updates & Observations:
Fall Army Worms...still a huge problem!
  • The Fall Armyworm (FAW) pressure hasn't let up much. So please keep scouting your fields at least twice a week.

  • Cooler weather will slow down the moth flights and the metabolism of the worms. So instead of 12-14 days from hatch (1st instar) to worms eating all your grass (6th instar), it may take as much as 30 days. Ultimately, it will take a hard frost to totally end the 2021 FAW invasion.

  • For those thinking of planting cool-season forages (i.e. interseeding pastures or planting food plots), please keep a close eye out for FAW. If you end up needing to spray, please consider using products that have longer residual activity. Examples would be a local systemic (translaminar) like the Lambda-cyhalothrin / diflubenzuron tank mix (10-14 days residual) or a true systemic product like chlorantraniliprole (i.e. Prevathon, Besiege, or Vantacor) where we have been seeing 3-4 weeks residual control.
  • Please note that we are not promoting any product over another, we are simply giving everyone options.
Fall Armyworms collected in Greene County.
Bermuda Stem Maggots...on the rise
  • The Bermudagrass Stem Maggot (BSM) Fly numbers started ramping up last week. We think this is due to the longer-lasting systemic products that are being used to control the FAW. So, if you are starting to see brown tips in your bermudagrass fields, BSM may likely be the cause. Give us a call if you have questions.

Greene County Hay Show & Contest
  • We were glad to see 18 entries this first year. Crude protein results ranged from around 9% to over 20% and TDN from the mid 50's to the high 60's. Final results and the top three placings will be shared next week. All-in-all Greene County producers make some high-quality hay. We are looking forward to our Fall Field Day in October to discuss hay testing along with many other livestock & forage topics.

If we can be of assistance with anything livestock and forage-related, please give us a call at 870-236-6921.
Tips for Spring Calving Herds
  • Cowherd performance is an opportunity to use production data to aid in replacement heifer selection or cull cows due to poor performance. A herd performance test involves weighing cows and calves, frame and muscle scoring calves, and body condition cows. Please check out this FSA 3044 for additional information and give us a call if you are interested.

  • Walk through your cattle working facilities and take note of repairs and maintenance before fall weaning. Test all weak spots.  These are supposed to be "working" facilities not "work-out" facilities. Facilities should be maintained for your safety and well as safety for your cattle. 

  • Start making plans for weaning calves. Retained ownership can often increase gross income, but to be profitable, the cost of feed cannot be too excessive. Hay and supplement-based programs are more costly than pasture and supplement programs, so good fall pasture management is important. 

  • Consider fence line weaning suckling calves. This reduces stress on the cows and calves. In addition, calves continue to gain weight and respiratory disease is greatly reduced compared to conventional weaning. Training cattle to respect electric fencing prior to weaning can facilitate the weaning process. Fenceline weaning also allows high-quality pastures to be used as weaning facilities in place of dusty drylots. 

  • Implement a preconditioning program. Precondition programs include weaning calves at least 45 days to sale, castrating bull calves, dehorning if necessary, and a vaccination program. Preconditioned calves often sell for a higher price. Remember to follow BQA guidelines when giving vaccinations. 

  • Pregnancy tests all cows. Cull all open cows and cull all cows with physical problems such as bad eyes, poor udders, lameness, missing teeth, etc. 

  • Select replacement heifers based on pre-weaning performance and phenotypic expression. Also, select heifers that were born early in the calving season. 

  • Vaccinate heifers for brucellosis. We will be sending out information on our calf vaccination schedule soon.
Tips for Fall Calving Herds
  • Cows should be calving soon. Check cows often throughout the calving season.

  • Check first-calf heifers more often. 

  • Vaccinate replacement heifers 30 to 60 days before the breeding season. 

  • Take care of newborn calves; dip navel, ear tag, castrate bull calves, etc. 
 
  • Evaluate and select sires for the breeding season. We will be sending out information soon on the Fall County Bull Breeding Soundness Exam.

  • Forage test and plan for the winter feeding program. See additional information here: FSA 3114

  • Be on the alert for prussic acid poisoning. FSA 3069
Forage Management Tips
Planting of winter annual grass forages
  • Plant small grains such as rye, wheat, or oats to provide forage for grazing between November and March.
  • Until cooler weather arrives, be prepared to control Fall Armyworms.

Establishment of winter annual legume forages
  • Legumes such as crimson clover, arrowleaf clover, and hairy vetch potentially provide multiple benefits, including grazing and improving soil fertility. 

  • Plant in middle to late September

  • Legumes can be no-till drilled into warm-season grass stubble (such as bermudagrass).

  • No-till drills need to be kept clean and in good working order to plant at a consistent depth and seeding rates. See additional information here: FSA 3111

Plant forage brassicas: turnip, turnip hybrids, or rape
  • Plant between August 25 through mid-September. 

  • Seeding rate: 2-3 lbs/ac if planting with ryegrass or small grains; 5 lbs/ac for pure stands. 

  • Grazing turn-in at 14-16"; if regrowth is desired rotate livestock out at 6-8".

Fescue
  • Stockpile fescue for winter grazing. See additional information here: FSA 3133

  • Clip or graze fescue pastures to 4" stubble by September 1 and fertilize with 50-60 lbs/acre of nitrogen (i.e. about 130 pounds of Urea). 

  • Defer grazing until December 1.

  • Strip-grazing will yield twice as many grazing days as will giving access to the whole pasture.

Bermudagrass Winter Pasture
  • Prepare bermudagrass pastures for interseeding ryegrass or small grains to use as winter pasture. 2139

  • Graze bermudagrass to a 2-3" height in September. 

  • Plant winter annuals with a no-till drill or broadcast/drag in early October.
 
  • Plant small grain at 100 lbs/acre. Plant ryegrass at 20 lbs/acre. See additional information here: FSA 2139
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