Page 11 - MWC 8-6-20s

The Midwest Cattleman · August 6, 2020 · P11

Late Summer Establishment of Perennial Forages

By Mark Sulc, smooth if you plan to no-till mer and especially where matically improve the alfalfa’s
OSU Extension Forage Specialist seed because you will have to clover has been present in ability to resist the infection.

The month of August pro- live with any field roughness the past. This pathogen Late August seedings are very
vides the second window of for several years of harvesting causes white mold on alfalfa susceptible to this disease,
opportunity for establishing operations. seedlings and infects plants with mid-August plantings
perennial forage stands this Sclerotinia crown and stem during cooler rainy spells in being intermediate.
year. The primary risk with rot is a concern with no-till late October and November. In a no-till situation, min-
late summer forage seedings is seedings of alfalfa in late sum- Early August plantings dra- imize competition from ex-
having sufficient moisture for isting weeds by applying a
seed germination and plant es- glyphosate burndown before
tablishment, which is a signif- planting. Using no-till when
icant risk this summer given herbicide-resistant weeds are
the low soil moisture status present, such as marestail,
across many areas. creates a very difficult situa-
The decision to plant or not tion with no effective control
will have to be made for each options, so tillage is probably
individual field, considering a better choice in those situa-
soil moisture and the rain fore- tions.
cast. Rainfall/soil moisture in Post-emergence herbi-
the few weeks immediately cide options exist for alfalfa
after seeding is the primary to control late summer and
factor affecting successful es- fall emerging winter annual
tablishment. broadleaf weeds. A mid- to late
No-till seeding in August is fall application of Butyrac (2,4-
an excellent choice to conserve DB), bromoxynil, Pursuit or
soil moisture for good germina- Raptor are the primary herbi-
tion. Make sure that the field cide options for winter annual
surface is relatively level and continued on page 15

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