Page 30 - MWC 2-2-2023s

The Midwest Cattleman · February 2, 2023 · P30

Winter is Time to Plan to Beat the Summer Slump

By Linda Geist
Winter is the time for live- drought and
stock producers to prepare forage. They
pastures for drought, says tolerated
University of Missouri Ex- drought ex-
tension state forage specialist ceptionally
Harley Naumann. well and pro-
Drought is now the rule duced up to
rather than the exception in 8 tons of dry
Missouri, Naumann says. Ac- matter per
cording to the U.S. Drought acre, accord-
Monitor, somewhere in the ing to the
state experienced drought study.
every year but one since 2000. Deep-root-
Naumann urges producers ed warm-sea-
to add warm-season forages son grass-
to rotational grazing systems. es provided
They grow during the warm, similar re-
dry conditions of midsummer sults during
known as the “summer slump,” a 2018 study Annual lespedeza, a legume, tolerates poor soils and low-phosphorus soils and fixes nitrogen. It mixes well
with cool-season grasses but requires careful management to encourage persistence. Annual lespedeza can
when cool-season grasses be- of pastures in be frost seeded in February or later. Legend lespedeza - photo courtesy Ron Locke
come less productive. Linn County, toxicosis, a disease that re-
In addition to protecting Missouri. While cool-season mann says.
against inevitable drought, grasses browned, warm-sea- Warm-season grasses offer duces calving rates, weaning
warm-season forages provide son grasses flourished. South- another benefit: They cost weights and average daily
high nutritive value and ex- west Missouri forage produc- less to fertilize. Warm-season growth.
Johnson grass, a non-native,
tend the growing season, he ers also saw this in the 2022 grasses need 60 pounds of ni- drought-resilient warm-sea-
says. drought. Warm-season grass trogen per acre to produce 4-5 son grass, establishes and
Native warm-season grass- growers were “belly deep in tons of forage, while cool-sea-
es excelled in a 2007 Univer- green grass” while cool-season son grasses require 180 spreads well in most Missouri
soils. Producers often have a
sity of Tennessee study of grasses stopped growing, Nau- pounds of nitrogen for similar
tonnage. “love-hate relationship” with
Other bonuses include bet- it because of its competitive
ter animal performance and and sometimes toxic nature,
Tired of the stress an extended grazing season. says Naumann. recommends
Naumann
Grazing warm-season forages
and complications allows the cool-season grasses testing forages containing
to rest and stockpile for winter Johnson grass for nitrates and
caused by grazing. According to a study prussic acid, which accumu-
late during dry periods. Cya-
by MU Extension agribusi-
elastrator rings? ness specialist Wes Tucker, nide-producing prussic acid
appears in immature plants
cool-season grass stockpiling
... Put a WEE costs 86 cents per day to feed a after early frost. Producers
should avoid grazing pastures
cow, compared to $1.76 to feed
with Johnson grass for two
hay.
Native warm-season grass-
in your es also reduce risk of fescue weeks after a killing frost.
continued on page 33
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