Page 24 - MWC 10-27-2022s

PRACTICE PATIENCE The Midwest Cattleman · October 27, 2022 · P24
continued from page 22

weed pressure. That weed several weeks,
pressure appears from the then it is a lot
seed bank present in the soil easier to rest
along with any new addi- pastures more
tions from equipment, move- and stockpile
ment with animals and cer- forage correctly
tainly wildlife. Some weeds and reduce the
can lay dormant for decades need to carry
just waiting patiently for the feed to them.
right opportunity and condi- Feed that the
tions to grow. Delayed spring animal can
grazing with a little extra harvest itself is
fertility, especially nitrogen, almost always
helped to reduce weed pres- cheaper than
sure some by increasing com- anything that
petition by the desired for- you have to
age, but not always. carry to it.
What most producers re- I was asked
ally need is more grazable recently again
acres or fewer animal units. about the graz-
That is probably easier done ing of Johnson-
by utilizing some cropland, grass during
especially marginal crop- a farm visit.
land, to grow annual forage If the field is
in the rotation for haying or grazed very often, you usu- warm-season grasses such as toxic than sorghums. Frosted
ideally grazing and making ally won’t see much present sudangrass or sorghum-su- areas could be only “pockets”
use of crop residue when con- because it is often one of the dangrass hybrids and the in a field to start with. Any
ditions are favorable to do so first forages the cows take noted johnsongrass produce regrowth from the base of the
without causing compaction out. They will eat it and ac- a toxic compound when frost- plant after a frost can also be
or the need for cleanup till- tually like it, but I certainly ed causing the production of very high in prussic acid. If
age afterwards. If the live- wouldn’t plant it. the prussic acid (hydrocyan- in doubt, wait and or test. It
stock are off the pastures for Summer annual ic acid). To be safe, livestock is better to be safe than sorry
should be removed from and occurrences can happen
these forages after frosted for with little warning. Millets
at least two weeks to allow generally do not have this
for the forages to “dry down” issue.
and the prussic acid to dissi- Remember, it’s not about
pate before grazing again. maximizing a grazing event,
These forages can be har- but maximizing a grazing
vested for baleage five to season! Graze crop residues
seven days after being frosted or annuals that you have
and later fed as long as they now to allow pastures to rest
are allowed their normal fer- and continue to grow until
mentation process time peri- dormant. Keep on grazing!
od of six to eight weeks – but
best harvested prior to frost.
Dry hay containing these
is generally fine. Johnson-
grass tends to be a bit more

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