Source: UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA submitted to NRP
CANOLA AND CALVES: AN INTEGRATED CROP-LIVESTOCK FARMING SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING CANOLA AND STOCKER CALVES IN THE SOUTHEAST
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1000980
Grant No.
2013-38624-21399
Cumulative Award Amt.
$186,807.00
Proposal No.
2013-05091
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2013
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2015
Grant Year
2013
Program Code
[HW]- Supplemental and Alternative Crops
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
200 D.W. BROOKS DR
ATHENS,GA 30602-5016
Performing Department
Crop and Soil Sciences - CES
Non Technical Summary
Exciting new research is proving that canola can be grazed during early vegetative stages with minimal impact on seed yield. The use of canola as a dual-purpose crop in an integrated croplivestock farming systems could greatly enhance attempts to expand canola acreage in the US, and in the southeastern (SE) states in particular. In this region, it is likely that much of the expansion will be on pastures and hayfields converted to canola production. To do this, a prerequisite is to ensure that canola can be adequately established without compromising the sustainability of the agricultural system. Therefore, it is our goal to encourage the expansion of canola acreage in the SE by proving the usefulness of winter canola as dual-purpose crop. In support of this goal, this project specifically seeks to: a) Develop least-cost, best management practices for destroying tall fescue/bermudagrass sods and successfully establishing canola, b) Compare and establish appropriate grazing management strategies that optimize animal production and the agronomic performance of canola, c) Determine the economic feasibility of canola as a dual-purpose crop in the Southeast, and d) Extend this information in a series of educational programs on utilizing canola in cattle production systems.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
20518481060100%
Knowledge Area
205 - Plant Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
1848 - Canola;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);
Goals / Objectives
It is our goal to encourage the expansion of canola acreage in the Southeast US by proving the usefulness of winter canola as dual-purpose crop. In support of this goal, this project specifically seeks to: a. Develop least-cost, best management practices for destroying tall fescue/bermudagrass sods and successfully establishing canola, b. Compare and establish appropriate grazing management strategies that optimize animal production and the agronomic performance of canola, c. Determine the economic feasibility of canola as a dual-purpose crop in the Southeast, and d. Extend this information in a series of educational programs on utilizing canola in cattle production systems.
Project Methods
More detailed methods are provided in the proposal. Here in brief: Experiment 1 (Obj 1). We will conduct a field plot experiment at two locations. Location 1 will be at the Northwest Georgia Research and Education Center (NWGREC) near Calhoun, GA. Location 2 will be at the University of Georgia's J. Phil Campbell Research and Education Center (JPCREC) near Watkinsville, GA. Treatments will be a factorial arrangement of four different sod destruction methods (conventional tillage, mowing, burning, and no residual removal) and four planting dates (September 1, September 15, October 1, and October 15). The steps taken for the sod-destruction method and planting date combinations are outlined in Table 2 in the proposal. Treatment combinations will be randomly assigned to one of 16 experimental units per block and treatments will be replicated four times in a randomized complete block. Individual experimental units will be 4 m x 12 m (13 ft x 40 ft) plots with 1 m borders between plots and 5 m alleys between blocks planted with conventional till canola on the same day as the final planting date. Plots will otherwise be managed in accordance with standard BMPs for canola production. Seedling emergence will be assessed at 14 d after planting (DAP) by counting plants per 1 m of row on 3 randomly selected planted rows per plot. At 45 DAP, 90 DAP, and at GS 3.1 (staged using the average growth stage rating of the conventional till treatments), ground cover/leaf area index (LAI) and light interception will be non-destructively assessed and forage quality will be assessed from destructive samplings. At physiological maturity (GS 5.5) total biomass production and seed yield will be assessed by hand clipping 1 m lengths of four rows in three random locations within 1 m of the center row(s) in a plot. Seed will be threshed from the chaff by hand and using an Almaco BT-14 Portable Belt Thresher. Seed samples and biomass will be dried in a forced-air oven at 50-60° C until reaching a stable weight to provide dry matter correction. Separate seed samples will be submitted to Resaca Sun Feeds, LLC (Resaca, GA) for analysis of oil content via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as described in Hocking et al. (1997). Statistical analysis of all response variables will be performed using the GLIMIX Procedure of SAS with replication as a random effect and sod destruction method, planting date, and location as fixed effects. Experiment 2 (Obj 2). We will conduct a grazing experiment within research pastures managed by our team's Sustainable Grazing System's Program at UGA's JPCREC. This experiment will include a comparison of conventional canola production and two grazing management strategies, as suggested by Kirkegaard et al. (2012), for dual-purpose canola production. To benchmark animal production and agronomic/economic performance, these canola management strategies will be compared against dual-purpose wheat production for stockering beef calves and producing a winter wheat crop. Specifically, we propose an experiment with four treatments as follows: i) a control plot where the canola is left ungrazed; ii) canola is rotationally stocked and allowed to be lightly grazed by stocker calves until just before it begins to bolt (GS 3.0; anticipated at the accumulation of ~650 chill hours) and a post-grazing residual of at least 1500 kg of dry biomass/ha (1300 lbs DM/ha) is maintained; iii) canola is rotationally stocked and allowed to be grazed by stocker calves until it begins to bolt (GS 3.1; anticipated at the accumulation of ~900 chill hours) and less than 1000 kg of dry biomass/ha (900 lbs DM/ha) post-grazing residual remains; and iv) winter wheat that is rotationally stocked and allowed to be lightly grazed by stocker calves until just before jointing (Feekes growth stage 6) and the post-grazing residual remains at a height greater than the height of the joint. Treatments will be randomly assigned to one of four paddocks per block and treatments will be replicated four times in a latin square design (Figure 2). Individual experimental units will be 0.66 ha (1.6 acres) paddocks. The two blocking criteria will be the species of summer annual forage grasses (pearl millet, sorghum x sudangrass hybrids, and crabgrass) that precedes the canola crop and tillage history at that site (no-till, conventionally tilled, permanent grass). The pastures will be established and maintained using practices similar to that which is described in the Approach for Experiment 1 for the conventional tilled treatment. A The stocker calves used in this experiment will be from the brood herd at JPCREC. They will be Angus crossbred steers weighing approximately 250 kg (550 lbs). The cattle will need to be weighed on the day in which the research begins, every 28 d thereafter, and at the termination of grazing for the respective treatments. The procedure for weighing calves will be that the animals will be brought up to a holding area on the afternoon before they are to be weighed so as to allow a 12-hr fast (no feed or water) before being weighed the following morning in accordance with practices recommended by Bransby (1989). Individual paddocks will be managed independently in accordance with the management thresholds in the treatments outlined above. Animal performance data will include average stocking rate, average daily gain, average days of grazing, average gain per acre. Statistical analysis of all response variables will be performed using the GLIMIX Procedure of SAS with replication as a random effect and treatment as fixed effects. Initial body weight may be used as a co-variate to reduce error in the statistical model. Economic Evaluation (Obj 3). Data collected from Experiment 1 will be utilized to calculate the most profitable planting method for canola. Cost of establishment and growing the crop will be compared to the final yields and prices to determine net returns for each system. Operating inputs and procedures will come from those utilized in the different treatments for Experiment 1. Standardized prices from published University of Georgia Cooperative Extension crop budgets crop will be used for seed, fertilizer, chemicals, labor, and fertilizer. Equipment and other overhead costs will be developed using procedures consistent with those used in other published UGA budgets. Net returns for each system will be calculated in addition to breakeven prices and production Data collected from Experiment 2 will be incorporated into bio-economic models to determine relative profitability of the various systems, as well as optimal grazing dates. This data will be augmented with historical buy-sell feeder cattle margins, fertilizer and fuel prices, wheat grain, and canola prices. The end result will be two types of economic models. The first model will be a deterministic model and will utilize mean values from Experiment 2 along with historical or projected input and output prices to calculate net returns per hectare. Extension/Outreach Activities and Evaluation (Obj 4). The aforementioned publications will provide specific management recommendations and BMPs based on the available literature on growing canola as a dual purpose crop, as well as the findings from Experiments 1 and 2 and the results of the economic analyses developed when accomplishing objective 3. Further, these articles will provide a venue to properly explain these BMPs and give producers and associated Extension educators/consultants a written resource. We will also develop presentation slide sets (with annotated script), web-based videos, and Extension Agent Trainings that will cover the information and recommendations that are included in the publications and the MS Excel-based decision-aids.

Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/15

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this research and extension project included several professionals. The research effort's conclusions were targeted at other researchers in the canola industry, as well as in the forage industry. Research reports were made at the Canola Board, American Society of Agronomy meetings (national meeting and southern regional meeting), and the American Forage and Grassland Council's annual meeting. Because the extension effort would have been premature to conduct a full fledged program with only 1-year's worth of data, data from the grazing trial was presented in 2014 at extension eventson the following occasions: 4 April to the Georgia Cattlemen's Association, 22 April at the Southern Pastures and Forage Crop Improvement Conference, a field day in the research paddocks on 28 April, and at an Extension Agent training and tour on 6 May. Additionally, data from the trials have been incorporated into at least 30 county or statewide Extension presentations that the PIs have made since the winter of 2013-14. The target audience for the extension programs included county extension agents, NRCS field staff, and farmers/growers. Changes/Problems:The biggest problem that we ran into was that we were encouraged to submit a 3-year project one year at a time. We achieved excellent results in the first year, demonstrably showed that canolayield was not affected by grazing under proper management, and really was proving the concept. Then, we attempted to obtain funding for an additional year and we weredenied. It is imperative that agronomic trials be conducted over multiple years because of climatic issues. Operating one year at a time, especially when the review panel is so heavily influenced by individuals with vested interests in the outcome, does not lend itself to the goals of expanding the acreage of canola production. We were well on the way to conclusively proving the concept of dual-purpose canola for integrated crop-livestock production systems in the Southeast. It is a real shame that work could not have been concluded. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Data from the trials were specifically presented at scientific professional society meetings, including the American Society of Agronomy's Annual Meeting and their Southern Section meeting and the American Society of Animal Sciences' Southern Section meeting. Additionally, this data was presented to Extension Agents, producers, and other agricultural professionals in 2014 on the following occasions: 4 April to the Georgia Cattlemen's Association, 22 April at the Southern Pastures and Forage Crop Improvement Conference, a field day in the research paddocks on 28 April, and at an Extension Agent training and tour on 6 May. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The training and professional development meetings mentioned in the previous section were the primary occasions of disseminating this preliminary information. Additionally, data from the trials have been incorporated into at least 30 county or statewide Extension presentations that the PIs have made for producer groups since the winter of 2013-14. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? IMPACT This research has shown that utilizing canola as a dual-purpose crop can be considerably more profitable than canola production alone and provide a cost-effective alternative to dual-purpose winter wheat. Weight gains for steers were similar to those of steers stockered on winter annual grasses. The management strategies used in the current experiment conserved seed yield and oil content. Unfortunately, the funding provided only 1 year's worth of data. Despite preliminary results from that 1 year that appear to be very promising, we could not adequately perform a feasibility study on the economics of dual-purpose canola. Further, it would have been inappropriate for us to extend this information and push for growers to attempt a dual-purpose canola production system without more data. Our limited extension effort garnered a tremendous amount of attention, as producers were inspired to see the profit potential of canola production in the Southeast and how it could be integrated into their crop and forage-based livestock production systems. However, adoption has been limited due to our in ability to continue the "proof of concept." Objective 1: Canola Establishment Trial The experiment was a factorial arrangement of four different sod destruction methods (conventional tillage, mowing, burning, and no residual removal), four planting dates (Sept 1, Sept 15, Oct 1, and Oct 15), and two locations (Calhoun and Watkinsville) replicated four times in a randomized complete block. Experimental units were 1.8 m × 9.1 m plots wherein 'Inspiration' winter canola was planted at rate of 4.5 kg PLS ha-1 in 19 cm rows. Seedling emergence was determined 14 DAP by counting plants per 1 m of row on three randomly-selected planted rows per plot. At 45 DAP, 90 DAP, and at GS 3.1, ground cover/LAI, and light interception were non-destructively assessed at three random locations within each plot. At the same location, destructive samples were hand-clipped to ground level to determine forage yield and nutritive value. At maturity, total biomass and seed yield were determined by hand clipping. Seed samples were submitted to Resaca Sun Feeds, LLC for determination of oil content via NMR. Seedling emergence and early season canopy development was affected by planting date, sod destruction, and location, which largely reflected the influence of these treatments on soil moisture and temperature. Canola yield was also influenced by an interaction of these factors with high yields favored by planting dates on or before Sept 15 and conventional tillage or mowed or burned residue no-tillage. Objective 2: Grazing Canola Trial Sixteen 0.66-ha paddocks were randomly assigned one of four treatments including: canola no graze (CNG); canola grazed with grazing terminated early (prior to GS 3.0; CEG); canola grazed with grazing terminated later (just prior to GS 3.1; CLG); and winter wheat grazed with grazing terminated prior to jointing (WW). 'Inspiration' canola and 'AGS2038' winter wheat was planted with a no-till drill on Oct 5, 2013. Seedling emergence was assessed at 14 DAP by counting plants per 1 m of row on 10 randomly selected locations in each paddock. Paddocks were sampled immediately prior to grazing initiation and throughout the grazing period to measure LAI, NDVI, herbage mass, and GS. Rising plate meter measurements were measured at 40 observation sites along a randomly located transect in each paddock. The average RMP measurement was then used in Eq. 1 to determine herbage mass. On 23 January, grazing was initiated with 16 tester steers (248 ± 19 kg). Weights of the stocker calves were again obtained at the termination of grazing (49-d grazing period) to assess weight gain/animal performance. Then, total biomass and seed production was assessed at the end of the experiment in three randomly located 0.5-m2 areas in each paddock. Seed samples were submitted to Resaca Sun Feeds, LLC for analysis of oil content via NMR. The WW treatment carried greater forage mass and ground cover (LAI and NDVI) through most of the grazing season, while the grazed canola treatments were only slightly lower than the CNG controls. The average daily gain of the tester steers did not differ (P = 0.775) among the CEG, GLG, and WW grazing treatments (1.25 kg ha-1 d-1). Canola yields were greater (P = 0.068) in the CEG treatment than in the CNG and the CLG treatments, which were not different (P = 0.486) from one another. Winter wheat out yielded all of the canola treatments (P > 0.001). Objective 3: Economic Evaluation Data collected from Objective 1 was used to calculate the most profitable planting method for canola using operating inputs and procedures and standardized prices from published University of Georgia Cooperative Extension crop budgets for inputs, equipment, and overhead costs. Similarly, the data collected from Objective 2 was used to calculate calculate net profit of systems compared. Because the experiment lasted only one year, it was not possible to develop a deterministic model that utilized mean values and variation observed in the grazing experiment along with historical and projected input and output prices to calculate returns per hectare, nor was it possible to develop a stochastic model/Monte Carlo analysis. Using the data from the establishment and planting date trial, estimated returns above variable costs were highest for the no-till + burning residue treatment ($44.33 ha-1) on Sept 15. However, all September plantings in that treatment and the conventional tillage or no-till + mowing treatments were within $7 ha-1 of the highest return over estimated variable costs. Later planting dates and poor residue control resulted in lower or negative estimated returns. Data from the dual-purpose canola experiment indicated that estimated returns above variable costs were substantially greater than when no grazing occurred on the canola ($801.76 vs. $36.39 ha-1, respectively). These returns were greatest ($854.39 ha-1) for the late termination of canola grazing, even though this treatment resulted in greater canola yield loss than the early termination treatment ($746.13 ha-1). However, including only one year's data in this analysis makes it inappropriate to assume the CLG treatment would consistently be better than the CEG, since cattle prices were quite high in 2014 (>$4.40 kg-1) and the cattle ADG was not significantly different between these treatments. The estimated returns above variable costs for all canola treatments were less than the dual-purpose winter wheat treatment ($877.63 ha-1), which largely reflected its higher yield of wheat compared to the canola yields. Objective 4: Extension/Outreach Activities and Evaluation The original plan was to build an Extension program around the canola and stocker calf production system and use the multiple years' worth of data to build confidence in the program. Because funding for this project was provided 1 year at a time and the project was not renewed after the first year, the extension objective had very little to "extend." However, we held several extension functions to begin to build discussion about the project. Data from the trials were presented in 2014 on the following occasions: 4 April to the Georgia Cattlemen's Association, 22 April at the Southern Pastures and Forage Crop Improvement Conference, a field day in the research paddocks on 28 April, and at an Extension Agent training and tour on 6 May. Additionally, data from the trials have been incorporated into at least 30 county or statewide Extension presentations that the PIs have made since the winter of 2013-14.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Dillard, S.L., D.W. Hancock, and. S. Ingram. 2015. Agronomic characteristics of dual-purpose canola grow in piedmont soils of north Georgia. American Society of Agronomy Southern Section Meeting. February 1-3, 2015. Atlanta, GA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Hancock, D.W., S.L. Dillard, S. Ingram, and R.L. Stewart, Jr. 2015. Canola and calves: An integrated crop-livestock farming system for producing canola and stocker calves. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting. November 15-18, 2015. Minneapolis, MN.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Ingram, S., S.L. Dillard, R.L. Stewart, Jr., and D.W. Hancock. 2015. Canola and calves: An integrated crop-livestock farming system for producing canola and stocker calves in the Southeast. American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting. February 1-3, 2015. Atlanta, GA.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Ingram, Sammuel H. 2014. Canola and calves: An integrated crop-livestock farming system for producing canola and stocker cattle in the Southeast. University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Ga.