Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Stockipiling tall fescue is the practice of allowing tall fescue forage to grow in the field during autumn (i.e., August to November). The accumulated forage can then be grazed during the winter months (i.e., December to February/March). In the winter, there is no active plant growth in the field, hence having stockpiled tall fescue allows livestock to continue grazing in the fieldwhilereducingthe need for hay.Frost-seeding is the practice of broadcasting clover seed in winter so that freeze-thaw cycles of the soil surface provide adequate soil-seed contact for succesful establishment of the legume. Frost-seeding is a low-cost method to achieve grass-legume mixtures.Our project will first focus ondemonstrating and educating livestock and land managers onhow to stockpile tall fescue pasturesand how to frost-seed clovers clovers into tall fescue pastures. The research component will focus on testing how grazing management can improve frost-seeding clovers.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Objective 1: Provide learning and training opportunities to land and livestock managers of the tall fescue about frost-seeding clovers and stockpiling tall fescue through on-farm- and research station-based educational/outreach programs.Objective 2: Evaluate grazing effects on establishment of a clover mixture frost-seeded into stockpiled tall fescue pastures.Objective 3: Monitor aboveground productivity, nutritive value, and botanical composition when tall fescue pastures are frost-seeded with clovers.
Project Methods
Well-established tall fescue pastures (at least 5 years old) and weed-free (no broadleaves or clovers) will be selected for this project. Initial soil samples will be collected in July/August of each year to ensure adequate soil pH and to assess the need of fertility amendments before establishing the legumes. A new set of plots will be selected each year to eliminate potential carry-over effects. A mixture of white, red, and crimson clovers will be frost-seeded at the recommended planting rates.Frost-seeding will be achieved by broadcasting the seed in late January/early- to mid-February of each year. Clipping and grazing will be implemented as needed to ensure adequate establishment conditions for the clover seedlings.On-farm PlotsOn-farm plots will be monitored, and these locations will serve to host field days in the Mountains and Piedmont. Each season, a new farm will be selected to demonstrate the two technologies and to host a field day.For the on-farm plots, producers will be asked to select at least two treatments (out of the 5 proposed in the Research Component of this project). We will provide the clover seed to frost seed up to 1 acre per farm and we will provide logistical support to ensure that the technologies are well implemented.Research/demo PlotsResearch/demo plots will be established at two research stations in North Carolina. The experimental plots at these stations will also serve to host the grazing schools.