Source: NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV submitted to NRP
SCIENCE TO PRACTICE: STOCKPILING AND FROST-SEEDING CLOVERS AS CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF CLIMATE SMART GRASSLANDS FOR THE TALL FESCUE BELT
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1032229
Grant No.
2024-68008-42761
Cumulative Award Amt.
$300,000.00
Proposal No.
2023-09571
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 15, 2024
Project End Date
Jul 14, 2027
Grant Year
2024
Program Code
[A1701]- Critical Agricultural Research and Extension: CARE
Recipient Organization
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
(N/A)
RALEIGH,NC 27695
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
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
10207801070100%
Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
0780 - Grasslands, other;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;
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.

Progress 07/15/24 to 07/14/25

Outputs
Target Audience:Two field days were hosted, one in the Piedmont at a resaerch station and one in the Mountain region at an collaborator's place.A total of 123 people were in attendance for a total of 542 contact hours for both extension events. The audience included land and livestock managers as well as Extension personnel (county extension agents, technical agents, research station personnel). Changes/Problems:Hurricane Helene impacted North Carolina in late-September 2024, with particularly severe effects in the western region of the state. The damage was catastrophic, prompting a statewide mobilization of resources and attention to support recovery efforts in the affected areas. As a result, it was not feasible to initiate the field component of the project during the Winter 2024-2025 season. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two field events, one in the Mountains and one in the Piedmont regions. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes, in addition to materials provided during the meetings, the attendees received by email a packet containing information about frost-seeding clovers in tall fescue pastures. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to host another field day to continue disseminating the science and engaging stakeholders. As we initiate the field component of the project, we remain hopeful that no major climatic disruptions--such as a hurricane like Helene--will interfere with its implementation.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Learning opportunitiies were provided the a diverse group of stakeholders in North Carolina. The targe audience included extension agents, technical information providers from federal and state agencies (i.e., the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services [NCDA&CS]and NRCS) as well as to land and livestock managers. There were a total of 542 contact hours through two field events. On event was hosted at the Butner Beef Field Laboratory in the Piedmon region and the other event was hosted at a producer's field in Caldwell County. Objective 2 and 3 were not started because hurricane Helene impacted North Carolina during the time that the field work needed to occur. Hence, we will be requesting a one-year no-cost extension to be able to complete this portion of the project.

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