Progress 07/01/08 to 06/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: ACTIVITIES: Field studies were initiated in July 2008 at three different sites in Anderson, Madison, and Monroe counties near Lawrenceburg, Richmond, and Tompkinsville, Kentucky, respectively. These on-farm field sites are located on grazed pastures in cooperation with county Extension agents and local livestock producers. Eight different treatments were studied at each site to evaluate three primary weed management strategies (mowing, herbicide, and added fertility). Treatments range from no strategy (untreated control); mowing alone, herbicide alone, or added fertility; combinations of mowing plus herbicide, mowing plus fertility, herbicide plus fertility; and a combination of all inputs which consist of mowing plus herbicide plus added fertility. Mechanical control treatments were mowed in July 2008 and 2009. Added fertility was applied in September 2008 and 2009 to designated treatments based on soil test results. Herbicide applications were applied in August 2009. Weed species composition and the density of the primary weeds present (which includes tall ironweed as a common plant species at each site) were determined before treatments were initiated in 2008 and repeated during 2009 and 2010 (one and two years after treatments began). Available forage and weed biomass yields were determined in May 2009, September 2009, and May 2010 by sub-sampling ungrazed and grazed areas within each plot. The amount of forage produced was botanically separated into desirable forage species and weeds present. The economic cost/benefits of each of these treatments are being evaluated based on the cost of weed management inputs and forage yield data. EVENTS: Three field days for forage and livestock producers were held at each research location (Madison, August 2009; Monroe, September 2009; and Anderson, June 2010) to highlight the results obtained after the first year of these studies. In-service training sessions for agriculture and natural resource agents, forage agronomists, and others who consult with producers were held at the Madison and Monroe sites in August 2010. Results of these studies have also been presented to livestock producers through the Kentuckiana Crop Production Workshop (2010), Heart of America Grazing Conference (2011), Kentucky Master Grazer Program and at local and area field days. Professional meeting presentations have been made at the North Central Weed Science Society (2009, 2010), a joint meeting of the Weed Science Society of American and the Society of Range Management (2010), National Association of County Agriculture Agents (2010), Weed Science Society of America (2011), and the Southeast Exotic Plant Pest Council Conference (2011). PARTICIPANTS: J. D. Green (PI) directed the overall project and activities; William W. Witt (Co-PI) assisted with the field research activities; Kenny Burdine (Co-PI) agricultural economist was responsible for economic assessments; and Greg Schwab (Co-PI), soil scientist assisted with soil fertility treatments. Josh Tolson was the principle graduate student assigned to the project; Meghan Edwards (graduate student) has assisted with the field research component; Simone Heath, Jimmy Chambers, Grant Mackey, Hunter Hicks are undergraduate students. Agricultural and Natural Resource Agents affiliated with the project at the county level and coordinating field day activities include Brandon Sears, Tommy Yankey, and Kevin Lyons. Walter Majors (Anderson), Billy Glenn Turpin (Madison), and Jimmy Thompson (Monroe) are the livestock producers cooperating with the project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Livestock and forage producers were the target audience for the three field days that have been held at the sites and for presentations at other field days and meetings. The in-service training sessions were held for agricultural extension agents, forage agronomists, and others who consult with forage producers. Professional meeting presentations have been for plant scientists and other agricultural professionals and for county agriculture agents at the national level. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
A total of 400 forage and livestock producers attended the field days held at each site. At the two in-service training sessions for agriculture extension agents and other forage agronomists 45 individuals participated. Observed differences in weed populations, weed biomass, and forage yields for each of the weed management treatments were discussed with participants along with the economic assessments for the inputs and forage yields obtained. Participants were given an opportunity to provide their own perceptions of the most practical and sustainable treatments prior to and after field study results were presented. An additional 480 participants heard presentations on this project at area, state, and local meetings of forage and livestock producers.
Publications
- Tolson, Josh, A., J. D. Green, William W. Witt, Greg J. Schwab and Joseph A. Omielan. 2011. Integrated Management Strategies Reduced Tall Ironweed Populations and Weed Biomass and Improved Tall Fescue Pasture Productivity. Weed Science (accepted for publication Sept 2011). Posted on-line doi: 10.1614/WS-D-11-0067.1
- Tolson, J., J. D. Green, K. Burdine, W. Witt, and G. Schwab. 2011. Economic Assessment of Improved Forage Productivity Using Integrated Weed Management Practices in Pastures. Proc. Weed Science Society of America. Abstract 51 (55). Portland, OR.
- Green, J.D. and Josh Tolson. 2011. Integrating Weed Management Practices to Enhance Productivity of Grazed Pastures. Proc. 10th Heart of America Grazing Conference. Louisville, KY. Jan 2011.
- Tolson, J.A., J. D. Green, W.W. Witt, and G.E. Aiken. 2010. Effect of Pasture Management Strategies on Forage Quality. Proc. North Central Weed Science Society, Lexington, KY. Abstract 65 (72) [CD-Rom].
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Progress 07/01/09 to 06/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: ACTIVITIES: Field studies were initiated in July 2008 at three different sites in Anderson, Madison, and Monroe counties near Lawrenceburg, Richmond, and Tompkinsville, Kentucky, respectively. These on-farm field sites are located on grazed pastures in cooperation with county Extension agents and local livestock producers. Eight different treatments are being studied at each site to evaluate three primary weed management strategies (mowing, herbicide, and added fertility). Treatments range from no strategy (untreated control); mowing alone, herbicide alone, or added fertility; combinations of mowing plus herbicide, mowing plus fertility, herbicide plus fertility; and a combination of all inputs which consist of mowing plus herbicide plus added fertility. Mechanical control treatments were mowed in July 2008 and 2009. Added fertility was applied in September 2008 and 2009 to designated treatments based on soil test results. Herbicide applications were only applied in August 2009. Weed species composition and the density of the primary weeds present (which includes tall ironweed as a common plant species at each site) were determined before treatments were initiated in 2008 and repeated during 2009 and 2010 (one and two years after treatments began). Available forage and weed biomass yields were determined in May 2009, September 2009, and May 2010 by sub-sampling ungrazed and grazed areas within each plot. The amount of forage produced was botanically separated into desirable forage species and weeds present. The economic cost/benefits of each of these treatments are being evaluated based on the cost of weed management inputs and forage yield data. EVENTS: Three field days for forage and livestock producers have been held at each research location (Madison, August 2009; Monroe, September 2009; and Anderson, June 2010) to highlight the results obtained after the first year of these studies. In-service training sessions for agriculture and natural resource agents, forage agronomists, and others who consult with producers were held at the Madison and Monroe sites in August 2010. Results of these studies have also been presented to livestock producers through the Master Grazer Program and at local and area field days. Presentation have been made at professional meetings such as the North Central Weed Science Society (2009), a joint meeting of the Weed Science Society of American and the Society of Range Management (2010), and the National Association of County Agriculture Agents (2010). PARTICIPANTS: J. D. Green (PI) directs the overall project and activities; William Witt (Co-PI) assists with the field research activities; Kenny Burdine (Co-PI) is the agricultural economist responsible for economic assessments; and Greg Schwab (Co-PI) is the soil scientist assisting with soil fertility treatments. Josh Tolson is the principle graduate student assigned to the project; Meghan Edwards (graduate student) has assisted with the field research component; Simone Heath, Jimmy Chambers, and Grant Mackey are undergraduate students. Agricultural and Natural Resource Agents affiliated with the project at the county level and coordinating field day activities include Brandon Sears, Tommy Yankey, and Kevin Lyons. Walter Majors (Anderson), Billy Glenn Turpin (Madison), and Jimmy Thompson (Monroe) are the local livestock producers cooperating with the project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Livestock and forage producers have been the target audience for the three field days that have been held at the sites and for presentations at other field days and meetings. The in-service training sessions were held for agricultural extension agents, forage agronomists, and others who consult with forage producers. Professional meeting presentations have been for plant scientists and other agricultural professionals and for county agriculture agents at the national level. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
A total of 400 forage and livestock producers attended the field days held at each site. At the two in-service training sessions for agriculture extension agents and other forage agronomists 45 individuals participated. Observed differences in weed populations, weed biomass, and forage yields for each of the weed management treatments were discussed with participants along with the economic assessments for the inputs and forage yields obtained. Participants were given an opportunity to provide their own perceptions of the most practical and sustainable treatments prior to and after field study results were presented.
Publications
- Tolson, Josh, J. D. Green, and W.W. Witt. 2009. Integrated Management Strategies to Reduce Weed Populations in Pastures. Proc. North Central Weed Science Society, Kansas City, MO. Abstract 64 (79) [CD-Rom] Champaign, IL.
- Tolson, Josh, J. D. Green, W.W. Witt, and Greg Schwab. 2010. Integrated Weed Management for Tall Ironweed Control and Improved Pasture Productivity. Proc. Joint Meeting for Society of Range Management and Weed Science Society of America. Abstract 50 (P B-76). Denver, CO..
- Lyons, J.K. J. D. Green, B.G. Sears, J. A. Tolson, and T.R. Yankey. 2010 Integrated Weed Management Strategies to Reduce Weed Populations and Improve Grazed Pasture Productivity. Proc. National Association of County Agriculture Agents. Tulsa, OK. July 2010.
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Progress 07/01/08 to 06/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: ACTIVITIES: Field studies were initiated in July 2008 at three different sites in Anderson, Madison, and Monroe counties near Lawrenceburg, Richmond, and Tompkinsville, Kentucky, respectively. These on-farm field sites are located on grazed pastures in cooperation with county Extension agents and local livestock producers. Eight different treatments are being studied at each site to evaluate three primary weed management strategies (mowing, herbicide, and added fertility). Treatments range from no strategy (untreated control); mowing alone, herbicide alone, or added fertility; combinations of mowing plus herbicide, mowing plus fertility, herbicide plus fertility; and a combination of all inputs which consist of mowing plus herbicide plus added fertility. The weed species composition and the density of the primary weeds present (which includes tall ironweed as a common plant species at each site) were determined at the time field studies were first initiated. Mechanical control treatments were mowed in mid-July 2008 and herbicide applications made in mid to late-August. Added fertility was applied in early September 2008 to designated treatments based on soil test results. Cattle have been allowed access to the field plot areas depending on the local livestock producers grazing practices except for a period of time in the early spring in which half the individual plot areas were isolated from grazing. Available forage and weed biomass yields were determined in May 2009 by sub-sampling grazed and ungrazed areas within each plot. The amount of forage produced was botanically separated into desirable forage grasses, clovers, tall ironweed, and other weeds present. The economic cost/benefits of each of these treatments are being evaluated based on the cost of weed management inputs and forage yield data. EVENTS: Two field days were held in August 2009 (Madison) and September 2009 (Monroe) to highlight the results obtained after the first year of these studies. PARTICIPANTS: Jonathan D. Green(PI)directs the overall project and activities; William W. Witt (Co-PI) assists with the field research activities; Kenny Burdine (Co-PI) is the agricultural economist responsible for economic assessments; and Greg Schwab (Co-PI)is the soil scientist assisting with soil fertility treatments. Josh Tolson is the primary graduate student assigned to the project; Meghan Edwards (graduate student)has been assisting with the field research component; Simone Heath was a summer undergraduate student who has assisted with collection of research data. Brandon Sears, Tommy Yankey, and Kevin Lyons are County Agricultural and Natural Resource Agents cooperating with the project at the local level, assisting with collection of research data, and coordinating field day activities. TARGET AUDIENCES: Livestock and forage producers has been the target audience for the two field days that have been held during the summer 2009. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Field days were held at two of the field study sites (Madison and Monroe) in which 360 individuals attended. Observed differences in weed populations, weed biomass, and forage yields for each of the weed management treatments were discussed with participants along with the economic assessments for the inputs and forage yields obtained at these two locations. The target audience for these field days was primarily livestock and forage producers.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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