Measuring Pasture Growth In Ohio
1
Measuring Pasture Growth in Ohio Measuring Pasture Growth in Ohio McCutcheon, J. 1 and Hendershot, R. 2 1 Extension Educator, Ag & NR, 1025 Harcourt Rd., Mt. Vernon, OH 43050, 2 State Grassland Conservationist, USDA, NRCS, Lancaster, OH 43130 Program Objectives Abstract In 2005 the Ohio Pasture Measurement Project was started to help producers understand the value of timely measurement of their forages. The two objectives for this project are 1) to provide a source of current, objective information on the relative performance of forages growing in Ohio and 2) to demonstrate the use of pasture measurement/monitoring to aid in the management of grazing. Initially, the project involved taking forage measurements weekly at three different farms in Ohio. In 2007, eight farmers cooperated, measuring 38 fields. The pastures measured contain typical forages found in Ohio pasture fields including: tall fescue, orchard grass, timothy, perennial ryegrass, festulolium, bluegrass, and white clover. Management of the pasture fields including when to graze, clip or fertilize was up to the cooperating farmer. Measurements were taken weekly, from April through November, with additional measurements before and after grazing. Pasture growth was determined by a rising plate meter with calibration using clipping and drying 2'x 2’ quadrants. At each location a target residual level of forage was maintained in the pasture. Target residuals were 1200 lbs.DM/ac. The average growth measured on the 38 fields during the months of May through October was 4,684 lbs. DM/ac. Predicted growth using the 3.5 ton average pasture production for the same months is 5,040 lbs. DM/ac. 2007 was a dry year. Pasture growth trends in 2007 showed pasture growth rates in mid May dropping to levels typically seen in mid July. 1.Provide a source of current, objective information on the relative performance of forages growing in Ohio accessible to producers across the state. 2.Demonstrate the use of pasture measurement and monitoring to aid in the management of grazing. Methods Graziers from across Ohio measure at least one pasture field each week during the grazing season. Measurements are taken before and after grazing or clipping of that field. Measurements are taken with a commercially available rising plate meter. Results are posted weekly on the Forage Team blog http://ohioforages.blogspot.com Locations in 2008 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 M A M J J A S O N Month Growth lbs. of DM/day 3.5 ton 2005 2006 2007 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 M A M J J A S O N Month Growth lbs./day Results Typical growth curve mixed pastures using 3.5 ton annual growth Monthly average growth per day for one field 2005 -2007 EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EDUCATION OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, age, sex, gender identity or expression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or veteran status. Pasture Measurement How much feed does pasture actually produce? Most producers can talk about how many days their animals grazed a pasture. It depends on the number and the type of animals used. Others can talk about how tall the pasture was when they turn in. Pasture yield is also dependent on the density of tillers in the pasture. Animal intake is usually calculated based on a percentage of the body weight and usually expressed as pounds of Dry Matter (DM) . A measurement in pounds of DM allows producers to compare with others and use it in calculating feed budgets. Growth in 2007 was less than normal. This could be attributed to the unusually dry weather. Many locations were down 9 inches of precipitation during months of May – September. Growth from one field measured each of the three years shows more growth in the spring than the typical growth curve. So how are producers using this information? Evaluating, measuring and observing pasture growth can give valuable information during a grazing season to help producers make management decisions. They know how much their animals eat on a daily basis. Using pasture growth measurements helps producers evaluate the rotation in their grazing system, if a change in stocking density is needed, if planting alternative forages would help or even if fertilizer would be beneficial before the need for more forage and when there is adequate soil moisture to still grow more forage. Discussion
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Transcript of Measuring Pasture Growth In Ohio
Measuring Pasture Growth in OhioMeasuring Pasture Growth in OhioMcCutcheon, J.1 and Hendershot, R. 2
1 Extension Educator, Ag & NR, 1025 Harcourt Rd., Mt. Vernon, OH 43050, 2 State Grassland Conservationist, USDA, NRCS, Lancaster, OH 43130
Program ObjectivesAbstract
In 2005 the Ohio Pasture Measurement Project was started to help producers
understand the value of timely measurement of their forages. The two objectives for
this project are 1) to provide a source of current, objective information on the relative
performance of forages growing in Ohio and 2) to demonstrate the use of pasture
measurement/monitoring to aid in the management of grazing. Initially, the project
involved taking forage measurements weekly at three different farms in Ohio. In 2007,
eight farmers cooperated, measuring 38 fields. The pastures measured contain typical
forages found in Ohio pasture fields including: tall fescue, orchard grass, timothy,
perennial ryegrass, festulolium, bluegrass, and white clover. Management of the
pasture fields including when to graze, clip or fertilize was up to the cooperating
farmer. Measurements were taken weekly, from April through November, with
additional measurements before and after grazing. Pasture growth was determined
by a rising plate meter with calibration using clipping and drying 2'x 2’ quadrants. At
each location a target residual level of forage was maintained in the pasture. Target
residuals were 1200 lbs.DM/ac. The average growth measured on the 38 fields during
the months of May through October was 4,684 lbs. DM/ac. Predicted growth using
the 3.5 ton average pasture production for the same months is 5,040 lbs. DM/ac. 2007
was a dry year. Pasture growth trends in 2007 showed pasture growth rates in mid
May dropping to levels typically seen in mid July.
1.Provide a source of current, objective information on the relative performance of forages growing in Ohio accessible to producers across the state.
2.Demonstrate the use of pasture measurement and monitoring to aid in the management of grazing.
Methods
� Graziers from across Ohio measure at least one pasture field each week during the grazing season.
� Measurements are taken before and after grazing or clipping of that field.
� Measurements are taken with a commercially available rising plate meter.
� Results are posted weekly on the Forage Team blog http://ohioforages.blogspot.com
Locations in 2008
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
M A M J J A S O N
Month
Grow
th l
bs.
of
DM
/day
3.5 ton 2005 2006 2007
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
M A M J J A S O N
Month
Gro
wth
lb
s./d
ay
Results
Typical growth curve mixed pastures
using 3.5 ton annual growth
Monthly average growth per day for one
field 2005 -2007
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EDUCATION
OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring
that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University
Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without
regard to race, color, age, sex, gender identity or expression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or veteran status.
Pasture Measurement
How much feed does pasture actually produce? Most producers can talk about how many days their animals grazed a pasture. It depends on the number and the type of animals used. Others can talk about how tall the pasture was when they turn in. Pasture yield is also dependent on the density of tillers in the pasture. Animal intake is usually calculated based on a percentage of the body weight and usually expressed as pounds of Dry Matter (DM) . A measurement in pounds of DM allows producers to compare with others and use it in calculating feed budgets.
Growth in 2007 was less than normal. This could be attributed to the unusually dry weather. Many locations were down 9 inches of precipitation during months of May – September. Growth from one field measured each of the three years shows more growth in the spring than the typical growth curve.
So how are producers using this information? Evaluating, measuring and observing pasture growth can give valuable information during a grazing season to help producers make management decisions. They know how much their animals eat on a daily basis. Using pasture growth measurements helps producers evaluate the rotation in their grazing system, if a change in stocking density is needed, if planting alternative forages would help or even if fertilizer would be beneficial before the need for more forage and when there is adequate soil moisture to still grow more forage.
Discussion
