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Author Archives: vanessa.corriher
Hay Meadow’s Friend or Foe?
Annual Ryegrass…a cool season annual forage often utilized by livestock producers for winter grazing. However, it’s often deemed an enemy of many a hay producer in East Texas. Volunteer annual ryegrass can be common in hay meadows. Winter rainfalls can promote seed germination and seeds can survive for multiple years in our soils. Later maturity of annual ryegrass can delay or prevent our warm season perennial forages (i.e. bermudagrass or bahiagrass) from breaking dormancy in April/May therefore delaying our initial hay cutting. So how do we manage… Read More →
Spring is Here?
With the First Day of Spring upon us and the most recent warm weather and sunny days we start thinking about our warm season pastures and hay meadows. A few things to keep in mind as our warm season forages begin to break dormancy… Soil Test! Soil Test! Soil Test! If you have not done so for this year, please consider obtaining a soil test now. There is not much that can be done regarding the high cost of fertilizer, but there is much we can do regarding… Read More →
East Texas Pasture Management
Friday, April 4, 2025 Virtual Program Living with fire ants Weed Control in Pastures and Hay Meadows Laws and Regulations of Pesticide Use Rodent management on the farm Getting the most out of your spraying equipment FLYER Meeting will be conducted with ZOOM Registration: Cost: $35/person Register online at: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ansc-ev-073 For information on this program please contact Michelle Sensing @ 903-847-0611 The program will be divided into 2 sessions to allow attendees to have a break between sessions 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM… Read More →
Dealing with High Fertilizer Costs in Forages
Fertilizer is and has always been a significant production expense whether you are growing corn, cotton, or pasture forage. Fertilizer costs have increased tremendously over the last few decades. Commercial fertilizers are the most costly input in warm season grass forage production. Below are some important issues relative to fertilizer efficiency as well as alternatives for reducing fertilizer use and reducing production costs for forage production. Soil Test: Adequate soil fertility is one key to successful forage and livestock production in Texas. Soil testing is still the best… Read More →
Timing on Weed Control is Critical
Our human nature is to find a simple, one time solution for our problems. Unfortunately, this simple, one time solution does not exist for weed control in pastures and hay meadows. There are several factors that are important when it comes to weed control. These include: Weed Identification: We cannot make the best management decisions if we don’t even know what the plant is we are trying to eradicate. Identification will determine the timing of our herbicide application along with the herbicide we choose. There are a… Read More →
When it comes to grazing, one size doesn’t fit all
A good system of grazing is one that uses livestock behavior to sustain forage and animal production at a low cost. No single grazing system will be suitable for all locations or meet the needs of all producers. Certain tracts of land lend themselves to one type of grazing system better than others. Different philosophies or experience levels of grazing managers will also influence how livestock are manipulated. Grazing management involves controlling where, when, and how much livestock graze. Grazing systems give you a structure for doing just… Read More →
Bermudagrass or Bahiagrass
Forage systems are essential for the livestock industry, and the selection of the right grass species is crucial for optimal animal performance. Bermudagrass and bahiagrass are introduced summer perennial grasses that are well adapted to Central and East Texas. Hybrid bermudagrass is a highly productive, warm season grass that grows well in areas with mild winters and long, hot summers. It has a fine stem and leaf structure, making it a highly palatable forage option for livestock. Hybrid bermudagrass is known for it’s high yield potential and nutrient… Read More →
Bearing with Sandburs-Managing a Painful Pest
February is the time for forage managers to begin waging war against this pest. Many Cenchrus spp. go by grassburs, sandburs, stickerburs, or other names. This genus includes annual and perennial grasses that produce a pain-inflicting seed head. The burs that house the seed not only have spines but have fishhook-like barbs that grip what they have grabbed (Fig. 1). There are three native species of sandburs in Texas that make up most infestations. These are also referred to as grassbur by many: field sandbur – Cenchrus spinifex … Read More →
Importance of Potassium
Potassium is an essential element in plants and is considered one of the three macronutrients, along with nitrogen and phosphorus. The amount of K is reported in almost all routine soil samples. Unfortunately, at times potassium can go from being the least expensive to the most expensive of the three macronutrients. Ignoring the importance of potassium fertilization and not maintaining adequate soil levels can lead to forage losses and ultimate stand decline. Potassium is essential for producing economical yields and maintaining persistence in our forages. The role of… Read More →
Should you burn your bermudagrass hayfield?
There are often many questions surrounding the practice of burning pastures and hayfields. Let’s look at the more frequently asked questions. Is it a good idea to burn my hayfield? There are several benefits to burning your hayfield. Burning can help producers manage thatch in their stands. If the thatch layer becomes too thick over time, several issues can occur. For example, thatch can tie up nutrients and serve as a “spore reservoir” for leaf spot diseases. Thick thatch layers can also hinder or delay green up,… Read More →