Forage Fax

Sugarcane aphids feed on and damage all species of Sorghum grown for grain, forage and hay.  Aphids feed on plant sap and infested leaves turn yellow and then brown and die, reducing forage yield. Sugarcane aphids also produce large amounts of honeydew, a sticky waste product that accumulates on leaves.  A black sooty mold sometimes grows on the honeydew, turning leaves black.  The honeydew on leaves and stems can gum up harvest machinery.   The following practices can reduce the risk of sugarcane aphid damage: Plant hybrids with… Read More →

Basic Principles of Forage Quality AgriLife Extension conducts many programs across Texas on different kinds of forages.  We all know forage quality is important.  My observation is that many hay growers and hay feeders don’t test for it.  In fact, at sale I am sure most forage changes hands in Texas with no measurement of forage quality.  But forage quality indeed is a value factor.  Forage is not just about tons of hay per acre. A New Mexico State University colleague, research forage agronomist Leonard Lauriault, Tucumcari, shared… Read More →

Need a last minute Christmas gift or an extra stocking stuffer… Landowners interested in managing forage production for grazing and/or hay can use this calendar for management suggestions specific to each month and to record the dates of the management tasks performed. Keeping a record of management activities by date can help you document your management strategies for your pastures each year. To order a copy visit: http://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu                                            

by Scott Notle-Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; Peter Dotray-Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension; Muthu Bagavathiannan-Texas A&M AgriLife Research What is glyphosate? Glyphosate is an herbicide used to control a wide range of undesirable plants in lawns and gardens, row crops, pastures, aquatics, road sides, rights-of-way, and other managed area. First introduced for use in 1974, glyphosate is now one of the most widely used herbicides in the United States. Today, there are over 750 products that contain this active ingredient for agronomic, commercial, and home use. How does… Read More →

The fall armyworm is a common pest of bermudagrass, sorghum, corn, wheat and ryegrass and many other crops in north and central Texas. Armyworms are very small (1/8 inch) at first, cause little plant damage and as a result infestations often go unnoticed. Larvae feed for 2-3 weeks and full grown larvae are about 1 to 1-1/2 inches long. Given their immense appetite, great numbers, and marching ability, fall armyworms can damage entire fields or pastures in a few days. Fall armyworm outbreaks in pastures and hay fields… Read More →

TWO EVENTS   December 1, 2016 (5 pesticide CEUs: 1 Laws & Regulations; 1 IPM and 3 general) Weed Control in Pastures and Hay Meadows (2 hours) Getting the Most out of Your Sprayer Equipment Beef Cattle External Parasite Control Records, Your Best PPE December 6, 2016 (5 Pesticide CEUs: 1 Laws & Regulations; 2 IPM and 2 general) Pesticides and Pollinators Mosquito Control Update Turfgrass Insect Pest Update Wild Pig Control in Urban Environments On Site Registration Cost: $35/person (includes lunch) Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center… Read More →

For the first time in a while, not a single county in Texas is in Extreme or Exceptional Drought conditions (according to the latest US Drought Monitor). All of this extra rainfall has been appreciated but has also been cursed by many crop and hay producers. So what does all this rainfall mean for our forages? Weeds have matured and multiplied due to inability to spray at appropriate times. Once fields are accessible and there is a window of opportunity be prepared to control weeds whether mechanically or… Read More →

Entomologist from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension have just released a publication on the Sugarcane Aphid (SCA). This publication summarizes the latest information on biology, scouting, economic thresholds and insecticides for SCA control in grain and forage sorghum. We are still learning more about this new pest and this publication will be updated as new research becomes available. Website: Texas Sugarcane Aphid News Publication: SCA Management Guide        

Many growers make no distinction at all between perennial and annual sow thistles. That’s because all three versions are tall weeds with yellow, dandelion-like flowers and stems that produce a milky sap. Seedlings of the two species(Sonchus asper & Sonchus oleraceus) are practically indistinguishable, and may be difficult to tell apart even at spray stage without examining the root system. Annual and perennial sow thistle will be covered in an upcoming post. Spiny Sow Thistle (Sonchus asper): An annual that has bluish-green leaves and stems that emit a… Read More →