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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #333625
Title: Introducing annuals in grazed pastures

Author
item MACOON, BISOONDAT - Mississippi State University
item DANIEL, J - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item ROGERS, J - North Carolina State University
item Franzluebbers, Alan

Submitted to: Extension Fact Sheets
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/6/2016
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Annual cover crops provide ecosystem benefits to perennial-based pasture systems by introducing quality forage at opportune times of the year, creating a more diverse farm habitat, and providing opportunities to renovate overused or underutilized areas of the farm. This workshop will cover opportunities to enhance forage availability with annuals, timing of grazing to gain value, choice of annuals in warm- and cool-season dominated pastures, opportunities to renovate perennial pastures, and impacts of annuals on whole-farm production. Characteristics of selected annual species will be explored, including from broad groups of grasses, legumes, and brassicas. Management considerations will be explored for monocultures, simple mixtures, and complex mixtures of annual cover crops. Grazing management strategies and their impact on forage utilization and nutrient distribution will be explored. Examples will be given of on-farm grazing demonstrations for introducing the concept of planting and grazing annuals to local livestock farmers. Yield, forage quality, and number of grazing days will be described. The importance of soil cover, plant diversity, and rooting habits will be identified for contributing to soil health. Balancing production and environmental quality will be explored in each presentation. Some suggestions will be offered of future research needed to develop better annual forage mixtures.

Technical Abstract: Annual cover crops provide ecosystem benefits to perennial-based pasture systems by introducing quality forage at opportune times of the year, creating a more diverse farm habitat, and providing opportunities to renovate overused or underutilized areas of the farm. This workshop will cover opportunities to enhance forage availability with annuals, timing of grazing to gain value, choice of annuals in warm- and cool-season dominated pastures, opportunities to renovate perennial pastures, and impacts of annuals on whole-farm production. Characteristics of selected annual species will be explored, including from broad groups of grasses, legumes, and brassicas. Management considerations will be explored for monocultures, simple mixtures, and complex mixtures of annual cover crops. Grazing management strategies and their impact on forage utilization and nutrient distribution will be explored. Examples will be given of on-farm grazing demonstrations for introducing the concept of planting and grazing annuals to local livestock farmers. Yield, forage quality, and number of grazing days will be described. The importance of soil cover, plant diversity, and rooting habits will be identified for contributing to soil health. Balancing production and environmental quality will be explored in each presentation. Some suggestions will be offered of future research needed to develop better annual forage mixtures.