By Jennifer Tucker
Finally, as I write this in mid-April, Mother Nature has given up her hold on Winter, and Spring has arrived in Georgia! Looking out onto our green cool-season grasses and seeing our livestock happily grazing provides the welcome realization that we have once again survived the cold of winter and have truly moved onto greener pastures. However, it’s never too early to be focused on the next potential forage stressor in our region – the dog days of summer. In Georgia we are no stranger to the long, hot, intense days of summer and the impacts we see on forage availability throughout the grazing season. We are fortunate that much of our state has some very hardy, prolific, perennial forage options, but even in the most extreme droughts bermudagrass and bahiagrass can have difficulty surviving for the long haul. In order to protect our perennial forages for long-term stand life, there are times that we should evaluate alternative forage options to allow our permanent stands to rest and recover. The first key to drought management is preparedness and being prepared means having the right tools ready when needed. Planting summer annual forage grasses is yet another tool in our toolbox to help extend the grazing season and provide forage during environmental stressors.
Why Use Summer Annual Forage Grasses?
When looking for a short-term temporary pasture alternative, summer annuals prove to . . .
Continue reading Effectively Using Summer Annual Grasses
Source : osu.edu