By Blair Fannin
Pasture mealybug and prevailing dry conditions have put a dent in hay production for parts of the state, while other areas have fared well this season, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.
Overall, forage production statewide has been a mixed bag.
“Depending on location, for those who have had rainfall, we’ve seen some good hay produced,” said Vanessa Corriher, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension forage specialist and professor, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Overton. “However, those with pasture mealybug will be relying on last year’s hay. Between dry weather and pasture mealybug, production has definitely been a moving target.”
Producers in good shape where rain fell
“Despite the hits from the pasture mealybug, our producers had a pretty decent hay season that ramped up storage earlier in the spring and summer,” said Chadd Caperton, AgriLife Extension agent for Brazos County. “Some did feed a little hay during the dry period but supplemented with syrup tubs and tanks to help reduce the amounts needed.”
Caperton said producers across the region appear to be in pretty good shape going into the colder months. Fall armyworms were hitting pastures after the recent rains and cooler temperatures, but he said producers were actively combating those infestations.
Caperton said a couple of producers indicated they will likely begin feeding hay at the end of the month or early part of November as the growth of the warm-season grasses slowly declines and they go dormant.
“Overall, even with the pasture mealybug, we are in decent shape,” he said.
Source : tamu.edu