Extension Notes: Where, oh where, did my hay go?
Many Warren County beef producers may be asking the same question as winter begins in earnest for beef producers across the county. A short hay crop due to dry weather during the fall and late summer and lots of summer feeding of hay on bare ground pastures has lead to a hay shortage on many farms.
In pastures with a good stand of fescue growing producers weren’t able to stockpile fescue for grazing due to the dry weather. Pastures made up mostly of bermuda grass , crabgrass and other summer annual weeds go shut down when frost came in the fall. After the cows ate the stubble down that was it.
Many producers are hoping for a light winter and early spring grass growth. Its amazing how quickly those big stacks can disappear during winter feeding. Winter feeding is the most expensive part of cow-calf production. There may be some disagreement with this statement, but when the cost of hay and the additional expense of wasted hay is considered, it is very easily the most expensive. Producers can significantly reduce the amount wasted through feeding practices.
Significant hay losses during feeding can be prevented if certain feeding management practices are implemented. Probably the most common method of avoiding large package hay loss during feeding is to use a hay ring or other type of hay feeder, such as a wagon which has been modified to allow hay feeding. A number of cattle producers advocate unrolling large round bales for feeding. This will work if cattle are provided the correct amount of hay for one feeding when the hay is unrolled. However, excess hay will quickly become bedding. Mechanical hay un-rollers are available, but alternative methods, such as unrolling on a slight slope may work in certain areas. Exercise caution when unrolling hay on a hillside, because a large round bale can become a safety hazard. Dr. Jim Need, UT Extension Beef Specialist, suggests some other winter feeding tips that can cut hay losses..
Stay out of muddy areas when feeding. A rocky outcrop or old road bed works well for minimizing mud. Other producers create a bed of coarse gravel to use with rings. Good, clean sod will work the best.
Cut and remove the strings on the bales as they are fed. This makes it easier on the cows and may reduce the tangling of strings around the base of the hay feeder. These strings are also very easily entangled around the bush hog when clipping pastures. Also, ingestion of plastic strings can cause problems for cattle.
Slightly hungry cows clean up better. If stretching hay supplies, it may pay to allow cows a little longer to clean up previously fed hay. But, avoid this when cold fronts are approaching or if cows are thin (feed to maintain cows in body condition score of 5 or higher)
Saving hay during feeding is just part of an overall feeding program on your farm. The use of some type of hay storage, small grain pastures, stockpiled fescue and even a limited breeding season can reduce your winter feeding costs. Give me a call here at the Extension office for more information.
MASTER GARDENER CLASS SIGN-UP CONTINUES
The University of Tennessee Agriculture Extension Service Master Gardener Course will be held in McMinnville this winter starting Jan. 12. The classes will be held on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. at the Warren County Administrative office building on Locust street. The classes will start on Thursday, Jan. 12, and will be held for the next 12 Thursday evenings ending on April 12. The Master Gardener Course is an intensive educational program that offers 36 hours of instruction covering many different landscape and gardening topics. Master Gardeners receive instruction in botany, soils, landscaping, flowers, vegetable gardening, lawn care and establishment, tree and small fruit production, and insect and disease problems and controls for the home garden and landscape. Master Gardener graduates are asked to volunteer 40 hours over the next few years to the local Master Gardener Association. This group works with the local Habitat for Humanity, the Warren County Fair and other groups volunteering time and their knowledge of horticulture topics.
Master Gardeners also receive their personal copy of the TN Master Gardener Handbook. The cost of the course is $70.00 dollars and includes refreshments and your personal copy of the book. Couples are welcome and this is a good opportunity to meet others in our community who are interested in gardening and landscaping. We have enough folks signed up for the class to be held and we have space for a few more applicants. If you’d like a registration form or more information give me a call here at the Extension office (473-8484).
MASTER BEEF PRODUCER CLASS FILLING FAST
Warren, Coffee and Cannon county Extension have scheduled a 12 week Master Beef Producer class starting Jan. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bridgestone Education Center. This course is limited to producers who sign up and commit to attending the course’s 12 sessions. The class meets weekly on Tuesday evenings for a three hour session. The classes are taught by Extension agents and Specialists and other industry professionals. Class sessions cover genetics, reproduction, feeding, animal health, marketing, animal behavior, forage production, carcass merit, environmental concerns and other topics related to the beef business.
Producers taking this course receive a cap, shirt, farm sign and membership in the TN Cattlemen’s association. Participants also receive their personnel copy of the TN Master Beer Producer Handbook. The cost of the course is $100.00, however if you have a BQA certification and a USDA Premise ID # you can take the course for one half price. We’ve got room for a few more folks to sign up. If you need more information give me a call at the Extension office (473-8484) or at home during the holidays (668-3197).
HOLIDAY CLOSING
The Warren County Extension office will be closed next week for the Christmas Holidays. We will reopen on Tuesday, January 3. Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.