NC_old1182: Management and Environmental Factors Affecting Nitrogen Cycling and Use Efficiency in Forage-Based Livestock Production Systems

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[11/18/2014] [09/08/2015] [11/22/2016] [08/26/2017] [08/25/2018]

Date of Annual Report: 11/18/2014

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 09/26/2014 - 09/26/2014
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2013 - 09/01/2013

Participants

David Benfield, Rhonda Miller, John Guretzky, Ken Coffey, Walt Schacht, Kim Cassida, Dirk Philipp

Brief Summary of Minutes

Please see attached meeting minutes.

Accomplishments

The committee members drafted a new project proposal which was submitted and approved in July 2014. The new proposal takes effect October 1, 2014. Therefore, the report submitted herein covers the period of the previous 12 months. <br /> <br /> Short-term outcomes:<br /> - Journal articles and other publications are listed in the attached complete report.<br /> <br /> Outputs: <br /> - The ongoing research (objectives from the previous proposal) are listed in the attachment.<br /> <br /> Activities:<br /> - Besides the ongoing research activities of each member, the committee focused on drafting and submitting the new research proposal.<br /> <br /> Milestones:<br /> - There are no milestones to report yet as the new project starts Oct 2014. The attached report covers the last 12 months of the old project and relevant information is enclosed there.

Publications

See attached report.

Impact Statements

  1. See attached report under "Publications."
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Date of Annual Report: 09/08/2015

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 07/09/2015 - 07/10/2015
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2014 - 09/01/2015

Participants

Barker, David (barker.169@osu.edu) – Ohio State University; Coffey, Ken (kcoffey@uark.edu) - University of Arkansas; Guretzky, John (jguretzky2@unl.edu; MacDonald, James (jmacdonald2@unl.edu); Miller, Rhonda (rhonda.miller@usu.edu) - Utah State University; Nave, Renata (rnave@utk.edu) - University of Tennessee; Norberg, Steve (s.norberg@wsu.edu); Philipp, Dirk (dphilipp@uark.edu); Walt Schacht (wschacht1@unl.edu) - University of Nebraska; Benfield, David (Benfield.2@osu.edu) - Ohio State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

David Benfield provided an update on appropriations and funding opportunities. State reports were presented by all in attendance. University of Nebraska faculty conducted a tour of the pasture research projects at the Mead Agricultural Research and Development Center. A tour of a local dairy, Branched Oaks Farm, and their pasture management system was also organized. Rhonda Miller will become chair. Renata Nave was elected secretary.

Accomplishments

OBJECTIVE 1. Evaluate legume cultural and management strategies emphasizing legume establishment, N cycling and use efficiency, and GHG emissions. <br /> <br /> University of Arkansas (Ken Coffey, Wayne Coblentz (USDA-ARS, US Dairy Forage Research Center), Bruce Shanks (Lincoln University), and Dirk Philipp)<br /> <br /> Effects of Dairy Slurry Application and Bale Moisture Concentration on Voluntary Intake and Digestibility of Alfalfa Silage by Sheep. Short-term Outcomes: Application of dairy slurry to alfalfa fields as late as two weeks following a previous harvest had little impact on intake and digestibility of the subsequent harvest. This gives producers flexibility in slurry application to better fit schedules and weather patterns so that slurry nutrients are used to a greater extent by the plant. Outputs: This information is scheduled to be published in the Department of Animal Science Annual Research Report and a scientific abstract was presented at the national meeting of the American Society of Animal Science. Activities: Pregnant crossbred ewes (n = 18; 3-5 yr old; 105 ± 11.8 lbs) were offered alfalfa silage from 1 of 6 treatments in a 2-period study. The silages were baled at high (HM; 46.8%) or low (LM; 39.7%) moisture after no slurry application, slurry applied to stubble immediately after removal of the previous cutting, or slurry applied 14-d after the previous cutting. <br /> <br /> A 3-year experiment was conducted in cooperation with the UA Monticello-SEREC. Existing bermudagrass pastures were overseeded each fall with a mixture of ryegrass with either white clover, crimson clover, or both. Untreated, N-fertilized bermuagrass pastures served as control. Cattle were stocked early during the following year (spring grazing cycle) and during summer (summer grazing cycle). Animals were weighed during and after each grazing cycle. Soil-preparation and seeding costs were recorded among other data that was collected for the economic analyses. Using partial returns calculations a breakeven price for N fertilizer was estimated at which producers would enhance returns by switching from the treatment with the highest partial returns prior to the N price change to the next profitable treatment when N price is changed. This project was funded through USDA-NIFA/AFRI.<br /> <br /> University of Nebraska (John A. Guretzky, Walter H. Schacht, and James MacDonald)<br /> <br /> A 7.3 ha study site was located in March 2010 at the Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead, NE to conduct the grazing trial. The objective of the study is to compare forage and animal production between fertilized smooth bromegrass pasture and smooth bromegrass-legume pasture through 2014. The persistence of interseeded legumes also is monitored. The site, a smooth bromegrass pasture, was divided into six paddocks of equal size (1.2 ha). Three of the paddocks were randomly selected and interseeded with a mixture of alfalfa, red clover, and birdsfoot trefoil in April 2010. The legume interseeding was a success. The other three paddocks are fertilized with N (90 kg N/ha) annually. The grazing trial began in May 2012 with 4 yearling cattle stocked at 11.5 AUM/ha in each of the 6 paddocks. Within each paddock, the cattle are rotated through 6 fenced strips with 4 to 6 day grazing periods. There are to be 5 cycles each year but there were only 4 cycles in 2012 because of drought and 4 cycles in 2013 and 2014 because of timing of precipitation. The cattle are weighed at the beginning and end of the grazing season and also on the first day of each grazing cycle. Diet samples are collected in the mid-point of each grazing cycle with rumenally-fistulated cattle to determine forage quality and botanical composition of the cattle’s diets. Five exclosures (1 m2) are placed in each paddock prior to the initiation of grazing. The vegetation in the exclosures is clipped at ground level in mid-June and late September to estimate forage production each year. Vegetation also is clipped at ground level in 10, 0.25-m2 quadrats within a fenced strip of each paddock immediately before each grazing period. All vegetation and animal data have been collected in 2012, 2013, and 2014. The grass-legume pastures out-performed the fertilized grass pastures in terms of animal and pasture performance <br /> <br /> In 2014, a graduate student (Bradley Schick) initiated a study to evaluate grazing cattle diet composition effects on dung decomposition and soil nutrient movement. The objective was to determine how dung excreted from cattle grazing legume-interseeded, N-fertilized, and unfertilized smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) pastures affects dung chemical composition, dry matter decomposition, CO2 flux, and N availability in soil. Freshly deposited dung was collected by hand from the legume-interseeded, N-fertilized, and unfertilized treatments, refrigerated, separately homogenized, and placed as pats in a neighboring unfertilized pasture. Each treatment was collected 3, 7, and 30 days after placing the pats in two experimental periods (June and August) in 2014. Soil cores were taken directly below and laterally from dung pats to determine rate of nutrient movement through soil. CO2 flux from dung was measured for each treatment, as well as a non-dung influenced control. Dung collections coincided with vegetation and diet samples from ruminally-fistulated cattle to examine effects of the pasture treatments on N cycling through the plant-animal-dung-soil complex. Forage quality in all diets was high and comparable in June, but was relatively high in legume-interseeded pastures in August. CO2 flux did not differ among treatments in June but tended to be greater from dung excreted in legume-interseeded pastures in August. <br /> <br /> In 2013 and 2014, we also conducted a study on decomposition and N loss from litter of grass (smooth bromegrass) and legume species (red clover, alfalfa, and birdsfoot trefoil) in different pasture environments (N-fertilized and legume-interseeded). Litter that decomposes more slowly can build soil C and N while that which decomposes more rapidly may contribute faster N cycling. To address these hypotheses, a litter decomposition experiment was conducted to evaluate dry matter loss and N retention in triplicate litter bags of each species fastened to the soil surface in 6 pastures: 3 replicate legume-interseeded smooth bromegrass pastures and 3 replicate N-fertilized pastures. Dry matter decomposition and N losses are being ash-corrected to minimize soil contamination effects. Currently, dry matter decomposition from the 2013 samples have been analyzed. Litter decomposition was measured on five dates after initial litter bag placement in pastures on 26 April 2013. The bags experienced rapid dry matter loss within the first month of the experiment, especially for red clover and smooth bromegrass. On 6 June 2013, litter dry matter remaining averaged 76%, 67%, 36%, and 36% for birdsfoot trefoil, alfalfa, red clover, and smooth bromegrass, respectively. On 9 October 2013, litter dry matter remaining averaged 43%, 41%, 22%, and 17% for these species, respectively. Pasture environment had no effect on litter decomposition. Single and double exponential models will be used to evaluate dry matter loss and N retention across time. On-site temperature and precipitation data will be used to compare litter decomposition with a decomposition day index.<br /> <br /> Utah State University (Rhonda Miller)<br /> <br /> High costs of nitrogen fertilizer and the need for increased environmental stewardship necessitates a renewal of the mixed grass-legume pasture. This research compared the forage production, livestock performance, and economics of tall fescue-alfalfa (TF+ALF, Festuca arundinacea Schreb, Medicago sativa L.), and tall fescue-birdsfoot trefoil (TF+BFT, Lotus corniculatus L.) mixtures, to tall fescue with (TF+N) and without nitrogen fertilizer (TF-N). Pastures, comprised of four paddocks per treatment, were established in Lewiston, UT, and rotationally grazed by Angus crossbred steers for 112 days in 2012 and 2013. Forage samples were collected from each paddock prior to grazing to determine dry matter (DM) and nutrient content. Steers were weighed every 28 days to determine livestock performance. Forage yield was highest (P<0.05) in TF+N, followed by TF+BFT and TF+ALF, whereas, the TF-N treatment had the lowest yield. Average season-long total digestible nutrients (TDN) were higher (P?0.05) for TF+BFT and TF+ALF than for TF+N or TF-N. Steer average daily gains (ADG) were different (P<0.05) amongst all treatments with TF+BFT being the highest, followed by TF+ALF, TF+N, and lastly TF-N. The TF+BFT treatment doubled the economic return at $1133 ha-1 as compared to $572.26 ha-1 for TF+N. Tall fescue-legume mixtures appear to improve animal performance and economic returns as compared to traditional nitrogen fertilization. <br /> <br /> <br /> OBJECTIVE 2. Assess the efficacy of secondary plant metabolites in legume species for increasing N retention and improving N cycling in forage-livestock systems. <br /> <br /> Michigan State University (Kim Cassida)<br /> <br /> Birdsfoot trefoil is a forage legume with unique nutritional properties resulting from its condensed tannin content. Tannins may also positively affect soil nitrogen cycling through protein-binding effects. Michigan State University, in collaboration with seven other universities, established two research trials to develop a widely-adapted birdsfoot trefoil variety with optimal condensed tannin content. More widespread use of birdsfoot trefoil may help mitigate tall fescue toxicity and improve soil nutrient cycling, including nitrogen. Michigan State University also established an integrated crop-livestock system project in the Upper Peninsula. This long-term project aims to develop recommendations for improving northern soils through use of grazing animals and legumes, thus improving the resource base while increasing regional food security. Forage crops are an important component of the project.<br /> <br /> <br /> OBJECTIVE 3. Quantify effects of pasture management strategies on N use efficiency by ruminant animals and N cycling in herbage and soils of grassland agro-ecosystems.<br /> <br /> University of Arkansas (Ken Coffey, Dirk Philipp, and Bisoondat Macoon (Mississippi St. Univ.))<br /> <br /> Short-term Outcomes: A study examining the soil health and plant species dynamics of pasture systems was initiated in the summer of 2015 in southeastern Arkansas to compare the impacts of ultra-high density stocking vs. conventional rotational stocking on cattle performance, forage species composition, and soil nitrogen and carbon components. Activities: Both cow and stocker cattle studies were initiated in the summer of 2015. In both studies, cattle grazed bermudagrass-based pastures using either conventional rotational stocking or ultra-high density stocking. <br /> <br /> The use of co-product feeds as supplements for cows offered poor quality tall fescue hay was examined. Short-term Outcomes: Supplement type did not affect forage intake or digestibility, but based on ruminal fermentation measurements, cows offered dried distillers grains plus solubles should acquire greater energy from their diet than those offered soybean hulls or a mix of soybean hulls and distillers grains. This allows producers to choose supplement strategies based on price to select the most economical co-product to feed as a supplement. Outputs: This information is scheduled to be published in “Discovery”, the University of Arkansas College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences undergraduate research publication, and in the Department of Animal Science Annual Research Report. Activities: Three lactating and three non-lactating ruminally-cannulated Angus x Gelbvieh crossbred beef cows (1497 ± 41.0 lb body weight; BW) were offered tall fescue hay for ad libitum consumption from large round bales along with supplements fed at 0.5% of BW of each individual cow as either soybean hulls (SH) distillers dried grains plus solubles (DDGS) or a 50:50 mix of SH and DDGS. The experiment was conducted for 6, 21-day periods so that each cow received each supplement twice during the 6 periods, and within each period, each supplement was offered to one lactating and one open cow. The cows were housed together in a drylot pen and then sorted randomly into individual pens each day and offered their respective supplements at 4 PM. Calves of the lactating cows were not allowed in the pen with their dams while their dams were offered their supplements. In situ digestibility of the fescue hay was determined and rumen fluid samples were taken from each cow at 2-h intervals from 4 PM through 12 AM on day <br /> <br /> High concentrations of N and P in cattle feces stemming from supplemental feed may lead to elevated nutrient levels in runoff. To evaluate nutrient concentrations in artificially induced runoff events, we obtained feces from a previously conducted intake experiment comprised of the following diet treatments: bermudagrass hay (HAY); soybean hulls (LSH); dried distiller’s grain (LDG); and an iso-energetic mixture of LSH and LDG (MIX). Average N and P concentrations (%) in feces resulting from each diet were, respectively: HAY (2.4, 0.6), LSH (4.3, 0.5), LDG (3.4, 1.5), and MIX (3.0, 1.8). Fecal material was stored in a freezer at -4°F until being thawed in a refrigerator at 39°F prior to plot application in form of round patties with a diameter of 30.5 cm and a weight of 2.2 kg. Plot size was 2 × 1 m. Rain at 70 mm/h was applied immediately after feces application (D0) and again after 2 and 7 d on the same undisturbed fecal patch. Ensuing runoff was collected each time after 30 min of rain from the lower end of the plots at a distance of 56 inches away from the fecal patch. Concentrations of N in runoff water were similar for all diet treatments (6.2-6.3 mg/L) except hay (3.8 mg/L; P<0.05). Diet treatments did not interact (P>0.05) with time of rain. Rain application on d 7 resulted in higher (P<0.05) N concentration (6.9 mg/L) than on D0 or d 2 (5.3 and 4.7 mg/L, respectively); no differences between the first two rain applications were observed. Similar to N, P concentrations were independent (P<0.05) of time of rain application, but both LDG and MIX (~2.0 mg/L) were higher (P<0.05) than HAY and LSH (0.9 and 1.1 mg/L, respectively). In comparison to N, P concentration in runoff after D0 was higher (2.1 mg/L) than on d 2 or d 7 (1.3 and 1.2 mg/L, respectively). Proportions of N and P in fecal patches and runoff followed closely those in diets, but results do not allow speculation regarding the ultimate quantity of edge-of-field losses of these nutrients. This project was partially funded through the Arkansas Water and Resources Center (AWRC) and AR state funds.<br /> <br /> University of Missouri (Robert Kallenbach)<br /> <br /> A series of 8 N fertilization timing treatments were imposed at 6-week intervals throughout the year. Additionally, different N fertilization products (i.e. urea with and without a volatilization inhibitor, ammonium nitrate, and ESN (slow release coating)) are being evaluated as fertilizer form treatments (8 application times x 7 N forms= 56 treatments). We are compiling weekly grass growth rates under these different fertilizer form and timing treatments. Currently 3 of the 8 application times have been implemented in this first year of research. To date, not enough data has been collected to report results. However, these investigations allow us to determine if N fertilization practices should be altered in pasture systems when volatilization inhibitors and slow release coatings are used. As well, the weekly grass growth rate measurements allow us to determine 1) seasonal and annual forage production, 2) how quickly pastures respond to a fertilizer application, and 3) the dynamics of the best time to apply N fertilizer to optimize forage production. N fertilization is integral to pasture-livestock systems. We expect that producers will adopt new fertilization practices beneficial to forage-livestock enterprise. Successful fertilization programs will reduce beef production costs or increase supplies of beef. Consumers will benefit from this cost reduction in the market-place. <br /> <br /> University of Nebraska (John A. Guretzky, Walter H. Schacht, and James MacDonald)<br /> <br /> From 2012-2014, we conducted a study that evaluated effects of patch burning on forage production and quality in N-fertilized, mixed cool- and warm-season grass pastures in eastern Nebraska (Project Title: Enhancing Heterogeneity in N-Fertilized Pasture Plant Communities with Patch Burning). Our hypotheses were that: (1) patch-burned, N-fertilized pastures would support greater perennial warm-season grass cover and vegetation heterogeneity relative to unburned, N-fertilized pastures, while maintaining similar forage mass, forage quality, forage accumulation, and cattle production; and (2) patch-burned, N-fertilized pastures would have greater forage mass, forage quality, forage accumulation, and cattle production relative to patch-burned, unfertilized pastures, while maintaining similar perennial warm-season grass cover and vegetation heterogeneity. Each pasture management strategy had 3 replications for a total of 9 experimental units. Each experimental unit was stocked with 3 steers in 2012 and two heifers/one steer in 2013 and 2014 for an average of 55, 54, and 69 days from late May through late July in 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively. Though year had significant effects, we did not observe any differences in animal performance between patch-burned, N-fertilized pastures and unburned, N-fertilized pastures nor patch burned, N-fertilized pastures and patch-burned, unfertilized pastures. Animal performance differences between years was likely related to grazing of steers alone in 2012 versus mixtures of heifers and steers in 2013 and 2014. We conclude that patch-burned, N-fertilized pastures are likely to provide equal animal performance to unburned, N-fertilized pastures and patch-burned, unfertilized pastures. <br /> <br /> In the Enhancing Heterogeneity in N-Fertilized Pasture Plant Communities with Patch Burning project, the patch-burned, N-fertilized pastures had similar forage mass as unburned, N-fertilized pastures (3504 kg ha-1) and 25-43% greater forage mass than patch-burned, unfertilized pastures (2656 kg ha-1). As indicated by the standard deviation in forage mass, the patch-burned, N-fertilized pastures had greater heterogeneity than unburned, N-fertilized pastures but the same heterogeneity as patch-burned, unfertilized pastures. Crude protein content depended on sampling date during the 10-week grazing period, but overall was similar in patch-burned, N-fertilized pastures and unburned, N-fertilized pastures, decreasing from an average of 18.3% in week 1 to 10.9% in week 10. Patch-burned, N-fertilized pastures had greater crude protein than patch-burned, unfertilized pastures. In the patch-burned, N fertilized pastures, crude protein content was mostly similar in burned and unburned patches. Only in week 1, did burned patches (21.8%) have greater crude protein than unburned patches (17.3%). In the patch-burned, unfertilized pastures, crude protein tended to be greater on all sampling dates (0.8-3.8 percentage points) in the burned patches than the unburned patches. With regard to foliar cover, perennial warm-season grasses declined in all pastures from initial baseline measurements in October 2011 to October 2014. Foliar cover of perennial cool-season grasses also depended on management strategy and measurement year. Perennial cool-season grass cover was less in patch-burned, N-fertilized pastures (32%) than the unburned, N-fertilized pastures (39%) but similar to patch-burned, unfertilized pastures (27%) in baseline measurements in October 2011. By October 2014, however, the spread was greater and significantly different in each management strategy. Perennial cool-season grass cover declined to 20% in the patch-burned, N-fertilized pastures, held at 36% in unburned, N-fertilized pastures, and declined to 13% in the patch-burned, unfertilized pastures. Year strongly affected perennial cool-season grass cover in the unburned, N-fertilized pastures but not the patch-burned, N-fertilized pastures, an anomaly likely from drought. Perennial cool-season grass cover averaged 21%, 40%, and 38% in summer 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively, in unburned, N-fertilized pastures while averaging 30% across these years in patch-burned, N-fertilized pastures. Perennial cool-season grass cover was greater in the patch-burned, N-fertilized pastures than the patch-burned, unfertilized pastures in each summer from 2012-2014, averaging 22% in the latter. We studied the effect of time after patch burning (4 mo after burning [recently burned patches], 16 mo after burning [older burned patches], and unburned patches [control]) on vegetative cover, water erosion, and soil properties on a patch-burn experiment established in 2011 on a Yutan silty clay loam near Mead, NE. The recently burned patches had 29 ± 8.0% (mean ± SD) more bare ground, 21 ± 1.4% less canopy cover, and 40 ± 11% less litter cover than older burned and unburned patches. Bare ground and canopy cover did not differ between the older burned and unburned patches, indicating that vegetation recovered. Runoff depth from the older burned and recently burned patches was 2.8 times greater than the unburned patches. The recently burned patches had 4.5 times greater sediment loss and 3.8 times greater sediment-associated organic C loss than the older burned and unburned patches. The recently burned patches had increased daytime soil temperature but no differences in soil compaction and structural properties, dissolved nutrients, soil C, and total N concentration relative to older burned and unburned patches. Overall, recently burned patches can have reduced canopy and litter cover and increased water erosion, but soil properties may not differ from older burn or unburned patches under the conditions of this study.<br /> <br /> We conducted an experiment to evaluate effect of management strategies that alter form and amount of N inputs on root and rhizome decomposition in 2013 and 2014. Management strategies included: 1) N-fertilized pasture grazed with unsupplemented beef cattle (FERT); 2) unfertilized pasture grazed with unsupplemented beef cattle (CONT); 3) unfertilized pasture grazed with dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS)-supplemented beef cattle (SUPP); and 4) legume-interseeded pasture grazed with unsupplemented beef cattle (LEGUME). The study contained three replicates of each pasture management strategy for a total of 12 experimental units. Root (and rhizome) dry matter decomposition and N loss rates were evaluated during the grazing season using an in-situ litter bag technique. Roots were initially collected from an adjacent unfertilized smooth bromegrass pasture in October of the preceding year, washed free of soil, and stored at room temperature over winter before placement in 10 × 10 cm, 2-mm mesh bags. On 9 May 2013, the in-situ experiments began with placement of 8 root bags within each experimental unit. The 8 bags were divided into 4 groups and buried at a depth of 5.08 cm in a grazing exclosure with length by width by height dimensions of 120 × 60 × 60 cm. The bags were buried at that depth by carefully removing and then returning the overlaying sod and soil with a hand-held trowel. Two bags were then collected from each experimental unit on 4 dates of each year (2 July 2013, 8 Aug. 2013, 11 Sept. 2013, and 9 Oct. 2013). After extraction, roots were brushed and carefully washed to remove soil, oven-dried for 48 h at 60°C, and analyzed for C, N, and ash contents. The percentage of dry matter and N remaining and the C/N ratio in each bag was determined relative to root contents in a set of unburied bags. Currently, ash contents are being measured on the 2013 and 2014 samples for correct determination of dry matter, C/N ratios, and N contents.<br /> <br /> University of Tennessee (Renata Nave Oakes)<br /> <br /> In Tennessee, N is the most common limiting source for tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort] production. Increasing prices for N fertilizer have pressured cow-calf producers in Tennessee to reevaluate N management alternatives. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of initiation date and N fertilization on stockpiled tall fescue yield, nutritive value, and animal performance during fall grazing, and profitability. The research was conducted at the Plateau AgResearch and Education Center in Crossville, TN, from August 2013 to December 2014 in tall fescue pastures. A completely randomized design with three replications was applied to existent tall fescue pastures. Stockpile initiation dates were 1 August and 1 September, and N fertilization rates were 0 and 60 lb N/acre. For all plant related variables analyzed in this study, there was a significant difference among monthly grazing periods, with the exception of CP and IVDMD. Nitrogen fertilization rate did not affect forage mass nor nutritive value in both years. There were no significant interactions between initiation date and N fertilization rate for all animal performance measures. Data from this study suggests that when the price of beef is low ($0.75/lb), a producer would maximize profits by initiation grazing in August with no application of N.<br /> <br /> With recent spikes and higher volatility in the price of conventional nitrogen (N) fertilizer prices, many producers have started considering the use of alternative N sources such as poultry litter. Tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort] pastures are fertilized in the spring and also in late summer for fall stockpiling. Poultry litter has been used in crop production for many years and is particularly well suited for use as a plant nutrient source because of its high nutrient content when compared to other manures. The objective of this research is to compare the forage yield, forage quality, beef cattle performance, and economics of a tall fescue pasture that was fertilized with conventional N fertilizer and poultry litter for stockpiling forage. The research was conducted at the Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center of The University of Tennessee in Spring Hill, TN, from October 2013 to April 2015. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two treatments (commercial fertilizer (CF) or poultry litter (PL), and three replications. Among all plant variables there was no significant differences between nitrogen sources, however there was a significant year and source interaction for crude protein (CP) concentration. A producer needs to consider the cost of buying, transporting, and applying poultry litter as well as the cost of conventional N fertilizer sources before making a decision for fertilizing stockpiled tall fescue.<br /> <br /> Washington State University (Steve Norberg)<br /> <br /> Livestock feed costs and quality are critical to livestock producers’ sustainability. Timothy is a perennial cool-season grass but often stands are taken out of production after the first hay harvest due to higher profitability by growing annual grain crops. For timothy, profitability to increase summer production must increase. This interdisciplinary project is focused on summer month production and quality increases by intercropping with a warm season annual grass, teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] and by developing tissue testing and SPAD meter reading methods for measuring in-season economic nitrogen rate. Our project’s goal is to study the influence of nitrogen rate study on timothy, teff and the intercropping of timothy and teff on hay production, quality and economics. Our goal also is to determine critical levels for tissue testing and chlorophyll measurements in timothy and determine in season optimum nitrogen rate for sustainable hay production. A study using chlorophyll meters and tissue testing to determine in-season nitrogen needs found that the SPAD meter and leaf tissue testing show promise for in-season N rate adjustment of timothy. Results from the two years of experiments using a chlorophyll meter were successful at two growth stages predicting how much nitrogen is needed, in-season, if any. The first stage is when the timothy stem is only six inches (15 cm) tall in a vegetative stage (RCMVeg) and when the timothy plants stems were in boot stage about 26 inches (65 cm). The optimum relative SPADTM meter value was different depending on the plant stage. This work is very exciting in that we will be able to help producers adjust the nitrogen rate during the season for each cutting as the season progresses. A second study is being conducted to determine the optimum nitrogen rate for timothy, teff and the intercrop mix. The intercropping of teff into timothy was not successful this second year even after adjusting the irrigation regime. The teff emerged but was not able to compete with the rapid regrowth from second cutting timothy. Summary of Results:<br /> 1) In 2013 and 2014, the optimum nitrogen rate for first cutting was 120 lbs. per acre.<br /> 2) The SPAD meter shows promise for in-season N rate adjustment<br /> 3) Leaf tissue sampling from 2013 shows promise for in-season N rate adjustment<br /> 4) Timing of SPAD and leaf tissue sampling could affect recommendations.<br /> 5) Intercropping timothy with teff does not appear to be a promising tool as timothy is too aggressive unless timothy is held back by some method.<br /> 6) Further research is needed and first year results are promising that tools can be developed for producers to maximize nitrogen efficiency.

Publications

Barbero, R. P., R. L. G. Nave and J. T. Mulliniks. 2014. Effect of forage species on the rumen microbial population to estimate methane production. International Annual Meetings ASA-CSSA-SSSA – Long Beach/CA.<br /> <br /> Bax, A. L., J. D. Caldwell, L. S. Wilbers, B. C. Shanks, T. Hampton, S. E. Bettis, Y. Liang, G. I. Zanton, and K. P. Coffey. 2015. Performance of Holstein steers offered hay and supplement with or without added methionine. Arkansas Animal Science Department Report. Arkansas Agri. Exper. Sta. Research Series 620:14-15.<br /> <br /> Cassida, K.A., D-H. Min, C. Kapp, and J.J. Paling. 2015. Evaluation of binary mixtures of alfalfa and grass and their responses to supplemental nitrogen fertilization. In: Proc. American Forage & Grassland Conference, Jan. 11-14, 2015, St. Louis, MO. AFGC, Berea, KY. (Poster presentation) <br /> <br /> Dierking, R.M., P. Azhaguvel, R.L. Kallenbach, M.C. Saha, J.H. Bouton, K. Chekhovskiy, D. Kopecký, and A.A. Hopkins. 2015. Linkage maps of a Mediterranean x Continental tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) population and their comparative analysis with other Poaceae species. The Plant Genome. 8:1-18. doi: 10.3835/plantgenome2014.07.0032<br /> <br /> Edwards, S. R., J. D. Rhinehart, R. L. G. Nave and J. T. Mulliniks. 2015. Impact of milk production level on cow-calf productivity in Tennessee. Southern Section, American Society of Animal Science. Atlanta, GA.<br /> <br /> Edwards, S. R., R. L. G. Nave, J. D. Rhinehart and J. T. Mulliniks. 2015. Developing heifers on stockpiled, dormant native forages delays gain without altering reproductive performance. Southern Section, American Society of Animal Science, Atlanta, GA.<br /> <br /> Fukushima, R.S., M.S. Kerley, M.H. Ramos, J.H. Porter, and R.L. Kallenbach. 2015. Comparison of acetyl bromide lignin with acid detergent lignin and Klason lignin and correlation with in vitro forage degradability. Anim. Sci. Feed Tech. 201:25-37.<br /> <br /> Gadberry, M. S., J. Hawley, P. A. Beck, J. A. Jennings, E. B. Kegley, and K. P. Coffey. 2015 Research efforts aimed at reducing the impact of fescue toxicosis on cattle weight gain and feed intake. J. Anim. Sci. (In Press).<br /> <br /> Gelley, C., R. L. G. Nave and G. E. Bates. 2014. Nutritive value of switchgrass and sudex as influenced by forage management. 2014. International Annual Meetings ASA-CSSA-SSSA – Long Beach/CA.<br /> <br /> Grabber, J.H., W.K. Coblentz, H. Riday, K.A. Cassida, T.C. Griggs, D.H. Min, and J.W. MacAdam. 2014. Yield, morphological development, and forage quality characteristics of European- and Mediterranean-derived birdsfoot trefoil cultivars grown in the colder continental United States. Annual Meeting of ASA/CSSA/SSSA, Long Beach, CA. Nov. 2-5, 2014. Online. (poster presentation)<br /> <br /> Grabber, J.H., W.K. Coblentz, H. Riday, T.C. Griggs, D.H. Min, J.W. MacAdam, and K.A. Cassida. 2015. Protein and dry matter degradability of European- and Mediterranean-derived birdsfoot trefoil cultivars grown in the colder continental USA. Agronomy Journal 5:1356-1364. <br /> <br /> Guretzky, J.A., A.B. Wingeyer, W.H. Schacht, T.J. Klopfenstein, and A. Watson. 2014. Soil organic matter and root and rhizome responses to management strategies in smooth bromegrass pastures. Agronomy Journal 106:1886-1892 doi:10.2134/agronj14.0157<br /> <br /> Guretzky, J.A., A.B. Wingeyer, W. Schacht, J. Volesky, M. Mamo, and M. Stockton. 2014. Demonstrating mob grazing impacts in the Nebraska Sandhills – Lessons Learned. ASA, CSSA, & SSSA International Annual Meeting. Nov. 2-5, 2014. Long, Beach, CA.<br /> <br /> Kallenbach, R.L. 2015. Coping with tall fescue toxicosis: Solutions and realities. J. Anim. Sci. In Press. (Invited Review).<br /> <br /> Kallenbach, R.L. 2015. Describing the dynamic: Measuring and assessing the value of plants in the pasture. Crop Sci. 55:1-9 doi: 10.2135/cropsci2015.01.0065 (Invited review).<br /> <br /> Kanani, K., D. Philipp, K. P. Coffey, E. B. Kegley, C. P. West, S. Gadberry, J. Jennings, A. N. Young, and R. Rhein. 2015. Diurnal variation in fecal concentrations of acid-detergent insoluble ash and alkaline-peroxide lignin from cattle fed bermudagrass hays of varying nutrient content. J. Anim. Sci. Biotechnol. 6:24.<br /> <br /> Mulliniks, J. T., A. G. Rius, M. A. Edwards, K. B. Brantley, S. R. Edwards and R. L. G. Nave. 2014. Improving efficiency of production in pasture/range based beef and dairy systems. Joint Annual Meeting of ADSA, ASAS and CSAS – Kansas City/MO.<br /> <br /> Mulliniks, J. T., A. G. Rius, M. A. Edwards, S. R. Edwards, J.D. Hobbs and R. L. G. Nave. 2015. Improving efficiency of production in pasture- and range-based beef and dairy systems. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 6: 2609-2615.<br /> <br /> Nave, R. L. G., J. T. Mulliniks, G. E. Bates and L. S. Monteiro. 2014. Effects of nitrogen source on nutritive value of stockpiled tall-fescue under grazing. International Annual Meetings ASA-CSSA-SSSA – Long Beach/CA.<br /> <br /> Nave, R. L. G., R. M. Sulc, and D. J. Barker. 2014. Changes in forage nutritive value among vertical strata of a cool-season grass canopy. Crop Sci. 54:1-9.<br /> <br /> Norberg, S. 2015. Using chlorophyll meter and tissue testing to determine in-season nitrogen needs in timothy hay production. 2015 NACAA Abstracts. <br /> <br /> Noviandi, C. T., J.-S. Eun, M. D. Peel, B. L. Waldron, B. R. Min, D. R. ZoBell, and R. L. Miller. 2014. Effects of energy supplementation in pasture forages on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics in continuous cultures. The Professional Animal Scientist TBC. 30:23-32.<br /> <br /> Parlak, A.O., M. Parlak, H. Blanco-Canqui, W.H. Schacht, J.A. Guretzky, and M. Mamo. 2015. Patch burning: implications on water erosion and soil properties. J. Env. Qual. 44:903-999.<br /> <br /> Philipp, D., B. Haggard, A. Sharpley, T. Simmons, and R. Rhein. 2015. Effects of cattle diets on nutrient concentrations in fecal patches and runoff from small plots. Southern Pasture and Forage Crop Improvement Conference, Apalachicola, FL.<br /> <br /> Schick, B.D., J.A. Guretzky, W.H. Schacht, and M. Mamo. 2015. Influence of cattle diet on dung decomposition and CO2 flux. 68th Annual Society for Range Management Technical Training & Trade Show. Jan. 31 – Feb. 6, 2015. Sacramento, CA.<br /> <br /> Silva, L. A. C., C. Costa, P. R. L. Meirelles, M. A. Facton and R. L. G. Nave. 2014. Productivity and morphological characteristics of corn as a function of maturity stage and cutting height for silage production. International Annual Meetings ASA-CSSA-SSSA – Long Beach/CA.<br /> <br /> Smith, A., M. Popp, D. Philipp, K. Coffey, and E. Gbur. 2014. Overseeding Bermudagrass Pastures with Ryegrass and Clovers: Estimating Partial Returns. Journal of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) 108-123.<br /> <br /> Smith, W. B., K. P. Coffey, R. T. Rhein, E. B. Kegley, D. Philipp, J. D. Caldwell, and A. N. Young. 2015. Ruminal forage digestibility following a period of limit-feeding co-product feedstuffs. Arkansas Animal Science Department Report. Arkansas Agri. Exper. Sta. Research Series 620:39-41.<br /> <br /> Smith, W.B., K. P. Coffey, J. D. Tucker, D. S. Hubbell, R. T. Rhein, E. B. Kegley, D. Philipp, J. D. Caldwell, and A. N. Young. 2014. Production, digestion and ruminal fermentation by beef cattle limit-fed co-product feedstuffs. ASAS Southern Section Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX.<br /> <br /> van Santen, E., K.A. Cassida, B. Goff, T.C. Griggs, J.M. Johnson, R. Kallenbach, J. McAdam, and G. Shewmaker. 2014. Increasing legume grazing for higher beef gain on pastures: an improved high-tannin birdsfoot trefoil cultivar with trans-regional potential. Annual Meeting of ASA/CSSA/SSSA, Long Beach, CA. Nov. 2-5, 2014. Online (poster presentation)<br /> <br /> van Santen, E., J.W. MacAdam, and K.A. Cassida. 2014. Evaluating the Birdsfoot Trefoil NPGS Collection. Annual Meeting of ASA/CSSA/SSSA, Long Beach, CA. Nov. 2-5, 2014. Online. (poster presentation)<br /> <br /> van Santen, E., B. Ortiz, W. Alison, A. Blount, V. A. Corriher, D. W. Hancock, R. L. G. Nave, L. R. Nelson, J. K. Rogers and S. R. Smith Jr. 2014. Effect of ENSO phase on seasonal forage yield of annual ryegrass. International Annual Meetings ASA-CSSA-SSSA – Long Beach/CA.<br /> <br /> Wingeyer, A.B., J.A. Guretzky, W.H. Schacht, and T.J. Klopfenstein. 2015. Reduced nitrogen mineralization and litter decomposition in unfertilized smooth bromegrass pastures. Crop Sci. 55:1843-1853.<br /> <br /> <br />

Impact Statements

  1. Producers may not see a difference in intake across moisture treatments, but digestibility may be greater for alfalfa silage baled at a lower moisture concentration. Dairy slurry use as a fertilizer had no effect on digestibility or intake of alfalfa silage, which gives producers the option to utilize dairy slurry on hay meadows without concerns of negative impacts on use of later harvests by ruminants.
  2. Research conducted at a Washington State University Experiment Stations located near Prosser, and Othello, Washington using different nitrogen rates, indicate that both RCM and leaf nitrogen content at two vegetative stages will be useful tools to predict needed in-season nitrogen to maximize yield and profit.
  3. At the Mid-Columbia Hay Growers Meeting at Kennewick, WA 45 out 63 farmers believed the SPAD meter had a place on their farm and the 45 farmers harvest approximately 23,000 acres of timothy.
  4. At the NW Hay Growers Meeting at Kennewick, WA 55 out 63 farmers believed the SPAD meter had a place on their farm. The 55 farmers harvest approximately 35,000 acres of timothy.
  5. At the Kittitas Timothy Hay Growers Association knowledge of chlorophyll testing increased by 31%. 85% of timothy growers responded that chlorophyll testing for in-season nitrogen testing had a place on their farm.
  6. Supplemental feed may lead to elevated nutrient levels in runoff. We evaluated the loss of N and P from feces of cattle fed bermudagrass hay, soybean hulls, dried distillers grains, and an iso-energetic mix of the latter two. The nutrients in runoff reflected the nutrient concentrations in the diets and feces of animals. With proper best-management-practices such as filter strips, intact riparian buffers, and maintenance of heavy-use areas nutrients can be contained within the pasture.
  7. Information on co-product feeds as supplements for cows offered poor quality tall fescue hay helps producers make better decisions pertaining to feeding different co-product feedstuffs. This helps ensure that nutrient requirements for basal diets of poor quality forages are met in the most economical manner.
  8. Overseeding bermudagrass with annual or perennial legumes is difficult due to the competition of the grass species. Animal performance, as revealed in average daily gain, was not affected by the inclusion of clovers. The use of crimson clover compared to white clover resulted in lower hay production and cattle revenue. The overall result of the study suggests that overseeding of clovers is not cost effective at current N fertilizer prices.
  9. Michigan State University established an integrated crop-livestock system project in the Upper Peninsula. This long-term project aims to develop recommendations for improving northern soils through use of grazing animals and legumes, thus improving the resource base while increasing regional food security. Forage crops are an important component of the project.
  10. Birdsfoot trefoil is a forage legume with unique nutritional properties resulting from its condensed tannin content. Tannins may also positively affect soil nitrogen cycling through protein-binding effects. Michigan State University is collaborating with seven other universities across the country to develop a widely-adapted birdsfoot trefoil variety with optional condensed tannin content.
  11. If ammonium nitrate become unavailable in Missouri, the equivalent of 150,000 tons of urea will likely take its place. Work at the University of Missouri is examining the reliability and response of pastures to volatilization inhibitors and slow-release coatings to determine if they add enough value to warrant their use on pasture.
  12. In the Intermountain West, tall fescue-legume mixtures are a viable option compared to tall fescue monocultures. The grass-legume mixtures produced higher rates of gain and doubled the economic return compared to the grass monoculture.
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Date of Annual Report: 11/22/2016

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 09/22/2016 - 09/23/2016
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2015 - 09/30/2016

Participants

Coffey, Ken (kcoffey@uark.edu) - University of Arkansas; Guretzky, John (jguretzky2@unl.edu; Miller, Rhonda (rhonda.miller@usu.edu) - Utah State University; Nave, Renata (rnave@utk.edu) - University of Tennessee; Norberg, Steve (s.norberg@wsu.edu); Benfield, David (Benfield.2@osu.edu) - Ohio State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

David Benfield was present and provided an update on appropriations and funding opportunities. State reports were presented by all in attendance. Utah State University faculty member Rhonda Miller conducted two tours, one at the Caine Dairy and one at the Lewiston Pasture Facility. Renata Nave will become chair. Steve Norberg was elected secretary.

Accomplishments

<p>OBJECTIVE 1. Evaluate legume cultural and management strategies emphasizing legume establishment, N cycling and use efficiency, and GHG emissions.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>University of Arkansas (Ken Coffey; Dirk Philipp; and Wayne Coblentz &ndash; USDA-ARS Dairy Forage Research Center)</strong><strong><br /> <br /> </strong></p><br /> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Effect of delayed wrapping and wrapping source on intake and digestibility of alfalfa silage in sheep.</span></p><br /> <p>Short-term Outcomes: Alfalfa silage was baled in large round bales, and then wrapped with plastic either the day of baling, or 1, 2 or 3 days after baling. In general, intake and digestibility were greatest in silage wrapped the day following baling and declined with subsequent time delay between baling and wrapping. This provides producers with information to allow them to make better management decisions about how to feed alfalfa silage based on how it was managed after baling.</p><br /> <p>Outputs: Scientific abstracts were presented at the Midwestern and national meeting of the American Society of Animal Science. This research was the subject of a MS thesis for Valens Niyigena, a Fulbright graduate student from Rwanda.</p><br /> <p>Activities: Alfalfa silages were baled, then wrapped with plastic either with or without an oxygen-limiting barrier either the day of baling or 1, 2 or 3 days after baling. Pregnant crossbred ewes (n = 16; 3-5 yr old; 140 &plusmn; 3.8 lbs) were offered the alfalfa silage from 1 of 8 treatments in a 3-period study. Silage intake, digestibility, and nutrient balance were measured. Intake and digestibility were correlated with silage fermentation characteristics to determine the best predictors of animal performance from silage fermentation profiles.</p><br /> <p>Milestones:</p><br /> <p>The first manuscript from this work should be submitted by June, 2017 with a subsequent manuscript by September, 2017.</p><br /> <p>The study was supported in part by USDA-ARS specific cooperative agreement 58-3655-4-052.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>A 3-year study was started in April 2016 targeting alfalfa persistence and possibilities for interseeding legume and non-legume forages into existing alfalfa stands. In this study, red clover, Italian ryegrass, and teff will be interseeded with alfalfa in spring and fall.</p><br /> <p>Treatment structure:</p><br /> <p>Control, teff (spring only), ryegrass, red clover, ryegrass + red clover, spring and fall planting</p><br /> <p>Summary of activities:</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Harvested 4 times experimental plots</li><br /> <li>Determined forage chemical composition</li><br /> <li>Determined species composition in plots interseeded with teff, ryegrass, and red clover</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>This project is being funded partly by Univ. of Arkansas-Agricultural Experiment Station and Barenbug Seed Co.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><br /> <strong>University of Nebraska (John A. Guretzky, Walter H. Schacht, and James MacDonald)<br /> </strong><br /> In 2016, we conducted an experiment in Lincoln, NE, that evaluated effects of establishment of perennial legumes with an annual warm-season grass as a companion crop.&nbsp; We hypothesized that planting of legumes in binary mixtures with sorghum-sudangrass (SSG), a drought hardy annual warm-season grass, would increase forage mass and reduce weed competition without negatively affecting legume establishment. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block with a split plot arrangement of treatments and three replications.&nbsp; Whole-plots consisted of three common forage legume species: alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. 'Ranger'), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L. 'Norcen'), and [red clover (<em>Trifolium pratense</em> L. 'Medium') and three native prairie legume species: Illinois bundleflower [<em>Desmanthus illinoensis</em> (Michx.) MacM.], purple prairie clover (<em>Dalea purpurea</em> Vent.), and roundhead lespedeza (<em>Lespedeza capitata Michx.</em>).&nbsp; Subplots consisted of four annual companion crop treatments: 1) none (negative control) and forage harvested in October; 2) none with weedy grasses sprayed (positive control) and forage harvested in October; 3) sorghum-sudangrass seeded at 43 PLS m-2 and forage harvested in October; and 4) sorghum-sudangrass seeded at 43 PLS m-2 and harvested mid-summer and again in October. Legume and SSG establishment was measured in 25 cell frames (5 x 5) with each cell measuring 15 x 15 cm. A 1 was recorded when legumes or SSG were present and 0 was recorded when absent in each cell. Frequency of occurrence (%) and density of each species were computed with these data.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>We addressed specific objective of comparing N cycling and use efficiency of ruminants grazing pastures with and without forage legumes by determining how dung excreted from cattle grazing legume-interseeded, N-fertilized, and unfertilized smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) pastures affects dung chemical composition, dry matter decomposition, CO2 flux, and N availability in soil in a series of randomized complete block experiments at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead, NE. Freshly deposited dung was collected from legume-interseeded, N-fertilized, and unfertilized treatments, refrigerated, separately homogenized, and placed as pats in a neighboring unfertilized pasture. Each treatment was collected 3, 7, and 30 days after placing the pats in two experimental periods (June and August) in 2014 and 2015. Soil cores were taken directly below and laterally from dung pats to determine rate of nutrient movement through soil. CO2 flux from dung was measured for each treatment, as well as a non-dung influenced control. Dung collections coincided with vegetation and diet samples from ruminally-fistulated cattle to examine effects of the pasture treatments on N cycling through the plant-animal-dung-soil complex.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>In the legume establishment experiment conducted at Mead, NE, in 2016, legume species differed in terms of frequency of occurrence, but there with no differences in frequency of occurrence between legumes established with SSG and those without. Alfalfa and red clover had &gt; 75% frequency of occurrence which equated to 33 plants m-2 and 31 plants m-2, respectively. Birdsfoot trefoil and Illinois bundleflower had 25 to 50% frequency of occurrence which equated to a density of 13 and 18 plants m-2, respectively. Roundhead lespedeza and purple prairie clover &lt; 20% frequency of occurrence which equated to densities of 4 and 7 plants m-2, respectively. Overall, the first year of this experiment showed that alfalfa and red clover had the best establishment; birdsfoot trefoil and Illinois bundleflower had marginal to adequate establishment; and roundhead lespedeza and purple prairie clover had poor establishment.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>In the dung decomposition experiments designed to address this objective (Mead, NE), nutritive value of all pasture diets was high and comparable in June, but was relatively greater in legume-interseeded pastures in August. CO2 flux did not differ among treatments in June but tended to be greater from dung excreted in legume-interseeded pastures in August which may be due to more soluble nutrients readily available for microbial breakdown. Dung decomposition depended on year, season, dung treatment, and harvest time interactions. Dung from N-fertilized pasture was least at 30 days after placement in the June 2014 experiment but decomposed more slowly in the June 2015 experiment. Dung from legume-interseeded pastures displayed similar trends as dung from unfertilized pastures in June 2014 but was more erratic in June 2015. Dung remaining was similar between treatments in Aug 2014 but greatest from unfertilized pastures in Aug 2015. Soil Water Extractable C and N (WEC and WEN) depended on year, dung treatment, and harvest time interactions. WEC did not show consistent responses with dung treatments and harvest times but tended to be higher initially in 2015 than 2014. WEN tended to be higher at 3 and 7 days after placement in 2014 than 2015, but there were no dung treatment effects in either year. WEN declined with increasing days after placement in 2014 but WEC, on the other hand, declined with increasing days after placement in 2015. Overall, all dung collection treatments: legume-interseeded, N-fertilized, and unfertilized smooth bromegrass pastures lost dry matter at similar rates across 30-d periods and showed similar CO2 flux, suggesting limited effects of grazing cattle diets, though different in nutrient composition and digestibility, on decomposition of dung in pastures.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><br /> <strong>Michigan State University (Kim Cassida)</strong></p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Increasing Legume Grazing for Higher Beef Gain on Pastures: An Improved High-Tannin Birdsfoot Trefoil Cultivar with Trans-Regional Potential. </span></p><br /> <p>Data collected: In 2016, winter survival, vigor, flowering date, and seedpod rating were recorded for surviving individual trefoil plants in a selection nursery. Tall fescue was successfully established into birdsfoot trefoil in late 2015 and mixtures were grazed five times in 2016 with data collected on forage yield and quality, grazing preference, root mass, and soil respiration. Laboratory analyses are under way. Summary statistics and discussion of results: Preliminary results indicate some differences in forage nutritive value among trefoil varieties, and interactions among trefoil and fescue varieties for soil respiration. Key Outcomes and other accomplishments realized: Not yet available.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>University of Tennessee (Renata Nave)</strong></p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Alternatives to conventional nitrogen fertilization on tall fescue and bermudagrass. </span></p><br /> <p>When it comes to grazing pastures, management is key to maximizing forage potential. In the southeast region, managing grazing pastures can come with challenges. Some challenges arise due to the growth rate of desired forages, such as tall fescue, through the seasons. Tall fescue, being a cool-season grass, peaks in the spring months, i.e., March through early May, and declines in the warmer months. During the declined growth rate of the tall fescue, new forage, such as bermudagrass, can be integrated to fill in the gap. An additional management practice that will maximize a forage&rsquo;s potential is to increase yield by applying nitrogen (N).</p><br /> <p>The objective of this project is to evaluate different sources of N in tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb) Dumort] and bermudagrass [Cynadon dactylon] plots, and to determine its economic viability and sustainability. The sources of N will consist of cool-season legumes (red clover [Trifolium pratense] and white clover [Trifolium repens]), a warm-season legume (cowpea [Vigna unguiculata]), poultry litter (broiler litter), and conventional N fertilizer (34-0-0). There will also be a control with no N fertilization.</p><br /> <p>Vaughn&rsquo;s #1 bermudagrass was established in the desired area in July 2014. The tall fescue plots have been reseeded with Kentucky 31 fescue as of September 2014, and broadleaf herbicide was applied to eliminate any non-desirable legumes that would interfere with the future legume-blended treatments.</p><br /> <p>Soil samples were collected from each experiment in October 2014 after their initial establishments. Red and white clover has been drilled into the desired plots of each experiment as of October 5, 2015. Lime was applied at 1,184 kg/ha to the entire area of tall fescue plots and bermudagrass plots on October 25, 2015. Phosphorus and potassium may be added to the experiments depending on the soil test results. The first year of this study has been completed in October, 2016.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><br /> OBJECTIVE 2. Assess the efficacy of secondary plant metabolites in legume species for increasing N retention and improving N cycling in forage-livestock systems.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><br /> <strong>Michigan State University (Kim Cassida)<br /> </strong><br /> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Soil Health Pilot Project: Integrative farming solutions for soil health and well-being in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. </span></p><br /> <p>Major activities completed / experiments conducted: This project was terminated in spring 2016 because of inadequate research infrastructure and funding to complete the research as originally planned. Discussions were held regarding a possible redesign to be initiated in 2017. Data collected: Corn silage yields were collected in fall 2015. No data were collected in 2016. Summary statistics and discussion of results: Using data collected in 2015, calibration equations were developed for measuring pasture biomass with a rising plate meter. Cover crops reduced corn plant population density in 2015 under no-till, but increased population density under tillage (P&lt;0.001). Corn silage dry matter yield was not affected by covers or</p><br /> <p>tillage (P &gt;0.05). Key outcomes or other accomplishments realized: Nothing to report due to premature termination of project.</p><br /> <p><br /> OBJECTIVE 3. Quantify effects of pasture management strategies on N use efficiency by ruminant animals and N cycling in herbage and soils of grassland agro-ecosystems.<br /> <br /> <strong>University of Arkansas (Ken Coffey and Dirk Philipp) <br /> </strong><br /> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Soil health and plant species population dynamics of pasture systems due to grazing management and different forage complexes.</span></p><br /> <p>Short-term Outcomes: A study was initiated in the summer of 2015 in southeastern Arkansas to compare the impacts of ultra-high density stocking vs. conventional rotational stocking on cattle performance, forage species composition, and soil nitrogen and carbon components. Calf gains and most measurements of calf health were not different between treatments. This gives producers information to help them decide on what level of management they are willing to expend in their grazing systems without compromising animal performance or health.</p><br /> <p>Outputs: An abstract was presented at the Midwestern section of the American Society of Animal Science and a presentation was given at a field day at the University of Arkansas - Monticello.</p><br /> <p>Activities: Both cow and stocker cattle studies were initiated in the summer of 2015. In both studies, cattle grazed bermudagrass-based pastures using either conventional rotational stocking or ultra-high density stocking.</p><br /> <p>Milestones: Our intention is to continue with a variation of this study for another 3 grazing seasons.</p><br /> <p>This project is supported in part by USDA Animal Health funds.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>A study has been initiated targeting grazing preferences and effects on soil quality parameters, including total N and total C in an agroforestry system containing three different tree species, orchardgrass, and strips of native grasses. Forage and soil samples have been taken and analysis is underway.</p><br /> <p>Summary of activities:</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Established orchardgrass in alleyways in fall of 2015</li><br /> <li>Established native grasses (big bluestem, indiangrass, and little bluestem) in between tree blocks in spring of 2016</li><br /> <li>Obtained soil and forage samples; data analyses are under way</li><br /> <li>Cattle grazed twice experimental area to defoliate orchardgrass; native grasses were not grazed since this is the establishment year.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>This project is being supported by USDA-ARS, NIFA, and the Univ. of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Washington State University (Steve Norberg) </strong><strong><br /> <br /> </strong></p><br /> <p>Timothy hay is the largest grass hay commodity in Washington State and the majority of hay is exported to Japan and other countries. Very little research work has been done on determining optimum nitrogen rates for this commodity or a tool for in-season adjustment of nitrogen rate.</p><br /> <p>We hypothesized that in-season nitrogen status of timothy could be assessed using a Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) units or by nitrogen content of leaf samples. A calibration of these parameters would be accomplished so farmers would be able to in-season apply the nitrogen using fertigation. The SPAD meter measures how much of red light at 650 nm (best absorbed by the chlorophyll molecules) is absorbed by the sample and how much transmission of infrared light at 940 nm, at which no absorption occurs and gives a greenness measurement (SPAD unit). These SPAD units are compared to an over-fertilized strip in the field and relative chlorophyll units (RCM) are calculated (SPAD in question/SPAD over fertilized=RCM) averaged over at least 20 measurements. The objective of the research conducted is to calibrate the SPAD meter and tissue testing for nitrogen in timothy and determine their effectiveness.</p><br /> <p>Research was conducted at two Washington State University Experiment Stations located near Prosser, and Othello, Washington using different nitrogen rates. Results indicate that the vegetative stage (stems 6 inches in length) will be the most accurate time to assess nitrogen status using RCM and leaf tissue nitrogen content. Results also indicated that both tools RCM and tissue testing will be useful tools to predict in-season nitrogen to maximize yield and profit.</p>

Publications

<p>Barbero, R. P., E. B. Malheiros, T. L. da Ros de Araujo, R. L. G. Nave, J. T. Mulliniks, T. T. Berchielli, A. C. Ruggieri, and R. A. Reis. 2015. Combining Marandu grass grazing height and supplementation level to optimize growth and productivity of yearling bulls. Animal Feed Science &amp; Technology. doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2015.09.010.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Bartimus, H. L., T. G. Montgomery, D. Philipp, J. Cater, K. P. Coffey and B. C. Shanks. 2016. Mob grazing effects on cattle performance in southeast Arkansas. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 2):55.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Bartimus, H.L., Montgomery, T.G., Philipp, D., Cater, J., Coffey, K.P., Shanks, B.C. 2016. Mob grazing effects on cattle performance in southeastern Arkansas. ASAS Midwestern Section, Des Moines, IA.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Clark, J.K., B.C. Shanks, K.S. Jogan, D. Philipp, K.P. Coffey, N.E. Jack, J.D. Caldwell, and R.T. Rhein. 20XX. Effects of Forage Species and Poultry Litter Application Timing on Forage Preference by Horses. J. Anim. Sci. (Accepted).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Coblentz, W. K., K. P. Coffey, and E. A. Chow. 2016. Storage characteristics, nutritive value, and fermentation characteristics of alfalfa packaged in large-round bales and wrapped in plastic after extended time delays. J. Dairy Sci. 99:3497-3511.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Coblentz, W. K., K. P. Coffey, and E. A. Chow. 2016. Effects of wrapping time delays on fermentation characteristics of baled alfalfa silages. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 5): 320.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Coblentz, W. K., K. P. Coffey, and E. A. Chow. 2016. Effects of wrapping time delays on nutritive value of baled alfalfa silages. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 5):321.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Gelley, C. H., R. L. G. Nave, and G. E. Bates. 2016. Forage nutritive value and herbage mass relationship of four warm-season grasses. Agronomy Journal. doi:10.2134/agronj2016.01.0018.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Grabber, J.H., W.K. Coblentz, H. Riday, T.C. Griggs, D.H. Min, J.W. MacAdam, and K.A. Cassida. 2015. Protein and dry matter degradability of European- and Mediterranean-derived birdsfoot trefoil cultivars grown in the colder continental USA. Crop Science 55:1356-1364. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2014.09.0659</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Guretzky, J.A., C. Dunn, and H. Hillhouse. 2016. Long-term Sandhills prairie responses to precipitation, temperature, and cattle stocking rate. Plant Ecol. DOI 10.1007/s11258-016-0622-9</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Guretzky, J.A., W.H. Schacht, T.J. Klopfenstein, and A. Wingeyer. Nitrogen use efficiency and cycling in pastures managed with reduced nitrogen inputs. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Minneapolis, MN. 15-18 Nov. 2015.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Jennings, J, Simon, K., Philipp, D., and Beck, P. 2016. Interseeding alfalfa in bermudagrass sods. FSA 3141 (original manuscript).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Jennings, J., Simon, K. Beck, P., and Philipp, D. 2016. Bermudagrass variety selection. FSA (original manuscript).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Jennings, J., Beck P., Philipp, D., Wallace, J.L. 2016. Cogongrass: A potentially invasive weed in Arkansas. FSA 2161 (major revision).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Long, J. E., K. P. Coffey, J. D. Caldwell, D. Philipp, R. T. Rhein, and A. N. Young. 2016. Calcium and magnesium absorption and retention by growing goats offered diets with different calcium sources. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 2):193.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Long, J., K. Coffey, J. Caldwell, D. Philipp, R. Rhein, and A. Young. 2016. Calcium and magnesium absorption and retention by growing goats offered diets with different calcium sources. Discovery, Vol. 17, Fall.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Long, J.E., K. P. Coffey, J. D. Caldwell, D. Philipp, R. T. Rhein, A. N. Young. 2016. Calcium and magnesium absorption and retention by growing goats offered diets with different calcium sources. ASAS Midwestern Section, Des Moines, IA.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>McFarlane, Z. D., J. D. Hobbs, E. R. Cope, R. L. G. Nave, and J. T. Mulliniks. 2016. Heifer development using stockpiled, dormant native forages delays gain without altering reproductive performance. Joint Annual Meeting ADSA-ASAS &ndash; Salt Lake City/UT.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Niyigena, V., K. P. Coffey, W. K. Coblentz, D. Philipp, A. N. Young, R. T. Rhein, and J. K. Clark. 2016. Effect of delayed wrapping and wrapping source on intake and digestibility of alfalfa silage in sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 2):168.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Niyigena, V., K. P. Coffey, W. K. Coblentz, D. Philipp, A. N. Young, R. T. Rhein, J. K. Clark. 2016. Effect of delayed wrapping and wrapping source on intake and digestibility of alfalfa silage in sheep. ASAS Midwestern Section, Des Moines, IA.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Niyigena, V. K. P. Coffey, W. K. Coblentz, A. N. Young, D. Philipp, H. L. Bartimus, and R. T. Rhein. 2016. Correlation of fermentation characteristics with intake and digestibility of alfalfa silage in gestating ewes. J. Anim Sci. 94(Suppl. 5):299.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Niyigena, V., K. P. Coffey, W. K. Coblentz, D. Philipp, A. N. Young, R. T. Rhein, H. Bartimus. 2016. Correlation of fermentation characteristics with intake and digestibility of alfalfa silage in gestating ewes. ASAS, Salt Lake City.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Nave, R. L. G., and C. H. Gelley. 2016. Cutting strategy effects on forage mass accumulation of four warm-season grass species. International Annual Meetings ASA-CSSA-SSSA &ndash; Phoenix/AZ.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Nave, R. L. G., R. P. Barbero, C. N. Boyer, M. D. Corbin*, and J. T. Mulliniks. 2016. Poultry litter as a sustainable fertilizer for stockpiled tall fescue during winter grazing in Middle Tennessee. Crop, Forage &amp; Turfgrass Management. doi:10.2134/cftm2015.0187.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Nave, R. L. G., R. P. Barbero, C. N. Boyer, M. D. Corbin*, and G. E. Bates. 2016. Nitrogen rate and initiation date effects on stockpiled tall fescue during fall grazing in Tennessee. Crop, Forage &amp; Turfgrass Management. doi:10.2134/cftm2015.0174.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Norberg, S. 2015. Timothy, Alfalfa, and Soybean Hay, Corn and Soybean Intercropping Forage Projects Update. Northwest Forage Workers Conference. Corvallis, OR.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Norberg, S. 2015. Developing Calibration for SPAD Meter and Tissue Test for In-Season Nitrogen Assessment in Timothy Hay. NC 1182 Annual Meeting - Management and Environmental Factors Affecting Nitrogen Cycling and Use Efficiency in Forage-Based Livestock Production Systems. Logan, UT.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Norberg, S. 2016. Using Chlorophyll Meter and Tissue Testing to Determine In-Season Nitrogen Needs in Timothy Hay Production. Mid-Columbia Hay Growers Assoc. Annual Meeting. Feb. 17, 2016.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Norberg, S., E. Creech, D. Llewellyn, S. Fransen, and J. Neibergs. 2015. Using Chlorophyll Meter and Tissue Testing To Determine In-Season Nitrogen Needs in Timothy Hay Production. Western Alfalfa &amp; Forage Symposium, Reno, NV. Dec. 2-4. Invited Paper.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Norberg, S. 2016. Using Chlorophyll Meter and Tissue Testing to Determine In-Season Nitrogen Needs in Timothy Hay Production. Proceedings in: Washington State Hay Growers Association - 2016 Northwest Hay Expo. Kennewick, WA. Jan. 20-21, 2016.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Norberg, O.S., D.A. Llewellyn, S.C. Fransen, and J.S. Neibergs. 2016. Determining Nitrogen Needs in Timothy Hay Production. Progressive Forage Grower. April 1, 2016. Invited Article <a href="http://www.progressiveforage.com/forage-types/other-forage/determining-nitrogen-needs-in-timothy-hay-production">http://www.progressiveforage.com/forage-types/other-forage/determining-nitrogen-needs-in-timothy-hay-production</a>.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Philipp, D., and R. Rhein. 2016. Teff, pearl millet, and sorghum-sudangrass yields in Northwest Arkansas. ANSC Report Series.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Philipp, D., and K. Coffey. 2016. Valuation of grassland ecosystems services for sustainable livestock production. Southern Forage and Crop Improvement Conference (SPFCIC), West-Monroe. LA.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Redfearn, D.D., R.B. Mitchell, K.P. Vogel, J.A. Guretzky, G.E. Erickson, T.J. Klopfenstein, and S. Edme. 2015. Cool-season perennial grass options for the western Corn Belt. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Minneapolis, MN. 15-18 Nov. 2015.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Schick, B.D., J.A. Guretzky, W.H. Schacht, and M. Mamo. 2015. Dung decomposition dynamics as a function of cattle diet. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Minneapolis, MN. 15-18 Nov. 2015.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Schick, B.D., J.A. Guretzky, W.H. Schacht, and M. Mamo. 2015. Grazing cattle diet effect on dung decomposition and soil nutrient movement. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Minneapolis, MN. 15-18 Nov. 2015.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Smith, S. A., M. P. Popp, D. R. Keeton, C. P. West, K. P. Coffey, L. L. Nalley, and K. R. Brye. 2016. Economic and greenhouse gas emission response to pasture species composition, stocking rate, and weaning age by calving season, farm size, and pasture fertility. Agric. Resource Econ. Rev. 45:98-123. doi:10.1017/age.2016.11.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Smith, W. B., K. P. Coffey J. D. Tucker, D. S. Hubbell, III, E. B. Kegley, D. Philipp, J. D. Caldwell, and A. N. Young. 2016. Using soybean hulls to meet dietary energy requirements of gestating cows having restricted access to poor-quality hay. Prof. Anim. Sci. (In press).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Turner, K.E., D.P. Belesky, K.A. Cassida, A.M. Zajac, and M.A. Brown. 2015. Selective deworming effects on parameters associated with gastrointestinal parasite management in lambs and meat-goat kids finished on pasture. Small Ruminant Research 31:17-29.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Turner, K.E., K.A. Cassida, H.N. Zerby, and M.A. Brown. 2015. Carcass and meat quality when meat-goat kids were finished on chicory, birdsfoot trefoil, or red clover pastures. Meat Sci. 105:68-74.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p>

Impact Statements

  1. 10. Seventy-three percent of producers surveyed responded that a calibrated tissue test or a chlorophyll meter would be useful for in-season nitrogen assessment on their farm and this program has brought this to reality. I was the lead principle investigator on eight site years of research. Outputs developed include calibrations for soil testing as well as in-season nitrogen assessments using tissue testing and chlorophyll meter uses. My presentations in this program increased fertility knowledge in 89% of attendees. Because of this program the Kittitas Hay Growers Association purchased a chlorophyll meter for members use. Total grant support for this project is currently at $79,250 from International Plant Nutrition Institute, BIOAg and WSHGA.
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Date of Annual Report: 08/26/2017

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/29/2017 - 06/30/2017
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2016 - 09/30/2017

Participants

Nave, Renata - University of Tennessee; Norberg, Steve; Appuhamy, Ranga – Iowa State University, Coffey, Ken - University of Arkansas; Guretzky, John University of Nebraska; Barker, David – The Ohio State University; Franklin, Dorcas – University of Georgia; Tomlinson, Peter

Brief Summary of Minutes

State reports were presented by all in attendance. University of Tennessee faculty member Renta Nave conducted two tours, one of the middle Tennessee Research and Extension Center and on at Triple L Ranch at 5121 Bedford Creek Rd., Franklin TN, 37064. Steve Norberg will become chair and Docas Franklin was elected Secretary for next year.

Accomplishments

<p><strong>OBJECTIVE 1. Evaluate legume cultural and management strategies emphasizing legume establishment, N cycling and use efficiency, and GHG emissions</strong>.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><em>Kansas &ndash; (Peter Tomlinson)</em></p><br /> <p><em>Specific objectives </em></p><br /> <ol><br /> <li>Identify practices that optimize legume establishment and persistence.</li><br /> <li>Compare N cycling and use efficiency of ruminants grazing pastures with and without forage legumes.</li><br /> </ol><br /> <p>iii. Determine the impact of legumes on the GHG footprint of livestock production systems.</p><br /> <p>Objective 1-iii) In the southern great plains winter wheat is used a source of forage in the winter months and provides producers the flexibility to manage their wheat pasture either for the dual purpose of grazing and wheat harvest or to graze the wheat out of the forage is needed. The nitrous oxide foot print, a component of the total GHG foot print of winter wheat has only been measured in a limited number of studies. Nitrous oxide measurements were collected from winter wheat that was not grazed during the 2015-2016 growing season to establish a baseline for nitrous oxide emission in Kansas. Cumulative N2O emissions ranging from 0.24 to 0.32 kg N2O-N ha-1 and were not effect by the legacy of past cover crop or nitrogen treatments applied after the wheat or during the sorghum phase of a wheat-sorghum-soybean rotation.</p><br /> <p>During the 2015-16 cover cropping period (July 2015 to March 2016) N<sub>2</sub>O fluxes were greater during the 3 weeks after cover crop planting for all treatments and decreased and remained at background levels thereafter, except chemical fallow. The highest emissions occurred 2 weeks after planting, in all treatments, ranging from 31 to 34 g N<sub>2</sub>O-N ha<sup>-1</sup> day<sup>-1</sup>. Furthermore, the chemical fallow treatment had significantly greater N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from 3 weeks after cover crops planting to close to the first frost (from 16 July 2015 to 21 Oct 2015) when compared to the other cover crop treatments. During this period, the cover crops and double-crop soybean reduced emissions by 65%, on average. The sorghum sudan (0.80 kg N<sub>2</sub>O-N ha<sup>-1</sup>) and daikon radish (0.90 kg N<sub>2</sub>O-N ha<sup>-1</sup>) cover crop treatments had significantly lower cumulative emissions than chemical fallow (1.62 kg N<sub>2</sub>O-N ha<sup>-1</sup>) and all were not different for double crop soybeans (1.11 kg N<sub>2</sub>O-N ha<sup>-1</sup>) .</p><br /> <p>University of Nebraska &ndash;( John A. Guretzky, Walter H. Schacht, and James MacDonald) In 2016, we conducted an experiment in Lincoln, NE, that evaluated effects of establishment of perennial legumes with an annual warm-season grass as a companion crop.&nbsp; We hypothesized that planting of legumes in binary mixtures with sorghum-sudangrass (SSG), a drought hardy annual warm-season grass, would increase forage mass and reduce weed competition without negatively affecting legume establishment. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block with a split plot arrangement of treatments and three replications. Whole-plots consisted of three common forage legume species: alfalfa (<em>Medicago sativa</em> L. 'Ranger'), birdsfoot trefoil <em>(Lotus corniculatus</em> L. 'Norcen'), and [red clover (<em>Trifolium pratense</em> L. 'Medium') and three native prairie legume species: Illinois bundleflower [<em>Desmanthus illinoensis</em> (Michx.) MacM.], purple prairie clover (<em>Dalea purpurea</em> Vent.), and roundhead lespedeza (<em>Lespedeza capitata Michx.</em>). Subplots consisted of four annual companion crop treatments: 1) none (negative control) and forage harvested in October; 2) none with weedy grasses sprayed (positive control) and forage harvested in October; 3) sorghum-sudangrass seeded at 43 PLS m<sup>-2</sup> and forage harvested in October; and 4) sorghum-sudangrass seeded at 43 PLS m<sup>-2</sup> and harvested mid-summer and again in October. Legume and SSG establishment was measured in 25 cell frames (5 x 5) with each cell measuring 15 x 15 cm. A 1 was recorded when legumes or SSG were present and 0 was recorded when absent in each cell. Frequency of occurrence (%) and density of each species were computed with these data.</p><br /> <p><em>Specific objectives ii. Compare N cycling and use efficiency of ruminants grazing pastures with and without forage legumes.</em></p><br /> <p>In the dung decomposition experiments designed to address this objective (Mead, NE), nutritive value of all pasture diets was high and comparable in June, but was relatively greater in legume-interseeded pastures in August. CO<sub>2</sub> flux did not differ among treatments in June but tended to be greater from dung excreted in legume-interseeded pastures in August which may be due to more soluble nutrients readily available for microbial breakdown. Dung decomposition depended on year, season, dung treatment, and harvest time interactions. Dung from N-fertilized pasture was least at 30 days after placement in the June 2014 experiment but decomposed more slowly in the June 2015 experiment. Dung from legume-interseeded pastures displayed similar trends as dung from unfertilized pastures in June 2014 but was more erratic in June 2015. Dung remaining was similar between treatments in Aug 2014 but greatest from unfertilized pastures in Aug 2015. Soil Water Extractable C and N (WEC and WEN) depended on year, dung treatment, and harvest time interactions. WEC did not show consistent responses with dung treatments and harvest times but tended to be higher initially in 2015 than 2014. WEN tended to be higher at 3 and 7 days after placement in 2014 than 2015, but there were no dung treatment effects in either year. WEN declined with increasing days after placement in 2014 but WEC, on the other hand, declined with increasing days after placement in 2015. Overall, all dung collection treatments: legume-interseeded, N-fertilized, and unfertilized smooth bromegrass pastures lost dry matter at similar rates across 30-d periods and showed similar CO<sub>2</sub> flux, suggesting limited effects of grazing cattle diets, though different in nutrient composition and digestibility, on decomposition of dung in pastures. The greater drivers of dung decomposition were season and time dung had to decompose in the field, factors strongly influenced by precipitation and temperature patterns. The WEC and WEN data also did not show strong differences between dung treatments and no dung controls suggesting limited effects of grazing cattle diets on movement of nutrients from dung in soil.</p><br /> <p>The Ohio State University &ndash; (David Baker) The Ohio State University is part of a three state (TN, NC, OH) collaborative study to characterize nutritive value and forage yield of alfalfa grown in monoculture and in mixtures with tall fescue and bermudagrass under four harvest frequencies (21, 28, 35, and 42-day cutting intervals). The study was established in TN and OH in 2015 and data was collected in and is being collected in 2017. Plots were established at NC in 2016. In Ohio in 2016, there was no species treatment x cutting interval interaction. Pure stands of alfalfa yielded 4.7 and 5.6 Mg ha-1 more (P &lt; 0.05) than alfalfa with bermudagrass and tall fescue, respectively, over the 2016 growing season. The 21-day interval had the lowest seasonal forage (8.8 Mg ha-1), the 35-day interval was had the highest forage yield (12.5 Mg ha-1) and while the 28-day (11.6 Mg ha-1) and 42-day (11.1 Mg ha-1) were intermediate. The data collected will serve as a basis for grazing and harvest management recommendations that can optimize forage availability and forage nutritive value, according to region and livestock requirements. Extension programming will be developed to share results and train producers and advisors about alfalfa production and management alternatives. The project is funded by the USDA-AFRI Alfalfa and Forage Research Program. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Ohio State University has collaborated with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Great Parks of Hamilton County (City of Cincinnati) to collect and propagate running buffalo clover (RBC) (Trifolium stoloniferum) plants from natural sites in Ohio. Running buffalo clover is a federally protected, endangered legume species. Studies to date have found RBC has high shade tolerance, readily propagates by stolons, and has excellent nutritive value. Its potential as a forage species in native pastures is not known, however, insufficient plant material is available for the conduct of research studies. This study has procured 25 RBC stolons from each of three sites in Ohio, and successfully cloned plantlets from these stolons. These plants can serve as a resource for replanting back into natural areas (especially for small populations having</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One of the most destructive insect pests of alfalfa is the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae Harris (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Loss estimates from this pest range from $32-66/ha. There is evidence that climate change is associated with earlier appearance of the leafhopper by migration in alfalfa fields each year and that the severity of potato leafhopper damage increases with rising temperatures. Scientists at The Ohio State University, University of Maryland, and University of Wisconsin are collaborating in research that will be the basis for revising the economic action threshold for insecticide treatment of potato leafhopper in alfalfa in light of changes in cultivars (i.e. host resistance to this pest), and the potential tolerance by grass-alfalfa mixtures. In Maryland, scientists will also relate leafhopper injury to rates of nitrogen fixation, providing a test of whether resistant cultivars and alfalfa-grass mixtures are an effective means to reduce damage to nitrogen fixation of alfalfa. This is important because an insecticide application late in the growth cycle is not practical nor would it be perceived as necessary by producers since it would have limited to no effect on yield of the current growth cycle. Ohio experienced heavy potato leafhopper pressure in the trial in 2016. Mean number of leafhoppers (adults+nymphs) per sweep in unsprayed plots in three summer growth cycles ranged from 10 to 26 in the resistant cultivar, 39 to 118 in the susceptible cultivar, and 42 to 156 in the susceptible alfalfa cultivar and grass mixture. Data will be summarized once the study is completed in 2018. In addition to providing new guidelines to forage producers and consultants, the research will demonstrate the value of leafhopper resistant alfalfa and grass-alfalfa mixtures, which will increase adoption of those practices, leading to more sustainable approaches to protect alfalfa from this key pest. The project is funded by the USDA-AFRI Alfalfa and Forage Research Program.</p><br /> <p><strong>University of Arkansas Project title</strong>: Effect of delayed wrapping and wrapping source on nitrogen balance and blood urea nitrogen in gestating sheep offered alfalfa silage</p><br /> <p>Collaborators - K. P. Coffey, W. K. Coblentz, (USDA-ARS Dairy Forage Research Center, Marshfield, WI), D. Philipp</p><br /> <p><strong>Short-term Outcomes</strong>: Alfalfa silage was baled in large round bales, and then wrapped with 2 different types of plastic either the day of baling, or 1, 2 or 3 days after baling. Nitrogen retention was greater in sheep offered silages wrapped with plastic containing an oxygen-limiting barrier. Nitrogen apparent absorption decreased with time delay between wrapping and baling. However, urinary N also decreased with time delay between wrapping and baling such that overall N retention was not affected by time delay. This provides producers with information to allow them to make better management decisions about how to feed alfalfa silage based on how it was managed after baling.</p><br /> <p><strong>Outputs:</strong> Scientific abstracts were presented at the national meeting of the American Society of Animal Science. This research was the subject of a MS thesis for Valens Niyigena, a Fulbright graduate student from Rwanda.</p><br /> <p><strong>Activities: </strong>Alfalfa silages were baled, then wrapped with plastic either with or without an oxygen-limiting barrier either the day of baling or 1, 2 or 3 days after baling. Pregnant crossbred ewes (n = 16; 3-5 yr old; 63.6 &plusmn; 1.73 kg) were offered the alfalfa silage from 1 of 8 treatments in a 3-period study. Silage intake, digestibility, and nutrient balance were measured. Intake and digestibility were correlated with silage fermentation characteristics to determine the best predictors of animal performance from silage fermentation profiles.</p><br /> <p><strong>Milestones:</strong></p><br /> <p>The first manuscript from this work should be submitted by October, 2017 with a subsequent manuscript by February, 2018.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>OBJECTIVE 2. Assess the efficacy of secondary plant metabolites in legume species for increasing N retention and improving N cycling in forage-livestock systems.</strong></p><br /> <p>Michigan State University &ndash; (Kim Cassida), in collaboration with seven other universities, continued two research trials to develop a widely-adapted birdsfoot trefoil variety with optimal condensed tannin content. An M.S. degree was completed on the project.</p><br /> <p>The Ohio State University (David Baker) is part of a six state collaboration (OH, PA, MI, WI, KS, CA) to evaluate a new transgenic alfalfa cultivar with reduced lignin (RL) content developed by scientists at Forage Genetics International, The Samuel Robert Noble Foundation and the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center and released in commercially with Monsanto Co. under the brand of HarvXtraTM alfalfa. This cultivar should expand the length of time during a growing cycle when forage can be harvested that has acceptable nutritive value for ruminant animals with high nutritional requirements. Field trials were established in the six states in Spring 2015 to compare the RL cultivar HarvXtra-008 with cultivar 54R02 selected for high yield and cultivar WL 355RR selected for high nutritive value. Growth cycles of in the seeding year were hand sampled at 20, 23, 27, 30, 34, and 37 days of regrowth to a 5-cm stubble height. Across all six states in the seeding year, HarvXtra-008 forage had consistently lower neutral detergent fiber (-2 to -3.8 units of NDF), lower acid detergent lignin (-1 unit of ADL), and higher NDF digestibility (+4.2 to +5.4 units of NDFD) compared with the other alfalfa varieties. This represents a 7 to 10 day advantage in nutritive value for HarvXtra-008. When cut on the 38-day schedule, HarvXtra-008 yielded similarly or more and often had higher nutritive value than the other varieties cut more frequently on 33-day or 28-day schedules. Results with HarvXtra-008 from the first year are promising for alfalfa growers who want to maintain high forage nutritive value while increasing forage yields with less frequent harvests. More years of data will show how harvest interval affects nutritive value, yield, stand persistence, and profitability of alfalfa with the reduced lignin transgenic trait. The project is funded in part by Forage Genetics.</p><br /> <p><strong>OBJECTIVE 3. Quantify effects of pasture management strategies on N use efficiency by ruminant animals and N cycling in herbage and soils of grassland agro-ecosystems.</strong></p><br /> <p>University of Iowa &ndash; Ranga Appuhamy</p><br /> <p>Specific objective: The objective of the present study was to quantify the impact of alfalfa in corn silage-based diets on nitrogen utilization efficiency for milk production and urinary nitrogen excretions of dairy cows using a meta-analysis.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>An extensive literature search was conducted for studies reporting measured urinary N output (g/d), milk yield and composition, and feed intake of lactating dairy cows fed diets containing corn silage, and alfalfa silage or alfalfa hay representing together more than 90% of dietary forage. A total of 123 measurements (treatment means) of urinary N output and the other variables were retrieved from 30 studies. The total forage content of the diets varies between 28 to 100% of DM with a mean of 54% of DM. The percentage of alfalfa in forage ranged from 8% to 83% at the expense of corn silage with a mean of 44%. Within this range, alfalfa did not significantly affect milk yield (P = 0.165), milk protein yield (P = 0.065) and milk protein produced per unit of dietary CP intake (milk protein efficiency; P = 0.087). Urinary N output (g/d) increased significantly (P &lt; 0.001) as the percentage of alfalfa in the diet increased. However, the alfalfa percentage did not significantly affect (P = 0.063) N excreted in urine relative N intake. This indicates the possibility to reduce urinary N excretions by avoiding surplus protein supply to cows (e.g., reducing dietary CP content) regardless of the forage composition. Increasing alfalfa at the expense of corn silage did not impact on milk yield (P = 0.781), milk protein efficiency (P = 0.218), and percentage of nitrogen intake excreted in urine (0.901) in early lactating cows (DIM &lt; 100). Whereas, it significantly increased milk yield (P &lt; 0.025) and milk protein yield (P = 0.037) without changing percentage of dietary N excreted in urine (P = 0.383). The present study showed that corn silage could be replaced with alfalfa hay or alfalfa silage over wide range replacement rates without affecting milk yield, milk protein yield, and proportion of dietary N excreted in urine. Increasing alfalfa content in the diet at the expense of corn silage might enhance production performance in mid and late stages of lactation than in early lactation.</p><br /> <p>Tennessee - Renata Nave Oakes, Sindhu Jagadamma</p><br /> <p>Specific objective i. Alternatives to conventional nitrogen fertilization on tall fescue and bermudagrass</p><br /> <p>In the southeastern US, managing grazing pastures can come with challenges. Some challenges arise due to the growth rate of desired forages through the seasons. The humid transition zone of the Southeast is characterized by mixture of tall fescue and bermudagrass pastures (Hoveland et al., 1997). In the southeast, tall fescue serves as an excellent forage crop due to its persistency, high nutritive value and high yield potential (Nave et al., 2015). Also, being a cool-season perennial grass (C<sub>3</sub>), it reaches its maximum productivity during the spring months, i.e., March through early May, declining as warmer months approaches. During the reduced growth rate of the tall fescue, other forages, such as bermudagrass, a warm-season perennial grass (C<sub>4</sub>), can be integrated to complement tall fescue and fill in the gap with the potential to increase forage production in the summer (Fribourg et al., 1979). The objective of this study was to evaluate different sources of N in tall fescue [<em>Schedonorus arundinaceus </em>(Schreb) Dumort] and bermudagrass [<em>Cynadon dactylon</em> (L.) Pers. cv. Vaughn&rsquo;s # 1], to determine its economic viability and sustainability. Our hypothesis is that alternative sustainable sources of N when compared to conventional methods, will reduce costs associated with forage production and increase sustainability of the forage production system. If significant relationships between forage nutritive value, yield and cost are detected, this information could allow us to make informed recommendations on effective and cost saving alternative N source. This information can be helpful to producers in the Southeast by providing recommendation guidelines on nitrogen fertilization of cool and warm season pastures based on economic viability and sustainability.</p><br /> <p>This study was conducted at the University of Tennessee Plateau AgResearch and Education Center (PREC) in Crossville, TN (36&deg; 0&rsquo; N, 85&deg; 7&rsquo; W, 580-m elevation). Two experiments (one for each species) were established with tall fescue and bermudagrass. Experimental period occurred from April-October 2016 to 2017, and the experimental design for each experiment was a completely randomized block design with six treatments and four replications per treatment (n = 24). For both experiments treatments were as followed: 1) no N fertilization; 2) grass and white clover (cv. Ladino-Will) 3) grass and red clover (cv. Cinnamon Plus) 4) grass and cowpea (Iron Clay) 5) fertilization with poultry litter at a rate of 4,483 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>; and 6) fertilization with ammonium nitrate at a rate of 197.27 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>. Data analyses and results are being currently processed and analyzed.</p><br /> <p><em>Specific objective </em><em>ii</em>. <em>Nutritive value and forage accumulation of alfalfa and alfalfa-mixtures as influenced by forage management. </em></p><br /> <p>Alfalfa is an important perennial legume with high crude protein content and capacity to produce high yields without the use of nitrogen fertilizers, being then, a good source of herbage for ruminants. When alfalfa is incorporated to ruminant rations, it can decrease the necessity of extra protein supplementation.</p><br /> <p>Mixtures of legume and grasses can provide positive balance between mass and quality offering a balanced nutrition for cattle. Grasses supplying fiber and legumes supplying protein and minerals, yet together contributing to a good mass accumulation.</p><br /> <p>Tall fescue is a the most predominant cool-season forage crop grown in the Southeast US, and endophyte-free varieties have the potential to maintain grazing cattle without the adverse effects caused by the endophyte. As well as Bermudagrass, in which cows and calves are grazed on during the warm-season. These two grasses show then a good potential if grown together with alfalfa in mixtures. Good forage management can lead to substantial animal weight gains, however it is necessary to assess the best harvest period in which production and nutrition are optimal in mixed stands. The objective of this study is to evaluate the nutritional value and production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures subject to different harvest intervals. This study was conducted during the 2016 growing season and continues in the 2017 growing season at three different locations: the University of Tennessee, North Carolina State University and the Ohio State University.</p><br /> <p>The plots are composed of either pure alfalfa, alfalfa mixtures with tall fescue and alfalfa mixture with bermudagrass. Four cutting frequencies were evaluated (21, 28, 35 and 42 days harvest, respectively T1, T2, T3 and T4), totalizing 12 treatments replicated four times.</p><br /> <p>Forage samples were collected every harvest day, dried on a temperature of 65˚C up to constant weight, and weighed for determination dry matter yield. Samples were then ground and analyzed for forage nutritive value using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIR).</p><br /> <p>Samples of known ratios of the two mixtures were created, and calibration equations are being developed into the NIR machine, which will then provide botanical composition of each sample.</p><br /> <p>Preliminary results tend to favor harvest intervals of 35 days in which DM yield is considerably high and crude protein content isn&rsquo;t as low, especially with the good percentage of legume present in the stand. Further analysis of and collection of material is being made to confirm this hypothesis and evaluate the results persistence among the treatments and between distinct growing seasons.</p><br /> <p>Specific objective iii. Effect of cover cropping and biochar application on soil nitrogen transformations in agroecosystems</p><br /> <p>We initiated a project to investigate the role cover crops play in maintaining the health of TN soils. We use an existing field trial that was started in 2013 on a corn-soybean system at the University of Tennessee&rsquo;s Research and Education Center (REC) in Milan, TN. This experiment includes several single and multi-species cover crop treatments, such as wheat, cereal rye, cereal rye plus hairy vetch, cereal rye plus crimson clover, and the USDA-NRCS recommended soil health mixture (combination of cereal rye, whole oats, purple top turnips, daikon radish, and crimson clover) as well as a cover crop free control. It was found that NRCS&rsquo;s soil health mixture outperformed other treatments on soybean yield after 3 years of study. It was also found that soil inorganic N (potassium chloride-extractable NH<sub>4</sub>+NO<sub>3</sub>) varied significantly across treatments. Combination of cereal rye and hairy vetch showed statistically higher inorganic N compared to the single species cereal rye and no cover control, and the values from the other treatments were in between. Despite this increased soil inorganic N results, water extractable NO<sub>3</sub>-N was statistically similar across cover crop treatments, implying no potential risk of N loss through leaching and runoff. Since soil inorganic N level does not accurately represent the plant available N, we determined potentially mineralizable N (PMN) based on a 7-day incubation experiment, which accounts for the N that become available throughout the growing season. Soil PMN varied significantly across the cover crop treatments. Multi-species SHM and double species cereal rye + crimson clover treatments showed the highest, and the cover crop free control showed the lowest PMN. Regardless of the treatments, PMN values were 2.3 to 2.5 times higher than the soil inorganic N, which confirms previous findings that fertilizer recommendation based on soil inorganic N levels most often leads to over fertilization of the crops.</p><br /> <p>The biochar field experiment was started recently on Fescue plots. Our goal is to understand the agronomic, soil and environmental impact of biochar application on grassland dominated systems. We have started collecting field and laboratory data, and the findings will be presented at the next annual meeting.</p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>University of Arkansas (Ken Coffey) </strong> <em>Specific objectives </em></p><br /> <ol><br /> <li>Investigate effects of management strategies that alter spatiotemporal distribution of grazing and nutritive value of forage on ruminant performance and N harvest efficiency.</li><br /> </ol><br /> <p><strong>Project title:</strong> Soil health and plant species population dynamics of pasture systems due to grazing management and different forage complexes</p><br /> <p><strong>Collaborators</strong> &ndash; Ken Coffey</p><br /> <p><strong>Short-term Outcomes</strong>: A study was initiated in the summer of 2015 in southeastern Arkansas to compare the impacts of ultra-high density stocking vs. conventional rotational stocking on cattle performance, forage species composition, and soil nitrogen and carbon components. Calf gains and most measurements of calf health were not different between treatments following the second grazing season. This gives producers information to help them decide on what level of management they are willing to expend in their grazing systems without compromising animal performance or health.</p><br /> <p><strong>Outputs</strong>: An abstract was presented at the Midwestern section of the American Society of Animal Science and a presentation was given at a field day at the University of Arkansas - Monticello.</p><br /> <p><strong>Activities</strong>: Both cow and stocker cattle studies were initiated in the summer of 2015. In both studies, cattle grazed bermudagrass-based pastures using either conventional rotational stocking or ultra-high density stocking.</p><br /> <p><strong>Milestones:</strong> Our intention is to continue with a variation of this study for another 3 grazing seasons.</p>

Publications

<p><strong>Refereed Journal Articles</strong></p><br /> <p>Snell, L.K., J.A. Guretzky, V.L. Jin, R.A. Drijber, and M. Mamo. 2016. Ruminant urine increases uptake but decreases relative recovery of nitrogen by smooth bromegrass. Crop, Forage and Turfgrass Management. DOI: 10.2134/cftm2016.0022. Accepted: 11/3/16; Posted: 12/2/16 on <a href="https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/cftm/first-look">https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/cftm/first-look</a>.</p><br /> <p>Guretzky, J.A., C. Dunn, and H. Hillhouse. 2016. Long-term Sandhills prairie responses to precipitation, temperature, and cattle stocking rate. Plant Ecol. 217:969-983. DOI: 10.1007/s11258-016-0622-9.</p><br /> <p>McFarlane, Z.D. R.P. Barbero, R.L.G. Nave, E.B. Malheiros, R.A. Reis, and J.T. Mulliniks. 2017. Effect of forage species and supplement type on rumen kinetics and serum metabolites in developing beef heifers grazing winter forage. Journal of Animal Science. (in review).</p><br /> <p>Gelley, C. H., R.L.G. Nave, and G. E. Bates. 2017. Influences of height based management on forage nutritive value of four warm-season forage grasses. Crop, Forage &amp; Turfgrass Management. (in press)</p><br /> <p>Barbero, R. P., E. B. Malheiros, R. L. G. Nave, J. T. Mulliniks, L. M. Delevatti, J. F. W. Koscheck, E. P. Romanzini, A.C. Ferrari, D.M. Renesto, T. T. Berchielli, A. C. Ruggieri, and R. A. Reis. 2017. Influence of post-weaning management system during the finishing phase on grasslands or feedlot on aiming to improvement of the beef cattle production. Agricultural Systems. 153:23-31.</p><br /> <p>Schuster MZ; Pelissari A; de Vioraes A; Harrison SK; Sulc RM; Lustosa SBC; Anghinoni I; Carvalho PCF. (2016). Grazing intensities affect weed seedling emergence and the seed bank in an integrated crop-livestock system. Agriculture Ecosystems &amp; Environment, 232:232-239, doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2016.08.005</p><br /> <p>Lindsey, A.J., P.R. Thomison, D.J. Barker, and J.D. Metzger. 2017. Evaluating water exclusion using plastic ground cover in maize at two population densities. Agron J. 109:1-9.</p><br /> <p>Turner, K.E., K.A. Cassida, A.M. Zajac, and M.A. Brown. 2017. Performance and gastrointestinal nematode control when meat-goat kids grazed chicory, birdsfoot trefoil, or red clover pastures. Sheep Goat Res. J. 32:1-12. Available at: <a href="http://www.sheepusa.org/ResearchEducation_ResearchJournal_Volume32">http://www.sheepusa.org/ResearchEducation_ResearchJournal_Volume32</a></p><br /> <p>Smith, W. B., K. P. Coffey, R. T. Rhein, E. B. Kegley, D. Philipp, J. G. Powell, J. D. Caldwell, and A. N. Young. 2017. Feeding distillers&rsquo; grains, soybean hulls or a mixture of both to cows as a forage replacement: Effects on intake, digestibility, and ruminal fermentation characteristics. J. Anim. Sci. 95:3666-3675.</p><br /> <p>Smith, W. B., K. P. Coffey J. D. Tucker, D. S. Hubbell, III, E. B. Kegley, D. Philipp, J. D. Caldwell, and A. N. Young. 2017. Using soybean hulls to meet dietary energy requirements of gestating cows having restricted access to poor-quality hay. Prof. Anim. Sci. doi.org/10.15232/pas.2016-01553.</p><br /> <p>Crook, T. S., B. Stewart, M. B. Sims, C. P. Weiss, K. P. Coffey, and P. A. Beck. 2017. The effects of moisture at baling and wrapping delay on storage characteristics of annual ryegrass round bale silage. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 1): 13.</p><br /> <p>Niyigena, V., K. P. Coffey, W. K. Coblentz, D. Philipp, A. N. Young, and R. T. Rhein. 2017. Effect of delayed wrapping and wrapping source on nitrogen balance and blood urea nitrogen in gestating sheep offered alfalfa silage. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 4): 59.</p><br /> <p><strong><em>Presentations</em></strong></p><br /> <p>Guretzky, J.A., J. Volesky, M. Stephenson, J.L. Moyer, W.H. Fick, and K.R. Harmoney. 2016. Establishment of annual warm-season grasses in cool-season grass pastures. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Phoenix, AZ. 6-9 November.</p><br /> <p>Guretzky, J.A., H. Blanco, R.W. Elmore, D.D. Redfearn, and M. Howell-Smith. 2016. Developing research and extension skills of students in integrated agronomic systems. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Phoenix, AZ. 6-9 November.</p><br /> <p>La Vallie, M.N., J.A. Guretzky, W. Schacht, D.D. Redfearn, and B.E. Anderson. 2016. Establishment of binary perennial legume-annual warm-season grass mixtures. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Phoenix, AZ. 6-9 Nov. 2016.</p><br /> <p>Muniz, J.O., J.A. Guretzky, D.D. Redfearn, and B.E. Anderson. 2016. Seeding rate effects on forage mass of sod-seeded sorghum sudangrass. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Phoenix, AZ. 6-9 November.</p><br /> <p>McFarlane, Z. D., R.P. Barbero, R. L. G. Nave, and J. T. Mulliniks.&nbsp; 2017.&nbsp;Effect of forage species and supplement type on rumen kinectics and serum metabolites in developing beef heifers grazing winter forage.&nbsp; ASAS &ndash; Baltimore/MD.</p><br /> <p>Wepking, N., R.L.G. Nave, Z. McFarlane, and J.T. Mulliniks. 2017. Assessing plant and soil responses to stockpiling native warm season grasses. 2017 American Forage and Grassland Council Conference &ndash; Roanoke/VA.</p><br /> <p>Chu, M., S. Jagadamma, M. Buschermohle, and F. Walker. 2017. Effects of different cover crop species on soil and water quality. 26<sup>th</sup> Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, April 5-7, Burns, TN (oral presentation).</p><br /> <p>Jagadamma, S. 2017. Conservation Management Practices for Agroecosystem Sustainability. 26<sup>th</sup> Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, April 5-7, Burns, TN (oral presentation).</p><br /> <p>Nave, R. L. G., and C. H. Gelley. 2016. Cutting strategy effects on forage mass accumulation of four warm-season grass species. International Annual Meetings ASA-CSSA-SSSA &ndash; Phoenix/AZ.</p><br /> <p>Kreykes, M., K. Cassida, E. van Santen, J.W. MacAdam, T. Griggs. 2016. Forage Yield, Quality, and Root Characteristics of Birdsfoot Trefoil-Tall Fescue Pastures. Annual Meeting of ASA/CSSA/SSSA, Phoenix, AZ, Nov. 6-9,2016. Online (Poster)</p><br /> <p>van Santen, E., J.W. MacAdam, and K. Cassida. 2016. Field Evaluation of the NPGS Birdsfoot Trefoil Collection. Annual Meeting of ASA/CSSA/SSSA, Phoenix, AZ, Nov. 6-9,2016. Online <a href="https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2016am/webprogram/Paper100614.html">https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2016am/webprogram/Paper100614.html</a> (poster)</p><br /> <p>Sulc, R.M. "Low lignin alfalfa: wide area field test results." Presented at 2016 California Alfalfa and Forage Symposium. Reno, Nevada, United States. http://alfalfa.ucdavis.edu/+symposium/2016/Program.pdf</p><br /> <p>Parker, A., Sulc, R.M., Albrecht, K., Cassida, K., Hall, M., Herrmann, J., Min, D., Orloff, S., Undersander D.. "Forage Nutritive Value of a Reduced Lignin Alfalfa Cultivar Compared With Conventional Alfalfa Cultivars" In: 2016 Joint Conference North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference, Tifolium Workers, and Grass Breeders. July 12-14, 2016 &middot; Madison, Wisconsin. http://www.naaic.org/Meetings/National/2016meeting/Angela%20Parker%20Abstract.pdf</p><br /> <p>Sulc, R.M., Lamp, W.P., and Albrecht, K.A.. "Potato Leafhopper Threshold Revised for Alfalfa Host Resistance and Alfalfa Grass Mixtures" In: 2016 Joint Conference North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference, Tifolium Workers, and Grass Breeders. July 12-14, 2016 &middot; Madison, Wisconsin. http://www.naaic.org/Meetings/National/2016meeting/Mark%20Sulc%20Abstract.pdf</p><br /> <p>Sulc, R.M. "Forages 301" Powerpoint presentation and notes. 2016. Presented at train-the trainer workshop and prepared for use by Extension Educators in forage workshops.</p><br /> <p>Sulc, R.M. 2016 &ldquo;Update on potato leafhopper resistance in alfalfa. Industry-Extension Forage Advisory Council.</p><br /> <p>Sulc, R.M. 2016. &ldquo;Insects and insect pest management in alfalfa. Crop Field Day, Champaign County, OH.</p><br /> <p>Sulc, R.M. 2016. &ldquo;Producing quality hay and silage &ndash; a 90-minute crash course.&rdquo; OSU Extension Forages and Grazing In-Service for county educators.</p><br /> <p>Agronomy Abstracts. J. Craft, A. Lindsey, L. Lindsey, D. Barker. (2017) Quantifying Foliar Nitrogen Effects on Soybean Relative Maturity, Grain Yield, and Grain Quality. ASA Tampa FL. Nov 2017</p><br /> <p><strong><em>Other Creative Works&nbsp;&nbsp; </em></strong></p><br /> <p>Cassida, K.A. (webmaster). MSU Forage Connection. http://forage.msu.edu/ (website)</p><br /> <p>Kreykes, M. 2017. Forage quality, yield, condensed tannin concentration, soil respiration, and root morphology of birdsfoot trefoil-tall fescue mixtures. M.S. Thesis. Michigan State University, East Lansing. MI.</p><br /> <p>Kansas: Dual-Purpose Wheat: Management for Forage and Grain Production, 2017. https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3375.pdf</p><br /> <p><strong><em>Chapters</em></strong></p><br /> <ol start="2017"><br /> <li>Mark Sulc, David J. Barker and Kelley Tilmon. 2017. Chapter 7 Forage Production. <em>In</em> Ohio Agronomy Guide, 15th Edition. Bulletin 472 The Ohio State University Extension. Pp 86-113.</li><br /> <li>Mark Sulc and David J. Barker. 2017. Chapter 9 Pasture and Grazing Management. <em>In</em> Ohio Agronomy Guide, 15th Edition. Bulletin 472 The Ohio State University Extension. Pp 118-127.</li><br /> </ol><br /> <p><strong><em>Bulletins and Extension Factsheets</em></strong></p><br /> <p>McCormick, J.S., Sulc, R.M., and Barker, D.J. 2016. Ohio forage performance trials. Columbus: Ohio State University. (Dept. Horticulture &amp; Crop Science Series 195. <a href="https://forages.osu.edu/sites/forages/files/imce/2016ForagePerf.pdf">https://forages.osu.edu/sites/forages/files/imce/2016ForagePerf.pdf</a>.</p><br /> <p>Ward, B.W., Sulc, R.M., Shoemaker, D., Loux, M. (2016). <em>Alfalfa Hay Production Budget-2016. </em><a href="http://aede.osu.edu/research/osu-farm-management/enterprise-budgets">http://aede.osu.edu/research/osu-farm-management/enterprise-budgets</a></p><br /> <p>Ward, B.W., Sulc, R.M., Shoemaker, D., Loux, M. (2016). <em>Corn Silage Production Budget-2016. </em><a href="http://aede.osu.edu/research/osu-farm-management/enterprise-budgets">http://aede.osu.edu/research/osu-farm-management/enterprise-budgets</a></p><br /> <p>Ward, B.W., Sulc, R.M., Shoemaker, D., Loux, M. (2016). <em>Alfalfa Haylage Production Budget-2016. </em><a href="http://aede.osu.edu/research/osu-farm-management/enterprise-budgets">http://aede.osu.edu/research/osu-farm-management/enterprise-budgets</a></p><br /> <p>Ward, B.W., Sulc, R.M., Shoemaker, D., Loux, M. (2016). <em>Grass Hay Production Budget-2016. </em>m <a href="http://aede.osu.edu/research/osu-farm-management/enterprise-budgets">http://aede.osu.edu/research/osu-farm-management/enterprise-budgets</a></p><br /> <p>Sulc, R.M. (2016). <em>Short season forages to fill supply gaps for dairy farms. </em><a href="http://dairy.osu.edu/DIBS/dibs.html">http://dairy.osu.edu/DIBS/dibs.html</a></p><br /> <p>Undersander, D., Renz, M., Sheaffer, C., Shewmaker, G., Sulc, M. (2015). <em>Alfalfa management guide. </em>American Society of Agronomy, Inc., Crop Science Society of America, Inc., Soil Science Society of America, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, United States</p><br /> <p><strong><em>Popular Articles</em></strong></p><br /> <p>Sulc, R.M., and Lewandowski, R. "Is the no cutting fall rest period for alfalfa really necessary?" Ohio State University Extension. C.O.R.N. Newsletter Vol. 2016-29 &amp; Ohio's Country Journal Oct 2016. http://corn.osu.edu/.</p><br /> <p>Lewandowski, R., and Sulc, R.M. "Late summer seeding of perennial forages" Ohio State University Extension. C.O.R.N. Newsletter Vol. 2016-22.2016. http://corn.osu.edu/.</p><br /> <p>Tillman, K., Michel, A., Sulc, M., "Potato Leafhopper in Alfalfa" Ohio State University Extension. C.O.R.N. Newsletter Vol. 2016-18.2016. http://corn.osu.edu.</p><br /> <p>Sulc, R.M. 2016. "Fungicide use on alfalfa" Ohio State University Extension. C.O.R.N. Newsletter Vol. 2016-12. <a href="http://corn.osu.edu/">http://corn.osu.edu</a>.</p><br /> <p>Sulc, R.M. 2016. "Make hay when the sun shines...what sun?" Ohio State University Extension. C.O.R.N. Newsletter Vol. 2016-12. <a href="http://corn.osu.edu/">http://corn.osu.edu</a>.</p><br /> <p>Sulc, R.M. 2016. "Management for red clover seed production" Ohio State University Extension. C.O.R.N. Newsletter Vol. 2016-12. <a href="http://corn.osu.edu/">http://corn.osu.edu</a>.</p><br /> <p>Sulc, R.M. 2016. "Double cropping for supplemental forage production" eXtension and Ohio State University Extension. DAIReXNET Feature Article Series. Website article. <a href="http://www.extension.org/pages/71253/dairexnet-feature-article-series#.Vg7BEiti7K1">http://www.extension.org/pages/71253/dairexnet-feature-article-series#.Vg7BEiti7K1</a>.</p>

Impact Statements

  1. 6. Producer now have better information about how to manage and feed their alfalfa silage. Delayed wrapping up to one day following baling had no detrimental effects on forage intake and digestibility. Apparent nitrogen absorption decreased with extended delay between wrapping and baling but the delay did not impact total nitrogen retention. Silage wrapped beyond 1 day after baling should be considered inferior in quality and be offered to animals with lower production goals because of reduced digestibilities. The study was supported in part by USDA-ARS specific cooperative agreement 58-3655-4-052.
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Date of Annual Report: 08/25/2018

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 07/17/2018 - 07/18/2018
Period the Report Covers: 07/01/2017 - 06/30/2018

Participants

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Brief Summary of Minutes

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Accomplishments

<p>See Attached PDF</p>

Publications

<p>See Attached PDF</p>

Impact Statements

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