Renovating high-traffic areas

We hear several questions each spring from producers about how best to fix “high-traffic” areas in pastures that have been severely damaged between late fall and early spring. High traffic areas such as feeding areas, sacrifice lots, alleyways, gateways and waterers often are bare and muddy this time of year. To slow and reduce soil erosion, compaction, forage damage and weed problems, and as a benefit to animal health, these areas need to be renovated promptly.

Both annual (Italian) and perennial ryegrass are good options when renovating these areas, but annual ryegrass usually dies during hot and dry summers. These cool-season forages work well because they establish easier and more quickly than other common forage species. They frequently are used as a cover crop and can be useful when establishing new pastures or when reseeding old stands with more permanent forages. The dense, shallow root system not only reduces erosion but improves soil aggregate stability, reduces current compaction by breaking up dense soils, and helps prevent future compaction. Vigorous growth helps these forages out-compete unwanted late summer and winter annuals.

Annual ryegrass is more vigorous than perennial ryegrass, but provides only short-term cover. It will die during the summer whether it is planted in the spring or the fall of the previous year. The advantage of late summer or fall planting is high-quality late fall and early spring grazing. Perennial ryegrass is more susceptible to summer slump than other cool-season grasses, but with proper management (fertilization and rotational grazing) usually survives for two to three years in Kentucky pastures. Some producers mix the two to obtain quick cover from the annual ryegrass and longer term survival from perennial ryegrass.

Seeding ryegrass for quick coverage not only reduces erosion potential but provides a valuable forage. These grasses often are used for pasture, hay or silage. If harvested at a vegetative state, ryegrass is high in digestibility. Compared to other cool-season grasses, this species also is high in protein and can be a useful feed for livestock with high nutritional needs such as lactating and growing animals.

Management of ryegrass is similar to that of other cool-season grasses. Drilling seed into a firm seedbed is recommended for best seedling establishment. Ryegrass can be seeded in late summer/fall or early spring. It is possible to frost seed ryegrass by scattering seed on the soil surface in February but it is suggested seed be drilled into the soil for maximum success. Fertilizer and lime should be applied according to soil test results. Doing split applications of nitrogen (40-60 pounds per acre) can be beneficial. It is important to use high-quality seed of a variety suited for the intended use. Using a winter-hardy variety is suggested as this species is not highly tolerant of extremely cold temperatures. It is important to reduce competition from weeds and other unwanted species. If possible, keep livestock or heavy traffic off newly seeded areas to allow for seedling establishment. Rotationally graze for maximum efficiency. Do not overgraze and allow for an adequate rest and regrowth period.

Doug Shepherd is a Hardin County Extension Service agent for agriculture and natural resources.

Upcoming Events

• Precision Agriculture meeting. UK agriculture economics specialist Greg Halich discusses the economic benefits of precision agriculture, focusing on individual row shut-offs and spray boom section control. Dinner is provided, reservations required. 7 p.m. Feb. 27, Hardin County Cooperative Extension Service. Call 765-4121 to register.
• Hardin County Cattlemen’s Association meeting. Kenny Burdine, UK Extension livestock economic specialist, discusses UK cow-calf and haying budgeting tools, and gives a cattle market outlook presenta-tion. Dinner provided, 7 p.m. Feb. 28, Extension Service. Call 765-4121 to register.
• Aquaculture production systems workshop at Kentucky State University Aquaculture Research Center. Topics include ponds, cages, airlift pumps, recirculating systems, aquaponics, raceways and disease challenges. Free, open to the public. Anyone interested in pursuing an aquaculture enterprise or getting the latest information on aquaculture should consider attending this workshop. 8:30 a.m.-noon, March 2, 103 Athletic Road, Frankfort. Preregistration is not required, but to be assured of receiving workshop printed materials, those wishing to attend should contact Bill Wurts at 365-7541, ext. 200, or wwurts@uky.edu.
• Private Pesticide Applicator Training, certification and recertification. This is the last scheduled private pesticide training this spring. If you are interested in purchasing, mixing and/or applying restricted-use pesticides this year and your certification expired prior to Dec. 31, you need to make every effort to attend this final training session, 7 p.m. March 4 at the Extension Service. Call 765-4121 to register.
• UK Integrated Pest Management training school, UK Princeton Research and Education Center, Princeton. Program is approved for 5.0 CEU’s for certified crop advisers and for four — three general and one specific — continuing education hours for Kentucky pesticide applicators in categories 1A, 4, 10, 12 and 14. Free, lunch provided. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 6. For a detailed program visit www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/program.pdf.
• Kentucky Heartland Master Cattlemen Program Session III — Nutrition. Pre-registration required. Meal and course materials provided, 5:30 p.m. March 19, LaRue County Extension Service, Hodgenville. Pre-registration required. Call the Hardin, LaRue or Meade County Extension Service.
• Iowa Feedlot tour. A group of local beef producers will tour several feedlots in southwest Iowa used by local producers in their beef retained-ownership programs. Interested producers can get complete tour details by calling the Hardin County Extension Service. Cost of the trip is $400 per person based on double occupancy and includes airfare, ground transportation, lodging and meals. Registration deadline is Friday; however, later sign-ups accepted but per person cost is higher and will be based on airfare at time of registration. Call 765-4121 to register.