Native Forage Monocultures in Eastern OK?

1. Native Forage Monocultures in Eastern OK? Brian C. Pugh Area Extension Agronomy Specialist Oklahoma State University

2. It’s a Native…But Is this Native? Broomsedge Bluestem Undesirable

3. What Native Are We Wanting? The “Big 4” Big Bluestem Little Bluestem Indiangrass Switchgrass + Eastern Gamagrass

4. Native Warm Season Grasses (NWSG)? • Tall statured, perennial bunch grasses • Native to the Great Plains & Mid-South • Resilient to grazing, insects & disease • Adapted under wetting and drying cycles for thousands of years • Tolerant of low fertility, acidic soils • Thrives in many “problem” soils for introduced • Aggressive Summer Growth • Begin growth in late March – early April • Grow rapidly from May - July

5. Very deep rooted and therefore able to extract deep soil moisture

6. NWSG Offer: • Decreased • Drought Effects • Purchased Feed • Hay (stockpiling is common) • Late spring fescue slump • Increased • Calf/stocker gains • Heifer development opportunities • Rest for introduced pastures • Profitability!

8. NWSG Adaptability, Yield & Quality

9. Native Grass Adaptability

10. NWSG Production Curves

11. NWSG Yields

12. NWSG Quality

13. Animal Performance On NWSG

14. NWSG Replacement Heifer Performance Cost of Gain $0.40 $0.31

15. NWSG Steer Performance

16. NWSG Performance Decline • Retaining Fall calves through mid-summer? • Stockers? • Replacement Heifers?

17. NWSG Stocking Intensity SG EG BB/IG

18. Switchgrass Study 2016 Switchgrass 15 Bred Heifers 7.6 acres 2.1 Heifers/acre Bermuda/ Fescue/Clover 15 Bred Heifers 11.4 acres 1.3 Heifers/acre

19. Bermuda – May 18th, 2016 1,888 lbs / A

20. Switchgrass – May 18th, 2016 6,244 lbs / A

21. Switchgrass – June 10th, 2016 Day 29

22. Switchgrass Study 2016 81 lbs Gained 91 lbs Gained 180 lbs/A 107 lbs/A 7.6 Acres 11.4 Acres

23. Switchgrass – July 12th, 2016 Day 61

24. Switchgrass Study 2016 July 10 – Defer Grazing!

25. Switchgrass Study 2016 - ERS

26. NWSG Management

27. Rest and Harvest Height are Key! Removing the animals in July allows the NWSG to build up root reserves before winter dormancy. (Also allows the stockpiling of winter forage) May October Graze no shorter than 10-12” July 10

28. Fire! • Cheapest, most effective method to renew growth • Removes the shading effect of residue • Burns thatch in crowns that reduce tillering • Releases nutrients for emerging plant use • Must have adequate fuel load in order to be effective. • Takes training to apply fire safely. • Target when the first green growth appears (early Mar)

29. http://okfire.mesonet.org

32. You can double your stocking rate with 10% of your acreage in introduced forages – Dr. Wilfred McMurphy

33. It is a good idea to maintain at least 10% of your acreage in native forages!

34. NWSG Summary • Productive summer perennials exhibiting adaptability to Oklahoma with less required inputs than most introduced forages • Offer very good animal performance for: • Backgrounding • Stockers • Replacement Heifer development • Cow/calf pairs • Will take sound grazing management to maintain a healthy stand • Drought Insurance!

35. NWSG Take Home • Provide: • More drought tolerance than Berm or SorgSudan • No nitrate or prussic acid toxicity issues • Reduced fescue effects • High stocking rate (1,000-2,500 lbs/ac) • Great gain potential (over 2.0 lbs/day) • Good total production (350-450 lbs/ac)

36. Questions?

39. Managing the Native Forage Base • Drought tolerance • Early grazing opportunity • Stockpiled winter grazing