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Pastures

Pastures. Pasture Management Worksheet (p.9). If you have pastures: How many acres? Owned/ Rented. Pasture Management Options. Two Management Options: 1.) Have a Grazing Plan that meets the requirements of the PA Tech Guide Prescribed Grazing Standard (528) 2.) Manage pastures to:

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Pastures

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  1. Pastures

  2. Pasture Management Worksheet (p.9) • If you have pastures: • How many acres? • Owned/ Rented

  3. Pasture Management Options • Two Management Options: • 1.) Have a Grazing Plan that meets the requirements of the PA Tech Guide Prescribed Grazing Standard (528) • 2.) Manage pastures to: • Maintain dense vegetation in the pasture throughout growing season (80% cover is standard) • Minimize bare spots • Maintain an average vegetation height across the pasture during the growing season at least 3 inches high

  4. Pasture Management Options Pastures which are overgrazed must implement one of the two plan options to restore dense vegetation ...OR…. The pasture must be designated as an Animal Concentration Area (ACA) and meet all of the requirements in Section 7

  5. Pasture or ACA?

  6. Pasture or ACA?

  7. Unacceptable Acceptable

  8. Understanding Your Pasture Grasses

  9. Advantages of Pasture • Horses evolved as a grazing animals – the equine digestive system is designed for forage consumption • On average horses should consume about 1.5% to 3% of their body weight in feed each day; at least 70% should be forage (hay or pasture) • Reduces feed costs $$ • Reduces Stress • Aesthetics

  10. Forage Varieties • Legumes(Nitrogen Fixing) • Alfalfa • Red/ White Clover • Cool Season Grasses • Kentucky Bluegrass • Orchardgrass • Reed Canarygrass • Perennial Ryegrass • Timothy • Tall Fescue • Smooth Brome

  11. Cool Season Grasses • Are the mainstay of most horse pastures • Grow best at temperatures of 65° to 80° F • Growth slows in summer • It is important to limit grazing during hot, dry conditions when grass cannot grow back and recover from grazing

  12. Seasonal Growth Patterns in Forages

  13. Vegetative Stage Non-reproductive stage Higher nutritional value than mature reproductive stages Why?

  14. Reproductive Stage In early summer, grasses that are not mowed or grazed will develop a seed head Once the seed head emerges, the grass will not produce additional leaves Reproductive grasses are lower in nutritional quality than vegetative grasses Mowing is important

  15. Leaves Site of “plant food” production (photosynthesis) Produces simple sugars (glucose/fructans) and carbohydrates Maintaining adequate leaf surface is critical to plant survival

  16. Sugar Production • During night time hours, the sugars and carbohydrates supply energy for the synthesis of proteins and structural materials used for plant growth. Sugars are used in the process. • Energy use and growth ceases when night time temperatures fall below 45°. Sugars may accumulate in plants when bright, sunny days precede cold nights.

  17. Some sugar and starch is stored so that plants can initiate growth in spring and after clipping. SpeciesStorage Site Alfalfa Tap root Red clover Tap root White clover Stolons and tap root Bluegrass Roots and rhizomes Tall fescue Lower stem (0”-3”) Orchard Grass Lower stem Timothy Lower stem and corms

  18. HORSES: • Selectively graze favorite areas and favorite species • Graze at ground level • Some forage species store food above ground in lower stem • Can be eliminated with high grazing pressure PASTURES MUST HAVE TIME TO RECOVER!!

  19. Acreage Required to Provide Forage for One Horse

  20. Grazing “Guidelines” One horse can be maintained on: • ½ acre of pasture, if turnout time = < than 3 hr/d • 1 acre of pasture, if turnout time = 3 to 8 hr/d • 1 ½ acre of pasture, if turnout time = 8 to 12 hr/d • > 2 acres = unlimited turnout time Note: These stocking rates are to be as guidelines; if grazing pressure exceeds the recommendations, the pastures will eventually deteriorate. Mowing, irrigating, fertilizing, over-seeding, and rotating pastures can allow higher animal densities while still maintaining proper vegetative cover.

  21. Improving Pastures (Best Management Practices)

  22. Soil Testing • Essential for determining soil fertility and identify plants’ nutrient needs • Foundation for nutrient recommendations • Determine soil’s acidity level – adjust pH

  23. Mowing Pastures Pastures should be mowed regularly: Increases nutrition Prevents grasses from reaching reproductive stage Reduces weed pressure Encourages tiller formation • Kentucky Bluegrass and Perennial Ryegrass: • Maintain at 2 – 3 inches • Tall Grasses • Maintain at 4 – 5 inches

  24. Reseeding The best method for seeding pastures is with a no – till drill Drill cuts the soil and places the seed directly into the soil Provides the best seed to soil contact Does not disturb soil (reduces risk of erosion) Broadcast Lower success rate Do not always get adequate “seed to soil” contact.

  25. Rotational Grazing Pasture area is divided into small units and animals are rotated from one unit to the next Allows grasses time to recover from grazing, reduces soil compaction and increases forage availability Animals taken off pastures at 3 inches and reintroduced at 7 inches Plants must have time to recover……………….

  26. S W S S W W Corral Corral Traditional Pasture

  27. Develop Sacrifice Area (Stress Lots) Small enclosure such as a paddock, pen or corral Small area sacrificed to benefit the rest of the pastures on the farm

  28. Location, Location, Location! • Site the sacrifice lot on higher ground, at least 100 feet from wetlands, streams, or ponds • Look for an area with a slight slope • Do not locate the sacrifice area where water naturally gathers! • Surround the sacrifice area with vegetation to filter out any organic matter and sediment that might run off

  29. Sacrifice Area Construction 12’x 24’ is the minimum size for one horse 20-30’ x 100’ in length horse can trot Cover the area with a layer of stone aggregate topped with a minimum of 2-3 inches of finer stone dust

  30. When should you keep horses in a sacrifice area?

  31. Manure Management Plan Exercise - Pg. 3 & 9 COMPLETE PASTURE INFORMATION

  32. Pasture Best Management Practice (BMP) Worksheet

  33. Soil Testing

  34. Soil Testing • It is not necessary to conduct soil tests to complete a manure management plan • If you do not have a soil test, and you spread manure, application rates must be based on the amount of phosphorus that the plants remove • Basing the manure plan on actual soil test results may increase flexibility in planning manure application rates

  35. Soil Testing • Advisable to conduct soil tests on pastures and crop land, especially fields receiving manure • Essential for determining soil fertility • Foundation for nutrient recommendations • Maximize crop yields • Protect surface and ground water • Ideal time to sample: Summer/Fall • Equipment Needed: • Soil Test Kit • Soil Probe • Clean container for collecting samples

  36. Soil Testing • Obtain a representative sample from each field that has been treated differently. • Collect 15- 20 samples throughout the field. • Sample to tillage depth • Pastures: 3- 4 inches • Sample uniform areas • Avoid atypical areas • Avoid areas where manure has been deposited. • Mix core samples • Remove roots and stones • Air dry 3’’-4”

  37. Soil Testing

  38. Soil Testing Complete Paperwork • Grower Information • Current Crop • Future Crop • Crop Type - Use Provided Key • Tillage Depth • Expected Yield

  39. Interpreting Soil Test Results • Below Optimum (low) • Nutrient is deficient • High probability of profitable response • Optimum (medium) • Nutrient is adequate • Low probability of profitable response • Above Optimum (high, excess) • Nutrient is more than adequate • Very low probability of profitable response • Excess nutrients can lead to : • Negatively affect plant growth • Animal Health • Environmental degradation

  40. Interpreting Soil Test Results Liming is critical in creating favorable soil conditions for plant growth Target pH: 6.5 – 7 Increasing pH requires limestone material Amount needed is based on: Amount of acidity in soil Quality of liming material

  41. Interpreting Soil Test Results • Recommendations are given for a three year crop rotation • Based on: • Soil Test Results • Provided information • Crop/ Yield/ Rotation

  42. After the Results • Address and correct nutrient deficiencies and pH through the application of fertilizers and limestone • Helpful and necessary to understand: • Fertilizer and Liming Materials

  43. pH Basics • Soil acidity or alkalinity • Measured by pH • The pH scale is from 0 to 14 • 7.0 = Neutral • Less than 7.0 = acidic • Greater than 7.0 = alkaline or basic • Crops have specific soil pH requirements for optimum growth • Most pasture grasses and legumes prefer a pH range of 6.5-7.0

  44. Effects of Soil pH

  45. Manure Management Plan Homework HOMEWORK: COLLECT SOIL SAMPLES

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