Many farmers in the tall fescue belt take a first cutting of hay off some of their KY31 tall fescue pastures. This removes the more toxic seedheads and the toxins are partially degraded by the hay curing process. This helps cope with the early flush of growth, but across the region we see more and more farmers considering buying rather than making their hay, which is for many a good economic decision, and which will also benefit soil health in pastures. But, if you aren’t going to cut hay what do you do with that excessive spring growth?
To address this problem a system called Summer Stockpiling of tall fescue was devised at the Shenandoah Valley Research and Education Center at Raphine, VA. The Center Director, David Fiske, and two local extension agents Matt Booher and John Benner teamed up to evaluate the system.
You are probably familiar with Winter Stockpiling where the fall growth is saved for winter grazing. With Summer Stockpiling the spring growth is allowed to accumulate and it is grazed during mid- to late-summer. This provides moderate quality forage which is perfect for fall calving cows who are dry during that period. Frontal Grazing (sometimes also called Strip Grazing) is used to ration out the grass. Cows adapt quickly, and actually like the forage which is better quality than you might think.
To learn more about this very useful system go to this fact sheet that explains the Virginia Summer Stockpile System in more detail.
~ Matt Poore, NC State and the Alliance for Grassland Renewal
The Alliance for Grassland Renewal is a national organization focused on enhancing the appropriate adoption of novel endophyte tall fescue technology through education, incentives, self-regulation and promotion. For more resources or to learn more about the Alliance for Grassland Renewal, go to www.grasslandrenewal.org
The Alliance for Grassland Renewal 