During May farmers planning on renovating tall fescue pastures this year should control seed production. If pastures are grazed, clipping is recommended as soon as pollen is present. Clipping early will also help the grass tiller more effectively, improving the stand and forage quality. Clip at about 6 inches to get the best results. It is common for seedheads to be pushed down by the tractor tires such that heads are not 100% eliminated. If this is the case, then clip it a second time.
Removing seed heads as first cutting hay is also effective as long as hay is cut in the early bloom stage or earlier. If you cut hay, make sure you clip heads in any areas that are missed by the hay cutter. Seedhead suppression with metsulfuron containing herbicides reduces seed head numbers and improves nutritive value of the forage, but it does not completely control seed production, so you will still need to clip.
No matter which renovation strategy you choose, all systems depend on the control of seed production in the year of planting novel endophyte tall fescue or other non-toxic forages. Controlling weed seed production is also critical, so don’t just focus on Tall Fescue, control all seed production. This is the first critical step in achieving a successful establishment next fall.
May is also a good time to collect soil samples so amendments can be added in early summer. Once the ground gets dried out it is much more difficult to get soil samples, so pull these samples when it is easy.
Take time to really look at your cows, because during the month of May fescue toxicosis signs are most visible. Many famers don’t really look at the cows much during May as it is so tempting to turn them out on a large pasture and forget about them while making hay, planting crops, otherwise enjoying the spring season.
Go seek out your cows during the warm part of a sunny day and ask yourself: Are doing well? Have they started to shed or are they rough and shaggy? Are they in the shade or in the sun? Are they stuffed full of forage or do they have that empty look? Are they showing signs of heat stress or are they comfortable? If they have access to surface water are they in it? Are they muddy from laying in a mud hole?
If you can honestly say they are doing really well you probably don’t have a fescue problem. If they are not doing as well as you like there are many strategies to help them do better.
Early hay cutting is one effective way of controlling seed production.
~ 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 