Author Archives: grasslandrenewal

New stands of Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue should be growing well.  Despite challenging establishment conditions last fall, most reports are of successful establishment.  Prepare to remove spring growth by grazing several times or cutting for hay.  If grazing, graze for a short time and not closer than 4 inches.  Provide at least 3 weeks ofContinue reading “Timely Tips: April”

Last year we began a multi-phase novel endophyte tall fescue conversion process for a number of pastures in our grazing systems area at Virginia Tech’s Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center. We planted three 2-acre paddocks that had been in annual forages for a few years into Kentucky-31 tall fescue. Three similar paddocks wereContinue reading “Tall fescue establishment in a drought”

Sweet Vernal Grass is widely distributed across the tall fescue belt, but it is poorly understood by most farmers. It helps make up a green sod, but when present at a significant level it suggests that pastures are in low state of productivity and may be in need of renovation. Sweet Vernal Grass, Anthoxanthum odoratum,Continue reading “Be aware of Sweet Vernal Grass in your tall fescue pastures”

My title last month was “Break Out” and if you read that edition you understand what a challenging situation we were in! Now, this month “An Explosion!” But wait, it is not what you might think; this time it’s a really good thing! Like everyone else in the Southeast US, we had a very challengingContinue reading “Triple Creek Journal: An Explosion!”

As we move into spring there are several things you can do to improve the development of your new stands of tall fescue planted in 2023, and to prepare land that is scheduled for renovation in the Fall of 2024. If you have not yet applied nitrogen to new stands, that should be done asContinue reading “March 2024 Timely Tips”

Legumes are an essential part of a profitable grazing systems. Clover’s superpower is its ability to fix nitrogen from the air into a plant available form. After photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation is the second most important biochemical process on earth. Clover also increases forage quality and quantity and helps to manage tall fescue toxicosis. Strong nitrogenContinue reading “The Gift that Keeps Giving…Clover”

There are times when it seems that if something can go wrong it will. It is not just Murphy’s law, it is the story of farming! It usually turns out that how you react to a problems is critical, and maintaining a good attitude is pretty much essential. Every cloud has a potential silver liningContinue reading “Triple Creek Journal: BREAK OUT!”

The Alliance for Grassland Renewal is hosting two Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue Renovation Workshops this spring. Our first will be in Greeneville, Tennessee on March 19th followed by Batesville Arkansas on March 21st. Both workshops will will include local and national experts, and cover topics such as Tall Fescue Toxicosis, Establishment and Management of NovelContinue reading “Last chance to register for Spring Renovation Workshops!”

Weather conditions have been mixed across the region so far this year, with one very cold spell in January, but otherwise with mild and wet weather. Dry conditions have eased over most of the fescue belt, with some persistent drought still in Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. Even the latest fall plantings should be tilleringContinue reading “February Timely Tips”