Author Archives: grasslandrenewal

Each morning, we experience some of the many services of soil — soft cotton fibers from which to arise, clean water to wash our face, firm ground to stand on, and the aromas of brewed coffee, baking pastries, and sizzling bacon. Benefits we derive from soil and its processes are called ecosystem services. Biomass productionContinue reading “Soil and Grasslands serve each other”

PLANTINGFor best results and maximum benefit, all toxic tall fescue and troublesome annual grasses including cheatgrass, rescue grass and unwanted ryegrassshould be killed prior to the blooming stage before establishing a novel endophyte tall fescue. A firm seedbed is important for good stand establishment. Seed can be drilled into a prepared, firm seedbed, no-tilled intoContinue reading “Fall Planting Guide”

It has been another good month for us in Southern Virginia.  Our wet July turned to a not too wet and not too hot August, with just enough rain so that we were never dry.   Over the last twenty years we have done everything we can to discourage the growth of tall fescue including fertilizingContinue reading “Triple Creek Journal: There is a whole world of plants out there….What’s in your pasture?”

I have been learning how to manage grazing with beef cattle on our farms at Virgilina , near the VA/NC line, for most of my life.  I have seen the rise of great temporary grazing equipment, the dramatic improvement of electric fence energizers and the wondrous “fault finder” fence tester, among many other great newContinue reading “Frontal Grazing is a Key Grazing Management Technique”

Albert Mallicoat is our featured fescue seed producer for the fall issue of The Fence Post and like all producers you will see similarities and differences in his operation to yours. He purchased Pennington’s Texoma MaxQ II, the novel endophyte tall fescue developed by the Noble Foundation for the Central and South-Central U.S. and thisContinue reading “Albert Mallicoat shares his experience renovating to Texoma MaxQ II”

Grain drill calibration is a critical, yet often ignored, part of successful forage establishment and pasture renovation. Planting lower seed rates than recommended can result in thin stands that are susceptible to weed encroachment. Planting more than the recommended seeding rate is undesirable due to increased seed costs. As drills wear, and tires and cogsContinue reading “Don’t Make a Mistake-Calibrate!”

It has been a mixed summer with a slow start in May and June, but better grazing conditions in July.  At Virgilina we had a very dry winter and spring.  When we had rain in May and June it seemed to always be followed by high temperatures and wind, so it was not very effective. Continue reading “Triple Creek Journal: Our most diverse pastures.”

Tall fescue, a year-round forage in Georgia There are more than 30 million acres of tall fescue in the United States with 1 million acres in Georgia alone, which are primarily in the north Georgia. It is a cool season perennial grass available for grazing for an extended period from early spring to fall.  Furthermore,Continue reading “Toxic Endophyte Infection in Georgia Fescue Pastures is Severe and Widespread“

Pasture Plant Diversity Field Day and Workshop at Beaver Creek Farm, NC was a big success! Over 100 farmers, conservationists, extension agents and others gathered at Beaver Creek Farm in Surry County, NC on July 25 to explore the topic of plant diversity as it relates to the productivity and management of pastures.  The eventContinue reading “Pasture Plant Diversity Field Day”

I would like to set something straight with this article. I am afraid that our emphasis on taking good care of your new stands of novel endophyte tall fescue have created the misconception that it is a weak plant that needs to be babied to survive. This is true for many alternative forage crops includingContinue reading “Novel endophyte tall fescue is a tough plant and it does not have to be babied.   “