NOVEL NOTES
A monthly e-newsletter for forage producers.
Triple Creek Journal, Dec, 2025: Temporary fence requires attention to detail
After a month of hay feeding through the early part of the calving season we finally have the cows back on grass. While we are glad to be back grazing we have a limited quantity, so we expect to be back on hay about February 1. This turned out to be a very dry fall…
Confessions of a Regenerative Farmer, Part 3: Fertility
Originally written for the Carolina Cattle Connection Regenerative grazing is based on the premise that most of our agricultural land is in a degraded state and requires inputs to be productive. Managing to improve soil health will move the agricultural ecosystem in a direction that will be more productive with less inputs. With careful management…
Fescue Toxicity in the Fall: Is this an issue?
The last four late summers and falls in KY (2022-2025) have had extended dry periods following by late fall rains. This has made fall forage establishment and fall stockpiling difficult since dependable rains have come very late. These long dry periods have also caused considerable stress on cool season forages. In many parts of the…
December Timely Tips
During December livestock producers should be doing a forage inventory and balance to make sure you have enough pasture or hay on hand to make it through the winter. Predict how many grazing days you have ahead of you and then figure how many days you will have to feed hay. For planning purposes assume…
Confessions of a Regenerative Farmer, part 2: I occasionally use herbicides
Regenerative Agriculture and more specifically Regenerative Grazing are important topics for discussion these days, and many will say there is a Regenerative Agriculture movement building. The idea is that if you focus on building soil health, over time the productivity of your land will increase, and you will improve the general health and well-being of…
Triple Creek Ranch Journal, November 2025: A stressful calving season draws to an end.
It was a really busy month for us at Triple Creek with a lot more trouble than we are used to. We have had health problems with the cows, and more trouble with calving than usual. We generally have one or zero sets of twins born each year. This year we have had 4 sets…
From the Ground to Grazing: Four Steps to Livestock-Forage System Success
As our seasons transition from summer to fall and on into winter our operations tend to take a slower pace. Our warm season forages are heading into dormancy to rest until next spring, and our cool season forages are slowly getting off the ground. This is often a good time to reflect on the previous…
Timely Tips: November 2025
At this time all Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue should be planted, as recommended by all states in the tall fescue belt. This year, again due to the dry weather, many farmers delayed past normal planting dates, waiting for moisture. The Alliance for Grassland Renewal recommends holding off on seeding if soil was excessively dry until…
Triple Creek Journal: October 2025. Let the Calving Begin!
October brings our first wave of calves, and we are well into it now. It has been a rough start for us this year. We will be calving right at 100 cows, with 18 of those first-calf heifers. Our usual success rate with calving is about 95%, with somewhere between 3 and 10 dead calves…
Timely Tips
Timely Tips from the Alliance for Grassland Renewal. October 2025 Recommended planting dates for Tall Fescue are generally September 1 to September 30 in northern (colder) regions of the tall fescue belt, and September 15 to October 15 in central and southern regions. These dates are ideal and give seedlings plenty of time to establish…
Frost Seeding of Clovers
January will be here before we know it and soon after, pastures will be greening up. Now is the time to plan for the preparation of the upcoming grazing season. One maintenance item to accomplish now is the incorporation of clovers such as Freedom! MR Red Clover and Alice White Clover into existing grass pastures…
Confessions of a Regenerative Farmer: Part 1
Over the next several months I will focus the Amazing Grazing column on the topic of implementing a Regenerative Grazing system in the Southeastern US, based on examples from my own production system. I have been farming in Southern Virginia and Northern North Carolina near the little border town of Virgilina, VA for most of…
Triple Creek Journal: Grazing Headed Dallisgrass
September, 2025 It has been another busy month for us getting pastures clipped and getting cows ready for calving. We had a very wet spell in July and early August, but that quickly changed with less than an inch of rain here in the last 3 weeks. The dry weather is expected to continue for…
September Tall Fescue Pasture Renovation Tips.
September is a critical time for Tall Fescue Pasture Renovation. If you don’t have your critical dates set, make decisions and put the dates on your calendar. Specific establishment calendars are available for most states on the Alliance website, or from your local extension agent. For new stands to be planted this fall it is…
Consider Triticale as a Winter Cereal
According to Tom Kilcer, planting a winter annual could make up for this lack of forage quality. In a recent issue of Crop Soil News, the owner of Advanced Ag Systems, an agronomy consulting and research business, suggests triticale is a viable winter annual option to seed after corn silage harvest. “We prefer triticale over…
Triple Creek Journal, August 2025: Summer Rains Bring Abundant Forage
It has been a crazy year for precipitation over much of the eastern USA! In North Carolina and Virginia we have had very hot dry spells and in between, flooding rains. Our last big rain was from Tropical Storm Chantal that hit the central Piedmont of NC on July 7, 2025. Rainfall in the area…
Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue Monthly Tips: August
As of today we are only 15 days away from first tall fescue planting dates in the northern tall fescue belt, and only 60 days from final optimal planting dates anywhere in the region. Make sure you have critical dates for final glyphosate spraying and planting on your calendar. If you don’t have the drill…
Forage Crop Insurance Deadlines Right Around the Corner
Farmers interested in purchasing Forage Production APH or alfalfa seed crop insurance coverage (where available) for the 2026 crop year should consult with their crop insurance agent as the sales closing dates for those products are approaching. The sales closing date is the last day to buy federal crop insurance for the coming crop year.…
Stretch Your Grazing Season: Stockpile Fall Growth
Late summer is the optimal time to begin planning for stockpiling tall fescue—an effective forage management strategy that extends the grazing season and reduces reliance on stored feed during winter. Stockpiling refers to the practice of accumulating fall forage growth by deferring grazing, allowing for strategic use of high-quality standing forage during the dormant season.…
Triple Creek Journal: Build a seedbank that works for you
It has been a good summer grazing season as we continue to get ample rain. A really mild May turned into a blazing hot June, but rain is a great healer. We have high populations of dung beetles working the pastures now, and our native warm season grasses and legumes continue to build as part…
Horse Farm highlights conversion to Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue
On June 23rd, Endeavor Farm hosted the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Equine Field Day. This event allowed guests the opportunity to experience what a real-world farm can accomplish if they take a little bit of advice and stick to a proper field management plan. The program began with a…
Monthly Tips for Tall Fescue Renovation: July 2025
Time is counting down with only 45 to 75 days until ideal Tall Fescue planting time depending on where you are in the fescue belt! Plan on seeding September 1-15 in the northern and mountain areas of the tall fescue belt to as late as October 1-15 in the more southern regions. See state specific…
Sometimes, it does finally rain
Triple Creek Journal June 2025. We have been suffering from drought now for about 4 years. Very dry falls coupled with long dry spells during the spring and summer have made it pretty tough. I remember a few times in my life when we had favorable moisture throughout the growing season, and remember having more…
The Walk of Shame
This article is preview of the July of the Amazing Grazing Column in the Carolina Cattle Connection.. Many of the readers will remember my dad, Dr. Henry Poore. He was a great general practitioner, surgeon, farmer, storyteller, and writer. He passed the Henry name on to me, and told me there has been a Henry…
Novel Notes Timely Renovation Tips, June
If you plan to plant tall fescue this fall, decide which variety you want to grow and get your seed ordered as soon as you decide. For information on the commercial varieties available and a list of certified dealers visit http://www.grasslandrenewal.com. Note a new variety approved by the Alliance for Grassland Renewal, “Triumphant Protek” from…
2025 Seed Crop update
At Barenbrug, we understand how important it is for our customers to stay informed about the latest seed production conditions. That is why we are committed to providing clear and timely updates to help you make confident and informed decisions on your forage seed needs. As is so often the case, the current growing season…
The Alliance for Grassland Renewal Announces Educational Grants for Extension Agents and Other Advisers
The Alliance for Grassland Renewal intends to support local educational programs focused on Fescue Toxicosis and Tall Fescue Pasture Renovation through a grant program for Extension Agents and other educational advisers. Grants of $500 or $1000 will be awarded with the goal of supporting at least one activity in each member state during the next…
Triple Creek Journal, May, 2025. Thanks to Mom’s Everywhere!
We have had another full month at Triple Creek, with some great grass and pretty nice temperatures. We remain on the dry side, but some heavy rain is expected over the next two days so we should be in pretty good shape for forage production for the next few weeks. We have a short hay…
What Now? Summer Management of Newly Established Novel Fescue Pastures
First year management of newly established novel endophyte tall fescue is a hot topic of discussion at many of the Alliance’s in-person workshops and online trainings. Ideally, new fall-planted fields are well established and the rows are covered with a full canopy of leaves. We are well into spring now and about to enter summer…
Soil pH and Lime: Keys to a Productive Pasture Season
As you walk your fields and evaluate pasture conditions, identify areas that might need renovation or a boost in soil fertility. A good first step is to run a soil test. This simple tool gives you valuable insight into two key things: the nutrients in your soil and the soil pH, both of which directly…
Triple Creek Journal: Wait for the Red Buds to Bloom
April 2025 The start of spring is an exciting time, and April is my favorite month. It is always easy to get impatient for spring during March in our country, because despite the spells of warm weather we may have, until the ground warms up you can expect pastures to be slow to come out. …
Fescue Renovation Timely Tips, April 2025
New stands of Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue should be growing well. Despite challenging establishment conditions again last fall, most reports are of successful establishment, but we have also heard about a few failures. Prepare to remove spring growth on these new stands by grazing several times or cutting for hay. If grazing, graze for a…
Effectively using Summer Annual Grasses
Finally Mother Nature has given up her hold on Winter, and Spring has arrived in Georgia! Looking out onto our green cool-season grasses and seeing our livestock happily grazing provides the welcome realization that we have once again survived the cold of winter and have truly moved onto greener pastures. However, it’s never too early…
Renovation and Sustainability of Pasture Agriculture
Dr. Nick Hill, Emeritus Professor University of Georgia and Founding Partner Agrinostics Ltd. Co. Most land-grant agricultural research and outreach efforts address rather simple concepts that producers face. As a retired professor I now have more time to contemplate complex agricultural issues, one being decision-making regarding pasture renovation. There is a myriad of financial decisions…
Triple Creek Journal, March 2025. Another cycle complete!
It has been a manageable winter season for us, but as always this time of year I am impatient for spring. We did a lot more hay feeding than we like again this winter, but with our second year stands of tall fescue coming in strong we expect an increase in forage production this year.…
March 2025 Timely Tips
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 2024, and to prepare land that is scheduled for renovation in the Fall of 2025. If you have not yet applied nitrogen to new stands, that should be done as…
Towards a better understanding of grass tetany in beef cows
If you’ve ever seen a cow suddenly collapse in early spring, seemingly out of nowhere, you might have witnessed a case of grass tetany. This metabolic disorder, historically linked to magnesium deficiency, can be a problem for cattle grazing lush cool-season grasses. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and prevention strategies of grass tetany can help cattle…
Consider Teff!
Spring is just around the corner, and with not much time left, that means it is time to start thinking about what crop to spring plant. Why not try Moxie teff grass, enhanced with Yellow Jacket® seed coating? Teff (Eragrostis tef) is the perfect grass for late spring seeding in the transition zone, cool season…
Last call for in-person workshops!
The Alliance for Grassland Renewal has two in-person workshops coming up. Space is limited, so register today! Registration is $40 and includes lunch and educational materials. Sponsorship opportunities and student discounts are also available. March 4 in Evensville, Tennessee – Register here! March 6 in Leitchfield, Kentucky – Register here!
Triple Creek Journal, February 2025: Spring is in sight!
I love the way the seasons roll in our part of the country. We have every season, and just when you are tiring of heat or cold it starts to change. We continue to have an unusual winter with alternative cold and warm spells, and fairly dry conditions. It has been several years since we…
Try Crabgrass!
This article was originally published in The Carolina Cattle Connection, February, 2025. There are few practices or products that I would recommend for almost all producers. One of these rarities is crabgrass. There are actually many species of crabgrass, and many “ecotypes” within those species. As a result, there are mixed opinions and a lot…
Timely Tips: February
Weather conditions have been mixed across the region so far this winter, but spring conditions will be with us soon. We have had enough cold weather to keep tall fescue dormant in most areas, but it will green up and take off shortly, especially in southern parts of the tall fescue belt. Now is an…
Triple Creek Journal: Winter Feeding in Full Swing
Winter has been pretty easy for us so far at Triple Creek Ranch, but we had our first significant snow fall in several years last night. We are using the Bale Grazing technique on three groups now, and have two groups grazing stockpiled tall fescue. We were ready for the snow, and we didn’t experience…
Register today!
Workshops are now open for registration. Please join us for online or in-person educational events focused on managing toxic tall fescue and establishing novel endophyte tall fescue varieties. Date and Location Event Target Audience Link Jan. 21, 2025Online Advanced Agent Training Those that have taken the agent training SOLD OUT! Jan. 23, 2025Online Novel Endophyte…
Timely Tips: January 2025
Farmers across the tall fescue belt periodically renovate pastures to improve forage production, and in some cases to convert toxic tall fescue to novel endophyte tall fescue. It is important to provide good management to these new stands during the first two years following planting which are considered the establishment phase of a new stand.…
Triple Creek Journal: A Great Day Goes Up in Flames!
December 2024 The last month has been very dry, and surprisingly we were also hit by a very sharp cold spell with lows in the mid-teens. After zero rain in October we had 1.4 inches of rain in November and none in December until this week. Our new Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue stands are up…
December Timely Tips
from the Alliance for Grassland Renewal. During December you should be doing a forage inventory and balance to make sure you have enough pasture and hay on hand to make it through the winter. Predict how many grazing days you have ahead of you and then figure how many days you will have to feed…
Triple Creek Journal: If it’s not a flood, it is a drought.
Triple Creek Journal: November, 2024. This has been a strange year for many of us. We have experienced both record wet and record dry conditions at some point throughout the region. At Virgilina we had record wet months in July and September, with very little rain in June and August, and none in October. Since…
Save the Date!
Winter workshops are now open for registration and spring workshop dates have been set. Please join us for online or in-person educational events focused on managing toxic tall fescue and establishing novel endophyte tall fescue varieties. Date and Location Event Target Audience Link Nov. 19, 2024 Online Agent Training Extension agents, NRCS and SWCD staff…
Timely Tips: November 2024
At this time all Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue should be planted, as recommended by all states in the tall fescue belt. This year, again due to the dry weather, many farmers delayed past normal planting dates, waiting for moisture. The Alliance for Grassland Renewal recommends holding off on seeding if soil was excessively dry until…
Timely Tips: October 2024
Recommended planting dates for Tall Fescue are generally September 1 to September 30 in northern (colder) regions of the tall fescue belt, and September 15 to October 15 in central and southern regions. These dates are ideal and give seedlings plenty of time to establish before freezing weather sets in. In recent years there have…
Triple Creek Journal: From One Extreme to Another
October 2024 It has been another eventful month at Triple Creek Ranch. As usual our calves started coming about 10 days before the due date. We have been managing the cows to gain condition since we weaned the calves in August. Most of the cows are in a high 5 or 6 body condition, and…
Witches’ Brew
Sixteen ninety-two was a bad year in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. The previous spring had been warm and rainy, and the main crop of cereal rye had been harvested during the summer and threshed around Thanksgiving. But during the winter of 1692, young girls started to exhibit a strange, convulsive hysteria. The good townspeople…
Book Review: Capturing Sunlight, Book 1 and 2
Woody Lane is a well known consultant, educator and writer living in Oregon. Woody has been an independent operator for many years, but also did a stint in academia early in his career. He has extensive experience working as an advisor to several successful pasture discussion groups in Oregon, and he writes for a variety…
Find your proper place in the ecology of your pastures
As I have grown older and wiser I realize that my real calling is as an ecologist. I am a nutritionist by training, and my work in graduate school focused on starch and fiber interactions in the diets of beef and dairy cattle fed total mixed rations. Despite the specialization of my training, I never…
Triple Creek Journal: Learning to Live with Dallisgrass
Many of you know my friend and colleague Deidre Harmon. Deidre’s favorite question is “what is your favorite forage”? You might think that my favorite is tall fescue, but actually for many years my favorite forage has been Dallisgrass. Dallisgrass is a summer perennial grass that is native to Argentina. At one time it was…
Managing to Prevent Dallisgrass Staggers
This is a preview of an article written for the Carolina Cattle Connection which will appear in the October edition. Dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum) is a high quality summer forage that is naturalized across the Southern and Mid-Atlantic region of the USA. It is becoming more widespread across the region because of it’s broad adaptation, it’s…
September Tall Fescue Pasture Renovation Tips
September is a critical time for Tall Fescue Pasture Renovation. If you don’t have your critical dates set, make decisions and put the dates on your calendar. Specific establishment calendars are available for most states on the Alliance website, or from your local extension agent. For new stands to be planted this fall it is…
August is time to prepare fields for stockpiling
August is a key time to be planning for stockpiling forage for winter grazing, either in fescue or bermudagrass-based systems. It seems like a long time to winter, but spending time now thinking through what you need to purchase, and how daily management will impact your ultimate forage yields is critical if you want to…
The Estancia Journey: From Production Field to Kentucky Horse Pasture
The process begins on July the 1st when the fescue grass seed fields are mature enough to swath. The fields are swathed at night when there is dew on the grass to prevent seed loss, farmers will often work all night during this time of year. The grass will lay in windrows for approximately a…
TCJ: What should we call our grazing system?
We have had another eventful month at Triple Creek! A hot and dry June turned into a very wet July, and we have had a very wet start to August. Now, Tropical Storm Debby will be sitting on top of us for the next several days with another 4 to 8 inches expected! It is…
Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue monthly tips: August
As of today we are only 15 days away from first tall fescue planting dates in the northern tall fescue belt, and only 60 days from final optimal planting dates anywhere in the region. Make sure you have critical dates for final glyphosate spraying and planting on your calendar. If you don’t have the drill…
Alliance for Grassland Renewal visits the Willamette Valley in Oregon
Last month, a group of Alliance for Grassland Renewal members celebrated National Forage Week in Oregon to learn more about what it takes to deliver high-quality fescue seed to farmers and ranchers seeking solutions to fescue toxicosis. This trip made us look back at our beginnings in 2012 when Craig Roberts (now retired Professor and…
Triple Creek Journal: Doing the Rain Dance
On most of the pastureland in our region rainfall is a required resource. At Virgilina, VA we expect 45 inches of annual rainfall, which is about average for the Piedmont of the Eastern US. This rain is supposed to come about 3 to 5 inches a month, with the driest months being January and February,…
The 2024 Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue Seed Crop is on It’s Way to Your Farm!
The board of the Alliance for Grassland Renewal had a firsthand view of the 2024 grass seed crop in the field in the Willamette Valley in Oregon during late mid-June. We were treated to a great tour of the valley, hosted by our Oregon seed company members. The weather has been very good for seed…
Timely Tips: July
Time is counting down with only 45 to 75 days until ideal Tall Fescue planting time depending on where you are in the fescue belt! Plan on seeding September 1-15 in the northern and mountain areas of the tall fescue belt to as late as October 1-15 in the southern regions. See state specific guidelines…
Triple Creek Journal: June 2024
Preparing for more pasture renovation in Fall 2024 I am really excited about our new plantings of novel endophyte tall fescue! Twelve years ago we sprayed some of our best fescue land with glyphosate and started planting summer and winter annuals. The plan was to convert to novel endophyte tall fescue, but we kind of…
Timely Renovation Tips: June
If you plan to plant tall fescue this fall decide which variety you want to grow and get your seed ordered as soon as you decide what you want to plant. For information on the commercial varieties available and a list of certified dealers visit http://www.grasslandrenewal.com If you plan to plant tall fescue this fall…
Triple Creek Journal: Smoothing the transition from Spring to Summer
As we get into the grazing season another advantage of our new Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue plantings has become obvious. In past years we have depended on annuals in a 40 acre area called the “front field” for our yearling heifers and finishers. This field is our best land and it sits adjacent to our…
Monthly tips for Toxic Tall Fescue Pasture Renovation
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…
Consider Summer Stockpiling as an Alternative to Cutting Hay in Tall Fescue Systems
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…
How NRCS programs help producers improve grazing lands through conservation practices
NRCS programs such as EQIP and CSP do more than just throw money at land issues. NRCS conservationists work with producers every step of the way to make improvements that benefit your land now and for years to come. The NRCS, the USDA’s primary private lands conservation agency, supports producers by providing one-on-one, personalized assistance…
Triple Creek Journal, April 15, 2024
The usual start of the grazing season for us has been March 15 for ryegrass and April 15 for tall fescue-based pastures. This year we turned out March 2 on the ryegrass and April 1 on the rest of the pastures, and we have good growth ahead of each of our groups. We start the…
Timely Tips: April
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 of…
Tall fescue establishment in a drought
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 were…
Be aware of Sweet Vernal Grass in your tall fescue pastures
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,…
Triple Creek Journal: An Explosion!
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 challenging…
March 2024 Timely Tips
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 as…
The Gift that Keeps Giving…Clover
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 nitrogen…
Triple Creek Journal: BREAK OUT!
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 lining…
Last chance to register for Spring Renovation Workshops!
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 Novel…
February Timely Tips
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 tillering…
Assess your pastures to guide renovation
Many older perennial pastures could benefit from renovation. While we think of these as “permanent pastures” it is important to realize that as perennial pastures age they evolve away from what was originally planted. Sometimes they evolve into a very desirable mixture of plants that is highly productive and highly adapted to management and the…
Unlocking the Mysteries of a Hay Test
One of the first major programs I led as a new Extension specialist at the University of Missouri was centered around a mobile near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) hay testing van. This was very advanced technology at the time, which was almost 40 years ago, or ‘in the 1900’s as I like to tell my students.…
Soil Carbon in the Root Zone
Organic matter is a key indicator of soil health and soil function, affecting the natural supply of nutrients, buffering against pH changes, softening soil to resist compaction, holding more water for plant uptake, creating water-stable aggregates to resist erosion, and providing organic resources to feed soil biological communities. Another big reason for attention on soil…
Triple Creek Journal: Get Ready for Mud!
My sister sent my Mom and Dad a card one time that showed a little girl stomping through a mud puddle, and the caption was “If you pray for rain, get prepared for some mud”. My folks put it up on the refrigerator and it stayed there for decades. It became one of our mottos…
Registration now open for Spring Renovation Workshops
The Alliance for Grassland Renewal will be hosting multiple Novel Endophyte Tall fescue Renovation Workshops in the southeastern US. Please see the flyer and schedule below for the March 19 workshop in Greeneville, TN. Additional workshop dates and locations are at the bottom. Equines and Endophytes Workshop, January 31 in Lexington KY Novel Endophyte Tall…
December Timely Tips
During December you should be doing a forage inventory and balance to make sure you have enough pasture and hay on hand to make it through the winter. Predict how many grazing days you have ahead of you and then figure how many days you will have to feed hay. For planning purposes assume the…
Triple Creek Journal: 300 Days Grazing
December 2023 There is an extension program in Virginia and other states called “300 Days Grazing” which encourages farmers to extend their grazing season such that they only need to feed harvested forage for two months. A traditional system in our area would require hay feeding for at least 120 days if not longer. There…
A New Year for Regenerative Agriculture
There is a lot of discussion these days about Regenerative Agriculture. Through the thoughtful application of regenerative agriculture principles, all farmers and the entire population stand to benefit. I have been fortunate to work with farmers that have applied these principles for decades, and the benefits are very dramatic. The good news is that every…
Triple Creek Journal: Have Faith
Have faith; the ideal system is a moving target. Time rolls on and with autumn comes an end to the growing season and a start to the traditional hay feeding season. In traditional systems in our area most farms begin feeding hay about Thanksgiving and continue through about April 15, a total of about 150…
Timely Tips: November 2023
At this time all novel fescue should be planted, as recommended by all states in the tall fescue belt. This year, due to the dry weather, many farmers delayed past normal planting dates, waiting for moisture. The Alliance for Grassland Renewal recommended holding off on seeding if soil was excessively dry until a “trigger” date…
Equine Workshop Registration Open
Registration is now open for the second annual Equines and Endophytes Workshop in Lexington, KY on January 31, 2024. This half day program is exclusively for the horse industry and mitigating or preventing the unique impacts of toxic tall fescue in horses. Registration is $40 and includes lunch and educational materials. Topics and speakers are:…
UK researchers warn that recent weather could be problematic for mares grazing tall fescue pastures
According to researchers at the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Kentucky’s late summer drought, followed by mild/late fall weather and recent rains could put mares at risk on tall fescue pastures. In a statement jointly issued by Megan Romano, specialist veterinary toxicologist at the UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL); Krista…
Triple Creek Journal October 2023
Things are looking pretty good at Triple Creek today. We are in the middle of a lot of fall activities, and so far things are on target. We had a very dry August and September; up until September 24 when it rained 3.2 inches. That set the fescue off growing like I have not seen…
Timely Tips: October 2023
Recommended planting dates for Tall Fescue are generally September 1 to September 30 in northern (colder) regions of the tall fescue belt, and September 15 to October 15 in central and southern regions. These dates are ideal and give seedlings plenty of time to establish before freezing weather sets in. In recent years there have…
Spring Workshop Dates
The Alliance for Grassland Renewal is once again planning several producer-oriented workshops in March of 2024. These workshops are day-long, in-person events. Speakers will be a mix of local extension specialists and out-of-state researchers and specialists. Details are customized for each location, but all workshops will cover topics such as Tall Fescue Toxicosis and Management,…
Those Amazing Dung Beetles!
I have run across many interesting things over my career, but none more so than Dung Beetles. My interest in pastureland ecology has grown over the years, and the way all of the species of plants and animals interact in the pasture is one of the most fascinating and poorly appreciated processes on earth. We…
Triple Creek Journal: Getting ready to plant!
September, 2023 It has been an active month and we are entering the season where we graze out summer annuals in the anticipation of planting cool season forages. As I mentioned last month we are planting a lot of Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue this fall. We killed our first fescue pastures in 2014. It has…
Triple Creek Journal: What an Exciting Time!
It has been a great year for us at Triple Creek Ranch! Our farm is located due north of the Raleigh-Durham area right on the Virginia border. This area is known for long summer dry spells, but this summer we have been blessed with timely rains that have really made things grow. We have been…
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The Alliance for Grassland Renewal 