New Year’s Resolutions for Georgia Cattle Producers

1. New Year’s Resolutionsfor Georgia Cattle Producers Presented by Mr. Billy Moss Information taken from John Andrae, UGA Extension Forage Agronomist

2. ONE • INCREASE tall fescue pasture thickness by interseeding clover • Dilutes toxins • Improves forage distribution • Provides 75-100 lb. of nitrogen per acre to grass

3. TWO • SUBDIVIDE large pasture and rotate grazing • Increases stocking rate and forage utility • Reduces forage waste • Evenly distributes manure • Improves pasture management

4. THREE • TEST your soil and follow recommendations • Low soil potash and phosphate • Thins Bermuda grass • Takes away valuable forage in South Georgia • Low soil pH, potash, and phosphate • Limits clover persistence and productivity in North Georgia • Cheap soil tests and timely fertilizer applications = solved problems and saved money

5. FOUR • CONSIDER burning Bermuda grass or Bahia grass hay fields • Removes excess thatch • Excess thatch ties up nutrients, reduces water infiltration, slows greenup, and harbors insects. • Burn just before greenup • Removes weeds • returns nutrients to the soil • For safe, legal, and effective burning • Consult local forest service and county agent • Visit www.georgiaforages.com

6. FIVE • RESOLVE to replace 5-10% of toxic tall fescue each year with non-toxic forage • Will revolutionize beef production • Slowly replace old toxic Kentucky 31 pastures • Increases herd conception rates • Increases weaning weights • Will consistently improve weaning weights by more than 50 lb.

7. SIX • SHIFT year-round calving to a 45-60 day season. • Improves calf marketing options • Allows herd nutritional needs to match forage quality and availability

8. SEVEN • IDENTIFY and remove weed problems • Weeds limit forage production • Forage production is decreased 8 pounds for every pound of weedy species • Buttercup and Thistle • Easily controlled by cheap, timely herbicide • Broomsedge • Decreased with proper fertility and grazing management • Contact your county agent for assistance

9. EIGHT • COVER hay to minimize weathering losses • Georgia’s climate fosters mold growth in stored hay • 30% of hay is lost to weathering • 20% of hay is refused by animals • 50% loss is unprofitable and unacceptable • Store hay under barns or under tarps • Low quality hay • Leave outside • Feed first

10. NINE • PLAN now to reduce next winter’s stored-feed needs • Hay- largest expense of beef cattle enterprises • Options for decreasing hay needs • Use grazing crop residues (corn, cotton stalks) • Stockpile Bermuda grass or tall fescue pasture • Use cheap byproduct feeds • Establish cool-season forages (tall fescue, winter annuals)

11. TEN • HARVEST Bermuda grass hay at 4-5 week interval and test hay quality • Frequent harvests improve hay quality • Easier and more cost effective to harvest quality hay than to supplement poor quality hay • Testing hay allows for matching forage quality to animals

12. CATTLE PRODUCERS’ RESOLUTIONS • Increase by interseeding • Subdivide and rotate • Test soil quality • Consider burning • Resolve to replace toxic grasses • Shift to year-round calving • Identify and remove weeds • Cover hay • Plan to reduce hay needs • Harvest Bermuda grass hay