Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Objective 1 - Grants submitted - As a result of discussions at last years meeting, two multistate grant applications were submitted by members of WERA 1014. Being the lead PI, Jennifer MacAdam reported on the content and status of the first grant. This was a cooperative project among Utah (Jennifer), Idaho (Glenn), Wyoming (Anawar), and Colorado (Joe). It was submitted to the Organic Agriculture Research Initiative to do on-farm research with primarily Organic Valley Milk producers looking at the impacts of grazing birdsfoot trefoil (or feeding sainfoin hay) on production and fatty acid composition of the milk. The grant was not funded but got high marks, so it will be revised and resubmitted in 2010. The second grant was a cooperative project among Colorado (Joe), Idaho (Glenn), and Oregon (Chanda). Joe Brummer was the lead PI. This project was submitted through the Western SARE program in the Producer/Professional grant category to look at ways of interseeding various legumes into grass dominated pastures to reduce reliance on expensive commercial fertilizers. Again, this proposal received high marks, but was not funded. It will be resubmitted in the 2010 call for proposals. State Reports/Updates - Colorado - Joe Brummer gave an update on the 3 projects he reported on last year (see previous report). 1.) Productivity and regrowth of the grass mixtures evaluated was reduced in 2009 compared to 2008. This was probably due to environmental conditions (cool, wet spring/early summer) and nitrogen deficiency caused by compost rates being too low (i.e. poor compost that was low in nitrogen). Legumes were part of some of the mixes, but they have been slow to establish. The various legumes (alfalfa, sainfoin, birdsfoot trefoil, and white clover) were finally starting to contribute to total yield by the 4th and 5th harvests following interseeding in the spring. 2.) This was the first year of harvest for the 15 cool-season grasses. Not unexpectedly, tall, intermediate, and pubescent wheatgrasses were the top yielding species from the late-June harvest. However, it was surprising that the 2 tall fescue varieties evaluated were on the bottom of the yield scale. Tall fescue is not always the most palatable grass, but it is generally one of the highest yielding in Colorado under irrigation. 3.) Based on a preliminary evaluation of legume species suitable for use as living mulches in Colorado, it appears that birdsfoot trefoil is very resilient once established, especially to applications of Roundup for suppression. Idaho - Glenn Shewmaker gave an update on the work he and a graduate student did looking at the relationships among sward height, light interception, and herbage mass. The falling plate meter resulted in an R2 = 0.75. They found that the tables from Missouri on the grazing stick where close to the ones they developed, so the relationships appear to hold regardless of environment. Oregon - Since the meeting was held in Oregon, there were a number of presentations given by extension and research personnel that relate to this group. For a complete list, please refer to the minutes from 2009. Following are some of the highlights: Shelby Filley updated the group on her efforts to assess the mineral content of selected forages from producer fields in western Oregon. Zinc and copper are commonly deficient in forages from western Oregon. She is also evaluating the relationship between recommendations that come from the OSU Soils Lab and what producers actually apply in their fertilizer program. Sam Angima presented information on his work looking at forage production under thinned stands of Douglas-fir forest. These areas can be quite productive for grazing as producers wait for the trees to reestablish over time. Orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, and bentgrass have been seeded and fertilized with 75 lbs/ac of nitrogen with a carrying capacity of 4 to 6 acres per cow-calf pair. Gene Pirelli gave an update on the work he and Andy Hulting are doing looking at wild barley (Hare barley) control in pastures. This is an annual, cool-season, non-native grass that is very difficult to control when it invades grass dominated pastures. Many of the herbicides evaluated had little effect on the barley (Pre-emerge: Define, Prowl, Dual, Outlook, Accent, and KIH-485). Plateau works but the timing and potential for injury of other grasses is of concern. Milestone appears to just suppress the barley. Post-emerge, Raptor or Raptor plus MCPA looks the most promising. Other post-emerge herbicides (Maverick, Clearmax, Chaparral, and Callisto) had little effect. Chanda Engle reported on her work with brassicas and radishes to extend the grazing season. A number of the species/varieties that she tested look promising. Iodine (400 to 500 ppm) may have to be added to the trace mineral mix when grazing these forages to avoid thyroid problems. She also reported on her work with T-Sum as it relates to nitrogen fertilizer responses on mountain meadows. Troy Downing works with Oregon dairy producers on topics such as waste and fertility management, the nitrogen cycle on farms, forages for pasture, and the energy that can be derived from forages to meet the needs of dairy cows. Mylen Bohle gave an update on his work with clover and winter grain mites in grass pastures. He then presented some detailed information on the cost of replacing soil fertility due to removal of hay in alfalfa production fields. Tom Nichols gave an overview of current work going on at the Sheep Center. They have a project looking at drenches to supply selenium to animals to offset low levels in the forage. They are also looking at ways to interseed brassicas for feeding lambs during the summer, fall, and early winter. They have been struggling with poor stands and weed problems and feel that more seedbed preparation is needed to be successful. Purple-top turnips are preferred by deer. Utah - Jennifer MacAdam gave an update on her work with birdsfoot trefoil as a source of bypass protein and possible parasite control. Many varieties of BFT contain up to 2% tannin on a dry weight basis which binds with some of the protein in the rumen causing it to bypass to the small intestine where it can be digested. Tannin content is higher in the spring and lowers over the growing season. Norcen is a lower tannin variety and AU Dewey is a high tannin variety. Sainfoin also contains tannins which act much the same way as those in BFT. Improved weight gain and lower milk urea nitrogen are 2 of the possible benefits to beef and dairy cows that graze pastures containing BFT. Objective 2 - Colorado - The two forage extension publications described last year did not make it to publication in the spring of 2009 as anticipated. They are on track to be published in the spring of 2010. The first one describes basic establishment and management of forages and contains descriptions of the major forage species that can be grown in Colorado. This publication is targeted for small acreage landowners. The second is a more in depth forage production manual that is targeted for distribution to extension agents, NRCS field personnel, crop consultants, large scale producers, etc. It is designed to specifically serve producers in western Colorado and other intermountain states. Pasture Renovation: Dormant Season Seeding, West Greeley Conservation District Small Acreage Workshop, Greeley, Colorado. The following extension presentations were given at various meetings: Potential Benefits of Living Mulch Cropping Systems (17 and 30 participants), Factors Affecting Forage Quality (90 participants), Hay Testing: What the Numbers Mean and Ways to Improve Them (80 participants), Forage Research Update (30 participants), Interseeding Pastures and Hayfields (25 participants), Pasture and Hayfield Fertility (25 participants), Forage Research Update: Alfalfa and Living Mulches (20 participants). Idaho - The Lost Rivers Grazing Academy (LRGA) was held again last year. To date, there have been over 250 participants from 13 states and 3 foreign countries. Participants have been able to put what they learned to use to increase forage and livestock numbers, reduce their costs and debt load by feeding less hay and using less or no machinery, thereby improving their net ranch profitability. The next academy will be held June 15-18, 2010 at the Eagle Valley Ranch 8 miles south of Salmon, Idaho at a cost of $450 (includes meals and all materials, but not the room). A booth displaying details of the upcoming LRGA is planned for the Organic Dairy Conference in Twin Falls, Idaho in October 2009 and at the 4th Grassland Conference in Reno, Nevada in mid-December 2009. Glenn Shewmaker reported that the Northwest Pasture Management Guide is scheduled to be done by December 31, 2009 Oregon - Troy Downing presented 5 forage related extension talks: Managing forage inventories in your grazing operation (23 participants), Choosing the correct variety and species for your site (18 participants), Improving the energy in pastures (90 participants), and Fiber digestibility in cool season grasses (65 and 14 participants). Chanda Engle presented Grazing management for horse owners to 40 participants at a Horse Pack Clinic. Oregon is also in the planning process to establish an Oregon Forage and Grassland Council which will include representatives and members from private industry and the university. Utah - Jennifer MacAdam presented 2 posters shortly after our meeting this year. One at the Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance meeting in Twin Falls, Idaho, October 12-13, 2009 and the other at the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council Mid-Atlantic Grass-Fed Conference in Staunton, VA, October 23-24. The first meeting had approximately 200 attendees and the second had 250. Objective 3 - The group agreed to continue to send information to David Hannaway at Oregon State University so he can keep the Forage Information System that he maintains as up-to-date as possible (see previous report).