Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Meeting minutes

Virtual meeting (hosted by the University of Georgia, Athens)

(all times are EDT)

May 7, 2020

9:00 to 10:30am - Introductions and Overview of the Meeting

Presentation from Greg Cuomo, NC1182 Administrative Advisor

1. We’re OK to meet virtually, and hope to convene physically when possible
2. Multi-state projects should show evidence of collaborative activity, rather than simply being a meeting

• Additional participants can be added to a project relatively easily.. policy for funding varies by state.

1. Thanks to Ken Coffey for help to Rhonda during review process
2. Update on Covid issue by state.

10:30 to 10:45 - Break

10:45 to 12:00 - Begin State Presentations (20 minutes each)

• Rebecca L McCulley, KY
• Mike Popp and Kenn Coffey, AR

12:00 to 1:00      Break for Lunch

1:00 to 4:30 -     Continue State Presentations

• Renata Oakes, TN
• David Barker, OH
• Rhonda Miller, UT
• John A Guretzky, NE
• Dory Franklin, GA

Discussion of possible objectives for a CAP grant

May 8, 2020

Business Meeting

9:00 – 12             

Chris Hamilton NCRA Assistant Director and NIMSS System

                                https://www.ncra-saes.org/

Greg Cuomo, NC1182 Administrative Advisor

Benefits of multistate participation include: identify collaborators, address timely topics, develop leadership experiences, innovate and create unique projects, engage with stakeholders, connect with NIFA and other leaders, direct financial support (varies by state)

Elections and next year’s Meeting - D. Barker elected as Secretary, and assumes Chair at next meeting.

Discuss Objectives for project wide grant (foundationfar.org)

Lunch and end Meeting

Nebraska

Major activities

1. We completed an experiment that evaluated "Establishment of Perennial Legumes with an Annual Warm-Season Grass as a Companion Crop".

Key outcomes. Research addressing major goal (1) at UNL indicted that use of sorghum-sudangrass as a companion crop would greatly increase total forage yields during legume establishment while reducing weeds compared to legume establishment without weed control.  Producers would get better establishment of legumes, particularly alfalfa, when established without a companion crop, though, if effective weed management practices are in place.  Weed control will impose costs including that for herbicide application.  Alternatively, producers could adopt organic methods of establishing legumes, but this would likely require greater knowledge, understanding, and skills of cultural methods of weed control and legume management.

Goal (2)

Major activities

1. We completed a 3-year pasture experiment that evaluated feasibility of interseeding sorghum-sudangrass into established smooth bromegrass pastures using only grazing to prepare the pastures for seeding and whether there were any differences between fertilized pastures and pastures interseeded with legumes.
2. We evaluated cover crops planted after soybean harvest in the fall with or without N fertilization or interseeded with clover. Results suggest all 3 strategies are successful with ADG of 1.8 lb/d for all 3 and 30 to 60 days of grazing in the spring.
3. Summarized data from 6 years of diet samples taken from grazing cows to evaluate the crude protein and rumen undegradable protein content of the grass throughout the year (growing season and dormant months).
4. Numerous feeds evaluated for rumen undegradable protein content in order to better match nutrient availability with nutrient requirements of cattle grazing pasture lands. Feeds included common byproducts used to supplement cattle, some of which are continually undergoing changes as ethanol plants look to diversify their operations.
5. Continue to make progress on determining microbial protein flow in cattle, with emphasis on measuring in extensive production settings. Critical to better understand the N use and requirements of cattle.

Key outcomes. Research addressing major goal (2) at UNL has found that sorghum-sudangrass establishment when interseeded into smooth bromegrass pastures has been poor, regardless of whether interseeding occurred in pastures managed as N-fertilized monocultures or when mixed legumes.  Thus, we recommend that if producers were to adopt this strategy to improving productivity of pastures that they focus on getting better establishment of the summer annual.  At this time, however, we have not discovered effective strategies for doing so.  To improve ability of smooth bromegrass pastures for beef cattle performance, producers should focus on maintaining a good mix of grasses and legumes (70:30 ratio).

Goal (3)

1. Research findings on legume establishment, nitrogen cycling, forage nutritive value, and nitrogen use efficiency in legume-interseeded, nitrogen-fertilized, and unfertilized pastures have been incorporated in curricula and presented to students enrolled in Forage Crop and Pasture Management and Forage Evaluation courses at the Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Kentucky

Major goals of the project

(1)        Evaluate legume cultural and management strategies emphasizing legume establishment, N cycling and use efficiency, and

GHG emissions. (AR, KY, NE, UT). Specific objectives: (i) Identify practices that optimize legume establishment and persistence. (ii) Compare N cycling and use efficiency of ruminants grazing pastures with and without forage legumes. (iii) Determine the impact of legumes on the GHG footprint of livestock production systems.

We evaluated the effect of different enhanced efficiency N formulations (ATU, ESN, methylene urea, SuperU, and a 75% ESN: 25% urea blend) and untreated urea on yield, nutritive value, and legume persistence in a 'Wrangler' bermudagrass and 'Durana' white clover mixture (2014-2016 growing seasons), 'KY-31' tall fescue and 'Kenland' red clover mixture (2015-2016 growing season), and 'KY-31' stockpiled tall fescue (2015-2017). The three studies were conducted at the University of Kentucky Spindletop Research Farm in Lexington, KY in a randomized complete block design. In the bermudagrass-white clove study, all enhanced efficiency N sources maintained white clover populations similar to the unfertilized grass/clover control, but only ESN caused greater clover composition than standard urea. Total forage yields increased linearly with N rate in all years, but dry weather conditions in the second and third years resulted in lower total yield. Forage nutritive value followed general trends throughout each growing season, but ESN's ability to maintain clover resulted in higher nutritive value. In the tall fescue-red clover mixture, total forage yields curvilinearly increased with N rate in 2015 but did not vary in 2016. ESN and ESN+urea blend treatments retained clover composition similar to that of the unfertilized control. Stockpiled forage yield increased with higher n rates. Enhanced efficiency N fertilizers with the ability to control N release can enhance forage yield while maintaining clover in mixed species swards.

Ohio

Performance data were collected from forage variety trials in Ohio during 2019, including commercial varieties of alfalfa, annual ryegrass and cover crops in tests planted in 2017 and 2018 at South Charleston, OH. Rainfall was variable across the season at South Charleston. April rainfall was very regular but below the normal for the month, May and June were above normal rainfall, and the remainder of the growing season was drier than normal. Total rainfall for April through September was 4.17 below average. Average monthly temperatures were above normal for most of the year except in June and August. For alfalfa, the 2017 seeding at South Charleston had the highest yields in 2019, averaging 6.81 tons/acre followed by the 2018 seeding at South Charleston, at 5.44 tons/acre. Weather and weeds slowed growth of the 2018 trial therefore data was not collected in 2018. Insecticide applications were used for control of potato leafhopper (PLH) and to control alfalfa weevil at South Charleston. An annual ryegrass trial was planted in September 2018. There was winter injury that varied among varieties. Forage yields in 2018-19 were near the long-term average at this location. A cover crop variety trial was planted on September 20, 2018 at the South Charleston location to evaluate different cover crop species and varieties for stand and ground cover development throughout the fall and for stand, ground cover, and final biomass production the following spring.

A field contract trial was established in August 2019 and yield and lodging data were recorded at four harvests in 2020 of 60 advanced alfalfa breeding lines developed by S&W Seed Co. being considered for commercial release. Forage yields in 2020 were excellent, with some entries producing 10 tons of dry matter per acre. A separate contract field trial was established in August 2020 to evaluate 19 alfalfa breeding lines with variable resistance to potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae) developed by S&W Seed Co. being considered for commercial release. Another contract field trial was established in spring 2020 to evaluate 20 new alfalfa breeding lines developed by S&W Seed Co. for reduced lignin concentration using new genetic engineering techniques. Two field trials were conducted (2019 and 2020 established trials) evaluating 50 different cover crop trials. Differences were found for ground cover in the autumn, winter injury, ground cover ratings in the spring, and spring biomass production. These data will be useful to Ohio producers selecting species and cultivars for cover crop use and cover crop forage use.

In order to utilize alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), alone or in mixture with grasses defoliation management practices must be evaluated to assess their performance. Research during 2017-2019 aimed to measure forage accumulation (FA) and nutritive value of alfalfa monoculture (A) and in mixtures with tall fescue [ATF; Schedonorus arundinaceus)] or bermudagrass [AB; Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers] subjected to four harvest intervals (clipped every 21, 28, 35, and 42 d). Results from prior field work were analyzed and a manuscript prepared for publication during 2020. The study was conducted in Crossville, TN and South Charleston, OH during 2016 and 2017 growing seasons, and in Salisbury, NC during 2017 and 2018 growing seasons. Harvest intervals of 35-d or greater showed optimal FA, with greatest productivity in spring. In summer, bermudagrass proportion was greater than tall fescue in the alfalfa mixtures, but the productivity of ATF was similar to AB. However, the ATF mixture was superior to AB in FA for the entire season. Although tall fescue can be very competitive with alfalfa in mixtures, it results in greater FA while reducing weed competition. Botanical composition indicated greater weed infestation in alfalfa alone. Alfalfa as a monoculture showed, greater crude protein (CP) concentrations (≥ 200 g kg-1), so growing alfalfa-grass mixtures can increase sward CP compared with grass monocultures (average of 128 g kg-1 for ATF and 161 g kg-1 for AB). We concluded that harvest intervals of 35-d or greater should be adopted to provide greater FA, and treatments A and ATF resulted in superior FA compared with AB.

Arkansas

Five digestion studies were conducted with growing lambs to determine the impact of different feed additives on diet digestibility and utilization.  Four studies evaluated a blend of a protease and Aspergillus oryzae and A. niger fermentation extracts and another study evaluated the impact of a phytogenic supplement containing condensed tannins on utilization of various diets by lambs.  Fiber digestion and ruminal fermentation measurements were maximized with 3 grams of the protease-enzyme blend.  In a subsequent study, the protease-enzyme blend improved digestible organic matter intake and ruminal fermentation measurements by lambs offered a bermudagrass hay diet supplemented with corn as an additional energy source.  Supplementation with up to 8 grams/day of a condensed tannin supplement did not affect diet digestibility or protein utilization by lambs offered a corn-based finishing diet.  Urine and feces from these and other studies were applied to plots to determine greenhouse gas emissions, but laboratory and data analyses are still pending.

We are working on two different DSS relevant for this project. One is modifying an existing DSS, called FORCAP (https://agribusiness.uark.edu/decision-support-software.php#forcap), the other is a DSS focusing on relative cost and efficiency of applying poultry litter in lieu of commercial fertilizer. The innovation for this latter DSS is that the poultry is banded below the surface to avoid/lessen nutrient runoff and volatilization.

Digestion and nitrogen balance studies continued.  These studies demonstrate the benefits of different forages, forage management or products in improving utilization of feedstuffs by ruminant animals.  Urine and feces were collected from these studies and applied to plots where greenhouse gasses and ammonia could be measured. 

Data collection on cost and output price information as well as production efficiency parameters is ongoing.

Short-term Outcomes: Quantitative, measurable benefits of the research outputs as experienced by those who receive them. Examples include the adoption of a technology, the creation of jobs, reduced cost to the consumer, less pesticide exposure to farmers, or access to more nutritious food.

Nebraska

This project provided research training and professional development to one graduate student who completed their M.S. in Agronomy, three research technicians who oversaw the pasture management experiments, and three undergraduate students who assisted with data collection and sampling processing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Research results were disseminated through oral and poster presentations at the 2018 ASA and CSSA Annual Meetings in Baltimore, MD (November) and to students enrolled in Agronomy/Grassland Studies/Range Science 240: Forage Crop and Pasture Management in fall 2018 and spring 2019 semesters at the Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln.  In addition to professional presentations and lectures, research results and progress have been shared informally to UNL faculty, staff and students as well as visiting faculty.

Target audiences reached included members of Division C06 Forage and Grazinglands, Crop Science Society of America; ranchers, university specialists, land managers, and government agency personnel involved with the Nebraska section Society for Range Management; Nebraska extension educators; faculty and staff in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, undergraduate and graduate students in agricultural education, agronomy, animal science, and grazing livestock systems degree programs at the Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Kentucky

A PhD student was trained during this project (K.M. Payne). She successfully defended her dissertation in 2019.

Multiple scientific presentations have been given highlighting the results of this work (American Forage and Grassland Council - 2017, 2019; ASA-CSSA-SSSA - 2015). A presentation on the results was given to the International Fertilizer Society Agronomic Conference, which is targeted to agronomists, industry, and practitioners. Numerous presentations at forage field day events were given, targeting producers, and several Forage News articles were developed and disseminated to producers in the region.

Ohio

Results have been disseminated: 1) to other researchers vis scientific publications - journal, and conference posters. 2) to undergraduate and graduate students - via academic curriculum, 3) to farmer groups- via extension presentations at farmer meetings.

Arkansas

Feeding ruminant animals is expensive.  Many producers use various feed additive to improve efficiency of forage and concentrate use and ultimately save money.  Providing producers with information about the efficacy of various feed additives helps them make better management decisions.

Decision makers often want economic analyses to attach relative profitability numbers to changes in production practices.  In that vein, I have work ongoing to modify on-line, spreadsheet-based decision support software (DSS) that will assist producers to identify economic and environmental tradeoffs across alternative production practices.

1. Crawford, G.I., J.C. MacDonald, A.K. Watson, G.E. Erickson, and T.J. Klopfenstein.  2020. Diurnal and dietary impacts on estimating microbial protein flow from urinary purine derivative excretion in beef cattle. Trans. Anim. Sci. 4:1-13.
2. George, B., H. Hillhouse, B.E. Anderson, and J.A. Guretzky. 2018. Establishment of interseeded annual warm-season grasses in smooth bromegrass pastures. In 2018 ASA and CSSA Meeting Abstracts [Online]. Available at https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2018am/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/113271 (verified 14 Feb. 2020)
3. George, B., H. Hillhouse, B. Anderson, and J. Guretzky. 2019. Variables affecting establishment of sorghum-sudangrass in smooth bromegrass pastures. Cropwatch [Online]. UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. IANR Media. Available at https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2019/variables-affecting-establishment-sorghum-sudangrass-smooth-bromegrass-pastures (verified 14 Feb. 2020).
4. Guretzky, J.A., H. Blanco, R. Elmore, D. Redfearn, M. Howell. 2018. Developing Research and Extension Skills of Students in Integrated Agronomic Systems. ASA and CSSA Meeting with the Canadian Society of Agronomy, Baltimore, MD.
5. Guretzky, J.A. Chapter 9 Plant Interactions. In Forages Volume II. The Science of Grassland Agriculture, 7^th Edition. Editors: K.J. Moore, D. Redfearn, M. Collins, and C.J. Nelson. Wiley Blackwell. Accepted/In-Press on 20 Dec. 2018.
6. La Vallie, M. 2019. Establishment of perennial legumes with an annual warm-season grass as a companion crop. M.S. Thesis. Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln (Advisors J.A. Guretzky/W.H. Schacht).
7. Schick, B.D., J.A. Guretzky, W.H. Schacht, and M. Mamo. 2019. Dietary nutritive value, dung quality, decomposition, and nutrient movement into soil in smooth bromegrass pastures. Crop Science 59: 1294-1308.
8. Schumacher, E.A., G.E. Erickson, H.C. Wilson, M.M Norman, J.C. MacDonald, A.K. Watson, and T.J. Klopfenstein.  Comparison of rumen undegradable protein content of conventional and organic feeds. Nebraska beef cattle report, MP108:45-49.
9. Wiseman, A., Z. Carlson, L. McPhillips, S. Tilton, A. Watson, and G. Erickson. 2020. Evaluation of RUP content of NexPro dried distillers grains plus solubles in corn silage based growing calf diets. J. Anim. Sci. 98 (Suppl. 2):248.  Midwest ASAS meetings.
10. Wheeler, K., T. Klopfenstein, J. MacDonald, A. Watson, and H. Wilson. 2020. Rumen undegradable protein content of native range and sub irrigated meadow forages. J. Anim. Sci. 98 (Suppl. 2):55.  Midwest ASAS meetings.
11. Wiseman, A.R., Z.E. Carlson, L.J. McPhillips, A.K. Watson, G.E. Erickson, and S.L. Tilton.  2020.  Evaluation of RUP content of NexPro dried distillers grains plus solubles and their effect on growing calf performance in corn silage based diets.  Nebraska beef cattle report, MP108:38-40.
12. Payne, K.M., S.R. Smith, and B.M. Goff. 2019. Enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizer effect on stockpiled tall fescue. American Forage and Grassland Council Conference, St. Louis, MO, 6-9 Jan. 173

13. Crook, T., B. Stewart, M. Sims, C. Weiss, K. Coffey, W. Coblentz, and P. Beck. 2020. The effects of moisture at baling and wrapping delay on storage characteristics of annual ryegrass round bale silage.  Crop, Forage, Turfgr. Manage. 2020;6:e20015. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft.20015.

14. Nieman, C., M. Popp, D. Schaefer, K. Albrecht and J. Franco. 2020.  “Evaluating sod-seeded annuals in cool-season cow-calf pastures in Wisconsin”.  Journal of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. 177-186.

15. Tang, Y. K., M. C. Savin, D. Philipp, K. Coffey, and J. Zhao. 2020. Decomposition in pasture soil receiving excreta from ruminants fed alfalfa forage diet supplemented with increasing proportions of sericea lespedeza legume. Discovery (in press).

16. Althaber, C. A., K. P. Coffey, J. D.Caldwell, and M. C. Pruden. 2020  Effects of dietary phytogenic supplementation to a finishing lamb diet on intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and carcass measures. ASAS, Annual Meeting, Madison, WI (virtual).

17. Kennedy, I., M.C. Savin, D. Philipp, K. Coffey, and J. Zhao. 2020. Nitrogen leaching in pasture soil receiving excretions from sheep consuming tannin containing legumes. In 2020 Annual Meeting Program. ASA and CSSA, Madison, WI.

18. Nieman, C.C., D. Philipp, K.P. Coffey, and J.G. Franco. 2020. Cowpea sown with sorghum-sudangrass and baled at two moisture levels for greater baleage nutritive value. AFGC annual meeting Greenville, SC.

19. Barker, D.J. Culman S.W. (2020) Fertilization and Nutrient Management p. 473-496. Ch 26. In Moore, K.J.; Collins, M.; Nelson, C.J.; Redfearn, D.D. (eds.) Forages: The Science of Grassland Agriculture, Vol. II. 7th ed. Wiley Blackwell, West Sussex, UK