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Chris Jeffcoat
Chris Jeffcoat

Association Perspective

Tips to improve your pastures.

I hope you are having a great start to spring. We were all certainly ready for warmer temperatures and green grass here in the mid-Atlantic and northeast, although some in the northeast still have snow on the ground.


As you’re retaining heifers, expanding your cow herd and making an investment in Angus bulls, it’s also time to consider the quality of your pastures and how it can impact your herd’s performance. Soil sampling is an important tool in maintaining the proper fertilization levels in your pasture and overall forage quality.


The value received from a soil test vastly outweighs the cost. Depending on your state, it may be free or have a very minimal charge through the Cooperative Extension Service. Soil tests can be taken at any time during the year and allow you to maintain the optimal pH through lime applications. Additionally, with fertilizer an expensive input cost, soil tests allow you to apply correct levels of phosphorus and potassium to maintain peak forage quality without overapplications.


Individual soil sample cores should be taken using a soil-test probe or shovel. Sample cores in permanent grass pastures should be taken 4 inches (in.) deep. Approximately one to three cores per acre should be randomly taken throughout the field. Sample cores should be placed in a clean plastic bucket, crushed, mixed thoroughly, and placed into the official soil test container for your state. Some states do require the soil to be dry, so you may need to allow the sample to air dry before placing it in the official soil test-container. You will need to keep the soil test free of organic material, and do not use a galvanized or rubber bucket because zinc contamination of the soil sample will occur.


It is recommended to soil-test your pasture and hayfields every two to three years for sandy-textured soils and every three to four years for clay-textured soils. However, for a higher-value forage crop, such as alfalfa, you will want to soil-test every year to maintain the correct plant fertilization levels. Samples should have a uniform cropping history and be representative of the field, so avoid taking sample cores in wet spots, old building sites, fencerows, burn areas, and areas where lime or manure has been previously piled.


Please consult your local Cooperative Extension Service office for your state’s testing requirements and specific questions regarding your farm.

 

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Editor’s Note: Regional Manager Chris Jeffcoat covers the states of Delaware, Maryland, New England states, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Click here to find the regional manager for your state.









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