Maximize production or minimize cost - which is better?

By MANDY JOHN | Central Texas Edition

Twain Butler shows ranchers why rye grass is the best thing to use when you want to maximize production. -Staff photo by John

September 5, 2002 -- Beef cattle ranchers received an educational lesson in winter pasture management on Aug. 23, 2002 at the Winter Pasture Management for Beef Cattle Seminar held at the Mc-Gregor Beef Re-search Center in Mc-Gregor. Topics such as winter pasture production and grazing and brush management were discussed at the event.

"The main question to ask yourself when thinking of winter pasture production is whether you want to maximize production or minimize cost," explained Twain Butler, Ex-tension agronomist for Texas A&M University. "If you want to maximize production, then rye grass is the way to go." Butler said that rye grass will help maximize production because it stays green and it will very easily double the rate of production, unlike other grasses.

It is important to plant early in the growing season to allow sufficient time to grow and develop. This practice lengthens the growing season and can increase total forage production. Planting too early when the temperatures are too high, however, can kill the seedlings. Therefore, plant late enough to avoid extremely high temperatures and early enough to maximize the length of the growing season."

Butler also talked about the different types of legumes that ranchers can plant. A legume is any kind of herb, shrub, or tree with compound leaves, flowers having a single carpel, and fruit that is a dry pod splitting along two sutures. He stated that you must "select the legume species that is best adapted to your specific environment." He also added that the longer a rancher grows legumes, the more maximized production they will get.

Butler said that it is also important to keep both the seed and the soil in good shape in order to have a good crop of legumes. "It is important to apply traditional dry ag-lime at least six months prior to planting, as recommended by soil tests, to allow the lime sufficient time to react in the soil. Liquid and super fine limes need to be applied two to three months prior to planting, because they react faster in the soil."

Butler gave these tips for inoculating legumes, which is mixing the legume seed with a specific Rhizobium bacteria:

• Plant the seed into a large (clean) tub or bucket,

• Moisten the seed with a commercial sticker solution,

• Add appropriate inoculant for the legume species being planted and mix thoroughly

"Be careful not to add too much water. If you do add too much water, you can add more seed, dry lime, or you can spread the seed out on a canvas to allow the seed to dry faster. Once the seed is inoculated it is important to plant as soon as possible after drying." He also said that once the seed has been inoculated, it generally doesn't have to be inoculated again because it is already in the soil.

Larry White explains the need that ranchers have for both grazing and brush management. -Staff photo by John

"Proper grazing management is required if native pastures are to remain," stated Larry White, Extension range specialist for Texas A&M University, when discussing grazing and brush management. "Before a rancher starts growing anything he needs to ask himself what will he need to do to succeed this winter."

He talked about native and introduced species of plants and how they have their own management problems and opportunities. He added that management style will always affect the types of plants growing.

"Weed and brush seeds are always present and ready to invade if your management creates an opening or a bare ground situation which reduces soil water availability where the desired plants are not competitive." He went on to say that overgrazing and lack of fire is a primary cause for this increase in weeds and brush on native rangeland.

When talking about rainfall and the affects it has on crops White explained that rainfall captured as soil moisture is essential. He also said that the amount of water available equals the amount of forage produced. He stated that if a rancher is going to capture rainfall, the soil needs good coverage.

He said that late fall and winter grazing often sets the stage for abundant weeds during spring and summer when brush and weeds can be controlled.