East Texas forage events address seasonal topics, clover's growing popularity

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Extension Forage Specialist Larry Redmon (second from left) answers questions from East Texas forage producers during the April 18 Forage and Livestock Field Day in Overton. -Staff photo by Montgomery

April 25, 2002 -- To spray for weeds or to fertilize the forage? That is the question as the weather becomes warmer.

"It's not an easy question to answer," said Dr. Larry Redmon, Extension forage specialist at Texas A&M Research Center during a recent forage-livestock field day in Overton. "It would depend on how many weeds you are seeing in your pasture. Each pasture is different. If I only had a few weeds, then I would definitely fertilize. But, if there are lots of weeds, then I would use a herbicide."

Herbicides like Grazon P+D and Ally are used to eliminate the competition between weeds and grasses. Fertilizer is used to provide nutrients to grasses.

When people think of fertilizer, they often think of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium but at a recent forage field day at Mitch Brown's farm near Mineola, Brown stated that boron is also very important to the growth of grasses.

"Boron is the secret to legumes," Brown said.

A good stand of white clover was found at Mitch Brown's farm near Mineola during an April 11 event. -Staff photo by Montgomery

At both recent field days, clover was a hot topic. Brown's farm is covered in Tripoli clover whereas the Overton Center formally released Apache arrowleaf clover in October. Seed production for Apache has been licensed to the East Texas Seed Company.

Apache is resistant to the lethal wilt caused by the Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus (BYMV) and is tolerant to the secondary symptoms such as leaf discoloration and stunting, according to research reports. Apache arrowleaf should again make arrowleaf clover a viable part of forage production in East Texas and other southern states, according to Dr. Ray Smith, clover and legume breeder with the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Overton.

Smith began work on a resistant/tolerant arrowleaf clover in the late 1980s. He began with the conventional plant breeding method of growing arrowleaf cultivars in the field and selecting those plants that appeared healthy while those around fell to disease infections.

"It's tolerant to the degree that we expect it to fill the production gap left by the susceptible varieties such as Yuchi. Producers should once again be able to rely on a crimson/arrowleaf mixture for forage production from late winter and early spring," Smith said.

Apache shows improved field survival when infected with BYMV and has greater early spring (March) forage production compared to Yuchi, the most commonly-grown arrowleaf today. Apache flowers 10 to 14 days earlier than Yuchi, and its total season forage production is greater or equal to Yuchi, according to Smith.

Apache seed should be available in good quantities for fall planting. For prices and availability contact East Texas Seed Company at (903)597-6637 or the email address is seeds@easttexasseedcompany.com.

Redmon stressed that planting clover is a must for producers.

"If you don't have clover, you need to be planting some type of clover. Clover will eliminate having to use nitrogen on your land. You will still have to watch your phosphorus and potassium, but clover will take care of the nitrogen," Redmon said. "If you have clover, stay away from spraying Grazon P+D, Ally (Cimarron), and straight amber. Instead, use Weedmaster or 2-4D.

"Your seedbed for planting clover needs to look just like a garden spot, clear of any weeds," Redmon said. "Planting should take place in the fall of the year around mid-October. A little light discing goes a long way."

If you are trying to decide whether spraying or fertilizing would be more feasible, Ken Ragsdale with Triangle Fertilizer, said, "My daddy always said for every pound of weeds you kill, you get three pounds of grass."

"It definitely would be cheaper to spray for weeds," said Darrel Seahorn with Seahorn Fertilizer in Gilmer. "If you only spray, you would eliminate the competition between the grass and the weed. Your grass will grow. But, if you only fertilize, you will choke out the weeds and the grass will grow."

Ragsdale recommends begin spraying for weeds around May 15 to July 15 for best results.

Another key element of having good forage is performing a soil test. Testing the soil will tell what is needed, whether it be nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium.

According to Seahorn, it all comes down to how much money an individual has to spend and what they would like to do to get maximum output on their land. Ideally, you should spray for weeds and follow up with fertilizer.

To spray or to fertilize-the answer is up to the producer.