Feed the grass to make it grow

By MANDY SPIKES | Central Texas Edition

Homann gives farmers information on hay quality. -- Photo by Mandy Spikes

May 22, 2003 -- Farmers around the Bryan/College Station area were able to acquire important information on hay quality and procedures, as well as the necessity of soil sample tests, during the 2003 Hay Field Day, which took place May 13 in Bryan.

Ervin Homann, a hay producer, focused his presentation on the way to determine hay quality. Jack Hunter, Brazos County agriculture Extension agent, talked about soil sample tests and why farmers should use them.

Homann began by saying that you can't starve a cow and expect to make a profit. "Why would you expect anything different out of grasses. We want grass to grow to its potential. You can't do that without fertilizer."

He explained that a farmer has to feed the grass in order to make it grow. "You only have a few months to grow grass to its potential.

"The more fertilizer I put, the more grass I get with adequate rainfall. There has to be adequate fertilizer in order for it to grow.

"I don't recommend that you should do this or that you should do that because everyone has their own idea on how to grow grass a certain way."

He said one big question that farmers always ask is when should they harvest. His answer was before the grass gets too old, because the nutrients and protein goes down.

"Some people think 28 days is a good time to harvest. I like to do that a little earlier though. You have got to keep this grass young in order to have any type of protein.

"Harvesting is very important. You have got to do a good job. Hay that is left from a previous cutting becomes trash for the next cutting. You don't want to wait a week. Get it while it's a good quality hay.

Homann stated that sometimes foreign material is in hay. To him, any type of foreign material in hay is considered trash. Tree limbs, sticks, and cow chips in the hay lowers the feed value.

"There is no excuse to have weeds in hay because this is in our control. Put weed killer in your hay earlier so when it rains you won't have weeds. If a weed has bloomed, it's too late because it will spread. You must get them early."

He explained that some grass is hard to control. "Grass spurs will get you in big trouble when dealing with hay.

"Another problem is having sand and clay in the hay. You need to trick gophers to lower the amount of these items."

When asked if a farmer can afford to control insects, he replied how can one not afford to, after the work a farmer puts into their work. "I have literally seen grasshoppers eat a bale of hay. With these insects, you will see a drastic change in color of both hay and grasses.

"In order to have a number one product, you must take care of it.," he ended.

"Soil sampling is important," said Hunter. "You should be sampling in the same area year after year."

He stated that on a soil fertility test, the numbers to remember when producing one ton of grass is 50 pounds of nitrogen, 16 pounds of phosphorus, and 46 pounds of potassium.

"Sometimes you try to produce more quality hay than you really need. When you send in a soil test sample, you have the results sent back. The number on the soil test bag represent a percent of the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as filth."

Hunter said the information is very elementary, but its often misunderstood. "It's a numbers game as much as it is anything else. On average, expect a soil test analysis to be based on two tons per acre.

He gave another point saying that if a farmer wants to control winter vegetation, then control it in March or April. If a farmer doesn't have that problem, then March or April is too early.

"Lots of time you want to add fertilizer earlier than you should. Liquid fertilizer is a good source of fertilizer, but during the summer with no rain, the grass will be burned because of the burning of grass.