Back to Ag Home Page 

County Home Page

Previous Issues:

Feb 2003

Jan 2003

Nov 2002

Sep 2002

Jul/Aug 2002

Jun 2002

May 2002

Apr 2002

Mar 2002

Feb 2002

Jan 2002

 IN THIS ISSUE...   October 2002

Sources of Emergency Feed
The dry weather experienced locally this summer has caused a need for additional feed this fall, winter, and next spring. Grazing corn stalks and stover can provide a significant amount of feed for dairy heifers, beef cattle, and sheep. A single strand of electric fence and some step-in posts can provide the fencing needed to graze corn stubble.

For beef herds, this will be the winter to try substituting whole shelled corn for some hay in brood cow diets. Information on this feeding strategy is contained elsewhere in this newsletter. Dairy herd owners will need to start pushing the pencil to determine how short of forage you will be. Testing of forages will also be critical this year so that energy adjustments can be made to avoid production drops. Booking commodity feeds would be another prudent strategy for dairy herd managers.

Another potential source of feed for fall, winter, and next spring, is fall-seeded small grains such as rye, wheat, or even oats. Winter rye is the most winter hardy of the small grains. Quick growth in both fall and spring make it the most productive of the small grains for pasture.Forage-type varieties are available that have greater fall growth and extend the grazing season in late fall. Although best production is on fertile, well-drained soils of medium or heavier texture, winter rye is more productive than other small grains on soils with lower pH and fertility, higher clay or sand content, or poorer drainage. Winter rye matures the earliest of the small grains. Because palatability and quality of rye are unacceptable if allowed to mature past the boot state, winter rye is the most difficult of the small grains to manage for high quality.

Establishment and Fertilization Establishment is best achieved by the use of a grain drill equipped with packer wheels, set to a one-inch planting depth. Another satisfactory method is to broadcast the seed followed by a shallow disking or harrowing and cultipacking. If small grains are planted only for pasture use, increase the seeding rate to three bushels per acre and apply nitrogen at a rate of 40 lbs/acre at planting time.

Grazing Fall and spring grazing of small grains should begin when sufficient growth is available to support livestock. Delayed planting dates and wet field conditions during the prime grazing season make grazing of small grains difficult in Ohio. Fall graze only early-seeded small grains. Begin grazing when six inches of growth is available and leave two to three inches of stubble after grazing. Heavy fall grazing increases the risk of winter kill, unless excessive fall growth is present. Do not graze when the small grain is dormant or when the ground is frozen and subsequent spring growth and/or grain production is desired. In the spring, graze only when fields are firm. Consider heavy, late spring grazing when the plants begin stem elongation (joint stage).

back to top
 

Drought Update
The National Drought Mitigation Center has recently revised the classification of the current drought in several eastern Ohio counties, including Carroll, Harrison, and Jefferson , to 
D-2, a Severe Drought. See the attached map which details the current severity of dry weather throughout the United States.

Information on managing various aspects of crops and livestock during a drought is available at OSU Extension's drought website at http://corn.osu.edu/drought02/ .

Minimizing Harvest Losses in Drought Damaged Corn Fields
This year's widespread drought has resulted in smaller than normal ears, and much greater percentage of "nubbin" ears in many fields. In addition, plants are shorter than normal with reduced ear heights. As a result of these conditions, some combine and harvesting adjustment may be necessary. The following are management suggestions from ag engineers and equipment specialists on harvesting drought damaged crops.

1. Review the operator's manual for suggestions on harvesting a "light crop".

2. With short or lodged corn, run the gathering snouts and chains low. Watch for stones, and be sure stone protective devices are working.

3. Drive carefully and at normal speeds to avoid excessive harvest loss and machine damage from stones.

4. For small ears, set stalk rolls and snapping plates closer than normal to snap off a higher percentage of ears. Do not attempt to snap off barren cobs.

5. If clean shelling is a problem, increase cylinder speed slightly, and if necessary, decrease concave clearance. With a rotary machine, check rotary concave clearance. Avoid excessive damage to kernels from good ears.

6. If cleaning losses are high, open the chaffer and chaffer extension slightly.

7. Initially decrease the amount of air from the cleaning fan. If cleaning becomes a problem, increase the fan blast, and close the lower sieve slightly.

8. Be alert to changes in weather and crop conditions, and make adjustments as necessary.

-Corn #2002 - 29

Drought Increases Potential for Stalk Rot and Lodging in Corn
Drought conditions this year are likely to increase the potential for lodging and stalk rot problems in corn. When stalk rot occurs late in the season as it often does, it has little or no direct effect on yield. Nevertheless, stalk lodging can have such an impact on harvest losses that many plant pathologists consider stalk rots to be the most significant yield limiting disease of corn. 

For a corn plant to remain healthy and free of stalk rot, the plant must produce enough carbohydrates by photosynthesis to keep root cells and pith cells in the stalk alive and enough to meet demands for grain fill. When corn is subjected to severe weather stress, photosynthetic activity is sharply reduced as leaves roll tightly and plant growth slows. As a result, the carbohydrate levels available for the developing ear are insufficient. The corn plant responds to this situation by removing carbohydrates from the leaves, stalk, and roots to the developing ear. While this "cannibalization" process ensures a supply of carbohydrates for the developing ear, the removal of carbohydrates results in premature death of pith cells in the stalk and root tissues, which predisposes plants to root and stalk infection by fungi. Even mild, early season water stress during the pretassel stage of development can significantly increase root infection by stalk rot fungi and result in greater stalk rot at maturity. As plants near maturity, this removal of nutrients from the stalk to the developing grain results in a rapid deterioration of the lower portion of corn plants in drought stressed fields in lower leaves appearing to be nitrogen stressed, brown, and/or dead.

Other plant stresses which increase the likelihood of stalk rot problems include: loss of leaf tissue due to foliar diseases (such as gray leaf spot), insects, or hail; injury to the root system by insects or chemicals; high levels of nitrogen in relation to potassium; compacted or saturated soils restricting root growth; and high plant populations.

Most hybrids do not begin to show stalk rot symptoms until shortly before physiological maturity. It is difficult to distinguish between stalk rots caused by different fungi because two or more fungi may be involved. Similarly, certain insects such as European corn borer often act in concert with fungal pathogens to cause stalk rot. Although a number of different fungal pathogens cause stalk rots, the three most important in Ohio are Gibberella, Collectotrichum (anthracnose), and Fusarium. For more information on stalk rot in corn, consult the OSU Plant Pathology web site "Ohio Field Crop Diseases" (http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/ohiofieldcropdisease/) for more details and pictures of the disease symptoms associated with these pathogens.

-Corn #2002 - 28

back to top
 

An Alternative to Hay for Brood Cows - Corn!
Much of the US and Canada is struggling with drought conditions and feed shortages that result from extended dry weather. Recently, the OSU Extension Beef Team received a call from a Nebraska rancher looking for an opportunity east of the Mississippi to market half of his 800 head cow herd due to feed shortage. Also, I've been made aware that Alberta will be moving up to 500,000 cows out of the Province for similar reasons this fall - mostly in boxes.

Many Ohio cattlemen are experiencing similar concerns this year. However, unlike some other parts of the country, here in Ohio we have an affordable alternative feeding strategy to wintering cows on hay. At our OARDC research facilities we have had great success limit-feeding brood cows a corn based diet during the winter.

My recommendations to Ohio cattlemen experiencing forage shortages (based on 14 years of feeding corn based diets to cows in the winter), is to feed whole shelled corn at 1% of the cow's body weight, feed 5 lbs of forage, and feed a "feedlot type" supplement to meet protein, vitamin, and mineral needs. The corn intake must be adjusted upward as energy requirements increase (ie, last third of gestation, lactation, or due to cold). The purpose of the forage is to give the cows something to chew on (all the usual feedlot type reasons; stimulate rumination, prevent ruminitis, keep cows on feed, etc.). Although I have never tried straw, my recommendation is that forage quality is a non-issue. They will eat everything you put in front of them in this limit feeding system. A low cost, poor quality forage is ideal.

Our data shows that you can winter gestating cows on about 14 lbs of corn, 4 lbs of roughage, and a supplement with no negative effects on performance. If corn is priced at $2.50/bu, the break even value for hay would be about $50/ton.

You will find more details on my recommendation for feeding corn to cows on the web at http://beef.osu.edu/library/limitfed.html

Cattlemen can also limit feed corn for replacement heifers using a similar procedure. If hay is scarce or expensive, cattlemen can grow cattle on a corn based diet using a limit feeding system. The amount of corn you feed them would be determined by your target rate of gain. In a situation when raising replacement heifers, I would recommend gains of about 1.5 to 2 lbs/day. To achieve these gains, feed the following:

1.7% of calf body weight as concentrate (whole shelled corn plus a feedlot supplement according to bag instructions) plus 2 lb/head/day of hay. For example: 

If your calves average 400 lbs, feed 6.3 lbs of whole shelled corn +.5 lbs of commercial 50% protein supplement + 2 lbs of hay.

If your calves average 500 lbs, feed 8 lbs of whole shelled corn + .5 lbs of commercial 50% protein supplement + 2 lbs of hay.

If your calves average 600 lbs, feed 9.7 lbs of whole shelled corn +.5 lbs of commercial 50% protein supplement + 2 lbs of hay.

If your calves average 700 lbs, feed 11.4 lbs of whole shelled corn +.5 lbs of commercial 50% protein supplement + 2 lbs of hay.

It will be an advantage if you have enough bunk space for all calves to eat at once. Adjust grain intake every two weeks based on expected increase in body weight at your target ADG (21-28 lbs gain every 14 days for 1.5-2 lb/d ADG). This means every 14 days, increase corn Intake by about .4 lbs/head.

-Steve Loerch
 Animal Science Department, OARDC

back to top
 

Forestry Field Day
If you own a woodlot and would like to increase the value of your trees, plan on attending the Tri-County Forestry field day scheduled for Monday, October 21 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Randy and Koral Clum Tree Farm in Harrison County.

The topic for this field day will be crop tree release, which is the concept of selecting trees, and providing them the space they need to thrive in your woods.

Registration for this field day is $25.00 and includes lunch, morning refreshments and handout materials. Registration is due by October 14. See the registration flyer attached for more information.

Sincerely,
 

Mike Hogan Extension Agent Agriculture & Natural Resources  Community Development

Ken Simeral Extension Agent Agriculture & Natural Resources Community Development

tr

Trade names are supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University is implied.

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.

OSU Extension will provide accommodations to handicapped persons needing assistance to participate in Extension programs. If you require some type of assistance/accommodations to attend programs, utilize written materials or visit the Carroll, Harrison, or Jefferson County Extension Offices, please contact that office or TTD#1-800-589-8292.

Visit Ohio State University Extension’s WWW site “Ohioline” at: hhtp:/www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioline/
back to top

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.
TDD # 1 (800) 589-8292 (Ohio only) or (614) 292-1868