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WERA1014: Intensive Pasture Management for Sustainable Livestock Production in the Western US

Annual/Termination Reports (SAES-422): [12/20/0201] [11/14/2008] [11/17/2009] [11/15/2012]

Date of Annual Report: 12/20/0201

Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 10/10/11 to 10/11/11
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2010 to 10/2011

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    Day 1: The meeting was hosted by Tim Woodward (CBC) and Steve Fransen (WSU) and was held at the Columbia Basin College in Pasco, WA. This was the fourth year the meeting was held in conjunction with the PNW Forage Workers annual meeting. This was the second year, it occurred in the same location as and just prior to the Western County Agents Regional Professional Development meetings. Each participant provided a brief update/report on current forage research and educational programs they are currently involved with. Guest speaker, Rick Orris, from the local US Department of Energy lab, came and talked to the group about the conversion processes of biomass (forage) to fuels and the work their lab is conducting in this area. Oregon State University researcher, Don Horneck, presented new data on nitrogen fertilizer volatilization.

    Day 2: Steve Fransen began a discussion and proposal that the group work to develop a Timothy Production Handbook. The format would be a book, similar to the recently published Pasture and Grazing management in the Northwest handbook. He has had verbal confirmation of some financial support from Hay growers in WA and OR and would ask Idaho as well. The group agreed that there is not a current extensive resource regarding timothy production and that we should work on putting one together. Following the discussion, those present volunteered to take the lead on a particular chapter for the publication. Chanda Engel, Steve Fransen, and Glenn Shewmaker gave a brief overview to the group on the mission and objectives of the NIRS (Near Infrared Spectroscopy) Consortium. The WERA1014 members present went through the goals and mission of the group; evaluating what is being done to meet them and if there are any changes that need to be made. The meeting finished with a discussion on how to increase participation and the diversity of the group, to encompass producers as well as more animal scientists and other agencies. The discussion included potential barriers to participation which included limited travel dollars (only one delegate from each university is provided with travel funds) as a big factor as well as time. Group members were encouraged to talk to colleagues and clientele and conduct outreach to inform them about the group and invite them to participate.

    Accomplishments:
    Birdsfoot trefoil was seeded in August of 2011 in cooperation with Aurora Organic Dairy that will be grazed by their dairy cows in 2012 and 2013 to demonstrate the unique forage quality traits of trefoil. This is part of the grant entitled Improved Organic Milk Production through the Use of the Condensed Tannin-Containing Forage Legume Birdsfoot Trefoil which is a cooperative effort among researchers from Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado.

    A second year of yield and forage quality data was collected for the project entitled Reducing Nitrogen Fertilizer Inputs to Irrigated Pastures and Hayfields by Interseeding Legumes. This is a cooperative project among researchers from Colorado, Idaho, and Oregon. A presentation on preliminary findings will be given at the Western Alfalfa and Forage Conference to be held in Las Vegas, NV in December 2011. Results to date suggest that producers should interseed vigorous legumes such as alfalfa or red clover and suppress the existing vegetation with Roundup herbicide prior to seeding to improve establishment success.

    A 3-day grazing school was held in September for 21 graduate students in the Western Center for Integrated Resource Management and Beef Management Systems programs at Colorado State University. The goal of the school was to provide students with hands-on training in practical management of irrigated pastures. The University of Idahos Lost River Grazing Academy conducted two management intensive grazing schools for producers from across the US. A spin off of the Academy was also conducted in Wyoming in 2011.

    A SARE professional development grant to provide training on pasture management will be carried out by researchers and extension personnel from Idaho, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and Montana. A publication on defoliation will also be an outcome of this endeavor. A symposium on defoliation was conducted at the ASA meetings.

    Utah received a $75,000 NRCS Conservation innovation grant to do demonstration work with four producers and look at the economics of grazing beef on birdsfoot trefoil monoculture pastures.

    Oregon is investigating potential spring use, yield and quality of winter cereal pastures. A group of researchers and investigators at OSU are also working to develop a grass finished beef project in Oregon.

    Two WERA members, one from Oregon and one from Idaho, have started blogs to disseminate livestock and forage information to producers and peers.

    Impact Statements:
    Last Modified: 20-Dec-2011

    Date of Annual Report: 11/14/2008

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 10/02/08 to 10/02/08
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2007 to 09/2008

    • Participants:

    URL: Copy of participant list
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:

    URL: Copy of minutes
    Accomplishments:
    Accomplishment Report -

    Objective 1 -

    Colorado - Joe Brummer presented information and preliminary results from 3 projects that have implications for grazing:

    1. Evaluation of yield and quality of 4 grasses or grass mixtures grown under simulated grazing in conjunction with 4 legumes or with 3 levels of composted dairy manure (0, 5, or 10 tons/ac). Tall fescue or mixes with tall fescue in them had the greatest yields in the first year of production. Compost additions stimulated more growth, especially of the pure tall fescue stands. 2. Evaluation of 15 cool-season grasses for yield and quality when grown under 3 irrigation regimes (full, spring and fall, or spring only). This was the establishment year and no data were taken, but results have application for use as hay, pasture, or cellulosic biofuel. 3. Evaluation of perennial legumes for use as living mulches in annual cropping systems such as corn. This system has many potential benefits, one being the production of a value added crop for fall grazing. The clover provides a high protein source and the corn stover provides a high energy source, so the diet is more balanced. Suppression of the legume is essential to avoid yield reductions of the annual crop. Strip tillage in conjunction with herbicide applications appears to be the best method of suppressing the legume in trials where corn was grown.

    Idaho - Several research and extension people attended the meeting from Idaho and reported on projects applicable to the group:

    Christi Falen reported on some demonstration work that looked at the use of various annual forages to extend the grazing season in the early spring and fall/winter time period as well as during the summer slump. She investigated turnips, turnip/oats, triticale/peas, Willow Creek winter wheat, pearl millet, and teff. Sheep refused the teff but liked the turnip/oat combination for grazing. On the other hand, cattle loved the teff. The winter wheat appeared to be well suited to fill the early spring forage void.

    Chad Cheyney reported that the emphasis at the Nancy Cummings Research and Extension Center was moving away from irrigated pasture to more livestock reproduction and genetics. Although this change is being implemented, there was some limited plot work looking at using warm-season annuals for fall and winter grazing. The use of various annual forages to extend the grazing season appeared to be a common theme among a number of those in attendance.

    Glenn Shoemaker and a former graduate student reported on the use of various techniques to measure standing biomass in irrigated pastures. As would be expected, some of the techniques were better at predicting actual standing crop compared to others. One of the goals was to calibrate the Missouri Pasture Stick for use under Idaho conditions. It appears that the pasture stick can be used to estimate standing biomass if adjustments are made.

    Montana - Dennis Cash reported that Montana does not currently have any research personnel in forages, so he had only a few things to report on that he is doing as the extension specialist. He is evaluating Willow Creek winter wheat for spring grazing which has been successful with results similar to those from Idaho. He also surveyed 12 alfalfa stands for persistence in relationship to management and found that producers often do not follow appropriate practices to prolong stand life in lieu of short term yield gains.

    North Dakota - Paul Nyren reported on several grazing projects of interest to the group. They are investigating the use of smorgasbord plantings (multiple species) for fall grazing. Varieties of forage turnips and radishes have been successful. They are also looking at swath grazing of foxtail millet and creep grazing of turnips and a variety of other forages.

    Oregon - Mylen Bohle is doing some work with T-sum as a tool to determine the optimum time to fertilize grass pastures and hayfields. It has better application on the west side of the Cascades. He has also been doing some work in conjunction with grass variety trials looking at the effect of severity of clipping at the end of the season on forage production and quality the following year. Shelby Filley has been doing some work on fertilizing grass pastures with selenium in low selenium areas to bring the concentration up in the forage. This approach has been successful. Steve Norberg has been doing some teff trials. He has noticed poor germination when using coated seed.

    Utah - Jennifer MacAdam reported on her work looking at the use of birdsfoot trefoil for grazing. She presented some very interesting preliminary data. Birdsfoot trefoil contains tannins that not only prevent bloat, but also increase the amount of by-pass protein in the forage. She is investigating trefoil varieties with varying levels of tannins and recorded gains between 3 and 5 lbs per day for steers grazing the birdsfoot trefoil variety with the highest tannin content. She also documented lower milk urea nitrogen when dairy cows grazed pastures high in birdsfoot trefoil.

    Objective 2 -

    Colorado - Two forage extension publications are currently being revised with anticipated publication in the spring of 2009. One is a forage guide that describes basic establishment and management of forages and contains descriptions of the major forage species that can be grown in Colorado. This publication is targeted for small acreage landowners. The second is a more in depth forage production manual that is targeted for distribution to extension agents, NRCS field personnel, crop consultants, large scale producers, etc. It is designed to specifically serve producers in western Colorado and other intermountain states.

    Idaho - The Lost River Grazing Academy was held in the spring of 2008 with 19 in attendance. This has been a very successful extension program over the years. Approximately 200 people have received training in the area of Management Intensive Grazing (MIG) of irrigated pastures. After attending the 4-day academy, several participants made changes to their operation and have gone from operating in the red to positive cash flow. One goal of this WERA is to bring the Lost River Grazing Academy to other states or produce materials that extension agents and specialists in other states can use to put on similar programs.

    North Dakota - The Central Grasslands Research and Extension Center at Streeter, ND puts out a yearly extension type publication that is inserted into several local newspapers with an annual circulation of about 50,000. This has proven to be an excellent method of distributing research based information to the general public and could serve as a model for other institutions to follow.

    Objective 3 -

    Oregon - David Hannaway at Oregon State University maintains the Forage Information System website that serves as a clearinghouse for forage related information. On his site, he has a list of seed venders, certified seed growers, and legume seed inoculant companies and their contact information. As with any large database, it is always difficult to keep information up to date. Instead of starting another website for dissemination of this type of information, we decided at the meeting that everyone should review the information on the FIS website for their respective state and pass any additions or corrections on to David in an effort to keep the site up to date and satisfy part of this objective.

    For small quantities of legume inoculant, John Kosanke at the Nitragin Co. can be contacted at: john.kosanke@emdcropbioscience.com.

    Impact Statements:
    1. . Analysis of Utah alfalfa hay samples shows that digestibility of the fiber fraction typically ranges between 45-55 percent. An example of the potential economic impact of knowing the extent of fiber digestibility for a particular forage source is that an increase of 5 percentage units in fiber digestibility of alfalfa hay fed to dairy cattle can be expected to return an additional daily increment of approximately 150 lb of milk per ton of hay. This value of approximately $20 in milk per ton of hay is not predicted from traditional forage tests that ignore fiber digestibility, and represents previously unrecognized value to the hay purchaser or profit to the hay seller. Given the range of approximately 300 lb of milk production potential per ton of dry matter associated with commonly-observed levels of fiber digestibility in Utah alfalfa hay, analysis of fiber digestibility can improve economic returns in forage markets.
    2. Total ownership costs for cows utilizing a pasture-based forage system have been estimated to be approximately $600/head when pasture comprises at least 45% of the forage year, substantially less than the total cost of $750/head under traditional systems. Milk costs can be reduced by 20% utilizing intensively managed irrigated pastures and by providing approximately 16 pounds/day of concentrate. Improved pastures can potentially reduce feed costs by $12.5 million for Utahs dairy producers. Over $42 million in feed costs could be saved in the process of raising dairy heifers. Irrigated pastures can potentially reduce cattle feed costs by $21 to $30 million.
    3. . It is estimated that total feed cost for normally weaned calves (including the feed for the mother cow) was approximately $411/hd. Adding non-feed costs (less than $300/hd) results in total ownership costs of less than $700/hd. Cow/calf pairs wintered on a low quality forage (i.e., ammoniated straw, grass hay, standing corn stalks) resulted in earnings in excess of $100/hd relative to traditional alfalfa hay operations (less than $25/hd). Milk costs (on a per cwt basis) could be reduced by approximately 20% by utilizing intensively managed, rotational pastures along with traditional confined feeding using a total mixed ration (TMR).
    Last Modified: 03-Feb-2009

    Date of Annual Report: 11/17/2009

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 09/29/09 to 10/01/09
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2008 to 09/2009

    • Participants:

    URL: Copy of participant list
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:

    URL: Copy of minutes
    Accomplishments:
    Objective 1 -

    Grants submitted - As a result of discussions at last years meeting, two multistate grant applications were submitted by members of WERA 1014. Being the lead PI, Jennifer MacAdam reported on the content and status of the first grant. This was a cooperative project among Utah (Jennifer), Idaho (Glenn), Wyoming (Anawar), and Colorado (Joe). It was submitted to the Organic Agriculture Research Initiative to do on-farm research with primarily Organic Valley Milk producers looking at the impacts of grazing birdsfoot trefoil (or feeding sainfoin hay) on production and fatty acid composition of the milk. The grant was not funded but got high marks, so it will be revised and resubmitted in 2010.

    The second grant was a cooperative project among Colorado (Joe), Idaho (Glenn), and Oregon (Chanda). Joe Brummer was the lead PI. This project was submitted through the Western SARE program in the Producer/Professional grant category to look at ways of interseeding various legumes into grass dominated pastures to reduce reliance on expensive commercial fertilizers. Again, this proposal received high marks, but was not funded. It will be resubmitted in the 2010 call for proposals.

    State Reports/Updates -

    Colorado - Joe Brummer gave an update on the 3 projects he reported on last year (see previous report). 1.) Productivity and regrowth of the grass mixtures evaluated was reduced in 2009 compared to 2008. This was probably due to environmental conditions (cool, wet spring/early summer) and nitrogen deficiency caused by compost rates being too low (i.e. poor compost that was low in nitrogen). Legumes were part of some of the mixes, but they have been slow to establish. The various legumes (alfalfa, sainfoin, birdsfoot trefoil, and white clover) were finally starting to contribute to total yield by the 4th and 5th harvests following interseeding in the spring. 2.) This was the first year of harvest for the 15 cool-season grasses. Not unexpectedly, tall, intermediate, and pubescent wheatgrasses were the top yielding species from the late-June harvest. However, it was surprising that the 2 tall fescue varieties evaluated were on the bottom of the yield scale. Tall fescue is not always the most palatable grass, but it is generally one of the highest yielding in Colorado under irrigation. 3.) Based on a preliminary evaluation of legume species suitable for use as living mulches in Colorado, it appears that birdsfoot trefoil is very resilient once established, especially to applications of Roundup for suppression.

    Idaho - Glenn Shewmaker gave an update on the work he and a graduate student did looking at the relationships among sward height, light interception, and herbage mass. The falling plate meter resulted in an R2 = 0.75. They found that the tables from Missouri on the grazing stick where close to the ones they developed, so the relationships appear to hold regardless of environment.

    Oregon - Since the meeting was held in Oregon, there were a number of presentations given by extension and research personnel that relate to this group. For a complete list, please refer to the minutes from 2009. Following are some of the highlights:

    Shelby Filley updated the group on her efforts to assess the mineral content of selected forages from producer fields in western Oregon. Zinc and copper are commonly deficient in forages from western Oregon. She is also evaluating the relationship between recommendations that come from the OSU Soils Lab and what producers actually apply in their fertilizer program.

    Sam Angima presented information on his work looking at forage production under thinned stands of Douglas-fir forest. These areas can be quite productive for grazing as producers wait for the trees to reestablish over time. Orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, and bentgrass have been seeded and fertilized with 75 lbs/ac of nitrogen with a carrying capacity of 4 to 6 acres per cow-calf pair.

    Gene Pirelli gave an update on the work he and Andy Hulting are doing looking at wild barley (Hare barley) control in pastures. This is an annual, cool-season, non-native grass that is very difficult to control when it invades grass dominated pastures. Many of the herbicides evaluated had little effect on the barley (Pre-emerge: Define, Prowl, Dual, Outlook, Accent, and KIH-485). Plateau works but the timing and potential for injury of other grasses is of concern. Milestone appears to just suppress the barley. Post-emerge, Raptor or Raptor plus MCPA looks the most promising. Other post-emerge herbicides (Maverick, Clearmax, Chaparral, and Callisto) had little effect.

    Chanda Engle reported on her work with brassicas and radishes to extend the grazing season. A number of the species/varieties that she tested look promising. Iodine (400 to 500 ppm) may have to be added to the trace mineral mix when grazing these forages to avoid thyroid problems. She also reported on her work with T-Sum as it relates to nitrogen fertilizer responses on mountain meadows. Troy Downing works with Oregon dairy producers on topics such as waste and fertility management, the nitrogen cycle on farms, forages for pasture, and the energy that can be derived from forages to meet the needs of dairy cows.

    Mylen Bohle gave an update on his work with clover and winter grain mites in grass pastures. He then presented some detailed information on the cost of replacing soil fertility due to removal of hay in alfalfa production fields.

    Tom Nichols gave an overview of current work going on at the Sheep Center. They have a project looking at drenches to supply selenium to animals to offset low levels in the forage. They are also looking at ways to interseed brassicas for feeding lambs during the summer, fall, and early winter. They have been struggling with poor stands and weed problems and feel that more seedbed preparation is needed to be successful. Purple-top turnips are preferred by deer.

    Utah - Jennifer MacAdam gave an update on her work with birdsfoot trefoil as a source of bypass protein and possible parasite control. Many varieties of BFT contain up to 2% tannin on a dry weight basis which binds with some of the protein in the rumen causing it to bypass to the small intestine where it can be digested. Tannin content is higher in the spring and lowers over the growing season. Norcen is a lower tannin variety and AU Dewey is a high tannin variety. Sainfoin also contains tannins which act much the same way as those in BFT. Improved weight gain and lower milk urea nitrogen are 2 of the possible benefits to beef and dairy cows that graze pastures containing BFT.

    Objective 2 -

    Colorado - The two forage extension publications described last year did not make it to publication in the spring of 2009 as anticipated. They are on track to be published in the spring of 2010. The first one describes basic establishment and management of forages and contains descriptions of the major forage species that can be grown in Colorado. This publication is targeted for small acreage landowners. The second is a more in depth forage production manual that is targeted for distribution to extension agents, NRCS field personnel, crop consultants, large scale producers, etc. It is designed to specifically serve producers in western Colorado and other intermountain states. Pasture Renovation: Dormant Season Seeding, West Greeley Conservation District Small Acreage Workshop, Greeley, Colorado. The following extension presentations were given at various meetings: Potential Benefits of Living Mulch Cropping Systems (17 and 30 participants), Factors Affecting Forage Quality (90 participants), Hay Testing: What the Numbers Mean and Ways to Improve Them (80 participants), Forage Research Update (30 participants), Interseeding Pastures and Hayfields (25 participants), Pasture and Hayfield Fertility (25 participants), Forage Research Update: Alfalfa and Living Mulches (20 participants).

    Idaho - The Lost Rivers Grazing Academy (LRGA) was held again last year. To date, there have been over 250 participants from 13 states and 3 foreign countries. Participants have been able to put what they learned to use to increase forage and livestock numbers, reduce their costs and debt load by feeding less hay and using less or no machinery, thereby improving their net ranch profitability. The next academy will be held June 15-18, 2010 at the Eagle Valley Ranch 8 miles south of Salmon, Idaho at a cost of $450 (includes meals and all materials, but not the room). A booth displaying details of the upcoming LRGA is planned for the Organic Dairy Conference in Twin Falls, Idaho in October 2009 and at the 4th Grassland Conference in Reno, Nevada in mid-December 2009. Glenn Shewmaker reported that the Northwest Pasture Management Guide is scheduled to be done by December 31, 2009

    Oregon - Troy Downing presented 5 forage related extension talks: Managing forage inventories in your grazing operation (23 participants), Choosing the correct variety and species for your site (18 participants), Improving the energy in pastures (90 participants), and Fiber digestibility in cool season grasses (65 and 14 participants). Chanda Engle presented Grazing management for horse owners to 40 participants at a Horse Pack Clinic. Oregon is also in the planning process to establish an Oregon Forage and Grassland Council which will include representatives and members from private industry and the university.

    Utah - Jennifer MacAdam presented 2 posters shortly after our meeting this year. One at the Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance meeting in Twin Falls, Idaho, October 12-13, 2009 and the other at the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council Mid-Atlantic Grass-Fed Conference in Staunton, VA, October 23-24. The first meeting had approximately 200 attendees and the second had 250.

    Objective 3 - The group agreed to continue to send information to David Hannaway at Oregon State University so he can keep the Forage Information System that he maintains as up-to-date as possible (see previous report).

    Impact Statements:
    1. Lost Rivers Grazing Academy (Idaho): Continues to be a very successful extension program that teaches individuals how to make a profit grazing livestock on irrigated pastures. To date, there have been over 250 participants from 13 states and 3 foreign countries. Participants have been able to put what they learned to use to increase forage and livestock numbers and reduce their costs and debt load by feeding less hay and using less or no machinery, thereby improving their net ranch profitability.
    2. Measuring Pasture Productivity (Shewmaker, Idaho): The falling plate meter resulted in an R2 = 0.75 between yield and height of the plate. They also found that the tables from Missouri on the grazing stick where close to the ones they developed, so the relationships appear to hold regardless of environment. The grazing stick is a quick and easy method that producers can use to determine pasture yield at any point in time to aid them in adjusting stocking rates.
    3. Secondary Compound Research (Provenza, Utah): Endophyte-infected Kentucky-31 tall fescue grows on 14 million hectares of pasture land in the U.S. and causes losses exceeding $500 million annually. Stable complexes form between alkaloids and tannins and alkaloids and saponins. When cattle eat forage with either tannins (BFT) or saponins (ALF), they will subsequently eat more forage with alkaloids (TF). Our ongoing research suggests consumption of alfalfa and trefoil can increase nutrient intake and digestion, reducing fescue toxicity by tannins and saponins binding with alkaloids.
    4. Stocker Liveweight Gain Study (MacAdam, Utah): In the first 28-day grazing cycle, feedlot-level gains of 5 lbs. per day were achieved on the high-tannin birdsfoot trefoil. In the second 28-day grazing cycle, BFT produced 3.5 lb per day gain.
    5. Birdsfoot Trefoil Dairy Cooperator Study (MacAdam, Utah): During the first 8 days of grazing on birdsfoot trefoil, milk urea nitrogen dropped from 17 to 12.
    Last Modified: 17-Nov-2009

    Date of Annual Report: 11/15/2012

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 10/01/12 to 10/03/12
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2011 to 09/2012

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    Day 1: This years meeting was hosted by Glenn Shewmaker from the University of Idaho and was held at the USDA-ARS Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory (NWISRL) located near Kimberly, Idaho. This was the fifth year the meeting was held in conjunction with the Pacific Northwest Forage Workers Group annual meeting and the third year it occurred in the same location as (and just prior to) the Western County Agents Regional Professional Development meeting. Consolidating these meetings saves on travel expenses and leads to better collaboration among those involved in forage research and extension.

    Dr. Dave Bjorneberg, Director of the NWISRL, gave a brief overview of the station, personnel involved, and their areas of research focus. The station has 4 focus areas: soil nutrient management in irrigated cropping systems, water management aimed at reducing the footprint of irrigated agriculture, reducing air emissions associated with animal feeding operations, and sugar beet genetics and diseases. Glenn Shewmaker gave an overview of the University of Idaho Kimberly Research and Extension Center. This was originally a dry bean research facility, but has branched out into other areas such as corn, potatoes, sugar beets, and forages.

    Chanda Engel relinquished her role as chairman of the WERA 1014 committee since she moved from Oregon State University to North Dakota State University in 2012. Joe Brummer, former chairman of the committee, stepped in to conduct the meeting this year. He reported that the project is up for reauthorization in 2013 which requires a new proposal to be submitted early in 2013. Jennifer MacAdam agreed to draft a new project proposal with the help of Joe Brummer and Anowar Islam. Anowar was elected to chair the meeting in 2013 as it will be held somewhere in Wyoming in conjunction with the Western County Agents Regional Professional Development meeting.

    The development of a timothy production manual was discussed by Glenn Shewmaker. This is a project being headed up by Steve Fransen from Washington State University. The different chapters to be included in the manual were discussed and tentative writing assignments were given out.

    Glenn Shewmaker discussed the professional development training held in Salmon, Idaho in August 2012 for individuals (Extension, NRCS, etc.) involved with forages. There were 30 participants at this training with additional trainings planned in Fort Collins, Colorado (August 21-23, 2013) and west of the Cascades (Salem?) in the spring of 2014. There is the potential to hold a fourth training in western Wyoming, Utah, or Montana in the spring of 2013. This is a Western SARE funded project.

    At the request of the participants, April Leytem with the ARS gave a brief overview of her work in Idaho evaluating emissions from dairies in the area. She indicated that New Zealand is an excellent source of information on greenhouse gasses associated with dairies, especially NOx.

    Day 2: The first half of the morning was spent on individual state reports from Oregon  Mylen Bohle, Idaho  Glenn Shewmaker, Washington  Steve Norberg, Utah  Earl Creech and Jennifer MacAdam, Wyoming  Anowar Islam, and Colorado  Joe Brummer. During the second half of the morning, Christi Falen (UI Extension) gave an update on her work with annual forages to extend the grazing season, Amber Moore (UI Soils specialist) presented on cover crops and calculating nitrogen credits, and Steve Hines (UI Extension) gave an overview of results from his corn silage trials.

    A tour was held in the afternoon where participants visited forage research plots at the UI Kimberly Research and Extension Center. Two types of interseeding drills were demonstrated and participants were able to view and discuss various types of cover crops being grown for forage. The Stolzfus grazing-based dairy was visited later that day along with their associated Clover Leaf Creamery. This was a very interesting overview of a fully integrated small-scale dairy operation. The day ended with a barbeque at the home of Glenn and Bev Shewmaker.

    Accomplishments:
    Utah  Jennifer MacAdam is evaluating the impact of birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) on milk quality parameters such as yield, protein, fat, milk urea nitrogen content (MUN), and somatic cell count (SCC) in organic dairy systems. Cows grazing BFT tended to produce more milk with higher protein and fat contents. MUN did not change significantly, but SCC was reduced. She also is looking at steers grazing BFT pastures and measured gains from 2.34 to 3.63 lbs/day. Earl Creech from Utah conducted a feeding study comparing teff versus alfalfa based diets with no significant difference between the 2 forage types. A revision of the Intermountain Planting Guide is currently in the works.

    Oregon  Mylen Bohle reported that hay fields in Oregon are starting to show potassium (K) deficiencies. He plans on initiating a rate trial on orchardgrass in the spring of 2013 to document yield responses to added K. This is an issue that everyone in the West needs to be aware of as soil K levels continue to decline over time.

    Washington  Steve Norberg reported that the Latigo label was approved for weed control in teff. He is looking at soybeans for forage but reported that curing can be an issue with large yields (5 tons/ac) and poor drying conditions. He also reported that soybeans appear to suppress the root knot nematode.

    Idaho  Glenn Shewmaker evaluated light interception by orchardgrass canopies and found that when regrowth increased from 5 to 10 inches, interception of PAR increased by 33%. He also indicated that a 1 meter long light bar was too long to use easily in grazed grass canopies. The University of Idaho Forage Website contains useful tools such as a grazing wedge spreadsheet and calibrations for a Missouri type rising plate meter.

    Wyoming  Anowar Islam reported that Wyoming has released the first alfalfa variety with brown root rot resistance called Lander. They have also released Laramie annual medic as a potential winter annual with good drought and winterhardiness. This is a good pasture species, especially for sheep. Two varieties of sainfoin have also been released: Shoshone and Delaney. The final legume they have recently released is Forager spring pea. They are continuing to work on pea varieties that have good winterhardiness for Wyomings harsh environment.

    Colorado  Joe Brummer reported on a nitrogen fertility project looking at yield and quality responses to different types of protected urea fertilizers in a high elevation mountain hay meadow. After 2 years, the best yield response has been to the fall application of Nutrisphere coated urea, especially when applied at the 80 lb/ac rate.

    Impact Statements:
    Last Modified: 15-Nov-2012
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