Track 3-1-1: Multi‐Stakeholder Platforms for Addressing Grassland Issues and Sustainable Use of Forage and Grassland Resources
Using On-Farm Demonstrations to Evaluate Newly Developed Cool-Season Forages in the Southeastern USA
Description
Multiple demonstration sites throughout Florida were designed to evaluate and provide hands-on producer and county faculty access to newly developed cool-season winter forage crops that can be grown in the southeastern United States. Research funding for these projects was provided by the Dairy Research and Education Project, supported through the Georgia/Florida Dairy Industry check-off dollars. Early adopter producers interested in evaluating forages were identified for this cooperation. Long-term goals are to have the early adopter producer aid in the trialing and dissemination of information about improved varieties.
Cool-season forages for use on southeastern US livestock operations benefit the producer in providing
- highly nutritional greenchop or silage crop for livestock,
- winter cover to provide erosion and leaching protection on cultivated acreage,
- potentially recycle nutrients or remove significant nutrients from the forage system, and
- serve as a sentinel plots to help identify new or emerging pest problems related to forage production.
We also focus developing forages for both low and high end input systems that address environmental issues related to N and P in the soils. In the southeastern U.S. particularly in Florida, nitrogen and phosphorus accumulate in many production fields and these nutrients impact surface and ground water resources. We participate with the Florida Department of Agriculture and the dairy and beef cattle industry to develop “best management practices” (BMPs) that guide producers to lessen their negative impacts on the environment and improve upon their operation’s sustainability and economic returns. This effort has led to the release of new cultivars from the University of Florida’s Forage Program. While we focus, primarily, on cool-season small grains and ryegrass, our program also includes breeding other subtropical forage species for adaptation to our environment and to improve adoption of BMPs.
Citation
Wilson, Tim; Warren, Mark; Blount, Ann R.; Mackowiak, Cheryl L.; Dubeux, Jose C. B.; DeValerio, James; Wilder, Barton; Barber, Derek; and Hayter, Sydney, "Using On-Farm Demonstrations to Evaluate Newly Developed Cool-Season Forages in the Southeastern USA" (2020). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 4.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/23/3-1-1/4
Included in
Using On-Farm Demonstrations to Evaluate Newly Developed Cool-Season Forages in the Southeastern USA
Multiple demonstration sites throughout Florida were designed to evaluate and provide hands-on producer and county faculty access to newly developed cool-season winter forage crops that can be grown in the southeastern United States. Research funding for these projects was provided by the Dairy Research and Education Project, supported through the Georgia/Florida Dairy Industry check-off dollars. Early adopter producers interested in evaluating forages were identified for this cooperation. Long-term goals are to have the early adopter producer aid in the trialing and dissemination of information about improved varieties.
Cool-season forages for use on southeastern US livestock operations benefit the producer in providing
- highly nutritional greenchop or silage crop for livestock,
- winter cover to provide erosion and leaching protection on cultivated acreage,
- potentially recycle nutrients or remove significant nutrients from the forage system, and
- serve as a sentinel plots to help identify new or emerging pest problems related to forage production.
We also focus developing forages for both low and high end input systems that address environmental issues related to N and P in the soils. In the southeastern U.S. particularly in Florida, nitrogen and phosphorus accumulate in many production fields and these nutrients impact surface and ground water resources. We participate with the Florida Department of Agriculture and the dairy and beef cattle industry to develop “best management practices” (BMPs) that guide producers to lessen their negative impacts on the environment and improve upon their operation’s sustainability and economic returns. This effort has led to the release of new cultivars from the University of Florida’s Forage Program. While we focus, primarily, on cool-season small grains and ryegrass, our program also includes breeding other subtropical forage species for adaptation to our environment and to improve adoption of BMPs.
