Since the warm season plants deteriorate rapidly after frost these plants should be utilized between now and frost. Fields of big bluestem, eastern gamagrass and switchgrass were observed under grazing and hay management. Speakers from Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Fish and Wildlife and Murray State University discussed how native grasses can benefit both livestock and wildlife. Pasture condition deteriorated slightly in areas that haven't had rain for several weeks. Some eastern pastures benefitted from last weeks showers.
Hay harvest continues briskly due to hot, dry weather.
Some hay fields were suffering from lack of moisture. Again in 1999 we will kick off the Kentucky Cattlemen's Convention with a Forage Program. This committee has grown, changed, expanded over the years to the National Alfalfa Quality Committee. This task force of growers, dealers, scientists have worked hard to come up with hay standards that could be used nationally. Under 15 Quantitative factors are approximate, and many factors can affect feeding value.