1

Extending the Grazing Season with Fall Forages

A dry summer has left many Pike County livestock producers worried about

ample hay to make it through the winter. Several producers reported not getting

a second cutting until late July/early August and a significantly lower yield to

boot. Thankfully, we were blessed with one of the wettest Augusts on record.

This has allowed most operations to recover from the drought and feel a little

more confident about their ability to make it through the next season. However,

a surplus is not likely to be seen in most barns. This scenario is a great time to

implement fall forages.

Fall forages typically include brassicas such as foraging turnips, radished or

rape. These seeds usually require minimal seed prep and very little cost.

Simply disking to scratch the surface so soil to seed contact can me made and

sowing with a broadcast seeder are the only requirements. Producers should

understand that cattle will require some time acquiring a taste for brassicas.

Simply allowing the herd short opportunities to sample the forage in a smaller

pen a few days should help with this process. Many producers who implement

this forage system also claim that the first frost will change the sugar in the

leaves and they become much more palatable. Producers who are interested in

implementing these forages should plan to sow by mid-September for October

grazing. Depending on climate and when they are sowed, regrowth could occur

in time for a second grazing. The other benefit to planting brassicas is the

organic matter left by the uneaten turnips or radishes.

Small grains and ryegrass can be drilled along with brassicas, however, they

do not succeed as well with broadcasting. Another option is stockpiling warm

season grasses. Bermuda, Bahia, Dallasgrass, and others should be in the

process now. Stockpiling for these grasses begins in August. However, now is

the right time to stockpile fescue. Begin by grazing low or bush hogging/cutting

to 4 inches. Fertilize with 60 lbs of Nitrogen /ac. This reserved field should be

ready for grazing in November and will last until January. Other warm season

grasses should be grazed by mid-December. Another advantage of stockpiling

is saving money that normally would have been used to cut and bale hay.

Nothing is more nutritious than grass. Very little nutrient loss is seen in

stockpiling. For more information about fall forages, visit uaex.edu.

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Pike County Farm and Garden

Inside this Issue

Cover- Reducing Waste,

Increasing Gain.: Winter

Feeding Tips

Page 2- Gardening Ba-

sics: Soil Health

Page 2– Privet Control

Demo

Page 3– Ag Demonstra-

tion Summary

Back– Calendar and Pro-

gramming Schedule

Inside this Issue

Cover- Reducing Waste,

Increasing Gain.: Winter

Feeding Tips

Page 2- Gardening Ba-

sics: Soil Health

Page 2– Privet Control

Demo

Page 3– Ag Demonstra-

tion Summary

Back– Calendar and Pro-

gramming Schedule

Inside this Issue

Cover– Extending the Graz-

ing Season with Fall Forages

Page 2- Combating

armyworms in the pasture,

field, and yard

Page 3– Controlling Asian

Lady Beetles

Page 3– Fall Gardening Tips

Back– Calendar and Pro-

gramming Schedule

The University of Arkansas

System Division of Agriculture

offers all its Extension and Re-

search programs to all eligible

persons without regard to race,

color, sex, gender identity,

sexual orientation, national

origin, religion, age, disability,

marital or veteran status, ge-

netic information, or any other

legally protected status, and is

an Affirmative Action/Equal

Opportunity Employer.

Terrell Davis, Staff Chair

County Ag Agent

Pike County

Cooperative Extension Service

UAEX.EDU/PIKE

2

Combating Fall Armyworms in the

Pasture, Field, and Lawn

By the looks of things, you might start to

think that Pike County is Fall Armyworm

heaven. Since mid June, several producers

and homeowners have battled these

natural little lawnmowers. Traditional

treatment options, such as Lambda-cy,

only give short term control. More

expensive, long residual options, such as

Besiege and Prevathon, are available in

limited or on order basis. A growing

number of producers are tank mixing

Lambda-cy and Dimlin to provide short and

long term control. Research has shown

that producers can expect to see at least

21 days of control with the long residual

options. For most hay producers, this

allows enough time to get a crop with a 30

day cutting schedule.

Pastures see very little benefit from long

term residual options. The residual is

contained in the leaves. When the leaves

are cut or eaten, there is no more residual

in the plant. Therefore, the more cost

efficient short term control options will likely

be the best bet for pastures.

Even though Restricted Use Pesticides are

off the table, Homeowners have several

options too. For lawns and gardens, carbaryl (Sevin), cyfluthrin (Bayer Advanced), and permethrin are good

options. Important tips include spraying when worms are first found. Waiting over night can become a costly

mistake. Knowing their life cycle as this is key to

control. Moths will lay eggs at the base of the plant.

These will hatch in 3-4 days. The larva will eat for

around 14 days and go back underground. They will

pupate for 7-13 days and emerge as adults. The cycle

typically goes on from mid-June to early-October. Fall

Armyworms cannot over winter in Arkansas. Therefore,

they migrate each year from the coast to Arkansas.

Due to this migration pattern, South Arkansas normally

suffers from infestation first. Tropical storms also bring

an influx of moths to our area. Therefore, producers

and homeowners should scout a few days after a

tropical storm comes through our area. As a side note,

wildlife plots are not exempt to damage. Hunter’s

should also scout for infestations. For more information

visit uaex.edu or contact the Pike Co Cooperative

Extension Service 870-285-2161.

3

Around the House…

Multi colored Asian Lady Beetles

Our rural lifestyle is the envy of

many city dwellers. However, fall

has become a dreaded time of

year for those of us who get

invaded by a swarm of Asian

Lady Beetles. This Ladybug look

alike has some significant

differences from their native

compadres. ALB are much more

aggressive and will bite. They

come in a variety of colors and

shades. They also have a slightly

difference body shape.

A common myth is that local

timber companies imported ALB

to be a beneficial insect.

However, ALB and Ladybugs only

eat soft bodied insects such as

aphids, spider mites, and

mealybugs. Common timber

pests such as Southern Pine

Beetles and Sirex Woodwasps

are not on the ALB menu.

A few things that attract ALB into

homes include contrasting color.

White siding with dark trim is a

classic example of a color

scheme that becomes suspect for

invasion. Homes close to a timber

line or a large garden also attract

ALB. They spend all summer in

their natural environment preying

on damaging insects. When

temperatures began to fall, they

look for the closest attic or other

tight spaces to overwinter.

Homeowners may wish to spray

the perimeter of their homes with

an insecticide before an invasion

happens. Generic home sprays

with permethrin should do the

trick. Chemicals inside the home

are not recommended. Killing the

insects inside the home

encourages other pests to enter

for a free meal.

Some preventative steps to

keeping your home ALB free

include: sealing off any cracks

around windows and doors, using

mesh screens on windows, and

fixing any leaks around the home.

Sanitation is a key factor in

defending your home. Any food

particles will be seen as a food

source. Using sealed containers

for items left on the counter will

also keep pests at bay. Don’t

forget about your pets. Leaving

food available for extended

periods of time will also serve as

an attractant.

If all else fails and your find

yourself with new guests, use a

vacuum to get them packing.

Place a stocking in the vacuum

hose for easy cleanup. Tie off the

end and throw it away.

Imported Fire Ants

Fire Ants are by no means a new

discovery in our neck of the

woods. Eradication is not a reality

and we have accepted them as a

part of life. However, several

good control means still exists.

Research has shown that treating

the whole yard with a fire ant bait,

waiting for results for 2 weeks ,

then controlling individual mounts

works best. To determine if fire

ants are active, place a piece of

hotdog wiener or a saltine cracker

on the mount. If they are foraging,

they will likely take the bait. Do

not apply if the ground temp is

below 65 F or within 12 hours of

rain. If you have automatic

sprinklers, turn them off. Treating

right after mowing the lawn is also

a bad idea. The ants should be

calm and simply doing their job–

finding food. The goal is to take

the bait to the queen. Ants can’t

fight and forage at the same time.

Most control measures are

labelled as an IGR. Insect Growth

Regulators alter the growth

pattern of an insect. They either

inhibit the insect from reaching

maturity or they speed up the

process and skip reproduction

(puberty) from ever happening.

Extinguish has shown to be very

effective against fire ants. Other

options include Amdro, Advion,

and Siesta. Always read product

labels for rate and application

restrictions.

Fall Garden Crops

It’s time to get that fall garden

planted. Several greens and

lettuce varieties do great in the

fall. Of course, radishes and

turnips are a Pike Co favorite.

It is also a great time to take soil

samples and bring them by the

office. The service is free to

Arkansas residents. Remember

to take several cores throughout

the lawn/garden and mix them

together to create your sample.

We need at least one pint of soil

for the lab. Samples are mailed

on Mondays, Tuesdays, and

Wednesdays. When we receive

your results back, we will interpret

them and mail them to you.

Lastly, many gardens have had

problems with common

diseases the last few years. You

might consider utilizing

solarization to kill these

organisms this winter. A sheet of

black plastic works well.

4

To prune or not to prune..

Well there are actually a lot of

questions. Why are you pruning?

Some ornamentals just simply

don’t require a haircut every year.

First, think of health of the shrub or

tree. Always start a pruning job

with the idea of removing dead and

diseased plant tissue first. Then,

look for weak branches that might

not be able to hold flowers or fruit.

Are there any crossing branches?

These rubbing branches will

eventually create an open wound

that invite all the pathogens into

the party. Typically the scenerio

goes like this– stress invites

pathogens, disease kills tissue,

bugs eat dead tissue, birds eat

bugs, and finally a dead shrub.

A handful of shrubs and trees go

rouge. They need a trimming to

keep their shape. However, most

ornamentals do just fine with their

natural shape. Consider a plants’

natural tendencies when designing

your landscape. Just like us, they

don’t want to be formed into

another shape. They like it best

when they get to be their self.

Pruning can be used to encourage

new growth. Hedges need lots of

pruning to

create a

dense

network of

branching.

Large voids

in a hedge

become the

perfect place

to lodge

birds and

insects. One

storm or

dead spot

and the

whole hedge

can be made

useless.

Pruning can

also increase

the number

of blooms

your

flowering

shrub

creates. But

be careful to

not prune the

wrong time of year. Some shrubs

produce buds on new growth.

Others use old growth and should

not be pruned after buds have

been set. Refer to the chart to

determine if you should prune or

not. To learn more about pruning,

refer to MP167 available at

uaex.edu or your local Cooperative

Extension Service office.

Upcoming Programming………..

Pike Co Fair and Livestock Show– September 18-22

Youth Premium Sale– September 21 @ 10 AM

Pike Co Cattlemen’s Association– October 2, 6:30 (Mboro Municipal Building)

December 4, 6:30

Pesticide Applicator Trainings– November 26– Pike Co CES Office-2 PM and 6 PM

November 27– Newhope (TBA) 2 PM

November 27 Glenwood (TBA)- 6PM

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)-December 4– Pike CES Conference Rm– 1:00-4:00