Feed and Forage--Forage Supply

WHEN TO HARVEST DROUGHT-DAMAGED CROPS AND PLANTING WINTER ANNUALS

When Does It Pay to Harvest Drought-damaged Crops?

The simplest way to figure the "breakeven" yield is to compare harvest cost versus market price x yield. If the per acre value of the crop exceeds the harvest cost, then it pays to harvest. The variable costs that have already been spent on the crop are "sunk costs." That is, those costs are spent whether you harvest or not. The county extension office has enterprise budgets that will help you estimate your harvest costs for most crops.

Late-planted Summer Annuals vs Early-planted Winter Annuals

Summer annuals are one of the most expensive forages we can grow; even when planted early, with good seasonal rainfall, and managed properly. With good soil moisture, and a short-term weather forecast for continued rainfall, mid-July is about the cutoff date for late planting of summer annuals. Soybeans can make excellent forage and are better suited for late warm-season plantings.

Given the costs of summer annuals, the much reduced yields with late planting, and the weather forecast for continued dry conditions, much more consideration should be given to early planted winter annuals.

  1. Cereal rye will give the earliest grazing, followed by oats, wheat, triticale and barley. Ryegrass produces most of its growth in the spring; but is a good choice to mix in the planting with the cereal grain.

  2. Cereal rye will also generally produce the largest quantity, followed by wheat, triticale, oats, and barley. Ryegrass should produce tonnage's equal to or slightly greater than the rye and wheat.

  3. Winter annuals seeded on prepared ground, with good moisture and fertility management can provide grazable forage within 45 days -- on the best side. Winter annuals no-till seeded into a bermudagrass or bahiagrass sod will take upward of 70 to 80 days to provide grazing, and are seeded later than the clean-till planting.

  4. With good soil moisture winter annuals can be seeded into prepared seedbeds on the first of September in the piedmont and 2 to 3 weeks later on the coastal plains.

  5. Many producers try to "dust in" winter annual seed into very dry ground. This practice will work but can be quite expensive if the rains do not come. Waiting to plant until there is a reasonable chance of rain is generally preferable.

  6. Sod seeded plantings can be made near these dates, but the warm-season grass sod will need to be disturbed, as with a light disking, and the winter annual will not provide grazable forage any sooner than if it is planted later. Mid-September on the piedmont and the first of October on the coastal plains is about as early as you can sod seed and see an advantage. Further, any late summer rain will potentially give some bermudagrass growth.

For more information on management of winter annuals contact a county Extension office.