Fayette County Agriculture & Natural Resources Newsletter

March 2019

Cooperative Extension Service

Fayette County Extension

1140 Harry Sykes Way

Lexington, KY 40504-1383

Phone (859) 257-5582

Email: DL_CES_Fayette@email.uky. edu

http://fayette.ca.uky.edu/

Private Pesticide Applicator Training

We will be having 2 trainings to obtain or update your

private applicator certification. They will be held on

March 14, 2019. One training will occur at 10:00am or a

second will be held at 6:00pm. Both will be held at the

Fayette County Extension Office at 1140 Harry Sykes

Way. To RSVP, please call the Fayette County Extension

Office at 859-257-5582.

Burley Tobacco Growers Annual Meeting March 18, 2019; 9:00 a.m.

Tobacco GAP Training, 11:00 a.m. (Register:

https://shop.gapconnections.com/training)

Fayette Co. Extension Office, Lexington, KY

2019 Mid-South Stocker Conference

March 21, 2019; Clarksville Tennessee

Registration: https://ag.tennessee.edu/

midsouthstockerconference/Pages/default.aspx

The CPH Report expands the analysis of CPH-45

sales to estimate the economic value of

preconditioning calves prior to marketing. This

analysis consists of two main components. First, is the

CPH Advantage – which compares prices received in

the CPH Sale to the average weekly statewide prices,

as reported by the Market News Service of the

Kentucky Department of Agriculture, to determine

how well CPH calves sold in that particular week’s

current market. The second component is the

Estimated Net Added Return – which compares the

CPH Sale value of the calf to the estimated value of

the calf at weaning. These estimates use a 60 day

preconditioning period and an average daily gain of

2.5 lbs., with a ration balanced for 2.8 lbs. of average

daily gain. Costs incurred during the preconditioning

period such as feed, health program, interest, death

loss and differences in sales commission are

subtracted from the added value to arrive at an

Estimated Net Added Returns in dollars per head

to estimate the profitability of preconditioning calves

60 days prior to that particular sale.

The following table is a summary of all fifteen CPH-

45 sales held in calendar year 2018. Sales were held in

Guthrie, Lexington, Owensboro, Paris, Richmond and

Springfield. Several items to note:

Paris sold in one owner lots, non-commingled,

and weighed at time of sale.

Owensboro sold with a 2% pencil shrink.

Owensboro, Guthrie and Springfield charge less

commission for CPH calves.

Included in this table, for easy comparison, is the

weighted average line from the same summary for

2017. You can see that in 2018, CPH Advantage or

premiums were slightly down (5.81 vs. 6.11) and feed

costs were slightly higher (0.55 vs 0.52). The biggest

difference was a higher negative wean to sale margin

in 2018 (-$6.66 vs +0.18). This resulted in a lower

average Estimated Net Added Returns in dollars per

head ($68.03 vs $107.46). Realize that the beginning

value or calf value at weaning, is calculated by the

average calf prices 60 days prior to each CPH sale, so (continued)

The CPH Report – 2018 Summary Mr. Kevin Laurent, Extension Specialist, University Of Kentucky and

Mr. Tim Dietrich, Kentucky Department of Agriculture

fluctuations in the market, both at the beginning of the

preconditioning period and at the end of the

preconditioning period can have a significant effect on

these estimates. An example of this market volatility

can be seen when comparing sales held the first week

of December vs the second week of December. The

Estimated Net Added Returns for sales held in the

second week of December benefitted from a market

that broke lower in the second week of October (lower

starting value) coupled with a rise in the market the

second week of December (higher ending value). No

estimate model is fool proof and obviously not

everyone preconditions exactly 60 days, however these

estimates still provide a type of thumb sketch or

barometer of the performance of the CPH-45 sales.

Special thanks to Tim Dietrich for gathering the raw

data and making the initial comparisons used in this

process.

More details on how these figures were calculated can

be found in the column definitions below the table.

Also, visit the CPH-45 website at www.cph45.com. If

you are interested in selling in a CPH-45 sale, contact

your local County Extension Agent for Agriculture

and Natural Resources.

What is “Grass Tetany” and when are cattle most

likely to have it? Grass tetany, also known as

spring tetany, grass staggers, wheat pasture

poisoning, winter tetany or lactation tetany, is a

condition due to a low level of magnesium (Mg) in

the blood. The disorder in adult cattle begins with

muscle spasms and quickly progresses to convulsions,

respiratory difficulty, and death. The amount of

magnesium in the blood is completely dependent on

the amount obtained from the daily diet. Deficiencies

occur most often in beef cows when they are nursing

a calf and grazing young, green grass in early spring.

Fast-growing spring pastures are high in potassium

(K+) and nitrogen (N+) and low in magnesium (Mg++)

and sodium (Na+). Affected cattle often have low

blood calcium concurrently. Fall calving cows may

also experience grass tetany during the winter

months.

Will Feeding Plain White Salt to Cows Prevent

Grass Tetany? This claim is shared every spr ing

and, indeed, there are producers who do not have

grass tetany that only feed salt. How can that be?

Simply put, for those few lucky producers, the

minerals available in their soils and forages are

enough to meet the needs of their cows. A number of

complex factors contribute to the ability of

magnesium to be absorbed through the rumen

(stomach) wall. Primarily there is a “pump”

mechanism that actively transports the dissolved form

of Mg across the rumen wall to the bloodstream. This

pump does not work when potassium in the rumen is

high and sodium is low because this changes the

electrical potential necessary to drive it. Adding salt

to the ration will improve magnesium transport to the

bloodstream only when sodium is low in the overall

diet. Too much salt will increase urination and cause

magnesium to be lost in urine. Salt, as with any

substance, can be dangerous and even fatal at high

levels.

Research has shown that the negative effects of high

potassium in early spring grass cannot be overcome

by simply adding large quantities of salt. However, a

second, passive transport system for Mg exists which

is not influenced by potassium. This transport system

only works when Mg in solution in the rumen fluid is

high. High magnesium mineral mixes prevent grass

tetany by allowing magnesium to passively flow into

the bloodstream of the cow without the need for the

active transport pump.

Has Limited Amounts of Salt in Trace Mineral

Mixes led to an Overconsumption of Minerals?

Regional soil types, soil fertility and diverse forage

species result in different mineral needs for grazing

livestock on every farm. A blanket statement

disregarding these factors is oversimplifying a very

complex situation. Trace minerals such as copper,

selenium, and zinc are all essential nutrients vital for

proper growth, production, and immune system

function. Trace mineral deficiencies are common and

can predispose animals to serious and sometimes fatal

disease conditions. Interactions occur between all of

the various metals, minerals, and other elements in

the diet, and optimal amounts of all elements are

essential for proper nutrition. Trace mineral mixes are

formulated to meet the needs of cattle, including the

need for salt. The keys to using a free-choice product

are to ensure cattle have access to mineral 100% of

the time, use a palatable, quality product and make

sure they are consuming it at the expected level.

Remember a 50-pound bag of hi-mag mineral to be

fed at 4 ounces per head per day will only last 4 days

in a 50 cow herd. If the cows have calves that also eat

mineral, a bag may only last 3 days.

(continued)

Grass Tetany –Start Preventive Measures Now

Michelle Arnold, DVM (Ruminant Extension Veterinarian, UKVDL); Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler, Extension

Beef Cattle Specialist, University of Kentucky; Dr. Cynthia Gaskill, Veterinary Toxicologist, University

of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Does Grass Tetany Only Occur in the Spring? No!

“Winter tetany” in beef cattle is caused by

consumption of a diet low in energy and an

insufficient intake of magnesium over a period of

time. It may also be observed when feeding wheat or

rye baleage during the winter since these forages are

often high in potassium and nitrogen but low in

magnesium. Affected cattle have borderline low

blood magnesium concentration then clinical signs of

grass tetany are triggered by a stressor such as a

severe cold snap.

Hypomagnesemia is often referred to as an

“iceberg” disease because only a few clinical cases

occur but there are many unobserved or

subclinical cases that may become problems after

a stressful event such as a weather change.

How Can Grass Tetany Be Prevented? Prevention

is based on providing magnesium in the diet during

times when conditions are right for grass tetany. As

long as the active transport pump for magnesium is

working well and driving magnesium across the

rumen wall, grass tetany problems should not

develop. However, when factors prevent this pump

from working (such as when potassium is high in lush

spring grass), the second or “backup” pathway

depends on increasing levels of magnesium in the diet

with a high magnesium mineral mix. A high rumen

magnesium level will allow magnesium to passively

flow into the bloodstream of the cow without the need

for the active transport pump. Supplementation with

high magnesium mineral should begin at least 30

days prior to calving. Cows require 20 grams of

magnesium daily or 4 ounces per day of a 15%

magnesium mineral mix, especially during the late

winter and early spring if pregnant or lactating.

Mineral feeders should not be allowed to be empty

because consistent intake is important for clinical

disease prevention. Do not offer additional loose salt

or salt blocks at the same time! High magnesium

mineral may be discontinued in late spring once the

grass is more mature, the water content of the forage

is decreased, and daily temperatures reach at or above

60°F.

Does the form of magnesium used in the mineral

matter? Absolutely. The feed industry utilizes

magnesium oxide (MgO) to supply magnesium but

there in tremendous variation in quality and

bioavailability. UK Beef Integrated Resource

Management (IRM) mineral recommendations for

free choice supplements for grazing beef cattle

include 15% salt and 14% magnesium in the complete

mineral mix and all magnesium from magnesium

oxide (no dolomitic limestone or magnesium mica).

Current recommendations also include a minimum

50% of the MgO should be of the Martin Marietta

AniMag prilled form. “Prilling” is a method of

processing ruminant animal feed that decreases

degradation by ruminal microorganisms and allows

absorption further down the digestive tract. These

complete mineral mixtures also supply the necessary

sodium in the form of salt to aid in combatting high

potassium intakes. Consumption should be

monitored because cattle will not eat enough trace

mineral if using poor quality products. In addition,

feeding an ionophore (such as monensin or lasalocid)

has been shown to improve magnesium absorption

efficiency.

Are there management changes that reduce the

risk of grass tetany? Yes. These include: 1) Soil

test and apply fertilizer based on soil test results and

use no more potassium than recommended since

grasses are luxury consumers of potassium;

2) Legumes are high in magnesium and will help

offset the problem although their growth is often

limited in late winter; 3) Feeding hay to cattle on

lush pasture during susceptible periods or limit

grazing to 2-3 hours per day will slow the rate of

passage through the digestive tract and allow more

time for absorption; 4) Graze the less susceptible or

non-lactating animals (heifers, dry cows, stocker

cattle) on the highest risk pastures.

In summary, increasing magnesium intake by

supplementing with magnesium oxide, offering

adequate salt to prevent sodium deficiency, and

increasing total energy intake with good quality

forage or supplemental feed are all effective tools in

preventing grass tetany. These are exceptionally

important when moving from winter rations to young

spring grass pasture, especially in lactating cows.

Grass tetany is considered a true veterinary

emergency requiring prompt treatment with

magnesium to prevent death.

Tammy Brewster-Barnes, MS, extension associate, spoke

to students, veterinarians, farm owners, and horse

enthusiasts about horses and the Kentucky Ag Water

Quality Act at the 2019 University of Kentucky Equine

Showcase, held Jan. 26 in Lexington.

She covered water-quality issues relating to horse farms, as

well as best management practices (BMPs) for preventing

water pollution on or near farms, creating a water and soil

conservation and nutrient (manure) management plan, and

accessing resources available to help landowners comply

with the Kentucky Agricultural Water Quality Act

(AWQA).

The Kentucky General Assembly passed the Kentucky

AWQA in 1994 with the goal of protecting the surface and

groundwater resources from pollution resulting from

agriculture and forestry activities. The act promotes

practical natural resource management systems that protect

Kentucky’s waters and complies with government rule and

regulations. It mandates that landowners of 10 or more

acres who apply plant available nutrients or who export

manure must develop and implement a nutrient

management plan as part of their agriculture water quality

plan.

Brewster-Barnes said agriculture, as an industry, is a

significant source of nonpoint water pollution—meaning

runoff from eroded pastures, manure piles, fertilizer

application, and concentrated animal waste. These

pollutants frequently enter the watershed through

agriculture related activities and can have devastating

impacts on both the environment and horse heath.

In terms of water quality, “farmers have the biggest

opportunity to make the biggest changes,” she said.

The AWQA emphasizes the importance of using effective

and economic BMPs to create a water quality plan to

reduce and prevent water pollution.

The Kentucky AWQA states that BMPs establish the

minimum acceptable quality levels for planning, siting,

designing, installing, operating, and maintaining

agriculture and silviculture facilities and operations.

Brewster-Barnes said BMPs are dependent on the focus of

the agricultural activities on the property (i.e., farming the

land or raising cattle) as well as water bodies on or near the

farm, the land slope, and erosion potential, which all vary

from site to site.

Horses and Water Quality

She said horse owners’ biggest concern relating to water

quality is the introduction of excess phosphorus and

sediment into Kentucky’s creeks, streams, and rivers.

Horses are unable to digest certain forms of phosphorus, so

it is commonly added into their diet via concentrates and

supplements. When this phosphorus is fed in excess, it is

excreted in the manure and can end up as nutrient runoff,

which can upset the balance of the aquatic ecosystems

downstream.

Phosphorus in manure and commercial fertilizers can be

utilized by plants, bind to the soil, or become water-soluble

when soil concentrations are too high. Meanwhile,

sedimentation in Kentucky’s waterways from erosion due

lack of land cover carries soil-bound phosphorus into the

water. Then, aquatic plants and algae utilize the

phosphorus, which results in blooms. When these plants

and algae die, however, the water is depleted of oxygen,

which negatively affects water quality and could result in

fish deaths.

Specific horse industry BMPs vary among farms, but their

implementation can help reduce water pollution caused by

horses. Some examples are good pasture utilization and

management, soil testing to determine nutrient

concentrations prior to applying fertilizer, proper manure

application on fields (which includes proper set-back

distances from water or sink holes), proper manure storage

and composting, and refraining from mowing near creek

and pond edges. Brewster-Barnes also recommended

owners use fencing to keep horses away from streams,

sinkholes, ponds, forestland, and eroded areas.

She also said certain plants can help mitigate erosion near

water sources and create a riparian zone to filter pollutants

from pastures before they enter streams, ponds, and

sinkholes.

“Let plants and grasses do their job,” she said. “That’s

going to be your filter system.”

Learn more about riparian areas at www2.ca.uky.edu/

agcomm/pubs/id/id175/id175.pdf.

Additional Benefits

Complying with the Kentucky AWQA has many

benefits for farm owners, Brewster-Barns said,

including the ability to participate in cost-sharing

programs such as the Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water

Quality Cost Share Program, the Natural Resource

Conservation Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives

Program, and others. These programs can help farm

owners with the costs of implementing BMPs to divert

runoff and improve existing pasturelands.

(continued)

Preventing Water Pollution on Your Horse Farm

In order to participate in cost-share farm owners will likely

need to provide a Kentucky agricultural water quality plan;

if the property stores manure, a nutrient management plan;

a practice plan or goal; and a completed application.

Brewster-Barnes encouraged farm owners to think

critically about their properties and identify if they had any

issues, such as manure handing problems, erosion, or low

crop or hay yields. Then, she said, they should consider

what aspects they could improve upon to boost their

property’s productivity and subsequently work on a

nutrient and water quality management plan.

The UK Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engi-

neering Department says there’s no required frequency for

plan updates. Brewster-Barnes recommended reassessing

plans every three to five years and/or every time they make

significant changes related to plans to ensure they remain

up-to-date.

She also emphasized the importance of using resources

available to local farms through their county’s Cooperative

Extension Service or Conservation District Office. These

professionals are familiar with the act and the statewide

plan, as well as with how to implement plans at farms, she

said.

“I do not look at the Kentucky Ag Water Quality Act like a

regulation,” Brewster-Barnes said. “I look at it like a tool.”

The UK Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Department offers planning tools for landowners to assess

their operations and identify BMPs to be included in their

water quality plan at uky.edu/bae/awqp.

Samantha Geller, a senior double-majoring in equine

science and management and environmental and

sustainability studies, is a communications intern with UK Ag

Equine Programs and the Gluck Equine Research Center.

Ordinarily, I would use my February article to discuss the

USDA cattle inventory report that typically comes out in

late January or early February. However, due to the shut-

down, that report is scheduled to come out at the end of the

month, so we can have that discussion in March. With beef

cow slaughter at such high levels, I do think we are starting

to see early signs of beef cow herd growth slowing. But, I

still look for a slight increase in beef cow numbers when

the estimate comes out. In reality, anything between no

change and a 1% increase would not surprise me.

Calf markets really haven’t moved since December. A 550

lb steer remains in the low-mid $140’s, as can be seen in

Figure 1. January 2019 prices were roughly $11 per cwt

below 2018 levels. Note that February just includes one

week of prices, but I did choose to include it in the chart.

I still feel that this calf market can rally significantly,

probably $20 per cwt, between now and spring grass. Cull

cow markets also continue to struggle and I do think

weather is a major reason due to stress and condition.

Market reporters are indicating that a larger-than-usual

share of cows are falling outside or normal grades that are

reported. This means that a lot of producers are receiving

prices for cull cows below what I typically report as a state

average.

Figure 1. 550#

Medium & Large Frame #1-2 Steers

KY Auction Prices ($ per cwt)

Source: USDA-AMS, Livestock Marketing Information

Center, Author Calculations

It has been a while since we discussed cattle on feed

numbers, so I thought it might be worth revisiting that for

just a bit. In January 2018, cattle on feed numbers were 8%

above year ago levels. Much of that was due to the larger

2017 calf crop and early placements of cattle due to poor

wheat grazing conditions last winter. By the end of 2018,

total on feed inventory was roughly 2% above year-ago

levels. This is about what I would have expected given the

size of our last calf crop. Put simply, current on feed

numbers are probably a lot more representative of current

conditions (see figure 2). Beef production will increase for

2019, but by a smaller percentage than we have seen in

several years.

Figure 2. USDA Monthly Cattle on Feed

Source: USDA-NASS, Livestock Marketing Information

Center

Kentucky Beef Cattle Market Update Dr. Kenny Burdine, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Kentucky

Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) is one of the most

widely grown perennial grasses in the world and covers

approximately 37 million acres in the United States alone.

It can be infected with an endophytic fungus (Epichloë

coenophiala), which in a symbiotic relationship with the

plant produces chemicals called alkaloids that confer

benefits to the plant.

This tall fescue, native to Europe, was introduced into the

United States in the 1800s. In 1931, E.N. Fergus, a

University of Kentucky (UK) agronomist, collected tall

fescue seed from the Suiter farm in Menifee County,

Kentucky, on the basis of winter hardiness, persistence in

high-traffic areas, and drought resistance, giving rise to the

cultivar of fescue known as Kentucky 31 (KY31).

However, some of the alkaloids, primarily the ergot

alkaloids produced by infected plants, are detrimental to

grazing animals, including horses.

Historically, the endocrine hallmark of fescue toxicosis in

several animal species is a decrease in the circulating

concentration of the hormone prolactin. Prolactin is

secreted by the pituitary gland, and control of its secretion

is complex and not completely understood. Prolactin exerts

effects on a variety of systems including milk production,

steroidogenesis (estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone),

hair growth and shedding, libido, and synthesis of

surfactant by the fetal lungs. Importantly, prolactin may

also exert an effect on the fetoplacental unit by altering

steroid synthesis and/or metabolism and maturation of the

fetal adrenal-pituitary axis, which is necessary for

parturition. One major regulator of prolactin secretion is

dopamine, a hormone produced by the hypothalamus.

Dopamine interacts with receptors in the pituitary gland

and inhibits the secretion of prolactin.

Ergovaline is the most abundant ergot alkaloid in tall

fescue. Ergovaline, and several other alkaloids from

fescue, have similar chemical structures to dopamine and

can bind to dopamine receptors, thereby causing a decrease

in prolactin secretion, resulting in partial or complete

agalactia (the inability to produce milk) in foaling mares.

Additional problems associated with KY31 fescue

consumption in foaling mares include altered hormone

concentrations, extended gestation, thickened placenta,

placental retention, dystocia (difficult birth), birth of

dysmature foals, and increased foal and placental weights.

Dopamine receptors have been found in tissues other than

the pituitary, including ovarian tissues and the corpus

luteum, but the roles of those receptors in fescue toxicosis,

if any, have not been fully elucidated. The drug

domperidone is frequently used in broodmares that are

exposed to KY31 fescue and prevents or reverses the

adverse reactions of ergovaline. Domperidone functions by

binding to dopamine receptors, but rather than suppressing

prolactin production, it competes with dopamine and

allows for normal prolactin secretion.

Because of the adverse health effects of common

endophyte infected fescue in grazing animals, varieties of

tall fescue which do not contain the fungal endophyte have

been identified. Even though these endophyte-free varieties

do not produce ergot alkaloids, animal performance is

excellent. However, the plants do not persist well in

pastures or compete well with other pasture grasses. More

recently, endophyte strains that do not produce the

alkaloids that are harmful to animals but still confer vigor

and persistence to the plant, have been identified and

inserted into tall fescue. These are called novel-endophyte

varieties of fescue, and some of these are commercially

marketed as “Jesup Max Q,” “Texoma Max QII,” and

“Baroptima Plus E34.” More recently, “Lacefield Max

QII” was released by Tim Phillips, PhD, in the UK

Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.

The Alliance for Grassland Renewal is an association of

seed companies, universities, and government agencies that

regulate themselves by establishing certain quality control

standards for novel endophyte tall fescues. For example, all

seeds sold under the alliance tag must be 95% pure, have

70% live (viable) endophyte, and have independent

confirmation that the fescue variety does not cause fescue

toxicosis in animals and will persist well under

conventional grazing conditions.

Although this article emphasizes the effects of ergot

alkaloids on a dopaminergic receptor, it is important to

remember that some of the alkaloids also bind to other

receptor types, including adrenergic and serotonergic

receptors, and thus may affect additional body systems.

CONTACTS:

Karen McDowell, PhD—kmcd@uky.edu—

859/218-1104—UK Maxwell H. Gluck Equine

Research Center, Lexington

Tim Phillips, PhD—UK Department of Plant and

Soil Sciences, Lexington

Tall Fescue: Endophyte-Infected, Endophyte-Free,

and Novel-Endophyte

The 2018 Farm Bill was passed by Congress and signed by

the President last month. In reality, the structure of the

2018 Farm Bill is not much different than the previous

farm bill (2014) with crop insurance, Agricultural Risk

Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC)

remaining the main safety net components for program

crops. This status quo outcome was largely a result

political realities and budget constraints. Once the

controversial debate over the nutrition title was resolved,

the 2018 farm bill passed by huge bipartisan support in

both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate. Given the current

situation and outlook for the U.S. farm economy, the

structure of this legislation provides safety net benefits, but

will not by itself

relieve U.S./

Kentucky

agriculture from

the current

financial stress

facing the sector.

Projected costs estimates reveal that nutrition programs will

account for 76% of the funding for the life of the 2018 farm bill

(2019-2023), compared to nearly 80% under the 2014 farm bill.

Farm-related programs (commodity, conservation and crop

insurance) comprise 23% of the total expenditures. The

remaining one percent is split among other programs such as

trade promotion, research/extension, horticulture, rural

development, forestry, credit, energy and other miscellaneous

programs.

The Congressional Budget Office indicates that the 2018 Farm

Bill will be budget neutral over the ten year scoring period

(2019-2028). Commodity support program funding is boosted

primarily due to relatively low anticipated commodity prices and

not due to major structural changes. Lower farm prices have led

to lower premium subsidies for crop insurance outlays, which are

also impacted by higher administrative fees for farmers selecting

catastrophic coverage. Conservation, trade promotion, research

and extension, and horticulture (primarily local and regional food

and value-added programs) received higher funding over the

2019-2023 period. Increased funding for these programs were

made available from changes in an escrow account held by the

nation’s rural electric cooperatives to pay off USDA loans as part

of adjustments within the rural development title. Highlights

from various components of the 2018 farm bill are summarized

below.

Commodity Title:

Marketing loan rates for program crops are increased, but at a

level, which if observed, would be devastating to the current

depressed farm economy. (See Table 1)

Producers will have the option to select between PLC or ARC

for program crops on a crop-by- crop and farm-by-farm basis

in 2019, and then again annually in 2021, 2022, and 2023. PLC

remains the default option if producers do not make an

election.

PLC reference prices will initially remain at the levels

established under the 2014 farm bill, with an escalator

provision allowing these safety net prices to increase by a

maximum of 15% above their statutory level. Specifically, the

effective reference price is calculated as the greater of 85% of

the five year Olympic moving average price (which excludes

high and low prices during the five year period) and the PLC

reference prices established in the 2014 Farm Bill. In reality, it

will take a sustained period of commodity price increases

during the life of the 2018 farm bill to elevate PLC reference

prices above their 2014 levels. (See Table 1)

For PLC calculations, producers will have an opportunity to

update their yield history in 2020, based on their yield history

during the 2013 to 2017 crop years. Program yield changes for

each farm bill crop will be limited to 90% of the average farm

yield per planted acre from 2013-2017, adjusted by national

yield trends.

Yield data collected by the Risk Management Agency (RMA)

will become the primary source of data for ARC yield

calculations, replacing National Agricultural Statistical Service

(NASS) survey data. Separate yields will be used for irrigated

versus non-irrigated land in each county in calculating ARC

payment guarantees. In addition, the yield plug used for ARC

calculations will be increased from the 2014 farm bill level of

70% to 80% of the county transitional yield. Both PLC and ARC program payments will be suspended for

producers who did not plant a program crop on their base acres

over the past ten years. Under this situation, producers would

be eligible to enroll these acres into the Conservation

Stewardship Program (CSP) for five years at an annual

payment rate of $18/acre. (continued)

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018

(2018 Farm Bill)

Kentucky Beef

Quality Care Assurance Training

A Beef Quality and Care Assurance Training will be held on Thursday, April 4, 2019, at the Fayette County

Extension Office, 1140 Harry Sykes Way. Two sessions will be offered - 10:00am or 6:00pm. This training will

provide both the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) and Cattle Handling and Care training. This will qualify for CAIP

education training.

To RSVP, please call the Fayette County Extension Office at 859-257-5582.

For Plate It Up Recipes, Visit:

http://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/content/plate-it-kentucky-

proud

Payment limitations (for ARC/PLC programs) remain at

$125,000 per person or entity ($250,000 for married

couples) for those individuals/entities whose Adjusted

Gross Income (AGI) is less than $900,000. Payment

eligibility is expanded to include cousins, nephews, and

nieces who are deemed actively engaged in the farming

operation.

The major risk management tool for dairy farmers

(protecting farmers when the margin between milk prices

and feed costs falls below producer-selected coverage

levels) was maintained, but the Dairy Margin Protection

Program (MPP) was renamed the Dairy Margin Coverage

(DMC) program. In addition, the DMC calls for greater

premium adjustments and coverage level options

(increased coverage from $8/cwt to $9.50/cwt for the first

5 million pounds of production) to provide an improved

safety net for dairy farmers, especially smaller dairies.

For specific details, check out www.fb.org/market-intel/

reviewing-dairy-margin-coverage and https://

farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2018/12/dairy-provisions-in-the

-2018-farm-bill.html

Conservation Title:

Increases Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres

from 24 million to 27 million over time. CRP rental rates

would be capped at 85% of local rental rates for general

signup acres and 90% for continuous signup acres.

Increases funding for conservation programs by $555

million during the life of the 2018 farm bill with

increased funding for the Environmental Quality

Incentives Program (EQIP), but lower funding for the

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

New incentives provided for producers who utilize cover

crops, crop rotations, and other conservation practices

that protect water quality.

Other Components

Hemp is removed from the controlled substance list,

allowing the crop to be eligible for federal crop

insurance, and federal research grants.

Increases annual farm loan authorization to $10 billion,

up from $4 billion and boosts the limits on guaranteed

loans to $1.75 million per borrower (vs current limit of

$700,000), with incentives for socially disadvantaged and

beginning farmers.

Funding provided for broadband projects and programs to

combat opioid addiction.

Expanded research funding for organic research and

extension programs, and specialty crop research.

Maintains value-added producer grants, and funding for

farmers markets, and local food promotion programs.

Funding provided for beginning farmer programs.

New funding for controlling animal disease breakouts.

The government shutdown has delayed USDA offering

specific regulations related to the 2018 farm bill. So stay

tuned for future developments as they evolve in the coming

weeks/months. A copy of the entire 2018 Farm Bill can be

accessed online at https://docs.house.gov/

billsthisweek/20181210/CRPT-115hrpt1072.pdf

…at least I hope so. Our Kentucky Forage and Grassland

Council board met yesterday, and they challenged all of us

in forage leadership to get as specific as possible about

what producers should do about mud. What follows is a

synthesis of thoughts about the path forward after what

amounts to two years of incredibly wet winter weather.

Henry Ford said ‘Obstacles are those frightful things we

see when we take our eyes off the goal. With that in mind,

I am going to challenge us all to think beyond the short

term problem of a pugged up field to the ultimate goal to

be accomplished. We need to get a thick stand of grazing

and traffic tolerant grass on these areas before going into

the next winter feeding period.

So instead of thinking now about the next 60 days, let’s

start with ways to get a thick stand of grass by fall of 2019.

To do that, we need to have the damaged field in shape to

seed to permanent cover by mid-August. I said ready to

seed. Lord only knows what the summer will bring,

assuming we get one.

In terms of the type of grass to seed, I think the only hope

for holding these feeding area fields together is tall fescue.

The choice between a novel tall fescue variety or ordinary

KY 31 is perplexing, even for me. The novel fescues are

clearly tough, and this is clearly an opportunity to upgrade

a field.

No till seeding will help preserve the soil structure that you

build with interim forages (or weeds unfortunately) next

summer. You will want to use seeding rates on the high

side of the range (25 lb per acre or more) and you will

want to drill in two directions with a half rate each time.

Realistically, this strategy will only provide about 6 to 8

inches of growth going into fall, but it is permanent cover.

What you do just prior to the fall seeding window is

flexible, much of it driven by when you can get animals off

the damaged field, your need for forage from that field and

how much smoothing that field needs. I am sure that you

are thinking, “I’d get them off of there tomorrow if I had

any other options.” That said, let’s say the best case

scenario is you get access to the field on April 1. We

routinely spring seed red clover in April and get 2 tons of

dry matter and more. You are going to have to smooth up

the field in order to get good seed-soil contact.

Red clover will not provide any hoof support but it is

easily managed so fall seedings of grass are possible. We

are putting out some demonstrations using a mix of

crabgrass and red clover as well. Based on our goal of

permanent grass cover, manage the vegetation present so

the grass seeding has the advantage; that means you may

want to use a non-selective herbicide to prepare for a fall

seeding.

Summer annuals (sorghum-sudangrass, sudangrass, pearl

millet) give us more time to get the ground smoothed, as

they are usually seeded beginning in early May depending

on soil temperature. These grasses have the advantage of

providing high yields as well as utilizing the fertility

provided from the manure and urine in hay feeding areas.

Indications are that seed supplies of these products will be

tight because of poor harvest conditions last year. So if that

is your plan, book your seed early. Consult AGR-229,

Warm Season Annual Grasses in Kentucky (Google AGR-

229 UKY) to see which one is right for you.

Finally, it is still conceivable that ryegrass (planted right

away) can provide some quick cover, and spring oats can

actually yield 2 tons plus if planted my mid-March. The

likelihood of getting a seeding window in the next two

weeks is dwindling, but the option is there.

Summarizing all of this, our goal is a good stand of

permanent cover on our winter feeding areas. Everything

we do has to work towards that goal. Got ideas: Contact

me at jimmy.henning@uky.edu. I would love to hear your

thoughts, comments and questions.

Happy foraging.

Figure 1. A dry sunny day would be a welcome site, but

not likely soon. Don't be distracted by the immediate

problem of mud when thinking about rehabilitating pugged

up pastures. Focus on how best to re-establish permanent

cover.

The sun will come out…

Forage Doctor Column

Dead Animal Removal Reimbursement Program

• We reimburse up to $60.00 an animal and $35.00 for self delivery to a

state certified drop-off site.

• Deliveries to a diagnostic lab do not qualify for reimbursement.

• Must submit a paid invoice from state certified facilities up to two

months after invoice date.

• We will issue reimbursements monthly after each board meeting, so

make sure your proper mailing address is on the

• submitted invoice.

• Any deceased farm livestock is eligible for this program in Fayette

County. Sorry, no pet removal.

• State Certified DAR Companies are:

Bluegrass Recycling

1-888-744-1186 Conboy Enterprises

1-859-221-6998 Harmon’s

1-859-567-2111

Heavy Use Area Cost Share Program

Lexington just had the wettest year on record with over 70 inches of

rainfall in 2018! This program will help provide Fayette County landowners with the

means to repair gateways and other heavy use areas to reduce degradation and soil

erosion using non-woven geotextile filter fabric and rock.

Soil Sample Voucher Program

We have collaborated with Fayette County Cooperative Extension to cover the entire

cost of soil samples (up to 25 per household) for Fayette County residents in order to

assist with determining soil quality and whether there are excess nutrients and organics

in ground and surface water. Any Fayette County resident may participate. Soil samples

must come from a Fayette County address and it is required that the UK Extension Lab

be used for soil testing. Vouchers are available on our website or at the Fayette County

Extension office.

Pollinator Habitat Cost Share Program

This program is perfect for your backyard! The FCCD is offering the Pollinator Habitat

Cost Share to assist homeowners in establishing, enhancing, restoring and/or

maintaining pollinator habitats.

• 50/50 Cost share

• Reimbursement up to $500

• Applications accepted beginning March 15th

• Granted on a first come, first served basis

Pollinator Habitat

Project Ideas

• Milkweed for Monarch

breeding site

• Plant other native species

that support pollinators

• Backyard butterfly garden

• Bee friendly flowers

• Artificial nest sites for bees

or bats

New Programs Being Offered This Spring

More information is available at http://forages.ca.uky.edu or Rehanon.Pampell@uky.edu

20

19

Kentu

cky Fencin

g Scho

ols

helping producers learn the newest fencing methods and sound fencing construction with classroom and hands-on learning

Organized and Sponsored by the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council,

UK Cooperative Extension Service, and the Master Grazer Program

WHEN: April 9, 2019 in Lexington, KY April 11, 2019 in Burkesville, KY May 30, 2019 in Russellville, KY WHERE: Pirri Equine Teaching Pavilion UK Maine Chance Farm 2815 Newtown Pike Lexington, KY 40511 Cumberland County Extension Office 90 Smith Grove Road Burkesville, KY 42717 Logan County Extension Office 255 John Paul Road Russellville, KY 42276 COST: $30/participant -- includes notebook, refreshments, and lunch

Program Registration – DEADLINE is 2 weeks prior to workshop Online Registration with CREDIT CARD at https://forages.ca.uky.edu/

Location you are registering for:

_____ Lexington, KY _____ Burkesville, KY _____ Russellville, KY Registration by U.S. Mail: Rehanon Pampell UK Research and Education Center 1205 Hopkinsville St. Princeton, KY 42445

Name: ______________________________________________

Street: ______________________________________________

City: ____________________________________ State: _________ Zip code: __________

Email: _________________________________________________________

Cell Phone: ___________________________________________

Number of participants _________ x $30 per participant = ________ Total Amount to Enclose

Make CHECKS payable to: KFGC

LIMITED TO 30

PARTICIPANTS!

2019 Kentucky Fencing School Agenda

7:30 Registration and Refreshments

8:15 Welcome and Overview of the Day

8:30 Fencing Types and Costs - Morgan Hayes, UK

9:00 Fence Construction Basics - Clay Brewer, Stay-Tuff • Perimeter fences vs. cross fences • Fencing options on rented farms • Proper brace construction • Line posts and fence construction

9:45 Break – visit with sponsors and presenters

10:15 Overview of Kentucky Fence Law - Clint Quarles, KDA

11:00 Electric Fencing Basics - Jeremy McGill, Gallagher • Proper energizer selection and grounding • Proper high tensile fence construction and wire in-

sulation • Electric offset wires for non-electric fences • Underground wires and jumper wires

11:45 Innovations in Fencing Technologies - Josh Jackson, UK • wireless fences, fence monitoring

12:15 Catered Lunch - visit with sponsors

1:00 Hands-on Fence Building - Clay Brewer, Stay-Tuff; Jeremy McGill, Gallagher; and Jody Watson, ACI

• Safety, fence layout, and post driving demo, Jody Watson, ACI

• H-brace construction, Jeremy McGill, Gallagher and Clay Brewer, Stay-Tuff

• Knot tying, splices, and insulator installation, Jeremy McGill and Clay Brewer, Stay-Tuff

• Installation of Stay-Tuff Fixed Knot Fence, Clay Brewer, Stay-Tuff

• Installation of High Tensile Fencing, Jeremy McGill, Gallagher

4:30 Questions, Survey and Wrap-up

Spring 2019 Kentucky Grazing School helping producers learn the newest grazing methods with classroom and hands-on learning

WHEN: April 23-24, 2019

WHERE: Central Presbyterian Church 112 West Main Street Princeton, KY 42445

COST: $50/participant -- includes all materials, grazing manual, breaks, and lunch both days

Program Registration – DEADLINE is April 5, 2019

Online Registration with CREDIT CARD at https://forages.ca.uky.edu/

Registration by U.S. Mail:

Rehanon Pampell UK Research and Education Center 1205 Hopkinsville Street Princeton, KY 42445 Email: Rehanon.Pampell@uky.edu

Name: ______________________________________________

Street: ______________________________________________

City: ________________________________________________

State: ___________ Zip code: __________

Email: _______________________________________________

Cell Phone: ___________________________________________

Number of participants _______ x $50 per participant = ______ Total Amount

Make CHECKS payable to: KFGC

A list of nearby lodging can be found at http://wkrec.ca.uky.edu/directions

Sponsors:

LIMITED TO 45

PARTICIPANTS!!

More information is available at http://forages.ca.uky.edu or Rehanon.Pampell@uky.edu

Spring 2019 Kentucky Grazing School helping producers learn the newest grazing methods with classroom and hands-on learning

Tuesday April 23, 2018

7:30 Registration & Refreshments

8:00 Introduction of staff and participants

8:15 Benefits of Rotational Grazing – Dr. Ray Smith

8:35 Meeting Nutritional Needs on Pasture-Dr. Donna Amaral-Phillips

9:05 Grazing Math Concepts/ Introduce Field Exercise- Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler

9:45 Break & Travel to Field Demonstration Area

10:10 Introduction to Temporary Fence- Jeremy McGill

10:30 Portable/Seasonal Water Systems- Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler

10:50 Methods to Assess Pasture Production and De-termine Stocking Rate- Dr. Ray Smith

11:30 Hands-on Building a Rotational Grazing System in the Field: Setting up Small Paddocks– Drs Ray Smith, Jeff Lehmkuhler, & Chris Teutsch

12:20 Lunch

1:00 Fence building: Understanding How to Build and Use Temporary Fencing and High Tensile Fenc-ing – Jeremy McGill

2:30 Break and Travel to Teaching Facility

3:00 Growth of Grasses and Legumes with Response to Grazing- Dr. Ray Smith

3:45 Making Tall Fescue Work on Your Farm- Dr. Jimmy Henning

4:15 Economics of Grazing- Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler

5:00 Discussion

5:30 Adjourn for the day

Supper on your own

Wednesday April 24, 2018

7:30 Refreshments

8:00 Forage Species for a Comprehensive Grazing System- Dr. Chris Teutsch

8:45 General Management Considerations for Grazing Livestock- Dr. Donna Amaral-Phillips

9:15 Using KY GRAZE to plan your Grazing Program - Adam Jones

10:00 Break

10:30 Fundamentals of Laying out a Grazing System - Kevin Laurent

11:00 Case Study: Design an on Farm Grazing System (Group Project)

11:45 Case Study Presentations

12:30 Lunch

1:15 How I made grazing work on the farm- Producer Speaker

1:45 Rejuvenating Run down Pastures - Dr. Chris Teutsch

2:30 Evaluation- All Participants

2:45 Break & Travel to Field Demo Area

3:10 Field Exercise. Observe grazed paddocks and hear reports of each group. Tour demonstration plots showing warm and cool season annual to extend the grazing season, renovation options and the effects of rotational grazing.

5:00 Adjourn

*All times are Central Time

Emphasis on ruminants – beef, dairy, sheep, & goats

In Person Location: Fayette County Extension Office

1140 Harry Sykes Way Lexington, KY 40511

859-257-5582

Industrial Hemp Meeting

2018 Farm Bill Update

2019 Hemp Production Considerations

Hemp Economics

Presented by: Tom Keene, Agronomy Specialist

April 2, 2019 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Madison County Extension Office

230 Duncannon Lane Richmond, KY 40475

859-623-4072

Mercer County Extension Office

1007 Lexington Road Harrodsburg, KY 40330

859-734-4378

Satellite Locations (same date & time):

Wednesday, March 20, 2019 8:30 am-5pm CDT 

Novel Tall Fescue Renovation Workshop

Princeton, KY

Toxic tall fescue reduces livestock weight gains and lowers reproductive performance. This one day workshop will give you the tools and information needed to remove toxic tall fescue and replace it with novel tall fescue varieties. Speakers include local producers, company representatives and researchers from across the country.

Topics Include: Fescue Toxicosis: Symptoms and

Causes Economics Establishment and First Year

Management Seed Testing Long-Term Pasture Management Company Products Incentives Producer Panel

Register at www.2019UKYNovelTallFescue.eventbrite.com Before March 8—$60/person | After March 8—$75/person

Includes lunch, refreshments & proceedings Central Presbyterian Church, 206 W. Main St. Princeton, KY 42445

Alliance Partners and Collaborators: AgResearch USA Agrinostics Barenbrug USA Clemson University DLF Pickseed Corteva Agriscience Forage and Grassland

Foundation Kentucky Forage and

Grassland Council

MFGC/GLCI Mountain View Seeds Missouri Extension Noble Research Institute,

LLC North Carolina State Pennington Seed University of Georgia University of Kentucky USDA NRCS Virginia Tech

Photo Credit: Dr. Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky

Organized by the Alliance for Grassland Renewal

Agenda (All times are CDT)

8:30 am Registration

9:00 Welcome, Dr. Ray Smith

9:10 Tall Fescue Toxicosis: Symptoms and Causes Dr. Craig Roberts - University of Missouri

9:35 Profitable Animal Production Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler - University of Kentucky

10:00 Break and Demo: Endophytes Under Microscope Dr. Carolyn Young - Noble Research Institute

10:20 Establishment & First Year Management Dr. John Andrae - Clemson University

11:00 Management: Novels and Toxic Paddocks Dr. Ray Smith - University of Kentucky

12:00 Seed Quality and Endophyte Testing Nick Hill - Agrinostics & Chris Agee - Pennington Seed

12:15 Lunch and Microscope Demo

1:00 Calibrating a Seed Drill Dr. Chris Teutsch - University of Kentucky

1:45 Tour Plots at UK Research and Education Center Gene Olson & Dr. Ray Smith- University of Kentucky

3:00 Break and Microscope Demo

3:15 Company Product Highlights: Peter Ballerstedt - Barenbrug USA Jerome Magnuson - DLF Mark Thomas - Mountain View Seed Chris Agee - Pennington Seed

4:00 Cost-Share Incentive Programs Adam Jones - USDA NRCS

4:15 Producer Panel: On-Farm Success with Novel Tall Fescue Jesse Ramer and Kevin Laurent

5:00 ADJOURN

11:40 Producer Economics Darrel Franson - Producer

Photo: Noble Research Institute

Novel Tall Fescue Renovation Workshop

CCA credits have been requested

Fayette County Cooperative Extension Agriculture Newsletter

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID

LEXINGTON KY PERMIT 112

Nick Carter

County Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural Resources

Fayette County Extension Service

1140 Harry Sykes Way

Lexington, KY 40504-1383

(859) 257-5582

Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm - Monday-Friday

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY, U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND KENTUCKY COUNTIES, COOPERATING

The College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization

with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education

information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without

regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the bases of race, color,

ethnic origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,

gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or

physical or mental disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of

the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments, Section 504 of the

Rehabilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to Equal Opportunity Office,

College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Room S-105,

Agriculture Science Building, North Lexington, Kentucky 40546.

Fayette County Cooperative Extension 1140 Harry Sykes Way Lexington, KY 40504-1383 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED