Dec. 7, 2007
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Renovating Hay and Pasture Fields
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE
Sewing Machines: Sew Back in Style
4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
4-H Certified Volunteers Needed for Livestock Program
Renovating Hay and Pasture Fields
Source: Garry Lacefield, extension forage specialist
If you have a less-than-productive grass pasture or hay field, following some simple renovation techniques will increase its productivity. These practices include planting a legume such as red clover, controlling pests and adding lime and fertilizer.
Adding legumes to pasture and hay fields has several benefits including higher yields, improved quality, nitrogen fixation, and more summer growth.
Seeding legumes increases the total forage yield per acre. One study compared adding red clover to a fescue pasture with fertilizing the grass with nitrogen. Red clover growing with fescue produced higher yields than fescue fertilized with up to 180 pounds of nitrogen per acre.
Adding legumes also improves forage quality, compared to grass alone. This increases palatability, intake, digestibility and nutrient content, resulting in improved animal performance.
Research studies have shown that legumes improve animal growth rates, reproductive efficiency and milk production.
Legumes also add, or “fix,” nitrogen in grass pastures and hayfields. Inoculating seed adds symbiotic bacteria that live in “knots” on plant roots and fix nitrogen the grasses and legumes need. Different legumes are able to fix varying amounts of nitrogen. Alfalfa usually fixes the most, about 200 pounds per acre, while annual lespedeza fixes less, about 75 pounds.
Legumes make more growth during the summer than cool-season grasses. Growing grasses and legumes together increases summer growth.
When renovating grass fields with legumes, have the soil tested and apply the recommended lime and fertilizer. Legumes need higher soil pH and fertility levels than grasses.
Do not add nitrogen because it stimulates grasses, increasing competition with legumes.
Reduce vegetative cover on the soil to make it easier for legume seed to make contact with the soil. The best way is to allow heavy grazing during early winter. You also can use herbicides to kill or suppress grass to help control competition. Be sure to follow the herbicide label directions for rates and grazing restrictions.
Select legumes based on the soil and your planned use of the forage. For hay, alfalfa or red clover usually is best. A red clover-ladino clover combination works well for both hay and grazing. Ladino clover, red clover and/or annual lespedeza are good choices for pastures.
Select certified seed varieties that perform well in your geographic area. Also, be sure to mix a high-quality inoculant with seed just before planting. Apply a sticking agent to be sure the inoculant sticks to the seed.
Be sure seed makes good contact with the soil. One of the best ways to do this is to use a no-till drill. Another method is to use a disk, field cultivator or field tiller. Tillage helps expose the soil so legumes have a better chance to germinate and grow. When planting clovers, loosen
40 to 60 percent of the sod. For alfalfa seeding, almost all sod should be loosened from the soil.
A simple, effective technique is to broadcast legume seed on the soil surface in late winter, generally February 15 to March 15. Soil freezing and thawing covers the seed. This method doesn’t work well with alfalfa seed. Controlling grass and weed competition is one of the most critical practices for successful renovation. Many attempts have failed because grass was allowed to grow and reduce the light, nutrients and water available to young legume plants. Keep grass short by grazing or mowing until legume plants are three to four inches tall. Stop grazing and mowing for several weeks so legumes will become well established. Afterwards, mow or graze the field on a schedule to keep legumes in good condition.
This year weed control will be especially critical because while forages languished in the drought, many weeds species thrived. If you have questions on controlling specific weeds, contact (YOUR COUNTY) Cooperative Extension Service.
Once legumes are established, use soil test recommendations as the basis for the fertility program. Take soil samples every third year to check fertilizer and lime needs. To avoid grass competition, don’t use any nitrogen while you have legumes in the field.
Mow pastures when needed to remove grass seed heads and control weeds and woody vegetation. Scout renovated fields regularly to discover insect problems early. Contact the
(COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service for additional information on successful pasture renovation.
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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Sewing Machines: Sew Back in Style
Source: Marjorie Baker, extension associate for clothing and textiles
Interest in sewing has skyrocketed over the past several years, but it’s not because baby boomers are nearing retirement. Sewing has become a trendy hobby for teenagers and women in their 20s. Not since the 1950s has sewing attracted this much attention from a younger generation. With a popular culture focused on being different, young girls are learning that the needle and thread are keys to individualism. These new sewers are finding sewing to be much easier than it was for their grandmothers because sewing machine companies have used advances in technology to develop easy to use, electronic sewing machines. Attracted by the new technology, their grandmothers are looking to upgrade their machines too.
Electronic sewing machines offer extensive stitch capabilities and have experienced enormous improvements during the past 20 years, evolving as technology breakthroughs occurred. Many of the modern sewing machines could be considered stand alone computers.
Some beneficial features of these machines include speed control and automatic needle stop.
The electronic, or computerized, machines offer on screen “advisors” that tell the operator which thread and needle would be most appropriate for the fabric the operator selected.
An electronic sewing machine can ease the learning process for beginners. Experienced sewers may not need to upgrade to the latest technology but will appreciate the speed and ease of tasks that took them years to manually master.
There are sewing machines for any skill level or purpose. New sewing machines can range from a couple hundred dollars to over $8,000 for those that include embroidery modules.
Embroidery software is often an additional cost on top of the machine purchase. People interested in buying one of these machines should make sure the machine’s software is compatible with their home computer before purchasing one.
When choosing a sewing machine, it is important to find a machine that matches your needs. Some may have additional components that are not necessary for certain types of sewers. For basic repair purposes, a good quality mechanical sewing machine makes a stitch comparable to a high end electronic sewing machine. It’s a good idea to bring sample pieces of fabric and threads with you when purchasing a new sewing machine to ensure the sewing machine has the capabilities you need. Find out the details of the machine’s warranty. Some dealers can repair the machines locally, but some require the machine to be sent off if problems occur. Sewing can be a fun and rewarding hobby. Many county extension offices offer basic classes in sewing and quilting. “Come Sew With Us” programs were designed to teach basic sewing skills. For more information about sewing or selecting sewing machines, contact the
(COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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4-H Certified Volunteers Needed for Livestock Program
Source: Ken Culp, 4-H youth development specialist for volunteerism
If you are interested in guiding 4-H’ers as they learn about livestock, assisting youth in livestock judging competitions or helping 4-H members prepare for a skill-a-thon, being a 4-H livestock certified volunteer may be a perfect fit for you.
The livestock volunteer certification program concentrates on beef, sheep, swine, dairy, market goat and county ham. It also offers education on meat, livestock and dairy judging and a skill-a-thon.
Any interested adult can become a 4-H certified volunteer, regardless of whether the adult has a child enrolled in the program. Livestock certified volunteers assist extension agents by ensuring youth enrolled in the livestock program receive at least six hours of educational instruction from the Kentucky 4-H curriculum. Youth need the six hours of instruction to effectively prepare for and maintain eligibility to participate in livestock competitions and educational events.
Since volunteers extend the livestock program beyond what agents are able to reach, and because the efforts of certified volunteers allow agents an opportunity to devote additional time to developing new programs, extension agents aren’t eligible to become certified volunteers. In order to become a 4-H certified volunteer in livestock, interested persons must attend a certification workshop. Workshops are offered twice a year and typically begin at 5 p.m. on
Friday and end at 5 p.m. on Saturday. The next session will be held on Jan. 4-5 at General
Butler State Resort Park in Carrollton.
Certification workshops educate volunteers about how to ensure that youth have a well- rounded educational experience. A certified volunteer ensures 4-H’ers get quality instruction on subjects involving livestock. These topics include breeds, body conformation, skeletal anatomy, wholesale and retail meat cuts, feeds and feeding, nutrition, animal health, reproduction, fitting, showmanship, judging and many others.
Certified livestock volunteers are given a complete set of curricula, materials and educational resources which help guide volunteers as they complete activities with youth at club meetings and activities. In order to become a certified volunteer, volunteers must teach a short lesson using materials and curriculum provided during the workshop to their peers, participate in a skill-a-thon activity and make at least 70 percent on a three-part written test.
After completing the certification workshop, certified volunteers will receive a certificate, sign a contract and will be listed on the registry on the Kentucky 4-H web site. The contract requires volunteers to agree to offer at least nine hours of educational instruction each year and be responsible for ensuring youth participating in their livestock program have completed at least six hours of educational activities each year, prior to the validation and animal ownership deadlines.
There are other 4-H certified leadership opportunities in shooting sports, master gardening and clothing. Each has a different set of volunteer requirements and obligations. To learn more about becoming a 4-H certified volunteer in livestock or for more information about other certified leadership opportunities, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension
Service. Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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