Upcoming Commodity Meetings and Frost Seeding Legumes
Anthony Ohmes
BENTON, MISSOURI
2023 MU Cotton Meeting
February 9, 2023
MU Fisher Delta Research Center
Portageville, MO
Registration: 8:00 a.m. Program: 8:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
CEU’s will be applied for
Agenda and Times:
8:00 am - Registration, Refreshments, and Welcome
8:30 am - Cotton Weed Control – Jim Heiser, MU Delta Center
9:10 am – Cotton Fertility – Dr. Justin Calhoun, MU Delta Center
9:50 am – Break
10:20 am - Cotton Production – Dr. Bradley Wilson, MU Delta Center
11:00 am – Cotton Insects – Dr. Chase Floyd, MU Delta Center
11:40 am - Market Outlook – David Reinbott, MU Extension
12:20 pm - Lunch
2023 MU Rice Meeting
February 16, 2023
The Gathering @ Versity Crossing
1430 N. Outer Road
Dexter, MO
Registration: 8:00 a.m. Program: 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
CEU’s will be applied for
Agenda and Times:
8:00 am - Registration, Refreshments, and Welcome
8:30 am - Rice Council Rep – Molly Buckler
9:00 am - Rice Market Outlook – David Reinbott, MU Extension
9:40 am – Rice Weed Management – Jim Heiser, MU Delta Center
10:20 am – Break
10:50 am - Rice Insect and Disease Management – Dr. Chase Floyd, MU Delta Center
11:30 am - Rice Production – Dr. Justin Chlapecka, MU Delta Center
12:15 pm – Lunch
Frost Seeding Legumes
Investing in legumes in cool-season grass pastures will result in improved forage quality and yield while reducing overall fertilizer costs. Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen (free N) and when legumes make up 20% to 30% of overall stand the result is little to no nitrogen required for the companion cool-season grass crop. Legumes also improve overall livestock daily gain and conception rates. Legumes help reduce the negative effects of ergovaline, the toxin produce by endophyte infected KY 31 fescue. Additionally, the added forage could help thinned pastures coming out of the 2022 drought.
The window for frost seeding legumes is typically late January through February. Planting later will reduce overall success of establishment since it is the freezing and thawing action of the soil that moves seed into the soil/seed zone. Unlike the generally larger legume seed, cool season grass seed establishment is not successful using this method and should not be mixed with legume seed. Legume seed must come into contact with soil for the freeze/thaw action to be successful. Seeding rates for ladino clover, red clover and annual lespedeza depend on if the application is for maintenance or initial establishment. Seeding rates can be found in the MU Guide 4652, “Seeding Rates, Dates, and Depths for Common Missouri Forages” (http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G4652). Also, it is important to consider using certified seed and inoculating clover seed to insure good nodulation especially in fields where legumes have not been in the mix for some time. Target fields that have adequate pH, phosphorus and potassium levels to support legumes. Fields that are over-seeded should avoid fertilizing with nitrogen which can interfere with nodulation and increase competition from grass. Graze properly or clip pasture in spring to improve light availability and to reduce spring competition from grass. The rest periods in a managed rotational grazing system will also improve overall legume stand establishment and persistence.
More information on this topic can be found on MU Extension News website (https://extension.missouri.edu/news/forage-expert-gives-4-top-reasons-to-frost-seed-legumes-5941) and on MU IPM YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYQo251xDQ). ∆