Agriculture : News
DATE: March 27, 2010
HARDIN COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
201 Peterson Drive
Elizabethtown, Kentucky 42701-9370
BY: Doug Shepherd
County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources
Kentucky Grazing Schools:
The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture has decided to again offer a two-day intensive grazing school similar to what was offered several years ago. Producers will have the opportunity to attend the Grazing School at one of two sites, either this spring or later this summer. Both schools will provide intensive class room instruction and hands-on field training on forages and grazing options.
The schools are for producers who raise cattle, sheep, goats, horses, dairy cows, buffalo or any grazing animal; and targets people who want to improve their forage use and carrying capacity of their farm.
The Spring Grazing School will be held April 14-15 at the UK Research Education Center at Princeton, KY. Times will be 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM CDT the first day, and from 8:00 AM till 5:00 PM on the second day. There is a $45 per person registration fee that covers all course materials and lunch, refreshments each day.
The other session will be held at the Woodford County Extension Office and the UK Woodford Research Farm on August 9 and 10th. Both programs will be identical except for the location. Class size is limited to 45 people, so don’t wait to register if you plan on attending, since these schools always totally fill up.
For a detailed program and registration form go to the UK Forage Website at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/ which also can be found on the Hardin County Extension Office Agriculture Enterprise website at www.hardinag.org.
Impact of Introduced Plants:
Most of us have heard the phrase “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. ”You
can apply this adage to your landscape just as easily as you can apply it to your attic. It may surprise you to learn some flowers and landscape plants you find attractive are actually weeds that can have a negative economic impact on the environment.
Plant species are considered weeds when they interfere with human activities or welfare. Some plants are known to be potentially poisonous to animals. Others cause skin irritations or allergic reactions in people. A plant desirable to one individual can be a menace to another. A good example of this is annual morning glory. You can find morning glory in catalogs and in some nurseries as a landscape plant. For a grain crop farmer, this flowering vine can cause significant losses in crop-yield potential.
Many plants classified as weeds are not native to the United States. Most have been introduced through travel and trading in commerce with other parts of the world. Here are a few weeds to watch out for when you plan your landscape project, according to J.D. Green, UK Extension Weed Specialist.
Musk thistle: Also know as Nodding thistle. This native of Europe and Asia was first discovered in the Mammoth Cave area in the 1940’s. Today, musk thistle is widespread across Kentucky and each year farmers, landowners and roadside maintenance crews spend a significant amount of time and money to combat its growth and spread.
Johnsongrass was introduced in the 1800s as a forage crop. Currently, this plant is one of the top 10 problematic weeds throughout the Southeastern United States, including Kentucky.
Multiflora rose was originally introduced for use as a living fence and wildlife cover. This highly invasive species now inhabits pastures, desirable landscapes and wasteland areas. Similar rapidly spreading ornamentals that have escaped from landscapes include Japanese Knotweed, Bush Honeysuckles and Star-of-Bethlehem.
Kudzu was introduced as an ornamental plant in the late 1800s. Kudzu is a major problem in many areas of the Southeastern United States due to its aggressive nature. It also is a host plant for Asian rust, a new disease problem in soybeans. Considerable costs and control efforts are initiated each year to combat the runaway spread of Kudzu.
Many of these introduced plants spread easily and aggressively from one location to the next. They crowd out and suppress the growth of more desirable vegetation. This can alter habitats and also cause losses and a reduction in quality for crops and forages. You can avoid these problems with careful thought and planning. Learn the characteristics of plants you intend to add to your landscape. Do they grow rapidly or spread easily? Find out the origins of the plant. Is it imported from an exotic location? Take precautions to ensure that non-native plants do not turn out to be our next plant enemy.
Tobacco Pub Revised:
Dr. Kenny Seebold, UK Extension Plant Pathologist, has revised the 2010 Tobacco Fungicide Guide due to a recent label change that excludes the use of Quadris on tobacco transplants. For a revised copy of this publication, either stop by the Extension Office or download a copy free of charge from the County Extension Office Tobacco Ag Enterprise website at www.hardinag.ext.
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, or disability.
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