Cut Feed Costs by Improving Pastures: Weed Control and Soil Fertility Strategies
APR 6, 202629 MIN
Cut Feed Costs by Improving Pastures: Weed Control and Soil Fertility Strategies
APR 6, 202629 MIN
Description
On this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast, Shaye interviews Corteva forage specialist, Sam Ingram, about prioritizing pastures and hay land to maximize forage production and improve cattle margins by lowering feed costs through grazing. Ingram explains how fertility, weed control, and grazing rest increase tonnage, forage quality, and carrying capacity, emphasizing soil testing and sticking to a consistent testing time to guide nutrient plans.
He discusses the value of legumes like white clover and annual lespedeza for quality and nitrogen fixation and introduces Corteva’s NovaGraz, a non-residual broadleaf herbicide that controls weeds such as biennial thistles, ironweed, buttercup, plantains, wild carrot family species, poison hemlock, and parsnip while maintaining key legumes, offering flexibility for hay sales and crop rotation. He also describes UltiGraz, which combines herbicide and fertilizer in one pass for efficiency. The conversation addresses drought and wildfire impacts, stressing post-disaster planning, avoiding grazing too soon, and using sacrifice areas and stored feed to protect forage cover. Learn more about Corteva Pasture Products here: https://www.corteva.com/us/products-and-solutions/pasture-management/product-finder.html
Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/
Other Links and Resources
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Learn more about Performance Livestock Analytics here: https://bit.ly/47PxY3W
00:00 Pasture Profit Boost
00:16 Meet The Forage Expert
01:10 Why Prioritize Pastures
03:56 Fertility And Grazing Basics
04:49 Weed Control Matters
06:26 Legumes And NovaGraz
09:02 Target Weeds And Application
11:36 Hay Fields And Residue
15:16 Soil Testing Fertility Plan
18:08 Weed Control Plus Fertility
21:19 Drought And Recovery Planning
25:24 Key Takeaways And Wrap Up