Tall Fescue Seed Production

In Southern Missouri

Dave DankerBuchheit Inc.

Tall Fescue Grown For Seed Production in Southern Missouri Rowed Fescue – Rows are generally in

7.5, 15 or 22.5 inch widths.

Tall Fescue Grown For Seed Production in Southern Missouri Chemical Used – Diuron for volunteer

seedling, 2,4-D Dicambia, Apogee for lodging

Left side of photo untreated – Right side treated with Apogee

Tall Fescue Grown For Seed Production in Southern Missouri Nitrogen Application – Split 40-50 lbs.

in September, 40-50 lbs. in December/January

Tall Fescue Grown For Seed Production in Southern Missouri

Tall Fescue

Grown For Seed Production in Southern Missouri Turf-type fescue –

second year of production

Windrowed for drying – moisture ~40%

Expected yield = 1600 lbs/ac

Heavy rains (2004) after windrowing reduced yield to 550 lbs/ac

Tall Fescue Grown For Seed Production in Southern Missouri Field produced 1300 lbs/ac - Variety = Max Q

(forage type) Straw baled for mulch – Stubble is cut for hay Straw production: Slightly more than one ton

per acre Remaining stubble: 2.5 tons per acre Field was lightly grazed in

November/December

Tall Fescue

Grown For Seed Production in Southern Missouri

View from combine

Same field as last slide

This windrow – Apogee treated

Produced less straw but more seed

Tall Fescue Grown For Seed Production in Southern Missouri Field ready for Harvest

Tall Fescue Grown For Seed Production in Southern Missouri First pass with windrower

Tall Fescue Grown For Seed Production in Southern Missouri Thirty years ago...

Missouri produced vast majority of fescue seed for turf and forage markets

75 million pounds per year – Missouri contributed 60 million Early 1980s – Oregon started to become a major

player Ideal climate Specialized – quality or certified production Market nearly tripled – Oregon consumed all market growth

Oregon – Certified seed Remainder “dumped” into KY31 market (Missouri)

95% of all fescue seed is turf/lawn industry Remainder – forage or pasture market

Tall Fescue Seed Production Issues Oregon

vs. MissouriOregon

Land costs ($10-80,000/acre) and rent costs (>$250/acre) forcing seed companies to look elsewhere for production

Transportation is more costly to east coast market

Continuous seed production has infested fields with rye grass – very costly to eradicate

Management practices restricted due to environmentalist’s movements

Tall Fescue Seed Production Issues Oregon

vs. MissouriMissouri

Harvest 3-4 weeks earlier than Oregon – creating a longer window to get freshly produced seed ready for fall market

Utilize full potential of fescue by grazing or feeding residue of production fields to cattle

Volatile weather conditions during harvest Farmland cannot compete with northern

states (corn, soybeans) but would be ideal for production of fescue seed

Tall Fescue Seed Production Issues Oregon

vs. Missouri

Top Ten Fescue Management Tips

1) Fertilize with Nitrogen in Late August or Early September

2) Remove cows from fescue fields no later than March 15th

3) Bale fescue stubble hay as soon as possible after seed harvest

4) Apply Phosphorus and Potassium to soil test5) Apply lime to soil test6) Spread second application of fertilizer Late

December or Early January7) Spray 2,4-D and Banvel to control broadleaf weeds

o March or very early April (daytime temp. >50)

8) Consider adding sulfur to your fertility program9) Allow tiller regrowth to occur in August and Early

September1) Do not pasture until Late September

10) Interseed with clover and-or lespedeza to improve forage quality and reduce endophyte levels

June/July 15-Harvest

July 15-Aug. 1- Remove Aftermath-Bale it! Burn it! Graze it! Allow sunlight to penetrate down into roots. (Promotes Tillering)

Aug. 20-Sept. 20-First fertilizer application (40# actual nitrogen phoshorus to soil test). Spray with Atrazine to remove excess seed.

Sept. 10-Frost- Stockpile pasture for winter grazing. Do not graze too short before frost. Grazing too short in the fall thins stands.

Dec. 10-Jan. 10 Second fertilizer application (75-80# actual nitrogen)

Dec. 1-March 15 Graze hard, remove as much of the stockpiled growth as possible.

March 15-Remove cows-Stop grazing.

June/July 15- Harvest

Fescue Seed Production Time Line

March 25-April 10-Spray with 2-4D to remove weeds.

Tall Fescue Seed Production

Cost of Production

FESCUE SEED PRODUCTION - ECONOMICS

COST OF PRODUCTION PER ACRE:

LIME - 0.67 TON PER ACRE PER YEAR: 10.72$ P & K - 60# OF 9-23-30 PER YEAR: 19.20$ NITROGEN - 80# SPLIT APPLICATION: 32.00$ SPRAY WITH 2,4-D AND BANVEL: 16.00$ COMBINE AND HAUL: 40.00$ MOW, RAKE & BALE: 45.00$ HAUL HAY: 7.50$ FENCING & LABOR TO STRIP GRAZE: 20.00$

-------------190.42$

Hay Wastage

Bell, S., and F.A. Martz. 1973 Univ. of Missouri Ag Exp.

Hay Wastage

Tall Fescue Seed Production

Cost of Production

Tall Fescue Seed Production

Cost of Production

Tall Fescue Seed Production

Cost of Production

Tall Fescue Seed Production

Cost of Production

Tall Fescue Seed Production

Cost of Production

Fescue Spraying Recommendations

Fescue Stubble HayAnhydrous Treatment

Apply at rate of 50 lbs. per ton of dry hay Four bales wide on bottom – three on second layer No more than 36.5 ft. from ground level – can be

up to 95 ft. long Must be square Seven tons of lime or fine dirt needed to cover

edges Cover gently – plastic will tear when stretched Do not cover pile above 90 degrees Cover same day it is made – no rain

Wet spots will attract anhydrous and prevent adequate treatment

Insert valve on upper end of stack – it will disperse by itself

Fescue Stubble HayAnhydrous Treatment

Use orifice with 5/64” opening with a paper clip inserted for a slow release

Apply anhydrous in the evening Calculate amount needed If you do not have an orifice – barely crack the

valve for a slow seep If you have the correct amount in the take –

you can leave it to release overnight Four days to adequately treat stubble hay After treatment – hay can be fed out of the

pile as needed WARNING: ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IS

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!! EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN USING IT!!!

Converting Established Stands to Row-Crop Production

Option 1: Plow & reseed the stand in 15” rows

Option 2: Use Roundup to selectively kill 10-11” strips between rows

Use 3 to 4 pints per acre Atrazine in September to kill volunteer seed

Jury is still out – time will tell

Methods for Selective Kill

Use 1.5 to 2 quarts Roundup per acre in 20 to 30 gallons water

Add Ammonium Sulfate at rate of 17 lbs. per 100 gallons water

Use drop or turn nozzles in direction of travel

Critical Elements of Quality Fescue Seed Production

Spray with 2,4-D (1 pint/acre) Late March or Early April

Do not begin harvest until seed is below 23% moisture

Deliver seed to Buchheit the same day/evening it is harvested

Immediately remove fescue aftermath

Critical Elements of Quality Fescue Seed Production - continued

First fertilizer application in Early August

Stockpile fescue for Fall/Winter grazing

Second fertilizer application in December or Early January (promotes tillering)

Remove Winter grazing cows by March 15th

Don’t forget to spray!