OATS vs OATS
This is some great information on 

Look for winter hardiness in oat varieties planted in fall. Fall planting is only appropriate in the Southeastern U.S. Any further north, they need to be spring planted. Other varieties that have worked well in food plots are Harrison, Rodgers, Chapman, Arkansas 604, and Arkansas 833 varieties successfully in most years. If it gets cold enough (say below 0), all of the varieties will winter kill. Check with your local ag extension agent for further information. Horntagger.

OAT FORAGE YIELDS AT OVERTON FOR 1996-97 AND TWO-YEAR MEANS

Steve Ward, Jim Crowder, and L. R. Nelson

Background. Oats are an important winter forage crop in south central Texas. Oats can produce high yields of good quality forage. Oats are susceptible to winterkill and only the most winterhardy varieties should be planted in northeast Texas. There are significant differences between varieties for winterhardiness and forage distribution during a growing season. Some varieties produce much of their forage yield in the fall, while others produce a more balanced yield throughout the growing season.

Research Findings. An oat forage variety experiment is conducted annually at Overton. Many available commercial and experimental oat varieties were evaluated during the past 2 years. Fertilizer application rates and dates for 1996-97 are noted in Table 1. All tests were planted into a prepared seedbed. Planting dates were early September normally, however, in 1996 the planting date was 9 September. Seeding rate was 110 lbs/ac and plot size was 4 x 12 ft. Seed was drilled into the seedbed approximately 1 inch deep. Entire plots were harvested on five dates with a Hege plot harvester at a cutting height of 2 inches. There were 4 replications. Oat forage was approximately 10 inches tall during the first harvest on 6 December. The commercial varieties demonstrating best seedling vigor and rapid fall growth were Buckshot HG, Coker 227, and Chapman. The experimentals TX92M1596, TX90D2457, and TX92M1048 also produced high forage yields. The second harvest date was 2 February, indicating little forage production in January. Higher yields were produced by Buckshot HG and Dallas. The third harvest was on 20 March with best forage yields produced by Coker 227, Coker 719 and 833. There were several experimentals which produced similar yields. The fourth harvest was 9 April, however, there were little differences between entries for this harvest date. The last harvest was on 6 May. The best yielding varieties were Dallas, TAMO 397, Nora, and the two Coker lines. Several experimentals also produced high late season forage yields. The highest total season yield was produced by experimentals TX92M1596, TX90D2457 and TX92M1048 and the highest yielding varieties were Buckshot HG, Dallas, Coker 227, Coker 719, and Nora. Differences in forage yields of less than the LSD (note under each column) may be due to experimental error and should not be considered significant. A two-year mean is presented for those varieties tested over this period. There were large differences between varieties. The highest yielding entry was Dallas followed by Buckshot HG, 833, and Ozark. Differences in yield between varieties are often a result of their winterhardiness, however, we have not had any winterkill on oats over the past two years.

Application. The data from these trials should be useful in selecting varieties for your farm. Depending on variety availability, compare forage yields to determine which variety you want to plant.

Table 1. Oat forage variety test at Overton, Texas for 1996-97 and mean yield over 2 years.

Planted September 9, 1996. Fertilization: Preplant 500 lb 10-20-20/ac. Topdressed with 50 lb N/ac on October 18, 1996, 50 lb N/ac on January 15, 1997, 300 lb/ac of KMG (22% K₂O, 11% Mg, and 23% sulfate) on February 10, 50 lb N/ac on February 17, and 25 lb N/ac on March 26.

Herbicide: Glean was applied at the two leaf stage at a rate of 0.3 oz/ac.

^aEntry not tested in each of the last 2 years.

Texas A&M University Agricultural Research & Extension Service WWW Server
The Texas A&M University System / Overton, Texas 75684

http://overton.tamu.edu/forage98/fd98oats.htm

This is also some great information I would like to bring on Fall Forage. They do not talk about wildlife but any information on Fall Forage will directly help all wildlife managers. You will also have to adjust the dates for planting to your area of the country. But it will give you a general time frame. Mid United States is Late August to Early September. Horntagger.

Fall Forage Update-2004

C. G. Chambliss, R. D. Barnett, G.M. Prine, and A. R. Blount

Introduction

Recommended Cultivars (Varieties)

Grasses

OATS - May be planted and grazed earlier than rye. Very palatable, but susceptible to freeze injury. Recommended varieties are Horizon 474, Florida 502, and Florida 501 for early season grazing. Horizon 321, Horizon 314, Chapman, Harrison, Terral Secretariat LA495, Coker 227, Ozark, AR-County Seeds 833, 811, LA604 and Plot Spike LA9339 are recommended for winter and spring grazing. Horizon 321, Horizon 314, Horizon 474 and Plot Spike LA9339 are relatively new varieties that have improved crown rust resistance, winter hardiness, and grain and forage production. In some years, some varieties may be injured by Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV).

WHEAT - Similar to oats in forage yield and palatability. Less susceptible to freeze injury than oats. Wheat should not be planted for grazing before October 15. Plant only Hessian-fly-resistant varieties for grazing. Recommended varieties for grazing are AgriPro Crawford, AGS 2000, Pioneer 26R61, Pioneer 2684, Coker 9835, Roberts, GA-Gore, GA-Dozier. AgriPro Crawford is a new variety available for use in 2003.

RYEGRASS - Ryegrass is a valuable winter and spring grazing crop for use on flatwoods soils or the heavier sandy loam soils in northwest Florida. Ryegrass may be seeded alone or with a small grain on a prepared seedbed or overseeded onto permanent grass pastures. Seeding ryegrass with a small grain crop lengthens the grazing season. Recommended varieties are Jumbo, Florlina, Surrey, Jackson, Magnolia, Rio, Gulf, Southern Star, Big Daddy, TAM 90, Passeral Plus, Ed, Brigadier, Surrey II, Stampede, Fantastic, Graze-N-Gro, King, Prine, and Beefbuilder III. (Other new varieties may be suitable but have not been adequately tested in Florida.)

TALL FESCUE - In general, fescue should not be planted in Florida. It does not persist as a perennial, and as a cool-season annual, small grains and ryegrass are more productive. A few producers have had limited success with Ga-5 when planted on low, wet, clay soils in northwestern Florida.

Legumes

RED CLOVER - is a winter annual under Florida conditions and usually does not reseed itself. It will not tolerate flooding. Recommended varieties are Cherokee, Kenland, Redland III, and Kenstar. Cherokee, developed in Florida, is earlier than other cultivars and is the highest-yielding cultivar.

ALFALFA - is usually grown as a winter annual in Florida. Best use is for haylage, green chopping or hay. Requires good management and high fertility. It will not tolerate flooding or a high water table. Acreage is low in Florida because of the cost of production and management requirements. The recommended variety is Florida 99.

CRIMSON CLOVER - is a reseeding annual adapted to fertile well-drained soils. It has a relatively short grazing season. It may be grown in combination with ryegrass or a small grain crop. Recommended varieties are Flame, Dixie, Chief, Tibbee, and AU-Robin.

ARROWLEAF CLOVER - is an annual that is similar to crimson clover in soil adaptation, management and fertility requirements. It is mainly grown on heavier soils in northwestern Florida. It makes more growth in late spring than crimson clover. Recommended variety is Yuchi. A new cultivar, Apache, with improved virus resistance, has been grown in Florida for one year and performed well.

LUPINE - is an annual plant adapted to well-drained soils in northern and western Florida. It is an excellent cover crop. In recent years seed supply has been low, and forage production has been limited by diseases and insects. Only sweet varieties are suitable for forage. Recommended varieties are Tifblue, Tifwhite, and Frost.

SWEETCLOVER - grows on slightly drier soils than white clover. It will not tolerate flooding. It has an earlier but shorter grazing season than white clover. It should be reseeded each year. Recommended varieties are Hubam and Floranna.

AUSTRIAN WINTER PEAS - (Common). This annual legume is best suited to well-drained soils with a high clay content.

VETCH - grows best on well-drained, fertile, loamy soils. It has not generally been highly productive in Florida. Recommended varieties are Americus, Cahaba White, and Nova II.

Remember the following:

• Planting cool-season forages on a clean-tilled seedbed will result in earlier and more total production compared to overseeding on a grass sod. If overseeding bahiagrass, the sod should be disked or chopped for 30 to 50 percent disturbance. For overseeding bermudagrass, a pasture drill or no-till drill can be used alone. Excess warm-season forage should always be removed as hay or by grazing before planting the cool-season forage. Recent experience suggests that planting of cool-season annual grasses on bahia should be delayed until mid-November or later.
  
• Success of winter pastures depends on rainfall. This is especially true when overseeding.
  
• In central and south peninsular Florida sod seeding (overseeding) of cool-season annuals into a established grass sod often fails due to insufficient soil moisture and this is generally not recommended unless irrigation is available.
  
• Look for opportunities to plant on a clean-till seedbed, such as following vegetables or a row crop, after lifting sod, or in a pasture renovation program where the sod is plowed or turned under.
  
• In south central Florida, small grains and ryegrass have been successfully grown on flatwoods in a pasture renovation program. If the sod is turned with a moldboard plow (late October-early November), the soil harrowed, planted, and packed the same day, there will usually be enough moisture conserved to establish the new planting. If equipment and labor does not allow for such a rapid progression of work, then it may be best to turn the sod and then disk in early- to mid-October and wait (hope) for a good rain before planting.
  
• Winter legumes are more dependable on the heavier clay soils of northwestern Florida or on sandy soils that are underlain by a clay layer compared to deep upland sands or sandy flatwoods. However, white clover and ryegrass overseeded can also be grown successfully on certain flatwoods areas in northeast Florida and south central Florida where the soil remains moist throughout the growing season. Do not forget to add the correct inoculant (nitrogen fixing bacteria) to the legume seed before planting.

Conserved Forage

Since both the supply and quality of hay may be low in some areas, this might be a good time to try hay ammoniation. The quality of old rank bahiagrass and bermudagrass hay often harvested in mid-to-late summer could be improved by treatment with anhydrous ammonia. Because of the possibility of toxicity symptoms (and death) in nursing calves, it is recommended that ammoniated hay not be fed to lactating cows, or to cows just prior to calving. Brown and Kunkle (1997) recommend that 'ammoniated hay should be reserved for feeding to developing heifers, herd bulls or cull cows that are held over the winter to obtain a greater price in the spring market'. See EDIS Bulletin 888, Improving the Feeding Value of Hay by Anhydrous Ammonia Treatment (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AA203).

Hay should be analyzed for protein and total digestible nutrients (TDN). Some hays may supply the nutritional needs of animals without any additional protein or energy supplements. Contact your county agricultural extension agent for information about forage testing.

Stockpiled or standing hay crop--Floralta and Bigalta Limpograss--may be fertilized from mid August through October in order to accumulate growth that can be grazed during the late fall - early winter period. This accumulated growth can supply the energy needs of a mature cow but the protein content of the grass will be low and a protein supplement must be fed in order to obtain expected animal performance.

References

Table 1. Planting dates, seeding rates, and planting depths for certain cool-season forage crops.

² Planting date range: in general, cool-season forage crops in northern Florida can be planted in the early part of the planting date range and in southern Florida, in the latter part of the planting date range.

Footnotes

2. C. G. Chambliss, associate professor, Agronomy Department; R.D. Barnett, professor, Agronomy Department, North Florida Research and Eduction Center--Quincy, FL; G. M. Prine, Professor Emeritus, Agronomy Department, and A. R. Blount, associate professor, North Florida Research and Education Center--Marianna, FL; Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AA266

Notice a pattern yet. The Your local Extension offices have some great information. Horntagger.

Planting Warm-Season Forages for White-Tailed Deer

The white-tailed deer is the most popular big game animal in the country. It is also one of the most plentiful, with more than 30 million in the U.S. Annual harvests in North America increased from 2 million deer in 1978 to more than 5.3 million in 1994. Certain regions (including the Southeast) are facing overpopulation problems.

Overpopulation damages forest regeneration and agricultural crops and increases deer-vehicle collisions and disease. Annual U. S. damage may be as high as $1 billion or more.

Overpopulation creates unhealthy deer herds because of inadequate food supplies and can reduce health and abundance of native plant communities. Plant communities, which provide staple deer browse foods like vines, forbs, woody plant leaves, and twigs, decline over time from overbrowsing.

Deer herd health, including fawn production, body weight, and antler development, depends on good nutrition, age, and genetics. Nutritional requirements, including adequate protein and mineral levels, must be met through adequate habitat management. Habitat management involves proper manipulation of commercial forestland and agricultural crops. Management of native vegetative species, from forbs (weeds) to mature trees, impacts habitat quality more than any food planting or supplemental effort.

As an example, timber clearcuts, if planned, harvested, and reforested properly, can provide diverse habitat edges, excellent escape cover, and large quantities of nutrient-rich forage/foods as they grow back into young forests. Small, irregularly-shaped harvest cuts with streamside management zones (strips of timber left along drains) provide excellent habitat if these areas are part of a mix of habitat types. Depending on initial tree spacing and site quality, areas that are replanted to pine trees may provide good forage production for 3 to 7 years, and even longer for hardwood regeneration areas. Forage production eventually declines as the amount of sunlight reaching the forest floor declines. Later in the forest cycle, with proper fertilization, pruning, thinning, and other timber stand treatments, these areas can again provide excellent habitat.

While native vegetation management has a much greater potential to increase total deer forage production than food plantings, plantings may be important seasonally to meet specific nutritional needs. The two most critical nutritional times annually for white-tailed deer are late summer, when deer population levels are high and native food quality is low, and late winter, when forage quality and quantity is low and mast (fruit) from oaks and other trees is scarce.

Research has indicated that if at least 1 percent of an area is planted to year-round cool- and warm-season forages, the plots can positively affect the nutritional plane and quality of whitetails. Cool-season forages can aid hunter harvest and improve deer condition, but the benefits of warm-season forage management are often overlooked. Planting summer forages may be as important as planting cool-season forages, since antler growth, fawn production, and initial rearing take place then. Therefore, both bucks and does face special nutritional demands. Seasonal comparisons indicate deer eat the most food in late summer. We know that deer use of warm-season plantings declines from highest in March to lowest in early June. Use increases in late June, peaks in August, then declines slowly through September.

Warm-season food plot planning requires careful thought and on-the-ground evaluation. Existing openings like pipeline and transmission line rights-of-way, abandoned secondary roads, and firelines can provide economical locations for food plots. Carefully plan and consider equipment needs and access points, soil quality, fertilization or liming requirements, size and distribution of plots, seedbed preparation, and choice of planting materials. Landowners should approve planting locations. Designate enough planting sites 1/2 to 3 acres in size to plant 1 to 2 percent of the managed area. Make plots long and narrow, but do not exclude sunlight from plots in forested areas. Evenly distribute warm- and cool-season plantings by dividing plots and planting half to each type, or at least distribute both food types evenly across the area.

The abundance and condition of wildlife are related directly to soil fertility. Soil fertility may vary widely on a given area, with higher fertility generally being found near drainages and in low areas. These are locations which, if available for planting, will produce the best warm-season forage plots, since they are both fertile and generally hold moisture better during the summer months. Initially, conduct a soil test for each new food plot location. Your Extension Service office can provide soil test kits and soil analysis. Soil test results will be tailored to give the fertilization and lime requirements for each planting material specified for use. Proper fertilization will dramatically increase forage produce and is critical to deer use. Liming, if recommended, will bring the pH up and dramatically increase the efficiency of fertilizer and forage production. To be effective at the time of seed germination, lime generally requires application 3 months before seed planting. Legume seeds must be treated with the proper inoculant at the time of planting and will produce their own nitrogen.

Plant and manage forage with a farm tractor and 5-foot wide implements including a disk, broadcast seeder/fertilizer distributer, and mower. A harrow, 2-row planter, and a hand and/or electric seeder are also useful. Plots should be limed, disked, and allowed to settle before planting. Broadcast seeding increases seeding rate over similar drilled crops. Most seeds should be lightly covered with a harrow or by dragging a heavy timber, log chain, or piece of chain-link fence over the plot. Frost planting, or overseeding crops such as red or arrowleaf clover, birdsfoot trefoil, or winter hardy forage oats over closely mowed or grazed vegetation in late winter can be effective and inexpensive. Frozen ground allows seeds to contact and germinate in mineral soil.

Choices for warm-season deer plantings are limited compared to the many cool-season favorites. However, several meet criteria of spring-summer production, resistance to overbrowsing, high protein levels, and digestibility to deer. The best choices for the Southeast include Alyceclover, cowpeas, jointvetch, Lab Lab, and soybeans. Alyceclover is a legume that produces forage through the early fall. It produces abundant forage and withstands browsing pressure better than most of the other choices. Plant it with cowpeas, another favorite warm-season annual legume, to help prevent overbrowsing of the peas. Cowpea varieties such as Catjang, Iron-clay, Tory, and Wilcox have a wide soil tolerance and grow well with a pH as low as 5.5.

Large plots tend to withstand deer pressure best. The same is true of soybeans, a favorite annual legume for deer plots. Soybeans may be 40 percent protein, and deer readily use both the green leaves and beans. Unfortunately, small plots and high deer densities may leave a field of "stems" after deer find them, and thus they are useful for only a little while. Corn, another favorite, is planted as a general crop for deer, doves, turkeys, and other animals. While not accurate to call it a summer forage, the grain matures in around 90 days, making it available mid-to-late summer. It is more important as a food resource during fall and winter, and while low in protein, it provides a good source of carbohydrates and energy. Thus, it is an important food to develop energy reserves in the fall deer herd.

Plant peas with corn at the final cultivation and fertilization to help control weeds and add much needed nitrogen. Jointvetch is a fern-like appearing plant that is adapted to moist soils. It may reseed if disked the following spring, and since it is a legume, it does not require nitrogen fertilizer. Lab Lab, a relative newcomer to the deer forage scene, is planted in the spring as are the others we have discussed. Lab Lab differs in that it is very drought tolerant and is used widely in arid climates.

Another forage to plant is Forage Brassica (rape). There are several varieties of these leafy plants. They are highly attractive to deer, average 30% or more protein, and may be available commercially in blends with Chicory and Plantain.

It can be important to document deer use of summer plots. To do this, exclosures of 3 inch wire formed into a tube 2 to 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet high can be staked to the ground on selected food plots to estimate deer use. Some forages, such as Alyce clover, hold up better to deer browsing pressure than others. Plant soybeans or peas with these types of forages to ensure adequate stands, particularly if 2 acres or smaller.

Following are recommendations for some of the common warm-season forages. Ladino clover, although it is a cool-season forage and normally planted in the fall, is included because it produces abundant forage through the summer months and, in some years, may provide a near year-round forage resource. In contrast to most cool season forages, summer forages may need herbicides to control competition.

Alyceclover

Description: A warm-season legume that provides forage in the summer and early fall. Especially important to white-tailed deer as one of the few warm season forages that hold up well to browsing.
Soil Adaptation: Most moderate to well-drained soils, including bottomland sites.
Fertilization: Apply according to soil test or apply 200 lbs./acre of 1-14-14 after planting is established.
Lime Requirements: Apply according to soil test or apply amounts necessary to bring pH to 6.5-7.0.
Planting Dates: May 1 - June 15 Planting Rate: Inoculate seed. Broadcast 15-20 lbs./acre or drill 16 lbs./acre
Soil Preparation: Disk and plant in a firm seedbed.
Companion Plants: Plant with forage cowpeas and/or jointvetch. Reduce seeding rate to 10 lb./acre when planting combinations.

Ladino Clover

Description: A cool-season annual legume. A very popular clover for providing deer forage, and foliage and insects for quail and turkey.
Varieties: Osceola, Tillman, Regal, Louisiana S-1, and California
Soil Adaptation: Fertile, bottomland, moist soils.
Fertilization: Soil tests are recommended or use 300 lbs./acre of 0-20-20.
Lime Requirements: Apply according to soil test or use amounts necessary to maintain a soil pH of 6.5.
Planting Dates: September 1 - November 15.
Planting Rate: Requires white clover inoculant. Drill 3 lbs./acre at 1/4 inch or broadcast 4 lbs./acre and cover 1/2 inch.
Soil Preparation: Plant in a firm seedbed. In wet areas, broadcast and lightly disk in seed and fertilizer.
Companion Plants: Ryegrass, cool-season, annual small grains, and vetch. Reduce planting rate to 2-3 lbs./acre broadcast when planting combinations.
Management: Re-seeding can often be enhanced by fall disking or mowing and fertilizing at the rate of 40 lbs./acre of 0-20-20.

Cowpeas

Description: A warm-season annual legume. Browsed by deer and rarely eaten by doves, but heavily used by turkeys and quail. Varieties: Varieties are Thorsby Cream, Tory, Wilcox, Iron Clay, and Catjang.
Soil Adaptation: Well-drained soils, from sandy loams to heavy clay soils.
Fertilization: A soil test is recommended, or use amount required to maintain a soil pH of 5.5-7.0
Planting Dates: May 1 - July 1 Planting Rate: Plant 15 lbs./acre in 24-36 inch rows or broadcast 25 lbs./acre and cover 1 inch. Inoculant required.
Soil Preparation: Plant in a firm seedbed.
Companion Plants: Other warm season annual peas, Alyce Clover, and Brown Top Millet. Reduce planting rate to 12-15 lbs./acre broadcast when planting combinations.

Soybeans

Description: A warm-season annual legume. Provides food and cover for rabbits, turkeys, quail, doves, and ducks. Browsed heavily by deer in early stages of growth.
Varieties: There are hundreds of varieties; re-seeding varieties such as Bobwhite and Quailhaven have been researched at the Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Materials Center in Coffeeville, Mississippi. Select "forage" type varieties for best performance.
Soil Adaptation: Well drained, medium-textured soils such as sandy loams and clay loams.
Fertilization: A soil test is recommended or use 300 lbs./acre of 0-20-20.
Lime Requirements: Apply according to soil test or use amounts required to maintain a soil pH of 5.8-7.0.
Planting Dates: May 1 - June 1
Planting Rate: Plant 30 lbs./acre in 24-36 inch rows or drill 30 lbs./acre at 10 inch row spacing or broadcast 50 lbs./acre and cover 1/2 inch; inoculant required.
Soil Preparation: Plant in a well disked, firm seedbed.
Companion Plants: Corn. Reduce planting rate to 30-35 lbs./acre broadcast when planting combinations.
Management: If planted for waterfowl, remember that non-reseeding variety seeds will spoil in 30 days after flooding. Also, waterfowl do not utilize the protein in soybeans very efficiently, even though they readily consume them. Plant large plots in areas with high deer densities, or plots will be overbrowsed quickly.

Jointvetch (Deer Vetch)

Description: A warm-season annual, re-seeding legume. Provides excellent forage for deer and succulent foliage and seeds for dove, quail, and turkeys. Will grow on wet sites and can be flooded 18-24 inches for ducks.
Soil Adaptation: Moist and wet, light-textured soils. Do not plant in sandy soils.
Fertilization: A soil test is recommended or use 300 lbs./acre of 0-10-20.
Lime Requirements: Apply according to soil test or apply amounts necessary to keep a soil pH of 5.5-6.5.
Planting Rate: Broadcast 8-10 lbs./acre and cover 1/2 inch; inoculation required.
Soil Preparation: Plant in a well disked, firm seedbed.
Companion Plants: Warm-season perennial grasses.
Management: Re-seeding can be enhanced by spring disking; reapply 200 lbs./acre of 0-10-20. Not very competitive - may require preplanting herbicide application.

For more information on wildlife food plantings, check out the Mississippi State University Web Site ext.msstate.edu and look up publications entitled “Wildlife Food Planting Guide to the Southeast” and “A Guide to Sources of Conservation and Wildlife Food-Planting Materials.” Order the Food Planting guide and other wildlife-related publications from MSU-Extension Service/Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Box 9690, Mississippi State, MS 39762.

By Dean Stewart, Extension Associate, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Publication 2276
Extension Service of Mississippi State University

http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p2276.html

Reference the number below when e-mailing or calling
NWTF HABITAT PRO-STAFF NUMBER - HPS 025

Allen "horntagger" Morris
NWTF Habitat Pro-Staff
horntagger@mchsi.com
or
1-573-450-2186