Increased profit is the primary reason producers need to know the quality of the forages they feed livestock. It’s important to know the nutrient composition and potential animal performance that can be expected from a given forage. Methods of Testing Feeds, Definitions of Common Forage Analysis Terms, Application of Forage Testing Results, Forage Sampling and Sample Submission information included. (PDF Format Only)

Many different strategies are available for fertilizing pastures. They vary according to stocking rate, presence or absence of legumes and whether the pastures consist of summer or winter plants. Includes information on soil testing, pH, liming and winter annuals. (PDF Format Only)

One of the most important decisions a forage producer must make is which variety or varieties to plant. To help farmers make logical choices among crops and varieties, the LSU AgCenter conducts variety trials and makes recommendations each year. Suggested varieties, seeding rates, planting depths and seeding dates are included. (PDF Format Only)

Provides information to clientele on how to properly produce good-quality hay in Louisiana.

This guide for 2009 contains suggestions for management of the most important or more prevalent diseases of Louisiana plants. It includes information on fungicides, bactericides and nematicides, as well as safety precautions for using them.

This guide includes helpful information on herbicides and weed control with detailed suggestions for aquatics, commercial nursery stock, field crops, forestry, fruit crops, home gardens, lawns and many other Louisiana crops. It includes information on different types of herbicide registrations, as well as information on herbicide labels and restricted uses. Also included are sprayer calibration techniques, suggestions for reducing herbicide drift and a guide to proper spray tip selection.

This 2009 guide was compiled by LSU AgCenter experts and includes regulations, precautions and suggestions for pest control in Louisiana. Detailed topics include drift of pesticides, hazards of pesticides to beneficial insects and wildlife, phytotoxicity and using beneficial insects to control pest populations. A section on organic gardening also is included.

Welcome to the LSU AgCenter Forage Production Web site.

This page contains the faculty and staff contact information on those working in Pasture & Forage.

An accounting of the value of agriculture in Louisiana. Agents and specialists of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, as well as other agencies - both private and public - compile this information. It focuses on the animal, forestry, fisheries, plant and wildlife commodities that comprise our vital agricultural industry. This industry continues to contribute significantly to the state's economy with the potential for increased impacts through value-added processing.

This publication provides information on planting, growing and harvesting alfalfa as a forage crop in Louisiana.

This study was done to determine the effects of broiler litter and commercial fertilizer applied to bermudagrass pastures on animal performance.

Winter annual forages are recommended for grazing, green chop, hay and silage production in Louisiana. Each year scientists of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center conduct performance trials to evaluate the forage production of annual ryegrass, cereal rye and oat varieties. Trials are conducted at various LSU Agricultural Center research stations throughout the state to provide information on the performance of varieties under varying soil and climatic conditions.

A high percentage of calves produced in Louisiana are sold at weaning and stockered in other sections of the country. Studies investigating grazing methods on bermudagrass pastures with stocker cattle are somewhat limited and results from these studies have been conflicting and are therefore inconclusive. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of continuous and rotational grazing methods at two stocking rates for stocker cattle consuming bermudagrass forages.

Many Louisiana producers overestimate the quality of their hay because they don’t recognize the reasons hay quality varies. This publication describes the factors that influence quality and tells how to obtain a forage sample for testing purposes.

This publication describes a unique, naturally occuring variety of bermudagrass found in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, in 1991. Little Phillip No. 1 grew more rapidly than of other varieties, yet the forage quality was similar.

This publication gives recommendations on proper fertilization rates for optimum production of summer hay crops.

The LSU AgCenter soon will begin comprehensive tests for salt contamination in areas of Vermilion Parish hit by Hurricane Rita’s storm surge, but officials this week said the problem may not be as bad as originally feared.

This publication provides yield performances of various warm-season forage crops grown in Louisiana. The results were obtained during trials conducted from 2004 to 2005.

Salt water flowed into sugarcane fields during Hurricane Rita, but the layout of a sugarcane field can be beneficial in ridding the field of salt. LSU AgCenter agronomist Dr. Gary Breitenbeck explains. (Radio News 12/12/05)