60 Repairing Hay Feeding Areas with Crabgrass: A Master Beef Producer Demonstration

The Master Beef Producer Program in Tennessee is a fee-based educational program for producers. In Marshall County, Master Beef Producer funds were used to purchase crabgrass seed for a demonstration which aimed to help producers decide if crabgrass is a viable option for repairing hay feeding areas. Producers were asked to fill out a survey to receive a small bag of crabgrass. Producers were given a factsheet with directions for planting, managing, and controlling weeds in crabgrass stands. In a pre-survey, producers were asked about previous use and opinion of crabgrass, and location of hay feeding areas. Sixty producers had not planted crabgrass before. When asked their opinion of using crabgrass, 53% liked crabgrass, 41% were indifferent and 6% did not like crabgrass. For hay feeding areas, 51% use the same hay feeding areas every year, whereas 45% switch their hay feeding areas. Post-survey results showed that when ranked (1=very low; 10=very high) how well producers liked using crabgrass, the average was 8.1. When asked to rank how well the crabgrass established, the average was 7.3. All producers used broadcasting and some included disking as their establishment method. Crabgrass was used for grazing only by 92% of producers, and for both grazing and hay by 8%. Pest issues including pigweed, iron weed, and mint, as well as armyworms, were observed in some stands. When asked if they would consider using crabgrass in the future, 67% of producers said yes, 25% said maybe, and 8% responded no. It is difficult to quantify the value of repairing hay feeding areas with crabgrass when considering erosion control, water quality, reduced weeds, and providing additional grazing for livestock. However, with a conservative yield of 2 tons/acre and forage value at $80/ton, the potential benefit of repairing these hay feeding areas is a gross of $160/acre. This demonstration is just one example of how fee-based programming and Extension demonstrations support informed decision-making and positive impacts for producers.