Management

Members, don't forget to complete your NAIS Animal Premise ID Form.  Click here for the form from the Florida Department of Agriculture.

From the Polk County Livestock Report – a bi-monthly publication of the UF/IFAS Polk County Extension Service by Livestock Agent, Bridget Carlisle. May-June 2009 Issue.  To subscribe to the Polk County Livestock Report newsletter, please email your Livestock Extension Agent, Bridget Carlisle at bccarlis@ufl.edu.

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IFAS Livestock Waste Testing Laboratory
            Producers that utilize organic sources (biosolids, animal manure, poultry litter, etc.) for their nitrogen fertilization programs should consider livestock waste testing to determine adequate application method and rates.
            The Livestock Waste Testing Laboratory (LWTL) offers analytical tests, interpretations and nutrient recommendations for organic sources.  The laboratory services are being offered as a part of the IFAS Analytical Services Laboratories.  The analysis will include a test for nitrogen (N), ammonium (NH4-N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) as well as percent moisture, percent solids, percent ash, and pH.  Based on test results, nutrient recommendations for N, P, and K are provided for selected crops and up to three different crops per sample can be selected from a given list.
            Appropriate forms can be downloaded and printed from their website at http://soilslab.ifas.ufl.edu or by contacting Bridget at the Extension Office (863) 519-8677. 
 
New Bahiagrass Variety:  UF Riata
            The new Bahiagrass cultivar, UF Riata, developed by University of Florida/IFAS researchers is more cold tolerant and has a longer growing season than other varieties.  UF-Riata has been exclusively licensed to seed producer Ragan & Massey Inc., based in Ponchatoula, La. The seed should be available to customers starting in late summer 2009. 
            UF Riata exhibits lower photoperiod sensitivity, improved leaf tissue cold tolerance, and increased forage production during the cool season compared to the standard Bahiagrass cultivars Argentine and Pensacola.  While it is similar in total season yield as Tifton-9, it has greater seedling vigor and leaf tissue cold tolerance which allows for later fall and earlier spring forage production.  During the growing season, UF-Riata has equal or higher nutritive values than all other bahia cultivars.  As with Tifton-9, UF-Riata is not tolerant of severe overgrazing. 
            It is important to purchase certified seed of UF-Riata from a reliable seed source to insure the purity of the cultivar, excellent germination and freedom from weed seed.
Adapted from:  Blount, A.R., etal. “UF Riata, a novel Bahiagrass for the Southeastern U.S.” 
 

Service Provider Directory
Cattle producers depend on various services and products in their ranching operation, but sometimes it is difficult to locate a service provider or product. The South Florida Beef Forage Group has developed an extensive “Service Provider Directory” to help ranchers find what they need while allowing service and product providers market themselves. The directory includes providers in various categories that include, but are not limited to: hay, grass planting material, day workers, custom tractor work, hauling/transport, welding, fencing, to name a few. Providers are listed by category then county. Visit the website at http://sfbfp.ifas.ufl.edu/spdindex.html or contact me at (863) 519-8677 Ext. 104. 
If you have a service or product that you would like to list in the directory, please call me at the number above or email me at bccarlis@ufl.edu and I will be glad to have you added to the list.