Forages
Before
- Soil test at least once every three years and apply nutrients as outlined in OMAFRA Publication 30: Guide to Forage Production .
- In perennial hay fields, establish species that tolerate wet conditions, such as birdsfoot trefoil, red clover, smooth bromegrass, timothy, perennial ryegrass, or tall fescue. Used disease-resistant varieties where available.
- Consider if Forage Rainfall Insurance offered by Agricorp is the right business risk management tool to help protect your farm’s forage supply.
During
- Keep off the field to prevent soil compaction, ruts, and mud on the crop.
After
- Assess crop survival 2-3 weeks after flood waters recede.
- Dig up roots to check whether plants are healthy. Look specifically for root and crown rot diseases that may impact the future productivity of the stand. Terminate alfalfa if stem or plant counts fall below economic thresholds.
- Most perennial forages will grow through silt deposits up to 5 cm (2 in.) deep so long as crusting is not an issue.
- If the crop is over 25 cm (10 in.) tall, it can be cut and made into dry hay or silage, not baleage.
- If it is silt damaged, chop and spread the crop evenly back on the field, then top dress with fertilizer to encourage good regrowth.
- If the crop was cut and lying in the field when flooding occurred, it may still be put up as hay or silage (not baleage) so long as it has not got slimy.
- Have a nutritional analysis done on the crop and pay particular attention to ash levels. Silt from flood water may elevate ash.
Pastures
Before
- Train all livestock to respect an electric fence.
- Soil test at least once every five years and apply nutrients to maintain results above 12 ppm P and 120 ppm K.
- Establish species that tolerate wet conditions, such as birdsfoot trefoil, clovers, reed canarygrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, meadow foxtail and Kentucky bluegrass. Use disease-resistant varieties where available.
- Implement a rotational grazing system on your farm.
- Consider if Forage Rainfall Insurance offered by Agricorp is the right business risk management tool to help protect your farm’s forage supply.
- Remove livestock from pastures before flood waters rise.
During
- Do not graze flooded pastures.
- Stand livestock off the pasture in a sacrifice paddock, barn, or dry lot to prevent pasture damage.
- When soils are wet and grazing is required, use on/off grazing to minimize pasture damage.
After
- Wait 1-2 weeks after flood waters recede before turning livestock out on pastures. This should reduce microbial loads brought in by flood water.
- Supplemental energy may be required initially to compensate for elevated ash. Ash content will decrease as pastures grow through silt deposits.
- Most perennial forages will grow through silt deposits up to 5 cm (2 in.) deep so long as crusting is not an issue. Overseeding may be required if bare patches appear because of drowning.
- Assess pasture damage. Consider both the percent area of the field that is damaged, as well as the depth of pugging.
- Longer rest periods between grazing events are often enough for very lightly or lightly pugged pastures to recover.
- Light or moderately pugged pastures may benefit from overseeding. Frost seeding can be a good option for broadcasting legumes.
- A complete renovation may be required for severely and very severely pugged pastures.
