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 A
monthly series of articles by specialists at the University of Nebraska
Panhandle Research and Extension Center about issues of importance
Archives pageMay 2006 Topics:
Consider buffalograss lawn if you want to water and mow less Jim Schild In coming years, water-efficient plants like buffalograss will continue to look attractive, because water rates are expected to increase as cities and villages scramble to meet new, more stringent water quality regulations related to arsenic and uranium. Thanks to breeding programs at the University of Nebraska and commercial companies, a number of buffalograss cultivars are available for turf use. While not as lush as the most heavily watered and fertilized bluegrass lawns, these buffalograss turfs are much nicer than the pastures where the grass originated. Buffalograss is a warm-season, sod-forming grass. It starts growing in early to mid-May and begins to go dormant in the early fall, spreading both by seed and runners. Buffalograss does not tolerate excessive shade and is not well-adapted to sandy soils. Because of its extensive, deep root system and relatively low water use rate, buffalograss has a high resistance to drought stress. Depending on rainfall, one or more monthly summer irrigations will normally prevent summer dormancy. Once established, a buffalograss lawn requires much less water than common bluegrass lawns. Buffalograss may be established by seeding, vegetative plugs or sodding. Each method requires proper establishment – bed preparation, fertility, preplant weed control and irrigation – to ensure a good turf stand. The following recommendations are taken from a NebGuide titled “Buffalograss: An Alternative Native Grass for Turf.” Copies of this Extension publication are available at the Scotts Bluff County Extension Office. LAWN MAINTENANCE: IRRIGATION: After the establishment year, buffalograss lawns in Nebraska usually can be maintained with no irrigation beyond precipitation. However, timely irrigation may enhance the quality of a buffalograss lawn. In especially dry springs, irrigation when the turf begins to green up will ensure a vigorous, dense lawn that is competitive with weeds. The greatest benefit from supplemental water is gained in late July through August, during active runner growth. Irrigation at this time helps the runners develop roots at the nodes and establish new plants. But irrigation at this time may also promote weed growth. FERTILIZER: Nitrogen fertilizer applied between June 15 and 30 will help stimulate new growth. On an established buffalograss lawn, actual nitrogen levels should not exceed 2 pounds per 1,000 square feet per year. Additional applications of nitrogen may be required on poor soils. MOWING: Because
buffalograss is a naturally short grass that grows 4 to 5 inches tall,
mowing requirements are reduced. Buffalograss lawns can be mowed to 3
to 4 inches to remove the slender male flower stalks that develop above
the height of the leaves. This may require regular mowing, since the male
flowers are continually produced. Buffalograss turf can be given a uniform
appearance by mowing at a 2.5-inch height at three- to four-week intervals
in the late spring and two to three week intervals later in the season. WEED CONTROL: Once established and properly managed, weed pressure in buffalograss is minimal. If herbicides are required, follow label directions.
Nebraska undertakes livestock premises ID Tom Holman
The ultimate goal of the NAIS is to be able to identify all premises and animals with direct contact of a disease within 48 hours after discovery of an outbreak. Premise registration is voluntary, but expected to be mandatory by January of 2008. States are responsible for registering premises. In Nebraska, the state Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Industry has undertaken this role. Livestock producers in Scotts Bluff and Morrill counties who are not yet registered will be contacted during summer 2006 by an employee of the Extension Office, who will offer them assistance in registering their premises. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, public interest has intensified in developing a National Animal Identification System to protect animal health in response to animal disease outbreaks reported worldwide over the past decade – including the single cow in the United States that tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Once Premises ID has been
implemented in the nation’s livestock industry, the second and third
phases envisioned by USDA are animal ID and tracking of major movements. Livestock included in the
NAIS system include cattle, bison, equine, swine, sheep, goats, poultry,
cervids (deer and elk), camelids (llamas and alpacas), and aquaculture.
Other species are not included, according to the Nebraska Department of
Ag, but are not written into the program yet. Before filling out a form, a person should make sure to have several key pieces of information at hand: • Driver’s license
number The driver’s license number is useful only if the livestock operation is the same as the applicant’s residence. The legal description (section, township and range), available from a plat book, is necessary for an exact location. The GPS coordinates are optional. The local USDA Farm Service Agency office can provide them. The first section on the registration
form includes the premises owner’s (landowner’s) name and
contact information. The form can list as many landowners as applicable.
The second section is the facility or parcel information. The first choice
is a valid address. If there is none, driving directions are preferred.
Other information requested in this section includes county, type of livestock,
type of facility, legal description, GPS coordinates, and local veterinarian
or clinic. The third section is the owner or primary caretaker of the
livestock at that location, name, and contact information.
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