Recent summer rains have coastal bermudagrass meadows and pastures flourishing, in Hopkins
County, an unusual sight for mid-July.

 

Summer Forages Flourish With
Recent Summer Rains

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Summer forage crops abound all across Hopkins County, as they have been boosted by
the recent rainfall, in July.

 

 

"It's about the most abundant summer forages that I can ever remember," commented one local hay producer, as he looked over his hay meadows. "If we can manage to get them harvested and baled, it will certainly be a great crop for winter feeding!"

"It's just unusual to go into mid-July with green grass and abundant, tender forage in you pastures and hay meadows," added another producer. "This is the second year in the row that we've received adequate rainfall, during the month of July!"

 

 

 

Recent rains have added growth and tenderness to forages and have them excelling in the local fields, with farmers anticipating good production and adequate supplies for the upcoming winter. "We're a couple of weeks behind on cutting hay," remarked another local hay producer. "The rains in the past week or ten days have given us a break and we're enjoying it! They may make some of the forage go a little bit long, before we're able to cut it, but the volume should be good and we can add some protein and make for good winter feeding!"

 

Recent rainfall has added to the palatability of locally grown forages, that are being used
for immediate feeds in dairy cow rations.

 

 

Local silage producers, likewise, are enjoying a "bumper" crop in their fields, as the green forage has excelled and made for some high protein and palatable feed ingredients on local dairy farms. "With the price of milk 'on the down side' it's nice to get a break with our forage production," commented one local dairy farmer. "We can use a break from somewhere, and a cheaper feed supply helps to off-set some of the inadequacies in the milk check!"

Many areas in the county have received up to three or four inches in rainfall totals, over the past ten days, extending the life of the pastures and making for lush pastures, for local livestock to graze.

 

Adequate summer grazing and tender forages have local beef cattle gaining weight
and in good flesh, for mid-summer in Northeast Texas.

 

______