Publications By Dennis Hancock

Alfalfa Management in Georgia (B 1350) Alfalfa is a high-yielding, perennial legume that is well-suited to hay, silage, or pasture production. Alfalfa is known as the “Queen of Forages” because it produces an excellent quality, high-protei…

Bermudagrass in Georgia (B 911) Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) is an important warm-season, perennial, sod-forming forage grass in Georgia and throughout the Southeast. Bermudagrass is productive from spring until fall and is well-suit…

Blister Beetles in Georgia Alfalfa Hay (C 917) Blister beetles sometimes infest forage crops such as alfalfa, where they may become incorporated in hay. This publication discusses biology, cause of illness and management of blister beetles.

Cover Crop Biomass Sampling (C 1077) Cover crops are one of the most important practices that farmers can use to improve their soils and the sustainability of their production system. Knowing how much biomass there is in a field is a cri…

Cutting Costs, Not Corners: Managing Cattle in Tough Times (B 1373) Cutting costs allows producers to survive during trying times and also teaches valuable lessons that may actually increase profits in future years. Cutting corners, on the other hand, may save some mo…

Dealing with Pasture, Hay, Feed, and Livestock Losses After Significant Weather Events (C 1165) As a result of significant weather events, many producers in Georgia may experience losses of pasture growth, hay stocks, feed supplies, and livestock. After such events occur, farmers will be assessi…

Fescue Toxicosis in Horses (C 1180) Tall fescue is the primary cool season perennial forage grown in the state of Georgia, and toxicity issues related to the grass can have significant impacts on equine reproduction. Tall fescue is the …

Forage Systems for Stocker Cattle (B 1392) This publication provides a guide to the various forage systems that could be used for stocker development and provides guidelines for managing grazing or hay harvests for optimum forage yield and qua…

Forage Use and Grazing Herd Management During a Drought (C 914) This brief management guideline provides producers with specific management tactics that may minimize the potential for short- and long-term problems. These tactics, categorized in order of early, adv…

Georgia Forages: Grass Species (B 1351) The geographic and environmental diversity of Georgia allows for the extensive use of both cool and warm season grass species. In general, cool season grass species provide higher nutritional quality …

Georgia Forages: Legume Species (B 1347) Legume species add significantly to forage systems in Georgia. They are an excellent source of high quality forage, and are generally very digestible and contain high levels of crude protein (CP). Man…

Grazing Impacts on Pasture Composition (B 1243) Much attention has been placed on the potential negative environmental impacts of grazing; however, grazing can be a powerful tool for improving pasture health and productivity. Grazing diminishes the…

Nitrate Toxicity (C 915) This publication summarizes the effect that high nitrates have on the animal, presents the conditions to expect in toxic concentrations of nitrates, and outlines strategies that could prevent or reduc…

Novel Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue (C 861) This publication outlines plant persistence and animal performance characteristics of novel endophyte-infected tall fescue and provides recommended pasture renovation practices.

Planting Guide to Grasses and Legumes for Forage and Wildlife in Georgia (C 814) This planting guide will help producers establish grasses and legumes commonly grown for forage and wildlife in Georgia.

Preparing and Calibrating a No-Till or Conventional Drill for Establishing Forage or Cover Crops (B 1510) Properly maintaining, calibrating, and adjusting a seed drill before planting is an important part of ensuring the successful establishment of forage or cover crops. Seed may be placed at a depth that…

Selecting a Forage Bermudagrass Variety (C 919) This publication shares the collective experience of research and extension personnel on bermudagrass cultivars that are (or could be) grown in Georgia.

Soil and Fertilizer Management Considerations for Forage Systems in Georgia (B 1346) Georgia possesses diverse soil conditions and many forage production factors are influenced by this diversity. As a result, the soil environment of a given site must be considered when selecting forag…

Stockpiling Tall Fescue for Fall and Winter Grazing (C 920) Producing and/or purchasing hay to feed livestock through the winter represents a substantial expense. This publication details strategies and considerations when stockpiling and utilizing tall fescue…

The Management and Use of Switchgrass in Georgia (B 1358) Recently, switchgrass has attracted attention as a potential bioenergy crop. High yields of biomass with relatively few inputs make switchgrass a favorable choice for bioenergy production. In contrast…

UGA Feed Cost Analyzer (B 1377) The UGA Feed Cost Analyzer is a spreadsheet-based decision aid to compare potential feedstuffs on a price per pound of crude protein and energy (total digestible nutrients; TDN). This program consists…

Understanding and Improving Forage Quality (B 1425) The goal of this publication is to guide the user to a better understanding of basic forage quality terms and to recommend management changes that will improve forage quality. To that end, our objecti…

White Clover Establishment and Management Guide (B 1251) White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is a cool season perennial legume of Mediterranean origin. White clover has been used as a forage in North America since Colonial times. Benjamin Franklin noted its …