Alabama Cooperative Extension Forage Focus Program

09/29/2026

Great opportunity!

🌱 Clay County Pasture & W**d Walk 🌱

Join us for an educational Pasture and W**d Walk at a local farm! Come learn how to identify grasses and w**ds and hear the latest herbicide recommendations from Extension W**d Specialist Dr. David Russell.

📅 October 14, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
📍 Russell Anderson’s Pasture
Across the street from Clay County Stockyard
Park in the Clay County Stockyard parking lot
1050 Airport Rd., Ashland, AL 36251

📞 RSVP to Jenna Schmidt: (334) 870-9219

Come walk the pasture with us and learn more about managing w**ds and forage! 🌾🐄

**dManagement

09/25/2026

Insight for those of you with foxtail in your fields this fall!

09/22/2026

Sometimes the most impactful learning takes place outside the classroom! 🐴🌿

Our forage graduate students had a great time helping teach an equine nutrition lab, giving undergraduates the chance to talk through equine nutrition principals, why quality forage is the foundation of a healthy horse diet, and the importance of hay sampling.

A big shoutout to our graduate students for sharing their knowledge and helping make this lab at the equestrian center possible!

09/21/2026

A forage grass developed by Auburn University is helping cattle producers extend grazing seasons, reduce input costs and better withstand environmental pressures. Known as AU Sand Mountain bahiagrass, the variety was created to meet the growing demand for a hardier warm-season forage.

Leanne Dillard, a forage specialist for Alabama Extension at Auburn University and researcher for the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, works with cattle producers to find forages that are dependable, versatile and require minimal nutrient inputs through her Alabama Extension outreach.

“Bahiagrasses like sandy loam soils, which we have in abundance in Alabama,” Dillard said. “The AU Sand Mountain variety is one we promote in central and north Alabama because of its long growing season and characteristics make it an ideal forage choice for many cattle producers.”

Read the entire article here: https://www.aces.edu/go/6872

09/15/2026

🚨 New Extension Article Alert! 🚨

Pasture mealybug has arrived in the Southeast. This invasive pest has already been confirmed in neighboring states like Florida and Georgia, making early detection critical for protecting Alabama's pastures.

Now is the time to learn how to identify potential infestations, the importance of biosecurity, and what steps to take if you suspect it's on your operation.

Read the full Extension article here:
https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/farming/pasture-mealybug-what-cattle-producers-need-to-look-for-and-what-to-do-next/

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with fellow producers and landowners.

09/14/2026

To improve management recommendations for our forage and livestock producers, Auburn University's forage w**d science team is conducting field research on residual herbicides to identify factors influencing plantback allowances and w**d control effectiveness. Part of the process involves comparing treated hay samples from Alabama producers with replicated field trials to provide real-world data for our analysis.

Our team is soliciting producers’ help in this process. Anyone who has harvested dry hay this season that has been treated with aminopyralid or picloram herbicides in 2026 is encouraged to let us know by completing our survey and allow us to sample your bales. As a benefit of participating, participants who submit a sample will receive a complimentary forage nutritive value analysis.

aub.ie/haysurvey2026

09/10/2026

That’s a wrap on the 2026 Alabama Grazing Academy! 🌱

Producers joined us in Blount County for a day focused on practical strategies to improve pasture management and make the most of every acre.

From electric fencing and soil erosion demos to precision technology like drones, rotational grazing, hay economics and w**d management, we covered a lot of ground - literally and figuratively! 🤠

Thank you to everyone who attended, asked thoughtful questions, and shared their experiences throughout the day. We're proud to provide Alabama producers with research-backed information they can put to work on their operations.

And, as always, this event wouldn't have been possible without our incredible partners. A special thank you to Blount County Extension, the Blount County Soil & Water Conservation District, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy for helping make this event a success.

09/09/2026

Alabama producers keep an eye out!

09/09/2026

🚨Important Pest Information:

The pasture mealybug has now been detected in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. This pest can affect a fairly broad range of grass crops and production systems, including sod and turfgrass, forage pastures, hay fields, sugarcane, and corn.

Early detection is especially important as we work to determine whether it is present in Alabama. If you see suspicious symptoms or insects that may resemble pasture mealybug (seen in attached images), please reach out to the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries so they can assist with sampling and identification at (334) 240-7100.

As always, contact your local Extension agent for any questions or assistance: ssl.acesag.auburn.edu/directory-new/

09/08/2026