Johnson Grass Growth...

[joeu235]

Johnson grass is difficult to graze because the cows love it so much. Grazing is actually the cheapest way I found to remove it from our horse hay fields. Send the herd out on the hay pasture for a couple days and the Johnson grass disappears and the cows haven't touched the coastal bermuda.

I have a field of abandoned crop land that a bale the johnson grass for hay. With a good application of fertilizer, it yields a lot of cow hay. Any prussic acid will leave the hay after a couple weeks. But still got to worry about nitrate poising if there was an application of fertilizer and limited rain.

 

[pricefarm]

Around here the only places there is JG is in hay feilds because in pastures the cows will keep it ate down till it will die out.

 

[Rafter S]

Around here the only places there is JG is in hay feilds because in pastures the cows will keep it ate down till it will die out.

Same here.

 

[Bigfoot]

Prussic acid is a concern. I actually like johnson grass. I have my fair share everywhere. I have noticed I have some in my yard. The yard gets mowed once a week. The fescue grows a couple of inches, and the johnson grass grows 10.

 

[B&M Farms]

Fertilizer and drought conditions or a frost may cause problems. Other than that it's good graze as long as it lives. Like others have said, cattle will graze it short and kill it.

 

[Rafter S]

It's my understanding that prussic acid is only a problem when it's stressed, such as in dry weather or after a light frost. And it will dissipate within a couple of days after being cut, so it's okay for hay.

I'd be reluctant to try grazing it on a regular basis, since if cattle are left on it they'll graze it down to nothing, and I'd be afraid to try rotating them off because of the prussic acid issue.