Agriculture Resources

Interested in managing your horse’s manure through composting? This guide provides information on how to build and use a horse manure composting system. A small download fee applies for this document.

It’s always a good idea to be prepared for water stress with your herd. This article lists ways to handle drought conditions.

This is a great guide for planning a management strategy for invasive plants in a forested landscape, including management strategies for common invasive plants in the Southeast.

Learn how to incorporate legumes into a predominantly grass pasture; including legume seeding rates.

This handbook is packed full of information on Virginia crops (including forage) and soils, hay recommendations (Inc. seeding and storage), information on pasture and nutrient management, and more.

This publication discusses the purpose and components of nutrient management planning.

Multiflora rose is an invasive plant found in Virginia. This factsheet provides information on how to identify, where to look for, and how to control multiflora rose.

Chinese privet is an invasive plant found in Virginia. This factsheet provides information on how to identify, where to look for, and how to control Chinese privet.

As cool season grasses slow their growth during hot summer months, it’s important to avoid overgrazing. This article discusses the problems with overgrazing and provides suggestions for good grazing management.

When seedings fail, it’s a good idea to find the cause. Here’s an article by Hay & Forage Grower on the 5 reasons why new seedings fail.

Interested in implementing cover crops on your farm? This publication provides a list of benefits for planting cover crops with descriptions.

Learn how different bale storage options compare based on dry matter loss.

Building Soils for Better Crops is a practical guide to ecological soil management that provides background information as well as details of soil-improving practices.

This study examines how land use shares of US crops have been affected by past climate change and then projects shifts into the future. The analysis is done at the county level employing the results of estimated crop mix share equations.

Farmers are used to dealing with weather, but climate change is making it harder by altering temperature and rainfall patterns, as in this year’s unusually cool and wet spring in the central U.S.

There are a number of common pasture weeds that are toxic to horses, some only being toxic under certain environmental conditions. Learn to identify toxic plants, notice signs of toxicity, and treat weeds with this guide.

This document provides information on creating a sacrifice area including; location, sizing, construction, and maintenance.

Tree of heaven is a common invasive plant found in Virginia. This guide gives information on how to control tree of heaven as well as how to utilize the wood.

Learn about weed management and herbicide application for common pasture weeds; including Johnsongrass, Japanese Stiltgrass, Broomsedge, and Foxtails.

Need information on controlling weeds in your pastures? This document discusses when and how to control weeds commonly found in Virginia pastures.

Learn about the benefits of controlled grazing, how controlled grazing influences pasture plants, and how to establish, manage, and extend a controlled grazing system.

This document discusses the use of herbicides for controlling invasive plants and the various ways to apply these herbicides.

Learn about the difference between novel and wildtype endophytes, and considerations for renovating pastures with toxic fescue.

Planting warm season grasses helps maintain productivity during summer months susceptible to drought conditions. This article describes the process of a Virginia farmer’s conversion to warm season grasses.

This document talks about the economics of cover crops by looking at multiple factors. It talks about short-term and long-term impacts of cover crops on yields and profit, how cover crops impact farms based on their problem areas (drought, weeds, or soil compaction), and the impacts of cover crops on the environment.

Interested in planting cover crops? This document provides information about different cover crop species.

Sacrifice areas are important to increase pasture health and productivity. This article discusses why to use a sacrifice area and how to create a sacrifice area. It goes over important criteria when deciding how to build your sacrifice area, such as location, size, fencing type, and footing.

Climate change may actually benefit some plants by lengthening growing seasons and increasing carbon dioxide. Yet other effects of a warmer world, such as more pests, droughts, and flooding, will be less benign. How will the world adapt?

Mile-a-minute vine is an invasive plant found in Virginia. This factsheet provides information on how to identify, where to look for, and how to control mile-a-minute vine.

Autumn olive is an invasive plant found in Virginia. This factsheet provides information on how to identify, where to look for, and how to control autumn olive.

The grazing habits of sheep and goats differ from traditional livestock production and they can be incorporated into the grazing systems for cattle and horses.Goats tend to browse more while sheep tend to graze.

If you’re interested in installing electric fencing, this is a good guide for installation.

Asiatic bittersweet is an invasive plant found in Virginia. This factsheet provides information on how to identify, where to look for, and how to control Asiatic bittersweet.

This document discusses what exotic invasive plants are, what characteristics help them proliferate in many environments, and their negative ecological impact. There is also information on how to control invasive plants .

Interested in Summer Stockpiling? This document discusses what summer stockpiling is, and the benefits and steps for summer stockpiling.

Learn how to extend your grazing season through mixed species planting, stockpiling forage, grazing management, and unique grazing opportunities.

Kudzu is an invasive plant found in Virginia. This factsheet provides information on how to identify, where to look for, and how to control Kudzu.

This document discusses five steps to improve your horse pastures. A small download fee applies for this document.

Learn how to establish forage species, control weeds, adjust soil fertility and PH, and choose the right forage species.

Are you grazing your grasses to the proper height? Use this guide to learn about optimal grazing heights.

There are many things that can be done to get more forage from our pasture. Fertilizing, controlling weeds, and planting clovers are just a few. But one of the best ways is often the most overlooked. This method is by wasting less forage. The less forage we waste, the more forage that will be utilized.

Tree of heaven is an invasive plant found in Virginia. This factsheet provides information on how to identify, where to look for, and how to control tree of heaven.

Proper grazing management helps improve soil health. Stocking rate, livestock rotation, utilization rate, and plant rest time are important aspects of good grazing management.

Learn how to control common pasture weeds with herbicide use. This guide provides example applications for common weeds including application times.

Learn the basics for cutting hay with this guide, including at what maturity stage to harvest based on forage type.

Manure management is important to keep the environment and horses healthy. Learn about proper manure storage including how to compost manure.

There are a number of ways to manage invasive species including manual, mechanical, or biological methods. This document discusses how to remove invasive species through pulling, cutting, or animal grazing.

Learn about different types of insects that occur on forage or crops and recommendations on insect control methods.

Japanese stiltgrass is an invasive plant found in Virginia. This factsheet provides information on how to identify, where to look for, and how to control Japanese stiltgrass.

This pamphlet provides information to understand what invasive plants are including images of common invasive plants.

Bradford pear is an invasive plant found in Virginia. This factsheet provides information on how to identify, where to look for, and how to control bradford pear.

This article discusses why native plants are great for landscaping and which plants are non-toxic to horses.

Learn some tips about horse pasture management and design.

Learn how to manage insects and pests using ecological strategies. Encouraging beneficial insects, increasing species diversity, and managing soil health are some strategies to help manage insects and pests.

Learn about rotational grazing management, the pros and cons of grazing systems, and considerations for your grazing operation. When planning a grazing system, it’s important to consider forage management, water availability, fencing plans, soil fertility, and weed / brush control.

Learn how to manage steep pastures for longer productivity; including recommended forage mixtures, weed control, fertilization, fencing, and grazing.

Multispecies grazing can increase carrying capacity, control parasites, help manage weeds, and provide safety from predators. Learn about the benefits and considerations for multispecies grazing.

Learn to identify, establish, and manage warm season grasses using this plant guide.

Learn the value of no-till seeding, and when to use broadcast frost seeding or no-till drilling to establish grasses and legumes. This article provides information on seeding rates, mixtures, and herbicide use.

If you are interested in no till planting, this publication offers great information and considerations for small grain producers.

This guide provides management tactics for timing, methods and herbicide rates to control Non-native invasive plants found in Virginia.

This landowner guide for identifying invasive plants in your backyard contains photos for proper identification, control recommendations, and identification of native plant look-alikes that are commonly mistaken as invasive.

This is a great guide for identifying and controlling invasive plants. The guide provides numerous photos and descriptions to help identify invasive plants.

This publication discusses how to quantify and determine use of manure nutrients in small farms as a crop fertilizer.

Use this pasture management by the seasons resource to assist in creating or updating your pasture management schedule.

Learn the benefits of rotational grazing systems, and considerations when planning for your own operation. Rotational grazing has benefits for livestock nutrition, parasite control, and soil health.

Learn how to plan your fencing layout for a controlled grazing system. Considerations include fixed and temporary fencing, forage type, water supply, and shade.

This is a great guide for identifying invasive plants in the Mid-Atlantic region. It provides a background on what invasive plants are, information about different species, and control recommendation.

This book provides information on how to plan, design, and construct a pond.

Japanese honeysuckle is an invasive plant found in Virginia. This factsheet provides information on how to identify, where to look for, and how to control Japanese honeysuckle.

Garlic Mustard is an invasive plant found in Virginia. This factsheet provides information on how to identify, where to look for, and how to control garlic mustard.

Wavyleaf grass is an invasive plant found in Virginia. This factsheet provides information on how to identify, where to look for, and how to control wavyleaf grass.

This handbook is a great guide for anyone interested in riparian forests. The handbook explains the importance of riparian forests, discusses how to measure the health of a riparian forest, and advises on how to restore a riparian forest.

Rolling out hay is a great way to feed livestock in the winter months. Read about one farmers experience with rolling out hay.

This guide describes a kit of selected field procedures to evaluate or indicate the level of one or more soil functions. Procedures include soil respiration, infiltration, bulk density, electrical conductivity, soil PH, soil nitrate, aggregate stability, soil slaking, earthworms, soil physical properties, and water quality.

Soil sampling and proper pH are important for forage production. Learn how and when to test your pastures, and the impact of pH on soil.

This guide provides information on how to properly take a soil sample for home gardens.

This guide provides information on how to properly take a soil sample on a farm.

This document explains when and how to apply lime, nitrogen, and phosphorous to field crops.

This document explains how to apply nitrogen and fertilizer to pasture and hay fields.

Properly managing stocking density during the rapid spring growth can help extend the stand of your grass. Being proactive in the spring will give positive results all year long.

Porcelain berry is an invasive plant found in Virginia. This factsheet provides information on how to identify, where to look for, and how to control porcelain berry.

Stockpiling tall fescue is a great way to extend the grazing season. Learn about the four key decisions when stockpiling; Field Selection, Timing, Fertility, and Utilization by Livestock.

This guide provides information on how to reduce Tall Fescue Toxicosis through pasture management, and provides information on the signs of Toxicosis, and under what conditions alkaloid concentrations are increased.

Learn about the benefits of excluding livestock from streams, how to exclude livestock from streams, and what programs are available for assistance.

If you are interested in no-till planting, this publication offers great information and considerations for corn producers.

Learn about the endophytic fungus associated with Tall Fescue, how it spreads, and practical solutions.

Learn about the growth and nutritional value of Tall Fescue, and the impacts of Endophyte Infected Fescue on livestock.

Learn about how planting cover crops enhances soil health!

This guide provides information on what nutrient management plans are and the concepts of nutrient management planning.

This document discusses the benefits of riparian buffers and buffer widths needed for different benefits.

It’s not an unusual situation for people to suddenly find themselves as the not-so-proud owner or long-term renter of a previously abused or neglected pasture. In such situations, questions often arise as to what the best plan of action is to bring an abused pasture back to full productivity.

Learn what affects forage quality (temperature, maturity, and leaf-to-stem ratio, etc.), how to sample hay and pasture forage, animal forage needs, and economics impacts.

This document discusses the benefits of riparian forest buffers and what factors affect the benefits of the riparian buffer.

Learn how to summer stockpile pastures in order to save forage for late summer / early Fall. This article provides information about summer stockpiled forage yield and quality.

Learn how different annual forage mixtures compare in yield, cover, quality, and cost.

In this video, VFGC interviews a Virginia farmer about his grazing system. The farmer discusses the benefits of rotational grazing, stockpiling fescue, and using annual forages.

Video: Learn how using cover crops and no-till methods has benefited this Virginia farmer’s operation.

In the video, Virginia farmers talk about their no till farming experience and discuss how no till methods benefit them.

Graze 300 is a great series of videos by VCE covering topics such as; Summer Stockpiling, Grazing Summer Annuals, Stockpiling with Horses, and Fescue Toxicity.

This video produced by the Virginia Cooperative Extension talks about what summer stockpiling is and the benefits of summer stockpiling.

This document lists the invasive species common to Virginia including their invasiveness ranking and the region of Virginia in which they occur.

It’s important to choose forages that are well adapted to the local conditions, highly productive, and nutritional. This guide discusses different forage species found in Virginia, the conditions they are adapted to, and their productivity.

Read about grazing management tips for healthy horses. Topics include rotating and resting pasture, using sacrifice areas, providing hay, and mowing maintenance.

Interested in renovating your pastures? This article discusses a series of practices to improve your pastures.

Would you like to learn more about riparian buffers? This document discusses the benefits and considerations for riparian buffers.

A pasture experiment was conducted comparing the effectiveness of broadcast frost seeding and no-till drilling to establish clover. The results found the two methods to be equally effective.