The Sunbelt Ag Expo Darrell Williams Research Farm provides an exceptional opportunity to highlight forage research in south Georgia. The hayfields provide an outdoor classroom for University of Georgia Extension county agents in-service trainings, producer field days and collaborative industry events.

There are multiple demonstrations and on-going research trials in progress on the farm to address basic forage needs in addition to evaluating the integration of novel weed and insect management strategies into forage systems.

The two-acre bermudagrass garden provides a field-scale comparison of the six most popular bermudagrass varieties in the Southeast. Here producers can interact with and evaluate these different varieties before selecting the best option for their own farm.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Find out more about forage research and other useful information about major row crops at the 2022 Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day July 21 in Moultrie, Ga.

This area is also used for large-plot research trials to better simulate the yield impact of the treatments that would be observed on-farm. This area has previously been used for large scale bermudagrass stem maggot research but is now being used to determine if Max O2 fertilizer improves herbage accumulation or forage nutritive value in bermudagrass hayfields beyond that achieved by 18-0-0-3. This research is sponsored by R.W. Griffin Industries and will be concluded in fall 2022. 

Based on the results of multiple on-site evaluations, all hay acreage on the farm is now treated with the new pre-emergent herbicide from Bayer Crop Science called Rezilon. It was successful in controlling winter and summer annual weeds. We are also evaluating its effectiveness in controlling summer annual weeds while establishing bermudagrass.

A new field of Tifton 85 bermudagrass was sprigged in June 2020. This field will not only improve the production potential of the farm, it will be used to demonstrate the importance of following establishment guidelines for a successful stand. This work is currently being repeated in Tifton.

For more forage information, please visit our website. Follow along with us (Georgia Forges and Lego Forage Specialist) on social media for timely research updates and important Extension recommendations.