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Our conversations these past four weeks have focused on saving money on your fertilizer bill this spring. Last week we talked about the importance of making purchasing decisions on the price per pound of nutrient in the fertilizer, not the overall price per ton. This week I want to talk about poultry litter and a program scheduled for later this month that will focus in greater detail than our weekly visits about managing high fertilizer costs on the farm and ranch.

Poultry litter, a byproduct of the broiler industry, is an option for use in East Texas pasture fertilization programs. Broiler litter can supply the major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) needed by forages as well as calcium, magnesium, copper and other nutrients in appreciable amounts.

Dr. Larry Redmon, Texas AgriLife Extension Service forage specialist, said yearly applications of broiler litter may also raise soil pH over a period of time. As a bonus, poultry litter also supplies organic matter that helps to improve soil tilt, moisture and nutrient-holding capacity. Average nutrient content of broiler litter (based on data from Alabama) is around 62 pounds of nitrogen per ton, 59 pounds phosphate per ton and 40 pounds potassium per ton.

There are a few notes of importance when considering using poultry litter. The nutrient content in your particular load(s) of litter will vary based upon the production practices in the broiler house where your litter originated and the number of broiler batches that were raised on your litter. There is a smell associated with poultry litter, and you will likely smell it after it is applied and after the first rain or two. Not all the nitrogen in the litter is available when you first apply it to the property; expect about 10 percent to 15 percent of the nitrogen in the load to not be available until the year after it is applied.

You really need to apply broiler litter about one month prior to spring forage green-up. This extra time is needed for the soil microbes to convert the organic nutrients found in the litter to the inorganic form of nutrients (a process called mineralization) needed by the grass for its growth. You may also be required by the litter supplier to purchase the product in 300 ton loads, so if you have small acreage, you and a neighbor may need to go in together on the purchase.

WORKSHOP

Still looking for solutions to the high fertilizer and fuel crisis? Make plans now to join the research and Extension staff at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Overton Center from 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. April 18 for a workshop titled "Surviving High Fertilizer and Fuel Costs."

Dr. Gerald Evers, Texas AgriLife Research forage researcher, said the conference's objective is to provide information to the producers to help them reduce fertilizer costs.

"With the increasing fertilizer costs and energy costs, we are having to make adjustments in our livestock and pasture management," Evers said.

Topics to be discussed at the conference include fertilization and liming; reducing commercial nitrogen through the use of clovers and other legumes, nutrient supplements needed by a cow herd grazing poor quality forages, lengthening the grazing season (shortening the winter feeding period), adjusting stocking rates and nutrient recycling.

Did you know that more than 90 percent of the nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium a cow eats is excreted back onto the soil via urine and feces? Learn this and other information that will save you money at this low-cost conference.

Registration is $20 per person at the door and includes a noon meal. There will not be any pre-registration required for the event. For more information, contact Dr. Charles Long at 903-834-6191.

The Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton is located on Farm-to-Market Road 3053, approximately 12 miles south of Interstate 20 or 1 mile north of downtown Overton. Bring an open mind and car load of friends and split the fuel cost for the trip!

Brian Triplett is the Smith County Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources. He can be reached at 903-590-2980 or via e-mail at b-triplett@tamu.edu or on the Web at http://tceblogs.tamu.edu/mt/smith or http://smith-tx.tamu.edu.