I saw this short reminder about the issues that we will soon be dealing with. That first frost and/or freeze is not too far into our future. The issues can be dangerous and this information from Nebraska Extension Forage Specialist, Bruce Anderson addresses the concerns and how to deal with it. Some of the forages he mentions are not common to Southern Ohio, but the information and concerns are the same. Instead of shattercane and milo, we may be more likely to have Johnson grass which is also in the Sorghum Family.

When plants freeze, changes occur in their metabolism and composition that can poison livestock. But you can prevent problems.

Sorghum-related plants, like cane, sudangrass, shattercane, and milo can be highly toxic for a few days after frost. Freezing breaks plant cell membranes. This breakage allows the chemicals that form prussic acid, which is also called cyanide, to mix together and release this poisonous compound rapidly. Livestock eating recently frozen sorghums can get a sudden, high dose of prussic acid and potentially die. Fortunately, prussic acid soon turns into a gas and disappears into the air. So wait three to five days after a freeze before grazing sorghums; the chance of poisoning then becomes much lower.

Freezing also slows down metabolism in all plants. This stress sometimes permits nitrates to accumulate in plants that are still growing, especially grasses like oats, millet, and sudangrass. This build-up usually isn’t hazardous to grazing animals, but green chop or hay cut right after a freeze can be more dangerous.

Alfalfa reacts two ways to a hard freeze, down close to 20 degrees, cold enough to cause plants to wilt. Nitrate levels can increase, but rarely to hazardous levels. Freezing also makes alfalfa more likely to cause bloat for a few days after the frost. Then, several days later, after plants begin to wilt or grow again, alfalfa becomes less likely to cause bloat. So waiting to graze alfalfa until well after a hard freeze is a good, safer management practice.

Frost causes important changes in forages so manage them carefully for safe feed.

Local Tire Collections

Last week I discussed some of the dates that were coming up for disposing of tires that are scrap in the area. The list of locations has expanded since last week. Here are more details about the locations, dates and some specifics that need to be known if you plan to bring tires.

The scrap tire collection for Adams County is from 9 a.m.to 4 .m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16 and 17, at Adams Waste and Recycling, 95 Trefz Road, in West Union. Locals may know the site as the old county quarry.

The scrap tire collections for Brown County are from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct, 10, at the Park on South Third in Ripley and the Firehouse in Aberdeen; from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct, 17, at the Perry Township Hall in Fayetteville; from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct, 24, at Adams Brown Recycling in Georgetown.

The collections in Brown County are limited to 10 tires. There is a new requirement this year that larger farm tires (34 inch rim size and over) must be cut into quarters to be accepted. Tires will not be accepted from tire retailers or other businesses that collect or use tires as part of their normal business operations. Questions for tire collections in both counties can be directed to Adams Brown Recycling at 937-378-3431.

Black Walnuts

This year the hours are from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. until noon Saturday. The starting date was Oct. 5 and they plan to buy through the month of October. This year the price is $14 per 100, but is subject to change. Call for current price at the Seaman Farm, Garden and Pet Center. The phone number is 937-386-2134. The store is on state Route 247 near the railroad tracks, about one mile north of state Route 32.

Free Master Gardener Sessions

Another year has started for the free Master Gardener programs held on the third Thursday of the month. Please mark your calendars for our Oct. 15 garden seminar at the Mt. Orab campus of Southern State Community College in room 107.

Please note that we have changed the time of the seminar to start at 7 p.m. and end at 8 p.m.

Brown County Master Gardener Volunteer, Doug Dyer, will talk about fall lawn care and other tasks on our fall “chore” list.

Schedule: Oct. 15 – Doug Dyer – Fall Lawn Care, Nov. 19 – Carol Cartaino – Coyotes, Jan. 21 – Christine Tailer – Maple Syrup, Feb. 18 – Susan Barber – Starting a garden, March 17 – Bob Thobaben – Birds, April 21 – Herb Society – Herbs, May 19 – Prairies.

Dates to Remember

Pesticide Testing Old Y Restaurant at noon. Pre-register with ODA at 1-800-282-1955 or go to http://pested.osu.edu Exams are normally given on the second Monday of every month. However, because of Columbus Day, the exams are given on the third Monday in October.

Nov. 3-5 -COBA Select Sires AI class at United Producers 6 p.m. Call 614-878-5333 for more information or to register.

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