Ann Blount

Planting Dates, Rates, and Methods of Agronomic Crops

D. L. Wright, E. B. Whitty, and A. R. Blount

'Callide' Rhodesgrass

João Vendramini, João Vendramini, Ann Blount, yJosé Dubeux

SS-AGR-59 describes this robust, warm-season perennial grass native from Africa, useful in southern Florida for fall and winter grazing — establishment, management of established stands, and pests. Includes references.

White Clover

Jose Dubeux, Ann Blount, and Esteban Rios

A Walk on the Wild Side: 2025 Cool-Season Forage Recommendations for Wildlife Food Plots in North Florida

Marcelo Wallau, Maria E. Mailhos, Ann Blount, Juan M. Campos Krauer, Marcus Lashley, Esteban Rios, José Dubeux, Md Babar, yCheryl Mackowiak

The list of cool-season forage recommendations for wildlife in this publication includes varieties that have been tested and are known to perform well in Florida. Written by M. Wallau, M. E. Mailhos, A. R. Blount, J. M. Campos-Krauer, M. A. Lashley, E. Rios, J. C. B. Dubeux, Md. A. Babar, C. L. Mackowiak and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised September 2023.

Tillage and Overseeding Pastures for Winter Forage Production in North Florida

C. L. Mackowiak, J. C. B. Dubeux, S. George, D. L. Wright, A. R. Blount, and I. Small

The purpose of this publication is to provide guidance on preparing and planting annual cool-season forages on prepared seedbeds and overseeding annual cool-season forages on pastures in north Florida. Written by C. L. Mackowiak, J. C. B. Dubeux, S. George, D. L. Wright, A. R. Blount, and I. Small, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised April 2024.

Florida Forage Handbook: Preface

Marcelo O. Wallau, João Vendramini, José Dubeux, and Ann Blount

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s).

Managing Cover Crops for Improved Soil Health

Ramdeo Seepaul, Sheeja George, Joel C. Love, David L. Wright, David L. Wright, Cheryl Mackowiak, Ann Blount, yYoana Cecilia Newman
Otros contactos: Hardeep Singh

This publication aims to help growers and researchers understand the role of cover crops in improving soil health. The document provides recommendations on managing cover crops and describes the benefits of growing cover crops. Written by R. Seepaul, S. George, J. Love, D. W. Wright, C. Mackowiak, and A. Blount, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised January 2023.

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé): Overview and Pasture Management

Marcelo Wallau, Joao Vendramini, José Dubeux, and Ann Blount

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) is the most common and widely used warm-season perennial grass in Florida. Originally from South America, it is planted on over two million acres in the state and on over four million acres in the southeastern United States. The adaptation to low soil fertility and low input management makes the species one of the most popular for livestock production in Florida. It can be established by seed and is used mainly for pasture and hay production with adequate yield and acceptable animal performance. It is well adapted to the southern Coastal Plain region of the US. It establishes well in sandy soils with limited water retention and low inherent soil fertility, and is tolerant to drought, sporadic flooding, and continuous stocking.

Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum): Overview and Management

Ed Jennings, Joao Vendramini, and Ann Blount

Rhizoma Perennial Peanut

M. J. Williams, M. J. Williams, Yoana Cecilia Newman, Yoana Cecilia Newman, yAnn Blount
Otros contactos: Marcelo Wallau yJosé Dubeux

Rhizoma perennial peanut is a forage legume available to Florida producers that combines high nutritive value (comparable to alfalfa) with persistence under a wide range of management conditions. It can be used for hay production, silage, or grazing.

Brunswickgrass (Paspalum nicorae): A Weed Contaminant in Southern Pastures and Bahiagrass Seed Production Fields

Marcelo Wallau, Ann Blount, Brent Sellers, Leanne Dillard, José Dubeux, Cheryl Mackowiak, João Vendramini, yJoão Vendramini

This publication provides information on the identification, biology, and management of brunswickgrass. Written by Ann Blount, Marcelo Wallau, Brent Sellers, Dennis Hancock, Leanne Dillard, Jose Dubeux, Cheryl Mackowiak, Joao Vendramini, and Clay Cooper, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised January 2022.

Strip-Planting Rhizoma Peanut into Grazing Systems

Jose Dubeux, Lynn Sollenberger, Joao Vendramini, Marcelo Wallau, Ann Blount, Liza Garcia-Jimenez, Erick Santos, and David Jaramillo

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Plant Systems

Mycotoxins in Florida Pastures

Marcelo Wallau, Brittany Justesen, Ann Blount, Cheryl Mackowiak, Hui-Ling (Sunny) Liao, and Diwakar Vyas

Beef cattle producers in Florida have expressed concerns about the potential presence of mycotoxins in summer perennial forages. In other regions of the US, mycotoxins in forage crops have caused productivity and economic losses. This article provides information about the current state of knowledge regarding mycotoxins in Florida perennial grass pastures.

Overseeding Rhizoma Perennial Peanut Pasture and Hay Fields during the Cool Season

José Dubeux, Cheryl Mackowiak, Ann Blount, David L. Wright, David L. Wright, yLuana Dantas

Planning and Establishing On-Farm Field Trials

Marcelo Wallau, Esteban Rios, and Ann Blount

Alyceclover—Summer Annual Legume

João Vendramini, João Vendramini, Ann Blount, yJosé Dubeux

Alyceclover [Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC.] is a late-growing summer annual legume native to the tropics in Asia. This warm-season legume grows erect with spreading branches and may reach a height of 60" if not harvested. Although an annual, it can reestablish each year by natural reseeding if the crop is allowed to make seed in the fall. This may be difficult to accomplish since the crop is usually cut for hay or grazed closely, which eliminates seed production. Only seed of common alyceclover is available for planting. Common alyceclover has been grown in Florida for many years for either pasture or hay.

Establishment of Silvopasture in Existing Pastures

Jarek Nowak, Alan J. Long, yAnn Blount
Otros contactos: Patrick J. Minogue

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet.

Perennial Peanut as a Potential Living Mulch and Nitrogen Source for Citrus and Other Orchard Crops in Florida

Muhammad A. Shahid, K. Leaks, Ann Blount, yCheryl Mackowiak

The concept of using a perennial peanut as a living mulch and source of biological nitrogen in fruit and nut crop orchards is not a new idea. In Central and South America, perennial peanuts have long been incorporated as a living groundcover into palm, coffee, cacao, plantain, and citrus, as well as into other fruit and nut production orchards. This cover crop may pose as a viable, environmentally-friendly option for production in Florida, too.

Preliminary Update of Rust Disease in Florida Warm-Season Grasses

Hui-Ling Liao, Haihua Wang, Kaile Zhang, Benjamin Reimer, Brittany Justesen, Joseph Walter, Joseph H. Walter, Robert (Robbie) Jones, Vijay Verma, Ann Blount, yCheryl Mackowiak

Rust is a common disease on warm-season grasses that can affect pasture health and potentially serve as an allergen for animals grazing on it. Despite its significance, rust disease in warm-season grass is often overlooked. This publication reports on rust disease observed in Florida pastures and offers practical, non-technical knowledge and general management suggestions to mitigate the threat of rust disease. It is aimed at producers, landowners, and the public.

A Preliminary Survey of Mycotoxins Identified from Florida Bahiagrass Pastures

Hui-Ling (Sunny) Liao, Ko-Hsuan Chen, Florencia Marcon, Robert (Robbie) Jones, Brittany Justesen, Joseph Walter, Ann Blount, Cheryl Mackowiak, Doug Mayo, and Marcelo Wallau

The beef cattle ranchers in Florida reported some health issues related to cattle grazing on warm-season grass pastures, such as bahiagrass and bermudagrass. The illness was not attributable to nutritional imbalances, or other possible causes. The focus then turned to what the animals were consuming, and forages were implicated. In general, the forages in Florida are just fine, however, sometimes under certain circumstances the fungi that live in our forages may produce “secondary metabolites”. All the forage harbor fungi. Some fungi are good in that they aid our forages to grow better, helping to mine nutrients from the soil or atmosphere. Sometimes they are not so good, like when high levels of ergotized seed occur in the seed heads of bahiagrass.

Survey of Mycotoxins Present in Florida Pastures Across Time, Locations, and Grass Species

Hui-Ling Liao, Kaile Zhang, Kaile Zhang, Vijay Verma, Haihua Wang, Brittany Justesen, Justesen,Brittany L., Joseph Walter, Joseph H. Walter, Valerie Mendez Stansly, Ann Blount, Cheryl Mackowiak, Marcelo Wallau, Robert (Robbie) Jones, Ko-Hsuan Chen, Ed Jennings, J. K. Yarborough, Doug Mayo, Ray Bodrey, yAaron Stam

The toxicity of grasses caused by mycotoxins has led to economic losses in the United States due to the health impact on livestock feeding on it. Florida's warm and humid weather is favorable for the growth of mycotoxin-producing fungi on grasses. The JECFA has provided evaluations and risk management for some high-risk mycotoxins; however, more research is needed in Florida to determine the maximum levels of these mycotoxins, how different environmental conditions affect these levels, and the specialized risk management to prevent animals from getting sick. Our Extension agents were able to collect and examine 195 grass samples from 13 ranchers across dry and wet seasons in Florida. In this publication, we summarized the results for our ranchers to learn more about (1) what (dominant) mycotoxins are generally present in Florida’s pastures, (2) what grass species could harbor more of these mycotoxins, and (3) what seasons or locations may favor these dominant mycotoxins.