Marcelo Wallau

0000-0001-9898-3399

Calibrating Forage Seeding Equipment

Marcelo Wallau, João Vendramini, João Vendramini, andEd Jennings

Rhizoma Perennial Peanut

M. J. Williams, M. J. Williams, Yoana Cecilia Newman, Yoana Cecilia Newman, andAnn Blount
other_contacts: Marcelo Wallau andJosé 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.

Methods of Forage Moisture Testing

M. Wallau and J. Vendramini

Determining forage moisture is an essential procedure for estimating forage mass in pastures, determining harvesting or baling point for preserved forages, and calculating dry matter of feedstuff for total mixed rations. Target moisture for hay is between 13% and 15% (85%–87% dry matter), while it ranges from 40%–60% (60%–40% dry matter) for baleage, and up to 65% moisture (35% dry matter) for silage. Baling or harvesting at higher moisture can lead to spoilage or spontaneous combustion in hay, or butyric fermentation in silage. However, low moisture can prevent silage from properly fermenting, resulting in slow and low pH reduction for proper storage. There are several methods and pieces of equipment available to estimate forage moisture. Electronic methods such as moisture probes are quick, but they give more variable results than a microwave or forced-air heating unit such as the Koster Tester.

Estimating Herbage Mass on Pastures to Adjust Stocking Rate

Jose Dubeux, Marcelo Wallau, João Vendramini, Liliane Silva, Jane Griffin, Nicolas DiLorenzo, and Erick Santos

This document explains methods to measure forage mass and utilize that information to estimate an adequate stocking rate. 

Planning and Establishing On-Farm Field Trials

Marcelo Wallau, Esteban Rios, and Ann Blount

Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum): Overview and Management

Ed Jennings, Joao Vendramini, and Ann Blount

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.

Grazing Management Concepts and Practices

L. E. Sollenberger, J. M. B. Vendramini, J. C. B. Dubeux, Jr., and M. Wallau

Normal Agricultural Practices in Florida for Dove Hunting

Kalyn Waters andMarcelo Wallau

This publication is intended to define what are considered normal agricultural practices in the state of Florida for hunters to reference for dove field management, dove hunting, and baiting of dove fields. The document outlines what are considered normal agricultural practices as they pertain to fields in which doves will be hunted in the state of Florida. Written by K. Waters and M. Wallau, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, September 2025.

An Extensionist’s Guide to Farm and Site Visits

Marcelo Wallau, Bob Hochmuth, Tatiana Sanchez-Jones, Mark Warren, Carissa Wickens, Prissy Fletcher, and Cheryl Mackowiak

Farm and site visits are a major component of Extension work, whether as a county faculty or state specialist. They serve various purposes, such as informal check-ins, relationship building, problem solving, sharing technology, and information collection. While time-consuming, farm visits are often the most effective method for addressing problems and developing deeper connections with stakeholders (Petrzelka, Padgitt, and Windestenn, 1999). These visits provide firsthand knowledge of the issues clients face and are effective in establishing collaborations, assessing needs, understanding agricultural production systems, and validating research applications (Oakley and Garforth, 1985; Seevers and Graham, 2012). This publication explores different facets of farm and site visits, including preparation before the visit, the investigative (problem-solving) process during the visit, and post-visit procedures. Additional resources are included to support client visits and troubleshooting.

Forage Planting and Establishment Methods on Prepared Seedbed

João Vendramini, Marcelo Wallau, João Vendramini, andYoana Cecilia Newman

This publication provides practical information on forage planting on prepared seedbeds to producers or anyone interested in establishing pastures.

Sweetclover Production and Use in Florida

Yoana Newman and Jose Dubeux

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

General Guidelines for Managing Pastures for Dairy Cows

L. E. Sollenberger, J. M. B. Vendramini, J. C. B. Dubeux, Jr., and M. Wallau

A UF/IFAS numbered Management.

Factors Affecting Forage Quality

M. O. Wallau, A. T. Adesogan, L. E. Sollenberger, J. M. B. Vendramini, and J. C. B. Dubeux, Jr.

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet.

2025 Cool-Season Forage Variety Recommendations for Florida

Marcelo Wallau, Maria E. Mailhos, Ann Blount, Esteban Rios, José Dubeux, Md Babar, andKevin E. Kenworthy

This publication provides the most up-to-date information on adapted cool-season forage varieties for our growing season. The recommendation of varieties is based on multi-location, multi-year cultivar evaluation experiments that may include trials in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and other states.

Bermudagrass Production in Florida

M. O. Wallau, J. M. B. Vendramini, and J. K. Yarborough

This 10-page document is primarily for Extension agents and farmers looking for detailed information about bermudagrass production in Florida, including cultivar characteristics, fertilization, and pest and disease management

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.

Winter Forage Legume Guide

José Dubeux, Marcelo Wallau, Esteban Rios, Yoana Cecilia Newman, Yoana Cecilia Newman, Patricio R. Munoz, andKenneth H. Quesenberry

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet.

Silage Crops for Dairy and Beef Cattle I: Corn

Marcelo Wallau, Maria E. Mailhos, João Vendramini, João Vendramini, Adegbola T. Adesogan, Diwakar Vyas, Yoana Cecilia Newman, andKevin A. Korus

This publication covers crop choices and agronomic aspects of silage production in Florida, from planting until preparing to harvest, for corn. Written by Marcelo Wallau, Joao Vendramini, Adegbola Adesogan, Diwakar Vyas, and Kevin Korus, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised February 2022.

Silage Crops for Dairy and Beef Cattle II: Sorghum and Other Forage Crops

Marcelo Wallau, Maria E. Mailhos, João Vendramini, João Vendramini, Adegbola T. Adesogan, Diwakar Vyas, andKevin A. Korus

This publication is a second article on silage crops for dairy and beef cattle that explores crop choices and agronomic aspects of silage production in Florida, from planting until preparing to harvest for sorghum, sorghum x sudan, pearl millet, and cool-season small grain silages. Written by Marcelo Wallau, Joao Vendramini, Adegbola Adesogan, Diwakar Vyas, and Kevin Korus, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, February 2022.

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, andCheryl 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.

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, andAaron 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.

Florida Forage Handbook: Preface

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

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

Pastures and Forage Crops for Horses

Marcelo Wallau, Edward L. Johnson, Edward L. Johnson, João Vendramini, João Vendramini, Carissa Wickens, andCaitlin L. Justesen

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s). Published by Plant Systems

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, andJoão 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.

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.

Pasture Mealybug: A New Threat for Pasture Grass, Turfgrass, and Sugarcane in Florida

Erin Powell, Isaac L. Esquivel, Nicole Quinn, Marcelo Wallau, Adam G. Dale, andBrent Sellers

The pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei Brookes) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae), a pest now found in Florida, can cause severe dieback of grasses. It was first reported in the continental US in Texas in October 2025, though researchers suspect it arrived before 2022. In Texas, it was found on many grasses, including bermudagrass, bahiagrass, and johnsongrass. Along with pasture and turfgrass, it has emerged as an important pest of sugarcane, spreading from Texas to Louisiana. In Florida, it was first reported in late May 2026 on limpograss in the southeastern part of the state. As of June 19, 2026, surveys confirmed the mealybug in 15 Florida counties including: Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, and St. Lucie. The most damage has been observed on limpograss and sugarcane, but several other grasses are affected, including bahiagrass and bermudagrass.

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

Limpograss (Hemarthria altissima): Overview and Management

Joao Vendramini, Lynn E. Sollenberger, and Ken Quesenberry, Marcelo Wallau, and Jose C.B. Dubeux Jr.

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

Weed Management during Pasture Establishment

Brent Sellers, Joao Vendramini, and Marcelo Wallau

This publication details techniques for chemical weed control prior to and during pasture establishment and is intended for county Extension faculty as well as owners and managers of grazing lands. Written by Brent Sellers, Pratap Devkota, Joao Vendramini, and Marcelo Wallau, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised August 2021.

Silage Harvesting, Storing, and Feeding

A. T. Adesogan and Y. C. Newman

This publication discusses the advantages, disadvantages, and phases of silage fermentation and the factors affecting silage quality. Written by A. T. Adesogan and Y. C. Newman, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, reviewed June 2021.