Christine O'Reilly, OMAFRA Forage & Grazing Specialist, Author at Sheep and Goat Production

Alfalfa Weevil

This article was originally written by Joel Bagg in 2013. It was edited May 1st, 2023 by Christine O’Reilly to reflect current insecticide options to control alfalfa weevil. Alfalfa weevil can be an issue in Ontario, particularly in south-western parts of the province. While outbreaks tend to be isolated, they can be severe and dramatically reduce forage yield and quality. Typically, alfalfa weevil do not reach significant levels until we are ready to take first-cut. However, sometimes alfalfa weevil larvae development is advanced relative to the alfalfa crop, and can do significant damage before the crop is ready to cut. Control options are to cut early or spray. Insecticides are recommended only when cutting is impractical, such as when the…

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New! Publication 30: Guide to Forage Production

Publication 30: Guide to Forage Production is a comprehensive guide to forage agronomy. It has information on establishment, fertility, weed management and weather stress for many species grown as forage in Ontario. It also covers harvest and storage of forage crops and understanding a laboratory forage analysis. To download a free PDF version or order a paper copy, click here. ~~~~~~ La Publication 30F, Guide de production fourragère, constitue une source de renseignements détaillés sur les pratiques agronomiques en production fourragère. On y trouve de l’information sur l’établissement, la fertilité, la lutte contre les mauvaises herbes et le stress thermique, applicables à de nombreuses espèces végétales cultivées comme plantes fourragères en Ontario. Ce Guide traite aussi de questions concernant la récolte et l’entreposage des fourrages et…

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Caution! Silo gas and nitrate poisoning

August 10, 2022July 8, 2026Christine O'Reilly, OMAFRA Forage & Grazing SpecialistUncategorized

Rain events across the province have interrupted a dry spring. While the water is welcome, the 5-7 days after a rain that ends a severe dry period increases the risk of nitrates in forage crops! Nitrates are of concern because they can increase silo gas production and cause nitrate poisoning in livestock. Silo Gas Silo gas (nitrogen dioxide, N2O) is produced almost immediately after filling a silo. It has a bleach-like odour and may be visible as a reddish-brown haze. However, it is not always visible. Nitrogen dioxide is heavier than air, therefore it tends to be located just above the silage surface and on the ground around the silo. It may flow down silo chutes and into feed rooms. Tower silos are…

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Is the yield potential of alfalfa increasing?

August 10, 2022July 26, 2022Christine O'Reilly, OMAFRA Forage & Grazing SpecialistForage, ForageLeave a Reply

The relationship between alfalfa breeding efforts and yield potential is complicated. While most literature on annual grain crops shows yield improvements with the release of new varieties over time, a literature search on alfalfa yield will show improvement, stagnation, and declines, depending on the paper. One of the latest attempts to discern what is really going on comes from Lei Ren and colleagues out of the University of Saskatchewan. Ren and colleagues summarized data from the Western Forage Variety Testing System from 1997 to 2011 to see how breeding has changed the yield potential of alfalfa varieties over time. They recognized that environmental conditions and harvest management are factors that can affect alfalfa yield that are not always included in…

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Grass Growth Rates and Pasture Management

July 21, 2022July 6, 2026Christine O'Reilly, OMAFRA Forage & Grazing SpecialistForageLeave a Reply

Pasture managers can determine the minimum grass growth rate required to feed their flock. Producers who track grass growth rates and compare them to their minimum required rate can make proactive management decisions to avoid running out of pasture.

Blister Beetles

June 29, 2022July 6, 2026Christine O'Reilly, OMAFRA Forage & Grazing SpecialistForage, Forage, Health, Health & Nutrition

Description Blister beetles are very rare in Ontario but have been occasionally found in alfalfa fields north of Lake Erie. They are more common in arid climates, such as the U.S. Midwest, and are often associated with grasshopper infestations. The three most common species are the black blister beetle (Epicauta pensylvanica), the ash grey blister beetle (Epicauta fabricii) and the striped blister beetle (Epicauta vittata). Blister beetles have soft bodies 1–2.5 cm (3/8 –1 in.) long. The thorax between their head and abdomen is long and narrow, making it look like a neck. Their wings tend to be shorter than their abdomen. The black and ash-grey blister beetles are solidly coloured as their names describe (Figures 1 and 2). The…

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How do I repair pugged pasture?

January 7, 2022July 8, 2026Christine O'Reilly, OMAFRA Forage & Grazing SpecialistForage

Pugging is sod damage and soil compaction caused by livestock hooves. Prevent pugging by moving livestock to a barn, dry lot, or sacrifice paddock. Assess the severity of pugging to determine the most appropriate repair options. Timely repairs maintain pasture yield and keep weeds out.

Using a Rising Plate Meter as a Tool to Improve Pasture Management: Summer Project 2021

October 25, 2021August 21, 2026Christine O'Reilly, OMAFRA Forage & Grazing SpecialistForage

The author of this article is Mary O’Connor, an OMAFRA summer student who, under the supervision of James Byrne (OMAFRA Beef Cattle Specialist), assisted with this project. The article was first published in the October 2021 edition of Virtual Beef. Introduction In Canada, grazing land, consisting of natural and planted pastures, accounts for approximately 50 million acres (Statistics Canada, 2011). Pastures provide numerous benefits to the producer, animals, and the surrounding environment. Grazing livestock on pasture provides economic benefits to the producer by supplying nutritious low-cost feed for livestock and utilizing marginal land not suitable for crop production (OMAFRA, 2015). Measuring and monitoring pasture growth on a regular basis can improve pasture performance, pasture productivity and livestock performance. A rising plate…

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Grazing Livestock and Forage Palatability: How They Go Hand in Hand

July 14, 2021July 6, 2026Christine O'Reilly, OMAFRA Forage & Grazing SpecialistForage

This article was written by Breann Saulnier, OMAFRA Grazing Livestock Assistant. You may look out into a pasture and see an abundance of tall, delicious-looking grass for livestock to graze but this is not necessarily what the livestock see. The amount of forage available for grazing is the portion of plant material that the animal chooses to eat, not the total amount of forage growing that is visible. So how do you know what the animal will choose to eat? Well, the palatability and the utilization of forage for animals is influenced by what stage of growth the grass is in. In the context of grazing, palatability refers to a measure of when animals are given free choice, choose to…

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From the Backside to the Countryside – Manure Odours

June 30, 2021May 17, 2022Christine O'Reilly, OMAFRA Forage & Grazing SpecialistRisk Prevention, Risk Prevention

This article was written by Christine Brown, OMAFRA Field Crops Sustainability Specialist. It was originally posted on FieldCropNews.com. There is no surer sign of spring in the countryside than the evidence from our noses of manure application in full swing. Odour complaints occur every year, especially where urban settlements border livestock farms. Although manure odour is inconvenient, most farms do consider wind direction and make an effort to apply and incorporate manure as quickly as possible to minimize odours. Some farms are also looking at manure additives to help control odours. The combination of livestock species, feed ration and manure storages result in hundreds of complex compounds that can produce odorous gases. Some of these gases are dangerous, while others…

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All posts by Christine O'Reilly, OMAFRA Forage & Grazing Specialist

About Christine O'Reilly, OMAFRA Forage & Grazing Specialist

Alfalfa Weevil

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New! Publication 30: Guide to Forage Production

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Caution! Silo gas and nitrate poisoning

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Is the yield potential of alfalfa increasing?

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Grass Growth Rates and Pasture Management

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Blister Beetles

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How do I repair pugged pasture?

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Using a Rising Plate Meter as a Tool to Improve Pasture Management: Summer Project 2021

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Grazing Livestock and Forage Palatability: How They Go Hand in Hand

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From the Backside to the Countryside – Manure Odours

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