[Hayman1]

Welcome to the club. Took over this spring like crazy, seen it before, but never so much of it. My fertilizer guy with the magic take a pic of a weed Identify app said it is sweet vernal grass. Sort of looks like it but SVG is supposed to be related to poor fertility and that does not apply to my fields so I am stumped. You are close by, perhaps it is a valley plague brought on by cold dry springs. Haven't found anyway to get rid of it other than kill the field twice and then replant which gets really pricey and certainly does not work with poa annual..

 

[Hayman1]

Yep, that is SVG. It makes really bad hay because it’s all stem and no leaf. The horses pick through it. I used to have problems with it but once I got my fertility up and plant density higher, it disappeared.

I test and fertilize per test annually, as in 170# k. I overseeding regularly. I see the results from fertilizing and liming in subsequent tests. I am having a hard time buying into it’s just fertility, or plant population.

 

[Hayman1]

Wouldn't Phosphorus be the more relevant indicator/deficiency in this case?

Could be, but I typically use 65-90# p2o5

 

[Hayman1]

Let me preface by saying I'm an old lab tech, so I get my rocks off to different stuff than most. That said, plant available P where you want it for orchardgrass can vary tremendously independent of input. You probably already know that, but just in case you didn't, had to say it. Have you tested available P? It'd be a worthwhile excercise for me if I were economically dependent on hay production.

I understand the disease. Dirt man myself and worked labs early on. If you mean by tissue sample, no I haven't but have been giving it some thought. Heavens no, it would take all the fun out of haying if I were economically dependent on hay production in this climate. I just like making good quality hay and hate buying crap at usury rates.