Using a Rising Plate Meter to Measure Pasture Mass
B 1528 This is a bulletin.
Measuring, monitoring, and managing forage requires producers to regularly measure how much forage mass is present and how quickly that forage is growing. By using a rising plate meter, producers can assess the forage mass across several pastures quickly and with reasonable accuracy. Then, by comparing available forage in individual paddocks from one week to another, producers can determine the growth rate of the forage. In periods of poor growing conditions, management can be deployed to increase growth rates. In periods of rapid growth rate, decisions can be made to alter grazing sequences or plans can be made to harvest excess forage for hay or baleage. In short, the rising plate meter helps producers to assess the current status of each pasture and then make better decisions to increase the efficient use of that forage.
Published by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. For more information or guidance, contact your local Extension office.
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Status and Revision History
- Published with Minor Revisions on August 31, 2023
What is a Bulletin?
Bulletins represent a major writing effort and cover a broad subject area. They address individual topics in a particular discipline for a specific commodity.
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