Plant Sap pH; indicates if we need cations.

(Ca, Mg, K, Na)

Plant Analysis; tells us which minerals are short!

If cows eat grass then TEST the GRASS!

Monitoring Pastures:

Use Refractometer to measure the BRIX  of the grass. Brix is a good indication of the sugars that are in the grass. If brix are below 12 then consider taking a plant sample and having it analyzed to determine which minerals may be short.

Taking the pasture sample:

Peior to the animals entering a paddock take samples of grass, sampling about the same portion of the plant that the animal will remove. Making sure the you do have clean hands and that no soil is on the sample. Collect approximately two hands full of grass. Air dry on a cookie sheet or simliar. Then Send the sample to:

AgriEnergy Resouces

Princeton Illinois

click HERE for an input sheet and address