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Item Name: Forage Crops 1972 - 1975

Item ID: ForCro-H2

Collector Rating: 1

Pamphlets Used to Earn this Badge

Requirements June 1972 until January 1975

Meet THREE requirements as shown in each of the following groups. This is a total of 12.

Grasses-Do THREE.

1. Show samples of five kinds of perennial grasses. Explain their uses for feed and soil conservation.

2. Show how to prepare a seed-bed for a lawn, pasture, or meadow.

3. Show:

(a) Samples of three annual grasses used both for hay and pastures.
(b) Samples of three large seed grasses. Explain the use of each.

4. Make a blotter, plate, or rag-doll seed tester. Show how to use in testing seeds for vitality.

5. Do the following:

(a) Show six of the most important grasses found where you live, Identify and explain the use of each.

(b) Explain the difference between "bunchgrasses" and "sodforming grasses" and their uses.

Legumes-Do THREE including Nos. 1 or 3.

1. Show samples and name the five most important legume crops grown where you live.

2. Name three small and three large seed legumes. Explain use of these for seed, soil conservation, cash crop, and for keeping soil moisture.

3. Show how to fertilize, lime, prepare seed-bed, seed, and manage a crop of legumes grown where you live.

4. Explain:

(a) How legumes may be used to build soil fertility and control erosion.
(b) How legumes deplete the soil.

5. Explain:

(a) What is meant by inoculation of legumes.
(b) How this is done. Tell why it is important.

Pastures-any THREE including Nos. 3 or 5.

1. Explain the best way to improve an old pasture. Tell how to manage and keep pasture fertility where you live.

2. Explain under what conditions grasses, legumes, and hayfields may be used for pastures.

3. Collect five poisonous or undesirable grasses and weeds which can harm pastures or be poisonous to livestock.

4. Explain from what you have seen how cows, horses, and sheep are different in the way they graze.

5. Prepare an exhibit of at least five pasture grasses, showing whole plant with stem, leaf, flower, and seed.

Hay Crops-Do THREE.

1. Explain how grasses such as legumes and grain crops may be used for hay or feed for livestock and wild game.

2. Tell how to store hay crops safely in barns, stacks, sheds, and in bales. Explain how to prevent hay-barn fires.

3. Mount and show five kinds of properly cured hay crops. Explain the qualities of "succulent" or "well-cured" hay.

4. Show samples of two kinds of hay crops best suited to different livestock.

5. Show how to run one hay-making machine and use one hand tool. Name five tools and machines used for hay-making where you live. Explain what each does.

This merit badge may be earned as a 4-H'er by completing a club project in that subject or as an FFA member by meeting these requirements through the FFA supervised farming program.