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Breeding
Better Alfalfa
Low-lignin and tannin-containing alfalfas are just two
examples of alfalfas being developed using biotechnology along with
traditional plant breeding methods, said Joe Bouton, director of the
Forage Improvement Division of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation,
Ardmore, OK. He spoke at the National Alfalfa Symposium last month.
Low-lignin alfalfa has been estimated to produce a 10% increase in fiber
digestibility that could increase milk or beef production by $350
million/year and decrease manure production by 2.8 million tons/year,
according to U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center (USDFRC) studies. New
varieties with this trait may be commercially available to seed
producers in 2012.
Tannin alfalfa, now in an early stage of development, could reduce
bypass protein problems and cause less bloating in animals. It could
reduce protein feed supplementation by 60% and nitrogen losses by 25%,
bring up to a 12% increase in net return for dairies and increase
alfalfa silage value by $23/ton, according to a USDFRC dairy model.
For more on Bouton's presentation, visit: hayandforage.com/alfalfasymposium/coverage/biotechnology-delivers-better-alfalfa/.
For recaps of other symposium talks, visit: hayandforage.com/alfalfasymposium/coverage/.
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Forages
May Fuel Pellet Stoves
Fuel for the fast-growing pellet-stove industry is in
short supply, and forages could help fill the void, believes Jerry
Cherney, Cornell University agronomist. He points out that a dwindling
supply of sawdust has created a scarcity of wood pellets, and corn, the
other traditional pellet-stove fuel, has gotten expensive. In five years
of work with grass pellets, Cherney has found that they compare
favorably with other types of pellets. He says grass pellets have 96% of
the Btus of high-quality wood pellets and emit up to 90% less
greenhouses gas. He's burned pellets made from timothy, orchardgrass,
goldenrod, switchgrass, reed canarygrass and wheat and barley straw.
But grass pellets have a higher ash content than wood pellets or corn,
and create clinkers (hard chunks of debris) that are difficult to remove
from stoves. Pellet stoves would have to be modified to accommodate
them, and stove manufacturers are showing a willingness to do that, says
Cherney.
For more on his research, and the latest on a Missouri cooperative
building a $6.6 million facility to make pellets from low-quality hay
and other forages, watch for the March issue of Hay & Forage
Grower.
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Moldy
Forages May Be Toxic
Hay growers should be aware of possible toxicity issues
in legumes and grasses, reminds Mike Murphy, a University of Minnesota
veterinarian. For example, yellow or white sweet clover that molds after
baling can cause bleeding in cows and calves, he says. Mold converts
coumerol, a natural component in sweet clover, to dicumerol, which
causes bleeding by reducing clotting factors in the blood, Murphy says.
Cows that consume the moldy clover may bleed at calving and have weak
calves. Horses can also have bleeding problems. Hay containing sweet
clover should be core-sampled to test for dicumerol. Testing can be done
at the North Dakota State University Plant Diagnostic Lab, Murphy
suggests.
Alfalfa and clovers infested with a mold called Cymodothea trifolii can
cause sun sensitivity and liver damage in horses. When the plants are
moldy, an unknown toxin causes the liver damage that results in swelling
and blistering in light-colored horses exposed to the sun. While black
horses may suffer from liver damage, they may not show the tell-tale
blistering and swelling signs, Murphy says.
Animals fed clovers infested with the mold Rhizoctonia leguminicola can
suffer from a condition known as "slobbers," which causes excessive
salivation. The mold is characterized by a black patch on the plants. It
normally occurs when the temperature is above 80 degrees and the
humidity exceeds 60%. The mold often runs its course in two to four
weeks, depending on the weather, he says.
For more information, call the University of Minnesota Veterinary
Diagnostic Laboratory at 612-625-8787.
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tractor that gives you the latest electronic conveniences and push
button simplicity, the new T6000 Series tractors from New Holland are
built for you. T6000 tractors are a natural choice for haying operations
and heavy loader work. To learn more, see your local New Holland dealer
or call 1-888-290-7377. www.newholland.com/na
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Scorecard
Monitors Pennsylvania Dairy Industry
A new Pennsylvania Dairy Industry Scorecard that
monitors the growth of that state's dairy industry was created by Penn
State University's Center for Dairy Excellence. The recently published
first edition puts cow numbers at 552,000 head in January, up from
549,000 in January 2007. Dairy producer income over feed costs dropped
below $10 for the first time in seven months, from $10.17 to $9.52. The
scorecard also presents facts based on DHIA data, reflecting information
from just under 4,000 Pennsylvania herds.
To review the information, as well as other Pennsylvania dairy data, go
to www.agriculture.state.pa.us/cde/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=135110.
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Good-Quality
Hay Should Not Cause Colic
Hay diets tend to lower the risk of colic, or
intestinal pain, in horses, according to a recent issue of the
University of Minnesota Horse Newsletter. Good-quality hay free
of dust, mold, weeds and other foreign matter should not give horses
colic. However, quickly changing hay type or quality, such as from grass
hay to alfalfa hay, can induce colic. Weedy, dusty or moldy hay or feed
can also induce colic. The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension
Service says other causes of colic can include intestinal obstructions,
intestinal parasites, diseases or twisted intestines, among others.
University of Minnesota equine experts suggest that horses should get at
least two-thirds of their nutrition from forage. Horses on pasture are
said to face the lowest colic risk.
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Model
Pasture Will Educate Maryland Horse Owners
The University of Maryland wants to train horse farm
owners about environmentally sound best management practices for horse
pastures. A statewide team of university experts is developing a
5.5-acre model rotational grazing system at the Central Maryland
Research and Education Center in Clarksville. The grazing system will be
used to demonstrate good pasture management techniques, including
rotational grazing, construction and use of a sacrifice area as well as
safe footing and fencing options. It will also be the site of
educational events and important research on the environmental impact of
grazing horses.
The first educational event will be a no-till drill demonstration on
March 15 at the center's equine research unit. Attendees will learn
about the advantages of no-till pasture management and can learn how to
use it on their own farms. More information is available at www.equinestudies.umd.edu.
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Colorado
It's been difficult to move hay between snowstorms in
Colorado this winter, reports Doug DeCosta, owner of Colorado Hay Co.,
Yampa. "We have had 2½ months of steady snow, and March is
typically our heaviest snow month," he states. "You can't even see the
fencelines because the snow is so deep. It has been hard to move
committed hay out of this mountain area because of the mud and snow. On
the positive side, we should have good snowpack from an irrigation
standpoint." The USDA-Colorado Department of Agriculture Market News
reports the statewide snowpack average is at 135% of normal. Hay has
been moving somewhat slowly in the state as producers use up old-crop
supplies.
DeCosta has been getting calls for dairy hay from the Midwest. Even
though supplies are getting somewhat limited, he expects to have enough
hay for his existing customers. Hay prices should stay strong this year,
especially since other commodity prices have been so high and some hay
land may be converted to other crops, says DeCosta, who also sells horse
hay. "We have seen a steady increase over the last five to 10 years in
horse numbers in Colorado," he notes. "There seem to be more and more
people who have a few horses on small acreages."
Colorado Hay Co. deals and brokers hay around the U.S. Call
970-638-4535.
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Texas
There probably aren't going to be as many hayfields in
the Texas Panhandle this year because many acres are being converted to
corn, soybeans and milo, says Jon Garnett, Garnett Farms, Spearman.
Garnett cut his own production from 635 acres of alfalfa to 115 for this
year, planning to plant more corn and wheat. "We had two circles that
needed to come out of production," he explains. "I think if the price of
wheat stays as high as it has been, a lot more acres in this area will
be converted to wheat that haven't been before. It makes me wonder where
the alfalfa hay is going to be coming from this year."
It has been a dry winter in the panhandle after a dry end to last year's
hay production season. All of Garnett's hay is contracted and he has
stopped advertising so he can meet the needs of existing customers.
"Delivery charges have risen considerably because of the price of
diesel, but we have kept our base hay price the same for our customers,"
he says.
Garnett says dry conditions and a lack of hay and pasture mean many
stocker/feeder cattle folks in his area didn't buy as many cattle this
year. "We've only got about half as many cattle on hand as we usually
do."
Garnett Farms is at the top of the panhandle. He sells his hay to
several large Texas ranches, delivering it with his own trucks. In
addition to alfalfa, he grows 60 acres of Midland 99 bermudagrass under
a pivot. He has 34 cows, 235 heifers and a feeder-calf enterprise.
Contact Garnett at 806-270-0204.
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Biomass
Crops Symposium Scheduled In Kentucky
University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture
researchers have been studying the use of non-corn biomass crops. They
will share information during a March 13 symposium at the Maysville
Community and Technical College. The theme is "Ethanol From Hay and
Other Biomass Crops: Do They Make Sense for Northeastern Kentucky?"
Speakers will include Ray Smith, UK forage extension specialist; Tom
Keene, hay marketing specialist; ag engineers Mike Montross and Scott
Shearer; Chad Lee, grain crops extension specialist; John Seymour,
co-owner of Roundstone Native Seed, LLC; Jim Shipp, Spurlock manager of
East Kentucky Power Cooperative; and Mark Coffman, director of projects
and engineering at Alltech Biotechnology. Topics will include storage,
processing and transportation issues; opportunities and costs of
removing crop residue; burning biomass for electricity; and conversion
from grass to energy.
The free symposium will run from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and advance
registration is not necessary. Contact Smith for more information at
859-257-3358 or raysmity1@uky.edu.
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Calendar
March 4-6 -- Pennsylvania Professional Crop
Producers Conference, Penn Stater Conference Center at Penn State
University, State College. Contact Marvin Hall at 814-863-1019.
March 6 -- Michigan State University Forage Technology
Conference, MSU Kellogg Center, East Lansing. Visit web1.msue.msu.edu/fis/workshops.htm.
March 7 -- Kansas State University Cattlemen's Day, Weber Hall,
KSU, Manhattan. Visit www.asi.ksu.edu or call 785-532-1281.
March 8 -- Hay Production School, auditorium at extension office,
Burke County Office Park, Waynesboro, GA. Registration is 8 a.m. Hosted
by University of Georgia and Clemson University cooperative extension
services. Visit www.caes.uga.edu/commodities/fieldcrops/forages/hayps08.html
or call 864-656-3504 or 706-542-1529.
March 13 -- Ethanol From Hay And Other Biomass Crops For Northeastern
Kentucky Symposium, Maysville Community and Technical College. The
free symposium begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 12:45 p.m. It is not
necessary to register in advance.
March 19-20 -- 2008 Central Plains Dairy Expo, Sioux Falls
Convention Center, Sioux Falls, SD. Visit www.centralplainsdairyexpo.com
or call 218-236-8420.
March 28-29 -- Northeast Grasstravaganza 2008, Holiday Inn Arena,
Binghamton, NY. Call 607-334-3231, ext. 4, or visit the Central New York
Resource Conservation and Development Project Web site at www.cnyrcd.org.
March 29-30 -- Connecticut Horse Symposium, Ratcliffe Hicks Arena
and Horsebarn Hill Arena, University of Connecticut, Storrs. Mornings
full of seminars and afternoons full of demonstrations, 10a.m. to 4 p.m.
each day. Vendors welcome. Call 860-486-4471 or email jenifer.nadeau@uconn.edu.
Learn more at www.canr.uconn.edu/ansci/equine/horsesymp.htm.
April 1-3 -- Dairy Calf And Heifer Conference, Mayo Civic Center,
Rochester, MN. Learn more at www.calfandheifer.org.
April 4-6 -- Hoosier Horse Fair & Expo, Indiana State
Fairgrounds, Indianapolis. Learn more at www.indianahorsecouncil.org/horse_fair.htm.
April 10-13 -- Ohio Equine Affaire, Ohio Expo Center, Columbus.
Visit www.equineaffaire.com.
April 18-20 -- Midwest Horse Fair, Alliant Energy Center,
Madison, WI. Visit midwesthorsefair.com.
April 22-23 -- Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, Grand Wayne
Center, Fort Wayne, IN. Featuring information for Indiana, Michigan and
Ohio. Learn more at tristatedairy.osu.edu/agenda.htm.
April 25-27 -- Minnesota Horse Expo, Minnesota State Fairgrounds,
St. Paul. Visit www.mnhorseexpo.org.
May 16 -- North Carolina State University Horse Forage Management
Short Course, Ramada Inn Blue Ridge, Raleigh, NC. Special emphasis
will be placed on maximizing the use of forages and hay or pasture to
economically meet horses' nutrient requirements. Learn more at www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/horse/SC_Clinic/SCmain.htm.
June 6-8 -- Western States Horse Expo, Cal Expo Fairgrounds,
Sacramento, CA. Call 800-352-2411 or visit www.horsexpo.com.
June 11-12 -- Four State Dairy Nutrition And Management Conference,
Grand Harbor Conference Center, Dubuque, IA. Covering dairy industry
topics for Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota. Contact Evonne
Hausman at ehausman@uiuc.edu.
July 11-13 -- North Carolina Equine Extravaganza, North Carolina
State Fairgrounds, Raleigh. Learn more at www.equineextravaganza.com.
Sept. 17-20 -- National Hay Association Convention, Oak Brook
Hills Marriott, Oak Brook, IL. Contact Don Kieffer at 800-707-0014, or
visit www.nationalhay.org.
Sept. 30-Oct. 4 -- World Dairy Expo, Alliant Energy Center,
Madison, WI. Visit www.worlddairyexpo.com.
Oct. 31-Nov. 2 -- Virginia Equine Extravaganza, Richmond Raceway,
Richmond. Learn more at www.equineextravaganza.com.
Nov. 13-16 -- Massachusetts Equine Affaire, Eastern States
Exposition Center, West Springfield. Visit www.equineaffaire.com.
Feb. 15-16, 2009 -- Southwest Hay And Forage Conference, Ruidoso
NM. Contact Gina Sterrett at 575-626-5677 or Justin Boswell at
575-840-9908.
June 21-23, 2009 -- American Forage & Grassland Council Annual
Conference, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI. Call
800-944-2342 or email info@afgc.org.
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Send Questions & Comments
To...
Lora Berg, Editor,
eHay Weekly,
hfg@hayandforage.com
For information on Hay & Forage Grower, contact:
Neil Tietz, Editor, ntietz@hayandforage.com
or
Fae Holin, Managing Editor, fholin@hayandforage.com
For specific information from past issues of eHay Weekly and
Hay & Forage Grower, click on hayandforage.com, and use the search
function in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage.
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