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Research
Reveals Switchgrass Production Costs
On average, it costs $60/ton to produce switchgrass for
cellulosic ethanol production, according to a joint research project
conducted by USDA-ARS and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The
project gathered on-farm cost data after contracting with 10 farmers in
Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota to commercially grow switchgrass
for five years, starting in 2000 and 2001. The farmers recorded all
costs for producing switchgrass biomass, tracing seed and fertilizer
expenses to labor and equipment costs. Total baled biomass yields were
recorded for each farm.
Two farmers with previous experience growing switchgrass were able to
limit production costs to $39/ton. They were among a group of five
farmers who held production costs to $50/ton or less. The researchers
suggest other farmers might be able to achieve similar production costs
as they gain experience with the crop. Based on the $50/ton figure, and
assuming a conversion efficiency of 80-90 gallons per ton, the on-farm
production cost of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass would be about
55-62 cents per gallon. The researchers also speculated that production
costs may further decrease as new, "ethanol-friendly" varieties are
developed.
The study was designed as follow-up research to an energy analysis paper
in which the research team reported that switchgrass, when used for
cellulosic ethanol, yielded over five times more energy than required to
produce the fuel. The most recent findings are in USDA-ARS’
Bioenergy Research at www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr.
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Alfalfa:
Successful Grazing Crop
Beef and dairy producers have found their animals
perform well grazing alfalfa, said Garry Lacefield, University of
Kentucky forage specialist, at the National Alfalfa Symposium last
month.
He talked of various research studies showing the attributes of grazing
alfalfa, its flexibility as a hay, haylage and grazing crop, and its
drought resistance. In Kentucky, which was hard hit by drought the past
several years, “alfalfa came out smelling like a rose,” Lacefield
said.
“Some people grazed alfalfa for the first time when they found
themselves in a massive drought, and it was a matter of selling cattle
or grazing a plant that was capable of making some growth during that
summer period. Alfalfa was one of those plants,” he added. “Now
we’ve got producers who are putting alfalfa in for the sole purpose of
grazing.”
For more on the story, visit hayandforage.com/alfalfasymposium/coverage/alfalfa-grazing-crop/.
For additional symposium coverage, visit hayandforage.com/alfalfasymposium/coverage.
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Alfalfa
Snout Beetle Control Possible
The first success in controlling the alfalfa snout
beetle that has infested nine New York counties has been reported by
Cornell University entomologist Elson Shields. The insect, which
migrates by walking, has eaten its way across northern New York alfalfa
fields, sometimes destroying a crop in a single year and dramatically
reducing milk production on affected dairy farms.
But the combination of two species of entomopathogenic (insect-killing)
nematodes appears to have caused beetle populations to collapse to
manageable levels. “Researchers in New York have been working since
1989 to develop strategies to effectively manage alfalfa snout beetle. I
am more than pleased to report that we have seen our first success,”
Shields says.
He will present his findings during the 2008 Crop Congresses, March
12-13, in Madrid and Carthage, NY. For more information, call
315-788-8450 or 315-379-9192.
The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program will fund
continuing research on the use of biological controls as well as the
work of Cornell plant breeder Donald Viands, who is developing alfalfa
varieties resistant to the pest.
At the Crop Congresses, Shields will focus his presentation on the
progress of research using nematodes to control alfalfa snout beetle and
on a joint effort between Viands’ Cornell Forage Breeding Project and
Shields’ Alfalfa Snout Beetle Research group to develop resistant
alfalfa. With funding from the New York Farm Viability Institute,
Shields will work with producers within the infested counties to
establish the biocontrol nematodes on infested farms.
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Split
N Applications On Bermudagrass
Bermudagrass growers can save money by splitting
nitrogen applications, suggested Dennis Hancock at last week’s Hay
Production School in Waynesboro, GA.
Hancock, University of Georgia extension forage specialist, spoke to
about 100 Georgia and South Carolina growers on cost-effective
fertilization strategies.
“Usually on a long-term average, splitting nitrogen applications
rather than providing a one-time nitrogen application will generate
between 1,200 and 2,400 lbs/acre additional yield,” he said. “That
strategy also increases nitrogen-use efficiency by 25-30%, which can be
a big deal both economically and environmentally.” Splitting nitrogen
applications can also be beneficial when drought hits.
“Another topic of concern is our inability to get reliable sources of
ammonium nitrate,” Hancock said. “We’ve been comparing different
nitrogen sources. As producers look to reduce their nitrogen rates, and
as we get down into those lower rates, urea-based products are less
efficient at the lower rates. We are both reducing our rate and we are
reducing our effectiveness at that rate.”
Georgia hay growers have been showing interest in integrating legume
crops with bermudagrass, either with annual crops such as crimson
clover, or by interseeding perennial legumes such as alfalfa into the
bermudagrass. “The annual legumes can add between 75 and 100 units of
nitrogen during the winter, then the nitrogen is released during the
following production year,” Hancock explained. “Generally speaking,
the perennial legumes we would grow as a companion crop, like alfalfa,
would provide yields equivalent to adding 200 units of nitrogen. That is
a significant amount of nitrogen added to the system.”
Hancock pointed out there can be management challenges when mixing
bermudagrass and alfalfa. The extent of the mixing strategy’s success
is somewhat site-specific.
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Perennial
Peanut Gains Popularity In Southeast
After more than a half century of research, the rhizoma
perennial peanut is now considered by many growers to be the best
perennial warm-weather legume for southeastern states, according to
USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Today, perennial peanut's
net profit exceeds $500/acre annually, with demand for hay exceeding
production. Current annual sales -- predominantly as hay but also as
planting material and ornamentals -- exceed $7 million, according to
ARS.
The crop was introduced to Florida in the 1930s, then several state and
federal ag research organizations worked together to perfect it. A major
breakthrough came in the 1980s with the release of Florigraze and
Arbrook, which outyielded earlier varieties. Researchers are now seeking
ways to combat adaptability problems that occur when perennial peanut is
planted in more northern climates or in wet soils. Research is
challenging, though, because the plant produces very little seed. New
plant material is being sought from its native range in South America.
Read more about the research in the March issue of USDA’s
Agricultural Research magazine, available at:
www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/mar08/peanut0308.htm.
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Ohio
State’s Weed Management Updates Are Online
Ohio State University offers a variety of weed
management resources for Indiana and Ohio at the OSU Agronomic Crops
Team Weed Science Web site at agcrops.osu.edu/weeds/. Weed
control recommendation sheets, as well as many weed science
presentations, are compiled on the site. View weed resistance maps
showing county-by-county where weed resistance problems are occurring in
the two states. An updated 2008 Weed Control Guide, available for
download from the site, makes good reading for weed management issues
and offers product recommendations.
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Pacific
Northwest
There isn’t much hay left in the Pacific Northwest to
sell, so the market has been fairly quiet, according to Jack Getz, USDA
Market News reporter in Moses Lake, WA. “People are optimistic about
the coming year, but we won’t start cutting hay for another two
months,” he says. Those seeking hay from now until first cutting will
have a hard time finding it, he expects. Most large hay buyers, such as
the region’s dairies, bought early this year, and there was just
enough to meet demand. “Most sales now are to horse owners and retail
buyers, and they are finding more and more suppliers are sold out,”
Getz says.
He doesn’t make any predictions on the number of hay acres expected to
be planted in the coming year and is looking forward to reading the
National Agriculture Statistics Service Prospective Plantings report
that comes out March 31.
Contact Getz at 509-765-3611.
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Georgia
Hay barns are mostly empty in Georgia, says Dennis
Hancock, University of Georgia extension forage specialist. Some beef
producers in the state have reduced stocking rates in response to the
tight feed supplies after two dry years in a row. However, it seems
conditions are looking better. “We had a fair amount of moisture this
winter, but some areas are still a bit behind,” Hancock states. “In
the last couple of weeks we have enjoyed some significant rainfall,
which has been a great blessing. A lot of our overseeded pastures with
ryegrass and small grains have really perked up and are performing
fairly well for us. That has saved us quite a bit in terms of feeding.
Fortunately, we have been able to get enough rain to get a significant
amount of growth and temperatures have been fairly mild so we have
enough to graze.”
Many pastures were damaged due to overgrazing during the drought.
Hancock says it’s going to take several years to rebuild pastures that
were badly abused. “We’ve had a lot of discussions about how to
control weeds as a result, especially in an environment of high
fertilizer prices,” he states.
Contact Hancock at 706-542-1529.
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Northeast
Grasstravaganza Offers Numerous Workshops
More than 35 practical workshops will be part of the
2008 Northeast Grasstravaganza, March 28-29 at the Holiday Inn in
Binghamton, NY. One of the speakers will be Kevin Fulton, a Litchfield,
NE, producer of grass-fed cattle. He’ll expound on how to stress the
connections between healthy food and pastured animals in product
marketing. Fulton produces hay and grazes his 1,000-head beef cattle
herd on 2,800 acres, and is actively transitioning his land base into
organic production. Other speakers will cover a variety of topics
related to grazing and haying for different livestock species.
The event’s long list of sponsors includes the Cornell Small Farms
Program and Central New York Resource Conservation and Development
Project. To see a full conference lineup online, visit www.cnyrcd.org, contact the Central New
York RC&D office at 877-384-8829 or call 607-334-3231, ext. 4.
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Calendar
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 29-30 -- Connecticut Horse Symposium, Ratcliffe Hicks Arena
and Horsebarn Hill Arena, University of Connecticut, Storrs. Morning
seminars and afternoon demonstrations, 10 a.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. 6-7, 2008 Beef Quality Summit, sponsored by BEEF
magazine, Antlers Hilton Hotel, Colorado Springs, CO, For more
information, visit beefconference.com/?cid=resources.
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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