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Reducing
Forage Losses Can Save Big Bucks
With this year’s high feed values, dairy producers
can lower ration costs big time by reducing forage losses during
harvest, storage and feeding, says Brian Holmes, a University of
Wisconsin ag engineer. He says a recent analysis compared good and fair
management practices for a 100-cow herd where alfalfa and corn silage
were fed to lactating cows, dry cows and most heifers based on their
needs. Corn silage, valued at $125/ton of dry matter, represented 55% of
the whole-herd forage diet. The remaining forage, alfalfa silage, was
valued at $150/ton of dry matter.
The annual dry matter losses with good and fair management were $24,160
and $41,031, respectively, a $16,871 difference. Holmes says producers
can move from fair to good forage management by adopting these
practices:- Properly adjust equipment, minimize hay handling
operations and harvest at the recommended moisture content of 60-65% for
alfalfa silage and 65-70% for corn silage.
- Fill silos as quickly as possible.
- Pack bunkers, piles and bags densely during filling.
- During feed-out, remove at least 6” from the silage face daily and
keep the face smooth and without fissures.
- Deliver the correct amount of feed to the mixer wagon and don’t
spill.
- Monitor feed bunks closely and adjust the amount delivered to
minimize refusal.
To learn more about proper forage harvest, storage and feed-out, see the
many articles and spreadsheets at the University of Wisconsin-Extension
Team Forage Web site at www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/uwforage/storage.htm.
Or visit past articles on aspects of bunker management: Superior
Silage, Extra
Packing Pays, Packing
Properly? and Shave
Silage Losses.
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Wildfires
Impact North Dakota Forage Management
Wildfires consumed hundreds of acres of range and
pastureland in the western half of North Dakota this spring. Burned
areas can continue to be grazed, but managers must take precautions and
reduce stocking rates, says Kevin Sedivec, North Dakota State University
(NDSU) extension rangeland management specialist. Here are some of his
suggestions:- Delay the livestock turn-out date two to four weeks.
Grazing should begin no earlier than late May for crested wheatgrass or
smooth bromegrass and mid-June for native rangeland following an early
spring burn.
- Reduce stocking rates by 30-50% in the western Dakotas, 20-30% in
the central part of the states and 10-20% in eastern areas. These
reductions will be greater if dry conditions persist into May and June.
Range and pastureland in the Dakotas, Minnesota and eastern Montana grow
the majority of forage in May, June and July. If rain doesn’t fall
during this period, plan for substantially less forage.
- Use stage of plant development in determining forage-quality goals
for hay production. If fire impacted your hay land, maturation will be
delayed slightly, forage production will be reduced and forage quality
will be improved. “Determine your forage-quality goal and harvest
accordingly to optimize production and quality,” Sedivec says.
Past research in western North Dakota showed that, on average,
dormant-season fire reduced forage production by 40% during the first
growing season after the fire, regardless of grazing history. During the
second season, production was reduced by 10% in a rotational grazing
system and non-grazed areas, and 30% on season-long grazing pastures.
“One interesting note is that these negative impacts on forage
production occurred in a year when spring rainfall was normal to above
normal,” Sedivec says.
Another trial in east-central North Dakota tested the impacts of spring
fires on forage production of grasses and leafy spurge. Spring fire
reduced grass production by 17%; however, leafy spurge production
increased by 27%. Grass production was impacted only the first growing
season following a fire, while leafy spurge production remained greater
for two growing seasons. In both studies, plant species composition was
not affected by a one-time fire event.
To learn more, visit the NDSU drought information Web site at www.ag.ndsu.edu/disaster/drought.html
or contact Sedivec at 701-231-7647 or kevin.sedivec@ndsu.edu.
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Fertilizing
Forages Probably Still Pays
Fertilizing hayfields and pastures might still be a
paying proposition given today’s high hay prices, says Eric Peterson,
a University of Wyoming extension educator in Lincoln, Sublette,
Sweetwater, Teton and Uinta counties. Hay growers have asked if it makes
sense to apply high-priced fertilizer to hay meadows, he says.
“You will nearly always see an improvement in productivity when
supplemental nitrogen is provided,” says Peterson. The law of
diminishing returns will dictate when fertilizing is no longer
profitable. Returns should increase until inputs cancel out any returns.
“The trick is in knowing the point at which you are no longer getting
a satisfactory return on the investment.”
A bulletin describing hayfield and pasture responses to fertilizer and a
spreadsheet to help make fertilizer decisions are available online
through the university’s extension service. The normal responses to
fertilizer from native, improved and grass-alfalfa forages are
summarized in “Fertilizing Wyoming Hay Meadows: How Much Fertilizer
Can You Afford?” at agecon.uwyo.edu/agecon/whatwedo/publications/B828r.pdf.
The spreadsheet, which includes fertilizer cost, value of hay, and the
added cost of harvesting the additional production resulting from
fertilization is at fp1.centurytel.net/sublette/anr.html.
“When you run some numbers through the spreadsheet, you’ll see
that, although fertilizer is very expensive, the value of the additional
hay you get from that input offsets the cost, making the decision to
fertilize hay meadows a rational decision at reasonable application
rates,” says Peterson.
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Calculate
Your Grazing Wedge Online
The grazing wedge is a key tool for managing feed on a
pasture-based dairy farm, according to University of Missouri extension
specialists. It visually represents the quality and quantity of forage
dry matter available now and during the next round of grazing. The
specialists developed a grazing wedge calculator that enables users to
track pasture growth on their own and other farms throughout the season.
It’s available at plantsci.missouri.edu/grazingwedge/.
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Purdue
Provides Alfalfa-Weevil Control Guidelines
Southern Indiana growers should be scouting for alfalfa
weevil larvae now, according to the Purdue Pest & Crop
newsletter. Last week, evidence of pin-hole feeding was found in the
south-central part of the state. Producers can most-effectively manage
the pests, often overlooked in early spring, by utilizing heat-unit
accumulations data. With a base of 48°F, heat units determine when
sampling should begin and when action should be taken. To help determine
when alfalfa weevils should be controlled in southern Indiana and
surrounding areas, visit: extension.entm.purdue.edu/pestcrop/2008/issue5/index.html.
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Record-Setting
Armyworm Moth Capture In Kentucky
Growing grass hay or pastures in Kentucky? Be on the
lookout for armyworm larvae, say University of Kentucky (UK)
entomologists. A record number of adult armyworm moths have been
captured in the UK-IPM pheromone trap system in recent weeks. As of late
April, the Princeton trap captured 600 moths/trap-week compared to 322
moths the previous week. This is a larger peak than in any
first-generation flight since Kentucky entomologists started keeping
records, and a substantially larger number than in the outbreak years of
2001 and 2006. Lexington trap captures for the same week also
dramatically increased – from 27 moths the previous week to 660. While
entomologists are not certain if the moth flight will result in a large
caterpillar population, they strongly urge the scouting of grass hay,
pastures, small grains and corn for feeding signs. Disease, predation
and parasitism, among other factors, will impact how well the eggs and
caterpillars will survive. Read more in the Kentucky Pest News at
www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpn_08/pn080428.htm#armarm.
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Midwest
Midwestern hay sales activity ranged from light to good
last week, according to Ken Barnett, University of Wisconsin. In
Nebraska, demand was moderate to good and prices steady. Cold
temperatures have hindered grass growth in the state. Winterkill has not
been a major issue, but the loss of acres is a major concern, says
Barnett.
Iowa hay prices were higher than in recent weeks on light sales
activity. Inventories were nearly depleted, with moderate-to-good
demand. Winterkill has caused problems for some Iowa growers.
Prices were steady in Missouri, where many growers still have water
standing in areas where it usually doesn’t accumulate. A small number
of growers in far southeastern Missouri started harvesting first-cutting
alfalfa. Alfalfa weevils have been out in full force with the warm
weather. Barnett says if growers haven’t already discovered the
problem, it may be too late to spray in some areas.
Prices were steady in Illinois, too. The alfalfa crop has started the
season in good shape. The Illinois Weather and Crops Report places 62%
of the state’s alfalfa and 74% of its red clover in good-to-excellent
condition. Many growers expected to take first alfalfa cuttings last
week, but wet weather delayed their plans.
Prime hay in the Midwest at greater than 151 relative feed value
(RFV)/relative forage quality (RFQ) averaged $206.66/ton in small square
bales, ranging from $132.50 to $380/ton. In large square bales, prime
hay averaged $170.32/ton, ranging from $95 to $245/ton, and round bales
peaked at $180/ton and bottomed at $75/ton, averaging $125.92.
Grade 1 hay (125-150 RFV/RFQ) sold for an average price of $186.56/ton
in small square bales, ranging from $120 to $250/ton. Large square
bales averaged $153.72/ton with a $120/ton bottom and a $175.33/ton
peak. Round bales averaged $116.88/ton, ranging from $80 to $155.88/ton.
Grade 2 hay (103-124 RFV/RFQ) averaged $128.75/ton in small square
bales, ranging from $80 to $160/ton. Large square bales averaged
$126.43/ton, with a $100/ton minimum price and a $146.19/ton peak.
Large round bales of Grade 2 hay averaged $106.48/ton, ranging from $60
to $144.44/ton.
Straw averaged $2.39/small square bale, $36.88/large square bale and
$30.42/round bale.
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Tennessee
Decent winter moisture may give Tennessee hay growers
better production this year, says Gary Bates, University of Tennessee
extension forage specialist. “The cool-season grasses are starting to
head out and some hay may be cut soon,” he says. “I think a high
number of people are planning to plant some of the summer grasses that
can tolerate drier conditions, such as sudex, pearl millet and teff.”
Last year’s drought thinned stands in some areas. “We had to bring a
lot of hay into the state, plus people cut cow numbers to get by,”
Bates says. “I expect people are going to want to go into winter with
as much hay as possible this year, so I am not expecting a reduction in
hay acres.”
Contact Bates at 865-974-7208.
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Kentucky
Field Day Is Set For June 12
The University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture
will host a field day at Spindletop Farm near Lexington on June 12 with
the theme: “Agriculture in a New Bioeconomy.” Hay production
techniques and equipment will be demonstrated between 3 and 5:30 p.m.,
the same time workshops will be held on weed identification and
resistant weeds, organic crop production and horse pasture evaluation.
Field tours from 6 to 8 p.m. will highlight new forage varieties and
species, weed management strategies, biofuel crops and pest management.
Contact J.D. Green at 859-257-4898, or jdgreen@uky.edu. Learn more at www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/.
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Calendar
May 12-14 -- Southern Pasture And Forage Crop
Improvement Conference, Crown Plaza Hotel, Knoxville, TN. Contact
John Jennings at 501-671-2350.
May 16 -- North Carolina State University Horse Forage Management
Short Course, Ramada Inn Blue Ridge, Raleigh. Special emphasis on
maximizing 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.
May 29 -- 2008 Corn Silage & Forage Field Day, Plant Science and
Research Unit, Citra, FL. Contact Jerry Wasdin at jwas@ufl.edu, call 352-392-1120 or visit
www.animal.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/CSFD/index.shtml.
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. 4 – Kentucky Forage And Grassland Council Field Day,
Christian County, KY. Learn more at www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/.
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. 23 -- Kentucky Grazing Conference, Fayette County Extension
office, Lexington. Learn more at www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/.
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. Visit beefconference.com/.
Nov. 13-16 -- Massachusetts Equine Affaire, Eastern States
Exposition Center, West Springfield. Visit www.equineaffaire.com.
Dec. 5-6 -- 2008 Missouri Livestock Symposium, Kirksville.
Programs for horse, beef cattle, sheep, meat goat, and forage producers,
and trade show. Details at missourilivestock.com, or call Bruce Lane at
660-665-9866 or Garry Mathes at 660-341-6625.
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.Calendar.
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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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