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Weed-Seed-Free
Hay Rules:
Are They Enforced?
by Fae Holin, Managing Editor, Hay & Forage
Grower
If national parks would enforce requirements that only
certified noxious weed-seed-free hay be fed horses while on those lands,
hay growers may actually have a market to produce for. So says Harlan
Anderson, Cokato, MN, grower and entrepreneur.
“It is a good program,” he said after reading last week’s eHay
Weekly article on various weed-seed-free programs, including
Minnesota’s. “But it has been very difficult to get off the
ground.” Horse owners, he said, have told him that park officials in
some states let them feed uncertified hay while on trail rides. That
means those horse owners have little incentive to buy certified hay.
Some states ask horse owners to voluntarily feed certified
weed-seed-free hay to horses while on public lands. In states like
Wyoming, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska,
Utah and Colorado, however, horse owners are required by law to feed
horses certified weed-seed-free hay.
“We don’t have check stations,” said Dave Burch, weed program
manager with the Montana Department of Agriculture. “But rangers and
game wardens will stop people and, if they don’t have certified hay,
they’ll turn them back … or tell them to leave. They are susceptible
to fines as well. For the most part, the hunters and back country users
know that they have to have it (certified hay) when they come to
Montana.”
The weed-seed-free hay and straw state programs require growers to go
through a certification process guaranteeing that their hay or straw is
cut and baled before noxious weed seeds have formed. Their goal: to keep
noxious weeds from spreading on national parks and other public grounds.
Certified weed-seed-free straw is also required by some state
transportation departments for road construction.
But some transportation departments are not enforcing the use of the
certified products, Anderson said. A few construction contractors he
knows said they need to buy just a few certified bales for show. “They
(the state transportation department) don’t come out and check,
anyway,” he said he was told. Anderson has certified hay and straw for
sale but estimates that he hasn’t sold more than 100 bales in the last
five years.
Montana’s weed-seed-free forage program, however, is expanding, said
Burch. A media campaign was recently launched asking property owners to
use certified forage on their own lands.
For more on the Montana program, visit www.agr.mt.gov/weedpest/nwsff.asp.
To contact Anderson, email idleacres@cmgate.com. To see a
listing of noxious weed-seed-free hay programs, visit hayandforage.com/links/hay/weed-seed-free-programs.
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Know
How Hay Preservatives Work
Preservatives can help growers make good hay at higher
moisture levels, but correct management is needed to keep that hay in
good shape, says Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
extension forage specialist. To get good results from preservatives, he
says it helps to know how they work and what they can and can’t do.
Baled hay naturally contains millions of bacteria and mold fungi that
produce heat as they consume hay nutrients. The duration and intensity
of this heat determines the amount of damage to the hay. The heat also
forces moisture out of the bale, something called “going through a
sweat,” Anderson states. Usually, hay gets dry enough that the
microbes die or go dormant, but when too much moisture is present,
heating becomes excessive, mold develops, or both. Preservatives work to
kill many of the microbes, resulting in less heat. This gives hay time
to dry out naturally, without the sweat.
However, the preservative also vaporizes and disappears as it dries. If
bales are not allowed to dry properly or are stacked tightly and stored
soon after baling, the remaining microbes eventually will produce the
heat and mold that the preservative was working to combat. Also,
Anderson points out, if rain, high humidity or other sources moisten the
hay later, microbial activity can redevelop since the protection from
preservatives lasts only a short time.
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Use
Correct Preservative Rates
Propionic acid is effective in inhibiting growth of
molds, yeast and bacteria in hay, and buffered products are as effective
as non-buffered, according to the University of Kentucky Forage
News. In one study, a buffered propionic acid product significantly
improved nutrient yield in high-moisture hay. But the improvements
weren’t large enough to pay for the preservative, the newsletter
reports.
In order for propionic acid to be effective, correct levels must be
used. Commercial solutions vary from 10% to 100% propionic acid. The use
of very dilute products isn’t recommended because more water is
applied to the crop. Because only parts of bales may be high in
moisture, it's important to distribute the acid uniformly. Depending on
the product and application rate, it will cost $5-20/ton of hay to treat
with a propionic acid-based product. Suggested application rates are 10
lbs of 100% propionic acid equivalent per ton of 20-25% moisture hay; 20
lbs/ton of 26-30% moisture hay, according to the newsletter.
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Fact
Sheet Helps Price Standing Forage
A University of Wisconsin fact sheet can help growers
determine prices for standing forages. Sales of standing forage require
agreement on price and a method of determining yield, whether it’s
sold by the bale or by the ton. The fact sheet describes a method to
help buyer and seller determine an appropriate price range for
short-term sales. It’s not intended to be used for long-term contract
purchases. The two-page fact sheet is available at ipcm.wisc.edu/Portals/0/Blog/Files/18/526/Pricing-stand-hay-FOF.pdf.
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Oklahoma
Calls For Custom Wheat Harvesters
Custom grain harvesters appear to be in short supply in
Oklahoma. So the Oklahoma agriculture department is asking custom
harvesters planning or willing to cut wheat in the state to be included
in a new online directory. Wheat harvest is expected to start this week
and the agency hopes to help farmers locate harvest crews.
Several producers have expressed concerns that they are having trouble
getting commitments from custom harvesters this year, says Terry Peach,
Oklahoma ag secretary. This is due to a variety of factors, including
some harvesters leaving the business, high fuel prices and increasingly
hard-to-find labor.
Custom harvesters are encouraged to contact Glen Schickedanz at the
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry at 800-580-6543 or
glen.schickedanz@oda.state.ok.us.
The mailing address is Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, attn. Glen
Schickedanz, 2800 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105.
The directory will be available online as soon as the agency begins
receiving information. The Web address is www.oda.state.ok.us. Producers
who do not have online capability may call the toll-free number for
information.
Information listed will include the custom harvesters’ contact
information and number of combines available.
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Missouri
Alfalfa Weevils Move Farther North
Alfalfa weevils are on the move in Missouri, according
to the University of Missouri. Problems had previously been reported in
the southern part of the state, but now its central and northern fields
are also under siege. In several surveyed fields, small larvae were
three to four times the economic threshold level of an average of one or
more larvae per stem. Growers are advised to look for damage.
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Ohio
Alfalfa Weevils Are Hard At Work
Numerous Ohio alfalfa fields are suffering the effects
of alfalfa weevil feeding, report Ohio State University entomologists in
the most recent issue of Crop Observation and Recommendation
Network. They remind growers that, although alfalfa may look great
from a pickup, the only way to determine the presence and density of
weevil larvae is to get into the field and scout. Seeing the feeding
injury from the road for the first time is seeing it after economic
damage has been done. As growers get closer to first cutting, the best
management tactic often becomes early harvesting, say entomologists.
They recommend early harvest when alfalfa is more than 16” tall and
more than four weevil larvae are present per stem.
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within 250 miles of either Lincoln, NE or Rapid City, SD, we haul with
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Alberta
“Forages are slow off the start in Alberta; cold
weather and a pretty major snowstorm put us off target by a week or
so,” says Barclay Lutz of Lutz Hay, who raises 6,000 acres of alfalfa,
timothy and orchardgrass in Alberta, Canada.
“Alfalfa crops are just emerging and grass crops are a few inches
high. Our subsoil moisture is well below average in the south,” he
says. Dryland forages are showing stress from lack of moisture. That
area is largely irrigated, though, yet with doubled power and natural
gas prices from last year’s contracted numbers, input costs will be
high. “Ninety percent of our irrigation is pumped from reservoirs and
ditches using power or natural gas,” says Lutz, who irrigates 3,500
acres.
“Everyone is talking about a shortage of forage crops and extremely
high prices,” Lutz says. “I feel that prices will be stronger than
they were last year, but that the shortage of alfalfa and timothy acres
may be exaggerated. We seeded approximately 700 acres of new forages
this year and took out about 800 acres for rotational reasons. On the
10,000-acre farm we operate, our forage production will be much the same
as it was last year … we have had a small shift toward more alfalfa
production due in part to fertilizer prices, domestic demand, and a
weaker U.S. dollar hampering timothy exports.
“It appears as though everyone around here is thinking the same as I
am: production will be much the same as it was last year. Although we
would like to see huge prices, we expect marginal increases of
$20-35/ton.” Lutz’ equipment dealer services a large area of
southern Alberta and has no new balers or cutters for sale and very
little used machinery, he says. “This leads me to believe people are
gearing up to take off another average-acre hay crop this year.
“We expect to sell hay out of the field for $100-140/ton. Our first
cut generally services the pressed bale export market and dairy markets,
so field prices in June and July are usually a good representation of
prices for the rest of the year. I am excited to have this vibrant
market and increased global and domestic interest in hay production,”
says Lutz, who markets into the Northwestern U.S. and also does some
business in California and Texas. “It is nice to see that, as a whole
over North America, we will have people waiting to buy our product at a
price I would hope we can make a small profit on.”
Contact Lutz at 403-380-3906.
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Texas
Some parts of Texas continue to suffer from drought
conditions, while other areas received some rain, according to the Texas
AgriLife Extension Service at Texas A&M University. Coastal bermudagrass
fields are reportedly doing well in central Texas, and winter grasses
are providing good grazing in that area. The Rolling Plains district
received a much-needed soaking rain with nearly 4” falling in some
areas. Pastures are looking good and cattle are in good condition. Some
producers are still trying to plant grass before it gets too late.
Cool nights have slowed summer forage growth and the soil moisture
profile is in good shape in northern Texas. Many ranchers have started
to bale early season hay, but yields, at 2-2.25 tons/acre, have been
down dramatically. Many are planting new bermudagrass pastures. Existing
bermudagrass stands are coming on a little late and need some warm
temperatures. Producers who have reserves may not bale hay this year due
to high fuel and fertilizer prices.
The southwestern part of the state remained dry as of last week, with
only insignificant rain showers at isolated locations. The year-to-date
rainfall total is 1.06” at Uvalde, compared to a long-term average of
nearly 8”. Record-high temperatures and dry winds are aggravating the
drought. Forage availability remains below average.
For more about Texas conditions, visit agnews.tamu.edu/showstory.php?id=485.
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South
Dakota Sets Forage Risk Planning Workshops
Risk planning workshops for forage producers are set
for White River, Isabel and Belle Fourche, SD, in late May. The
workshops can help forage and cattle producers with rangeland or hayland
learn about changing forage markets and the latest risk management
tools, says Matt Diersen, South Dakota State University extension risk
management specialist.
Cole Gustafson, a North Dakota State University ag economist, will cover
the implications of energy markets on forages and offer future prospects
for biomass feedstocks. Laurence Crane, National Crop Insurance
Services, will discuss pasture, rangeland and forage insurance, as well
as related insurance tools to mitigate spikes in feed costs.
Diersen will present a forage price outlook and discuss the effect of
prices of competing crops on hay and pasture prices. Growers will learn
how forage production insurance may be used in today's market
conditions.
Each workshop is scheduled to run 6:30-9:30 p.m. local time. They take
place May 27 at the Emergency Management Building in White River, May 28
at the Community Hall in Isabel and May 29 at First Western Bank in
Belle Fourche.
Registration will start at 6 p.m. There is no charge. RSVP with Heather
Fairbanks for the White River workshop at 605-259-3385, with Mike Huber
for the Isabel workshop at 605-865-3652, or with T.J. Swan for the Belle
Fourche workshop at 605-892-2371.
The Risk Management Agency is sponsoring the workshops in conjunction
with the South Dakota State University Extension Service.
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Calendar
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 10-11 – Wisconsin Grazing School, River Falls, WI. Call
715-425-3345.
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.
June 12 -- University of Tennessee Hay Field Day, Shady Brook
Angus Farm, Leoma, TN. Field Day will focus on managing input costs and
high-moisture hay. Contact Brian White at 731-968-5266.
June 24-25 -- Wisconsin Grazing School, Gleason, WI. Call
715-425-3345.
June 28 -- 2008 Illinois Forage Expo, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Smith
Family Farms near Mount Vernon. Visit: web.extension.uiuc.edu/regions/ag.
July 11-13 -- North Carolina Equine Extravaganza, North Carolina
State Fairgrounds, Raleigh. Learn more at www.equineextravaganza.com.
July 22 -- Wisconsin Grazing School, Fond du Lac. Call
715-425-3345.
Aug. 19-20 -- Wisconsin Grazing School, Richland Center. Call
715-425-3345.
Sept. 4 -- Kentucky Forage & Grassland Council Field Day,
Christian County. 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. 2-4 -- California Alfalfa & Forage Symposium, Town &
Country Resort and Hotel, San Diego. Learn more at alfalfa.ucdavis.edu/2008AlfalfaConference/.
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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