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Hay & Forage Grower
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Sufficient rainfall in much of the country will result in slightly
higher average alfalfa yields than were harvested last year, USDA
predicts. But the yield gain won’t offset a 4% drop in acreage.
In its Aug. 12 Crop Production report, USDA forecasts production of
alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures at 70.9 million tons, 2% below last
year’s number. Yields from 20.8 million harvested acres are expected
to average 3.41 tons/acre, up from 3.35 tons/acre in 2007. Yields are
forecast to be above last year’s number across the Corn Belt, Ohio
Valley and Tennessee Valley, but slightly lower in California, Nevada,
Utah and Colorado. Slight yield increases are anticipated in Oregon,
Idaho and Wyoming.
Production of all other types of hay is forecast at 77 million tons, 1%
below last year’s final figure, and the expected harvested acreage, at
39.7 million, is also down 1%. Based on Aug. 1 conditions, yield is
expected to average 1.94 tons/acre, down slightly from last year’s
yield. Moisture deficiencies will reduce the average Texas yield by 1.2
tons/acre, according to USDA, but yields are within 1 ton of last
year’s figure in all other states.
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Prospects for using switchgrass as a feedstock to make cellulosic
ethanol have been getting plenty of headlines around the country over
the past several months. But farmers shouldn’t plan on producing
switchgrass for that market anytime in the near future, says Ken
Goddard, extension specialist with the University of Tennessee (UT)
Biofuels Initiative. “It will probably be at least 8-10 years before
the first full-scale commercial refinery for cellulosic ethanol made
from switchgrass is on line,” he predicts.
Click
here to read the rest of this story.
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With nitrogen prices going through the roof, is it economical to
apply nitrogen to tall fescue in August to accumulate pastures for late
fall and winter? Maybe, maybe not, says Kentucky (UK) extension forage
specialist Garry Lacefield.
“If you already have more than enough hay to meet your winter needs
and don’t have a good, close market for your hay, then maybe this
could be the year to save on your stockpiling nitrogen dollars,” says
Lacefield.
However, if your hay supply is still questionable and/or you want to
graze as long as possible, adding 40-60 units of N to grazed or mowed
tall fescue pastures in mid-August and using other pastures until
they’re gone before turning into stockpiled fields is still a viable
option.
For more details on stockpiling, Lacefield recommends publication
AGR-162, available at UK extension’s Web site: www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr162/agr162.pdf.
Also worth checking out is the “Stockpiling Decision-Aid Model,”
available at
www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/Forage%20Decision%20Aids.htm.
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Scrap the conventional wisdom that harvesting alfalfa four to six
weeks before the first killing frost is an absolute no-no, says Marvin
Hall, Penn State University extension forage specialist. Hall says the
major factor underpinning the traditional recommendation is that
harvesting during the hardening period disrupts carbohydrate
accumulation in the roots, leading to an increased risk of stand loss.
“However, advances in alfalfa breeding and overall alfalfa management
allow greater flexibility in fall harvest management than traditionally
recommended,” he says. “While fall harvesting can stress the alfalfa
plant and increase the potential for winter injury, management practices
and planning can minimize this potential.”
Key points to keep in mind while mapping out a fall alfalfa harvesting
strategy, according to Hall:- Young stands are less susceptible to
winter injury due to fall harvesting than older stands.
- Length of harvest interval during the growing season is more
important than date of fall harvest in determining alfalfa stand
survival. Taking at least one harvest during the growing season at 50%
bloom reduces the risk of fall harvest compared to taking all harvests
at late bud or first flower.
- Maintaining soil fertility levels is extremely important in reducing
risks associated with fall harvesting.
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Demand for hay in Illinois is sagging a bit compared to a year ago,
reports Ken Barnett, University of Wisconsin-Extension. Good pasture
conditions could be playing a lead role. “With good amounts of
rainfall so far, 80% of the state's pastures are in the
good-to-excellent category, with 19% fair and only 1% rated poor,”
Barnett writes in the latest edition of his “Weekly Hay Market Demand
and Price Report for the Upper Midwest.”
Barnett reports wheat straw baling is wrapping up in the northern part
of Illinois. Demand for straw has been “moderate to good, with most of
the demand coming from the landscaping and feed sectors.” Throughout
the Midwest, according to Barnett, prices for small square straw bales
range from $1.50-3/bale with an average price of $2.20. For large square
bales, the price range is $15-37.50/bale with an average of $25.80.
Large round bales of straw are bringing $25-30/bale, averaging $27.50.
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Missouri
Missouri’s 2008 hay growing has been mostly a case of either too wet
or too dry depending on location, says Tony Hancock, market reporter
with the Missouri Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service in
Jefferson City. In the north, growers again found themselves dealing
with flooded conditions in late July. In southwestern Missouri, though,
growers were hoping for a little rain. “Statewide, hay harvest is
three weeks behind for both alfalfa and other hay types,” reports
Hancock.
According to Hancock, many growers and truckers have been commenting on
how slow hay movement has been so far this year compared to previous
years. He suspects many would-be buyers are waiting to see if fuel
prices drop, leading to a better deal on freight charges. “We’ve
also had a wet year in many parts of the state, which means the grass is
still green at a time when ordinarily it would be turning brown,” says
Hancock. “As a result, people right now just aren’t thinking a lot
about their hay needs for the late fall and winter.”
He reminds hay buyers and sellers the Missouri ag department continues
to maintain a hay hotline. To be listed or for a directory, call
800-877-4HAY (4429) or visit www.mda.mo.gov/pdf/MOHayDirectory.pdf.
Hancock can be contacted at 573-751-5618.
Washington
Prices for all types of hay remain on fire in Washington State.
According to Lance Cline, USDA Market News reporter in Moses Lake,
premium dairy-quality alfalfa hay in medium to large square bales is
bringing $230-250/ton in domestic cattle markets. That’s up $100-120
over last year’s prices. Small square bales of orchardgrass heading
to feed stores serving the horse market have been fetching $265/ton, up
$65-85/ton from year-ago levels. Prices for hay exported to other
countries (mostly Japan, Korea and Taiwan) have also skyrocketed.
Premium alfalfa hay is currently bringing $240-260/ton in the export
market, up $110/ton compared to last year’s prices. Small,
three-string bales for export are bringing $270/ton or more.
Tight supplies explain the high prices, says Cline. “Most hay growers
are finding that their hay is sold within a week of when they get it put
up no matter how big the stack is,” he says.
Among the factors coming into play are a decrease in acres planted to
alfalfa this year and cooler-than-normal weather early in the growing
season. “We were about 20 days behind getting to first cutting,”
says Phil Petersen, Washington State University extension educator in
Grant and Adams counties. “Normally out here we can take four or five
cuttings a year. This year, with the late start, many people will be
getting one less cutting.”
Petersen adds some growers are starting to wonder just how long the high
prices will/can last. “People buying the hay still have to make
money,” he says. “Dairy producers have been hanging in there and
buying because the price of milk has held up so far. These things are
always cyclical.”
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Livestock owners and hay growers will have an opportunity to learn
a lot about their business in a short amount of time at a Mississippi
State University two-day short course later this month. The Mississippi
Pasture and Forage Short Course will be held Aug. 26-27 at the Bost
Conference Center at Mississippi State University.
Topics for the intensive course include soil sampling and fertility;
pasture establishment, improvement and renovation; forage legumes in
pasture systems; livestock nutrition; forage quality and hay production;
dry matter estimation; grazing systems layout and design; weed and
insect control; animal health concerns; intensive grazing; nutrition
injection systems; and the forage variety testing program. Participants
who complete the training meet the basic level requirements for grazing
certification.
Registration fee for two full days is $150 and includes meals,
refreshments, a workshop handbook and a cap. Registration closes Aug. 15
(only 80 seats are available). For registration information, contact
Rocky Lemus at 662-325-7718 or rlemus@ext.msstate.edu.
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Aug. 19 -- Central Minnesota Forage Council Field Day, John
Traut Farm, Sartell. Contact Dan Martens at 800-964-4929.
Aug. 19-20 -- Wisconsin Grazing School, Richland Center. Call
715-425-3345.
Aug. 19-21 -- Pennsylvania Ag Progress Days, Russell E. Larson
Agricultural Research Center, Rock Springs. Visit apd.psu.edu/.
Aug. 20 -- Beef And Forage Day, Grand Rapids, MN. Contact Ryan
Walker at 888-241-0719.
Aug. 20-21 -- University of Georgia Extension Grazing School,
Bulloch County Center for Agriculture, Statesboro. Visit www.caes.uga.edu/commodities/fieldcrops/forages/GAGrazingSchool.html.
Aug. 28 -- Hay & Farm Field Day, WW Ranch, Jacksonville, FL.
Phone 386-362-6447.
Aug. 29 -- Corn Silage Plot Tour, Dan Dryer Farm, Ottertail City,
MN. Phone Doug Holen at 888-241-0843.
Sept. 3 -- Southeast Pennsylvania Crops Conferences’ Hay
Baling/Handling Meeting, Heidel Hollow Farm, Germansville. For a
brochure, visit montgomery.extension.psu.edu
Sept. 4 -- Kentucky Forage & Grassland Council Field Day,
Christian County. Learn more at www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/.
Sept. 10 -- Institute For Ag Professionals Forage Day, UMore
Park, Rosemount, MN. Contact Dave Nicolai at 612-625-2778.
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. 14-16 -- Southeastern Hay Contest, Sunbelt Agriculture
Exposition, Moultrie, GA. Guidelines and entry forms are available at
www.aces.edu/animalforage/documents/08SoutheasternHayContest.pdf.
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.
Jan. 15-16, 2009 -- Southwest Hay And Forage Conference, Ruidoso,
NM. Contact Gina Sterrett at 575-626-5677 or Justin Boswell at
575-840-9908.
Jan. 21-22, 2009 -- Heart Of America Grazing Conference,
Columbus, IN. Contact Jason Tower at 812-678-4427 or towerj@purdue.edu.
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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