|
Hay & Forage Grower
USDA
Hay Prices
Weather
Send Questions & Comments To...
Rick Mooney, 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.
|
|
|
Planting small grains and annual ryegrass even in early September
can help make up forage deficits in Ohio, suggests Mark Sulc, Ohio State
University extension forage specialist. That, of course, is assuming
adequate rainfall.
Seedings should be completed no later than the end of this week in
northern Ohio and by Sept. 10-15 in southern Ohio. Graziers will get the
most benefit from forages planted this late in the season, says
Sulc.
Click
here to read the rest of this story.
|
Making alfalfa seed purchasing decisions on price alone is risky
strategy, says Calvin Trostle, extension agronomist at Texas
A&M-Lubbock. “You get what you pay for and that’s especially true
with alfalfa,” he says.
Trostle advises working from a checklist of questions when evaluating
whether a deal on alfalfa seed might be too good to be true. His
list:- How old is the seed?
- What variety is it? (If the seller doesn’t know, why would you
want it? asks Trostle.)
- What is the germination?
- Does it have weed seed in it?
- Does it have Rhizobium inoculant on it? (If so, you’re more likely
to get good nodulation and N fixation)
- Has the seed been stored out of the heat?
- Is it a blend?
- Does the seed and the variety it represents have a broad
cross-section of insect and disease resistance?
A reputable seed
company is looking out for you on all of these things because it’s in
its best interest to have you as a satisfied customer, says Trostle.
“Good-quality seed of a reputable, proven variety, even if pricey,
reduces the risk you take as a producer,” he says.
For additional information on the cost of seeding low-cost alfalfa seed,
visit www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/uwforage/alfvarcost.htm.
|
With high-quality forage supplies tight just about everywhere due
to various weather challenges and high corn and fuel prices, this could
be a good year to try fall-harvesting alfalfa, says Paul Peterson,
Minnesota extension forage agronomist. A key consideration, he says, is
that timing of the fall cut matters little as long as other factors –
variety, fertility, drainage, etc. – are in order.
While more and more Upper Midwestern producers are cutting in September,
risk-averse types might want to wait until mid-October. “That
minimizes the chances of significant regrowth and root reserve depletion
after cutting,” he says. What isn’t necessary, according to
Peterson, is waiting for an alfalfa-herbage-killing frost (around 20º)
before harvesting. “That approach risks significant leaf loss and
unfavorable curing conditions,” he says.
|
Reactions among forage producers to the closing of the University
of Nebraska’s Soil And Plant Analytical Lab earlier this summer ranged
from concern to frustration to disappointment. The good news, says
Nebraska extension forage specialist Bruce Anderson, is that growers
still have plenty of options for finding a new lab. “While I realize
this is going to require producers to make some adjustments, the value
of testing will outweigh the inconvenience,” says Anderson. As a
starting point for finding a certified lab, he recommends checking out
the National Forage Testing Association’s Web site at www.foragetesting.org.
|
Whether you’re looking for proven
performance in a package that offers exceptional value or a 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
|
The Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council (KFGC) is seeking
nominations for its annual forage awards program. The program recognizes
individuals who have made significant contributions to the state’s
forage industry. Awards are presented in four categories – producer,
industry, county-level public and state-level public. This year, the
awards will be presented at the KFGC business meeting, held in
conjunction with the Kentucky Grazing Conference in Lexington on Oct.
23. To nominate an individual, send a one-page nominating letter to
Garry Lacefield, Research and Education Center, P.O. Box 469, Princeton,
KY 42445, or send an email to glacefie@uky.edu. Deadline for
submitting nominations is Sept. 19.
|
Don’t wait until the end of the growing season, or worse, next
spring, to record observations about pest problems experienced with this
year’s crop, advises Ken Wise of New York’s Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) Program.
Writing things down on a field-to-field basis as the current season
progresses will allow you to better select certain management practices
for next season, he says. “For example, if you were hit with potato
leafhoppers this season and want to rotate your alfalfa, one management
option to consider for the future would be use of a potato
leafhopper-resistant alfalfa variety,” says Wise.
While you’re in full observation mode, also check your pesticide
records – rates, dates, efficacy, etc. – to be sure they’re up to
date. “If you wait too long, you may forget what happened in certain
fields,” says Wise. “A sharp pencil beats a dull memory.”
|
Florida
With recent rains, hay production in the state’s panhandle region is
getting closer to normal, reports Yoana Newman, Florida extension forage
specialist. “We’ve seen a dramatic change from last year’s
drought conditions,” she says. “I wouldn’t call the conditions
excellent. But we’ve had adequate moisture to allow many producers to
take second cuttings of bermudagrass. Some will also get in third
cuttings by the end of September.” In a normal-weather year, Newman
says, producers in that part of the state take three to four cuttings of
Coastal or four to five cuttings of Tifton 85 bermudagrass.
Even with the slight uptick in production, prices remain relatively
high. Bermudagrass round bales weighing 700-800 lbs are bringing $45.
Small, 60-lb square bales of bermuda are selling for $6. The price for 5
x 6’ rolls of bahiagrass averages $85/roll.
Haymaking challenges persist in other regions of the state. In central
Florida, some growers have only completed one cutting to date. “And
with the prolonged drought, followed by excessive moisture from the
recent tropical storm, that may be it for the year,” says Newman. She
expects the heavy rains to promote rapid regrowth, which means producers
will also have to be on the lookout for pests like mole crickets and
fall worms.
In southern Florida, recent rainfall amounts have ranged from 5 to
15”, allowing pastures to catch up to normal. “Prior to those rains,
there wasn’t any significant haying or pasture production in the area
through early July,” says Newman.
To contact Newman, call 352-392-1811 (ext. 212) or send an email to ycnew@ufl.edu.
Wisconsin
For hay growers in southern Wisconsin this year, timing has been
everything, says David Fischer, University of Wisconsin extension agent
in Dane County. “We had heavy rains and flooding in June,” says
Fischer. “Producers who were able to get their crop up ahead of the
rain had very good quality on first crop and were able to stay on
schedule with subsequent cuttings.”
Producers who missed the initial window of opportunity saw a sharp
drop-off on first-crop quality. “A lot of that hay went up as heifer
feed,” says Fischer. On the quantity side of things, he labels the
overall yields for this year’s crop as “barn busting,” with many
producers having more hay on hand than they need.
The situation in nearby Grant County has been similar, says extension
crops and farm management agent Ted Bay. “People who got their first
crop off early reported very good quality,” he says. “For people who
had to wait out the rains, quality wasn’t quite as good. But yields
were very good. In fact, quite a few people are calling this one of the
best years they have ever had for yields on first and second
cuttings.”
Email Fischer at david.fischer@ces.uwex.edu
and Bay at ted.bay@ces.uwex.edu.
|
Hay growers and livestock producers in the Mid-Atlantic Region
still have time to register for the Sept. 4 summer hay walk at the Jack
Welch Farm in Charlotte Hall, MD. Sponsored by the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS), the walk will demonstrate the potential of
forage bermudagrass for hay and pasture. To register for the walk, which
begins at 1 p.m., call the Charles Soil Conservation District at
301-934-9588.
|
The University of Minnesota extension forage team and Institute for
Agricultural Professionals (IAP) will host a forage day for ag
professionals on Sept. 10 at UMore Park in Rosemount. Topics will
include forage fertilization and manure management, forages for
bioenergy, forage quality and nutrition, results of alfalfa variety
trials, pest management and more. The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. CCA/CEU credits will be available. For program details, go to iap.umn.edu or phone Dave Nicolai at
612-625-2778.
|
Sept. 4 -- Kentucky Forage & Grassland Council Field Day,
Christian County. Learn more at www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/.
Sept. 4 -- Purdue Forage Management Workshop, West Lafayette, IN.
Call Corey Gerber at 765-496-3755 or Connie Foster at 765-494-4773.
Sept. 5-6 -- Purdue Extension Grazing 102 Workshop, Rochester,
IN. Contact Fulton County extension at 574-223-3397 or e-mail mkepler@purdue.edu.
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. 18 -- Alfalfa And Forage Field Day, University of
California’s Kearney Research and Extension Center, Parlier, CA.
Contact Dan Putnam at 530-752-8982 or dhputnam@ucdavis.edu.
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.
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 and Western Alfalfa
Seed Conference, Town & Country Resort and Hotel, San Diego. Learn
more at alfalfa.ucdavis.edu/+symposium/2008/.
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.
Feb. 3-4, 2009 -- Idaho Hay and Forage Conference, Burley. Call
Glenn Shewmaker at 208-736-3608.
Feb. 19, 2009 -- Kentucky Alfalfa Conference, Cave City
Convention Center. E-mail glacefie@kyu.edu or raysmith1@uky.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.
|
|
|
To unsubscribe from this newsletter go to: Unsubscribe
To subscribe to this newsletter, go to: Subscribe
You are subscribed to this newsletter as #email#
To get this newsletter in a different format (Text or HTML),
or to change your e-mail address, please visit your profile
page to change your delivery preferences.
For questions concerning delivery of this newsletter, please contact our
Customer Service Department at:
Hay and Forage Grower
A Penton Media publication
US Toll Free: 866-505-7173
International: 847-763-9504
Email:hayandforage@pbinews.com
Penton Media | 249 W. 17th Street | New York, NY 10011
Copyright 2008, Penton Media. All rights reserved. This article is
protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property
laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated,
transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly,
in any medium without the prior written permission of Penton Media.
|
|
