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Hay & Forage Grower
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A federal appeals court in California decided last week to uphold a
lower court's ruling temporarily halting plantings of Roundup Ready
alfalfa, pending completion of an environmental impact statement (EIS)
by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). But the
ruling should have no bearing on how soon hay growers again can have
access to the transgenic technology, says the head of the company that
developed the first Roundup Ready varieties under a licensing agreement
with Monsanto.
“The appeal and the development of the EIS are independent processes,
so the appeals process should not effect the timetable for a final EIS
and a new deregulation decision by APHIS,” says Mark McCaslin of
Forage Genetics International. McCaslin explains that the appeals case
was an argument over a point of law: Did U.S. District Judge Charles
Breyer of San Francisco follow required legal standards in May 2007 when
he issued a permanent injunction prohibiting any new plantings of
Roundup Ready alfalfa seed until USDA completes the EIS?
McCaslin remains optimistic about the future for Roundup Ready alfalfa.
Earlier this summer, APHIS predicted it will complete a draft EIS for
Roundup Ready alfalfa by the end of this year or in early 2009. See “Roundup
Ready Alfalfa On Track For 2009 Return,” eHay Weekly, June
16.
Following a public comment period, APHIS will issue a final draft.
“Our understanding is that the EIS process is on schedule,” says
McCaslin.
In last week's legal proceedings, the three-judge panel voted two to one
to uphold Breyer's permanent injunction order. Judge Randy Smith, who
was raised on an Idaho alfalfa farm, disagreed with the majority. He
contended that Breyer should have held an additional hearing to hear
from expert witnesses before issuing a nationwide injunction with
"severe economic consequences" for the company and customers.
For a full text version of the opinions issued in the appeals case, go
to www.ca9.uscourts.gov/.
Click on Opinions, then Geerston Seed Farms v. Monsanto.
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With more and more coated legume seed on the market, it’s
increasingly important to scrutinize tags on seed, says Keith Johnson,
Purdue University extension forage management specialist.
Underseeding is the major concern. “The industry has put a coating on
many of its legume seeds, particularly alfalfa, red clover and white
clover,” says Johnson, noting that if the purity content on the tag of
the seed bag is around 67%, chances are the seed is coated. “This
coating can be approximately one-third of the weight of a 50-lb
bag.”
To illustrate, Johnson uses the example of planting red clover to
improve the quality of tall fescue grass pasture. “You intend to plant
6 lbs of red clover seed/acre on 30 acres, so you seed 180 lbs,” he
explains. “But with the coating, there is actually only 120 lbs of
seed or about 4 lbs/acre. You may not get the desired results.”
There are some good things about a coating, says Johnson. “First, it
has a little bit of limestone, which many times carries an inoculant for
nitrogen fixation,” he says. “Also, there will typically be a
fungicide included to reduce the number of seedlings killed by
pathogens. This also is a nice, more clean approach for applying
fungicides and inoculants.”
To contact Johnson, phone 765-494-4800 or e-mail johnsonk@purdue.edu.
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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
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A short supply of high-quality alfalfa just about everywhere
presents a great marketing opportunity for hay growers putting up crop
this fall, says Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska extension forage
specialist. “Hay cut in September and October usually is the
best-quality hay of the year,” says Anderson. “The cooler
temperatures, especially at night, increase the chance that
dairy-quality hay is possible at next cutting.”
In his area, Anderson estimates hay put up correctly this time of year
could bring $150/ton or more at the barn door this winter. “It will
need to be baled without rain damage in heavy, square, transportable
packages, with most of the leaves intact and stored under cover to
prevent weather damage,” he says. “Isn’t it worth it to try and
capitalize on these high prices instead of just accepting $60-80/ton?”
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Prices for large and small square bales of straw in the Midwest
were headed in opposite directions at the end of August, according to
Ken Barnett, University of Wisconsin-Extension. In the Aug. 29 edition
of “Weekly Hay Market Demand and Price Report for the Upper
Midwest,” Barnett reported an average small square bale price of
$2.59, up 12% from the week-earlier price. On the flip side, large
square bales were selling for $26.19, down 26% from week-earlier levels.
At an average of $32.08/bale, large round straw bale prices were 1%
lower compared to the previous week’s prices.
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Gasoline and diesel prices have backed off a little in recent
weeks, but farmers still need to take steps to protect supplies stored
on farms from thieves, says Mississippi State University extension
safety specialist Herb Willcut. Among the measures he
recommends:- Lock all pumps in “off” positions, and turn
electrical pumps off at the point of electrical supply.
- Secure nozzles and fill ports on above-ground tanks to prevent
gravity flow or siphoning. Use locking fuel caps on all tanks.
- Put security fences around supply tanks, and park vehicles and
machinery in secure, well-lit areas. Put vehicles behind closed, locked
garage doors when possible.
- Keep a log of fuel purchased and used, and make sure these figures
balance monthly.
- Keep small containers (5- to 10-gal) used to store fuel out of
sight.
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Several readers contacted us last week to ask about the headline
“Bale Feeder Reduces Waste,” appearing in the message window of the
e-mail that went out to our readership list. Their question, of course,
was “Where is the story?”
Plain and simple: We goofed. Because of a glitch in the production
process related to our recent redesign, the story did not appear. We
apologize for any inconvenience the error may have caused and extend our
thanks to those readers who took the time to call the slip-up to our
attention. The story will appear in its entirety in next week’s
edition of eHay Weekly. – Rick Mooney, eHay Weekly
editor
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South Dakota
Sometimes even the most serious-minded business people need to lighten
up and poke a little fun at themselves, says Gary Smith, South Dakota
hay grower and incoming president of the National Hay Association (NHA).
That philosophy helps explain the ad Smith runs on the NHA Web site
proclaiming he is a “99.9% Honest Hay Grower.”
“It tries to get across the idea that nobody is perfect and that
everyone can make a mistake,” he says. “You have to have a chuckle
once in a while.”
Smith, who grows 900 acres of mostly alfalfa hay and also farms another
900 acres of row crops near Mission Hill, definitely needed a sense of
humor at times during this year’s haying season. “With all of the
rain, we had trouble getting hay made early in the year,” he says.
“Somewhere around 60% of our first crop got rained on. A lot of it
went for grinder hay.”
The late start made it tough to schedule subsequent cuttings. Smith
figures he’ll definitely be able to take a fourth cutting on 300 acres
of irrigated hay ground. Late summer-early fall weather will determine
fourth-cutting prospects on non-irrigated acres. “Sometimes you just
have a year like this,” he says. “You start out behind, then stay
behind for the entire season.”
Smith markets his hay in 3 x 3 x 8’ square bales. Dairies in
Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota are his primary markets, but he also ships
as far away as Indiana and Ohio. Transportation costs are a growing
concern. “Backhauls are becoming more and more important,” he says.
“With fuel prices the way they are, we’re talking about $1/mile in
each direction to run a truck. It’s crazy.”
As for his NHA duties, Smith will officially begin his one-year tenure
as president next week at the group’s annual meeting in Oak Brook, IL.
He’ll succeed Ron Tombaugh of Dart Hay Service, Streator, IL, in the
post. To contact Smith, phone 605-661-5479 or email haygary@valyousat.net.
South Carolina
Significant rains during the last week of August and the potential for
more wet weather in the wake of tropical storm Hanna came too late to be
of much help to hay growers in the northern half of South Carolina.
Still, the late-summer moisture could provide a big boost to livestock
producers heading into the fall and winter, says John Andrae, Clemson
University extension forage specialist. “A lot of livestock producers
are praying for a good, wet fall,” says Andrae. “It won’t provide
any hay, but will help out with overseeding and provide forage for
stockpiling that can be grazed this winter.”
For the most part, says Andrae, state hay production in 2008 has been a
split decision. “In the southern half of the state, it hasn’t been
extremely dry and there seems to be enough hay around,” he notes.
“But north of I-20, where the bulk of the cows are, we’ve had the
driest 12-month period in 60 years. We had a good spring cutting of
fescue and early cutting of bermudagrass, but a lot of that got fed this
summer when things turned dry. Overall, bermudagrass production has been
around one-third of normal and a lot of cows have gone to the packer.”
What’s more, says Andrae, state livestock producers looking for hay
this fall and winter may have to go far afield to find it. “Parts of
Georgia are going through the same kind of thing we’re going through
here and production has also been off in North Carolina,” he notes.
“And with high fuel costs, trucking hay in from any distance is going
to be expensive.”
Growers with hay to sell or livestock producers in need of hay can go to
the Hay Exchange section on the South Carolina Department of Agriculture
Web site at agriculture.sc.gov/bulletin/HayExchange.aspx.
To contact Andrae, phone 864-656-3504 or e-mail jandrae@clemson.edu.
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A free, Internet-based seminar for livestock and forage producers
from the Northern Plains states is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Sept.
11. While content will focus on issues of concern to producers in North
Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, anyone with high-speed Internet access
can hook up at econ.sdstate.edu/costcontrol.htm.
Featured topics will include the current hay price situation, forage
insurance choices, dealing with high feed costs and energy costs. The
presentations will be recorded and posted on the Internet for producers
to use in the future. For more information on the session, contact
Matthew Diersen, South Dakota extension risk and business management
specialist, at 605-688-4864.
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The Kearney Research & Extension Center near Parlier, CA, will be
the site for University of California extension’s Alfalfa and Forage
Field Day on Sept. 18. Along with presentations on alfalfa irrigation
strategies, insect control, weed control, P and K application and more,
the field day will feature a variety trial field tour. Activities are
scheduled to run from 7:30 a.m. to noon. For more information, call
Shannon Mueller at 559-456-7261.
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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 -- Cell Grazing: What, Why And How Webinar, 6-7 pm PST.
Free from Ranching For Profit School. To register, visit www2.gotomeeting.com/register/431268188.
Oct. 14-16 -- Southeastern Hay Contest, Sunbelt Agriculture
Exposition, Moultrie, GA. For guidelines and entry form, visit www.caes.uga.edu/commodities/fieldcrops/forages/events/SEHC/SEHC.html.
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. 3-4, 2009 -- Mid-America Alfalfa Expo, Buffalo County
Fairgrounds, Kearney, NE. Contact Barb Kinnan at 800-743-1649 or nebalf@cozadtel.net.
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.
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