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Hay & Forage Grower
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With hay prices strong, North American growers are reinvesting at
least some of their profits in new equipment, says Dan Belzer, marketing
director for Vermeer Corp, Pella, IA. Vermeer manufactures a full line
of haying and hay handling equipment. “People see this as a smart time
to utilize the dollars they’ve made this year to make improvement in
their operations for the long term,” says Belzer.
Most noticeable, he says, is a growing appreciation for top-quality hay
on the part of growers. “They’ve been seeing the value in
high-quality hay and want equipment that will help them capture some of
that value,” he says. “We’ve had a lot of interest in bale
processors and round balers with scales and moisture sensors. Producers
understand they have to know what is in that bale package in order to
sell it a higher price.”
Derek Friesen, marketing director at PhiBer Manufacturing in Crystal
City, Manitoba, notes that, as of the end of September, orders for
PhiBer’s large square bale accumulators were running 100% ahead of
year-earlier levels. The company also makes mergers, turners and bale
processors. “It’s a very strong market right now,” says Friesen.
The flurry of activity has created a backlog throughout the marketing
chain. “Suppliers are having a tough time keeping up,” says Friesen.
“For example, we’ve been waiting up to six months for castings.”
His advice to growers contemplating equipment purchases is to place
orders early. “If you don’t order by Christmas on some product
lines, you’re probably not going to get what you want in time for
first cut,” he says.
Santiago Aguirre, sales consultant at Booth Machinery Inc., a Case IH
dealership in Yuma, AZ, says he’s been advising customers that orders
for tractors and other implements placed today may not be filled for
four to six months depending on make and model. “Manufacturers are
running on a really tight schedule, making what they need to fill orders
and no more,” he says. “At the same time, most dealers are working
to keep their inventories low. If I knew I needed something new, I
wouldn’t wait too long to get my order placed.”
Keep in mind, though, specifics can vary widely among dealerships. Jay
Monson of Value Implement, a New Holland dealership in Baldwin, WI, says
late-arriving hay and forage equipment orders earlier this year have put
his dealership in a good position to meet customer needs in late 2008
and early 2009. “We have a pretty good inventory on hand now, and
it’s a better-priced inventory because everything has gone up since
those shipments came in,” he says.
Contact Belzer by email at dbelzer@vermeer.com; Friesen at derek@phibercanada.com;
Aguirre at saguirre@boothmachinerinc.com;
and Monson at jmonson@valueimplement.com.
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USDA has upped its projection for U.S. hay production in 2008. In
Friday’s Crop Production Report, USDA forecast dry hay production of
alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures at 71.4 million tons. That’s up 1% from
the August forecast, but down 2% from last year’s production.
Based on Oct. 1 conditions, USDA says yields of alfalfa and alfalfa
mixtures are expected to average 3.44 tons/acre this year, up 0.03 ton
from August and 0.09 ton from the 2007 figure. Late rains, which helped
final cuttings, pushed up the yield forecast in Kansas, Oklahoma, South
Dakota and North Dakota. In the Corn Belt states, yield forecasts were
unchanged or lower compared to those of the previous month. Yield
forecasts were down in Washington and Oregon.
USDA also raised its production forecast for other hay to 79.1 million
tons, up 1% from the August forecast and 2% from last year’s
production. Based on Oct. 1 conditions, the agency expects yields to
average 1.99 tons/acre this year. That’s up 0.05 ton from the August
forecast and 0.04 ton from the 2007 number.
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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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Late October-early November is one of the best times for applying
herbicides to control thistles in pastures, says Bruce Anderson,
University of Nebraska extension forage specialist.
“At this time of year, thistles will be small and in a flat, rosette
growth form,” he says. “At this growth stage, they are very
sensitive to certain herbicides, reducing potential problems next spring
when there’s less time to deal with them.”
Anderson says a new herbicide, Milestone, may be one of the most
effective thistle-control products. Tordon 22K and Grazon can also be
effective. “Be careful with these products, though, as they also can
kill woody plants, including trees,” says Anderson.
If weather stays on the warm side, 2,4-D is an option. “You will get
better thistle control by using a little less 2,4-D and adding a small
amount of Banvel to the mix,” he says. Other herbicides like Redeem,
Ally and Curtail will also help control pasture thistles, notes
Anderson.
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Removing livestock from pastures for several days after a frost is
the best bet for preventing prussic acid poisoning in sudangrass and
sorghum-sudangrass pastures, says Steve Barnhart, Iowa State University
extension forage specialist. According to Barnhart, livestock can be
returned to frost-injured sudangrass 18” tall or taller and
sorghum-sudandrass that’s at least 30” tall after about three or
four days. If the grass is shorter than those heights when frost damage
occurs, Barnhart recommends keeping sheep and cattle off the pasture for
10 days to two weeks. He also advises watching for new shoot regrowth
(tillers or suckers) on partially frost-killed plants. “Direct grazing
of these fresh new shoots can be toxic, too,” he says. “Where new
shoots appear following frost, avoid grazing until two weeks after the
frost that kills the new shoots.”
Barnhart notes that prussic acid poisoning is not common in Iowa and
very few verified cases are reported by veterinarians. “Maybe
producers here are just using good management,” he says. Even so, he
adds, producers should consider the recommendations above to be “at
the low-risk or conservative level.”
For a more complete discussion on dealing with prussic acid toxicity,
see “Fall Frost Effects of Forage” at www.extension.iastate.edu/cropnews/.
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The U.S. Energy Information Agency projects that regular-grade
gasoline prices will average $3.56/gal in both 2008 and 2009. In a
report issued last week, EIA estimated total U.S. gasoline inventories
at 180 million barrels, 23 million barrels below the five-year average
and the lowest since August 1967. Next year, EIA expects inventories
will recover to 205 million barrels, about four million barrels below
the previous five-year average. The change will be due to continued
weakness in motor gasoline markets and growth in domestic fuel ethanol
production. EIA also projects on-highway diesel fuel retail prices will
average $3.91/gal in 2009, down from a projected $4.01/gal this year. To
see the full report for October, go to www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/contents.html.
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Illinois
Doing well in a high-profile hay-quality contest can produce positive
marketing results, says Kendall Guither, Walnut, IL. For the second year
in a row, Guither grabbed top honors in the commercial baleage category
at the recent World’s Forage Analysis Superbowl. “It’s hard to
measure, but we think it has a positive effect overall,” he says.
“Our existing customers seem to get a kick out of it when we do well.
We’ll get phone calls and emails from them letting us know that they
heard about it.
“Doing well in the contest also indicates to people that we know how
to put up a top-quality hay product. Other than word of mouth, where our
customers tell other people about us, we haven’t done any kind of
formal advertising for 15 years.”
Guither devoted 415 acres to alfalfa hay production this year, putting
up 6,500, 3 x 3’ square bales in six cuttings. All but 120 bales (two
semi loads) were put up as baleage. “Putting up dry hay this year was
just about impossible with the weather we had,” he says. “We were
wet early and got started about two and a half weeks later than normal.
Things dried out a little bit in July and August, but in September we
got 8” of rain.”
Guither’s primary market is dairy farms in Illinois and surrounding
states. While taking six cuttings means giving up some tonnage, Guither
feels he gains by getting an extra cutting or two each year. “I’ve
learned over the years that it’s not how many pounds of feed you
harvest that counts,” he says. “What’s really important is how
many pounds of digestible feed you can deliver to your customers.”
To contact Guither, phone 815-878-5175 or email kguither@cin.net.
Missouri
Haymaking equipment has been moving over the landscape at an
unprecedented pace for this time of year in the Show-Me State. “It’s
pretty unbelievable,” says Tony Hancock, market reporter with the
Missouri Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service in Jefferson
City. “We’re seeing fields harvested for hay that have never been
harvested before.”
In southwestern Missouri, some producers have been able to take three
cuttings of fescue this season. “That’s unheard of,” says Hancock.
Haymakers in the northern part of the state have been equally busy this
fall. Hancock attributes the flurry of activity to a delayed grain
harvest brought on by very odd weather this growing season. “People
would ordinarily be well into harvest in that part of the state right
now,” he notes. “Since they can’t do that, they have been filling
their time by putting up hay.”
Hay movement has been extremely light. “There are a few loads moving
here and there,” Hancock says. “But overall it’s pretty slim.”
What’s more, movement may not pick up until early winter. “When you
drive around the back roads, there appears to be a lot fewer cows out on
pasture. Also, the pastures are lush so producers who still have cattle
aren’t feeding hay, the general economy is hurting and people are
waiting to see if dropping fuel costs will eventually translate into
better freight rates. In short, nobody is in a hurry to buy hay right
now.”
Net effect, Hancock says, is that a supply glut of beef-quality grass
hay will almost surely lead to a significant price drop later this year.
“There’s just too much hay out there,” he says. “To get it
moving, it may have to be sold at a price below the cost of production
if other protein sources, such as corn, continue to fall.”
Dairy-quality alfalfa hay isn’t immune from a price drop, either.
“Up to this point, prices have stayed high because there isn’t any
of it out there,” says Hancock. “But if corn prices (off 50% from
early summer’s record highs) continue to drop, dairy producers will
start feeding more of it and buy lower-quality grass hay for
roughage.”
To contact Hancock, phone 573-751-5618 or email tony.hancock@mda.mo.gov.
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Forages will be a big part of the Wyoming AgXpo, to be held Nov.
20-23 at the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds, Casper. Seminars on alfalfa
production and use in livestock diets, a hay contest for growers, a
session on educating the general public and commercial ag exhibits will
also be featured. Seminars on wind power and marketing, open-pen
livestock exhibits and horse-training clinics are on the schedule, too.
For more information, visit wyoagexpo.com.
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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. 16 -- Arkansas Extension Clover Pastures Field Day, Larry
Wells Farm, Drasco, AR. Contact Cleburne County Extension at
501-362-2524.
Oct. 23 -- Kentucky Grazing Conference, Fayette County extension
office, Lexington. Learn more at www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/.
Oct. 23 -- Arkansas Extension Clover Pastures Field Day, Steve
Swenson Farm, Shirley, AR. For more information, contact Van Buren
County Extension at 501-745-7117.
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 -- Southwest Hay And Forage Conference, Ruidoso, NM.
Contact Gina Sterrett at 575-626-5677 or Justin Boswell at 575-840-9908.
Jan. 21-22 -- Heart Of America Grazing Conference, Columbus, IN.
Contact Jason Tower at 812-678-4427 or towerj@purdue.edu.
Feb. 3-4 -- Idaho Hay And Forage Conference, Burley. Call Glenn
Shewmaker at 208-736-3608.
Feb. 3-4 -- Mid-America Alfalfa Expo, Buffalo County Fairgrounds,
Kearney, NE. Contact Barb Kinnan at 800-743-1649 or nebalf@cozadtel.net.
Feb. 19 -- Kentucky Alfalfa Conference, Cave City Convention
Center. E-mail glacefie@kyu.edu or
raysmith1@uky.edu.
June 21-23 -- American Forage & Grassland Council Annual
Conference, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI. Call
800-944-2342 or email info@afgc.org.
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