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Hay & Forage Grower
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Think of it as a counterweight to all the tales of Wall Street
greed and corruption you’ve been hearing about in recent weeks: A
group of hay growers in Page County, VA, donated nearly 500 round bales
to help livestock producers in neighboring Augusta County who were
devastated by drought.
Luray, VA, hay grower Jerry Turner spearheaded the effort. “This was
probably one of the best years we’ve ever had for weather,” says
Turner, who also manages beef and poultry operations with his sons Adam
and Jason. “We didn’t lack for rain at any time, and we were blessed
with a good hay crop. Over in Augusta County, though, it was one of the
worst years ever. The drought has been terrible. When I saw the reports
on TV, I felt like I had to do something.”
Turner enlisted the help of Virginia Cooperative Extension agents in the
two counties and the Page County Farmers’ Association to help sign up
donors. “I figured we’d get more response out of people if we could
get organizations to sponsor it,” he explains. The program got a big
boost when a commercial driving school at a local community college
offered to have student drivers transport the hay for a modest fee.
As of mid-October, nearly 20 Page County partners had donated hay to the
program, and 33 Augusta County operations had received hay. “People
here have been very satisfied with the quality of the hay,” says Jason
Carter, extension animal scientist in Augusta County. “This is going
to help a lot of people get through the winter.”
A final note: Turner and sons donated one hundred 1,400-lb round bales
of mixed grass hay. “I’ve been in the position where I’ve needed
hay and didn’t have the money to pay for it,” Turner says. “This
just seemed like the right thing to do.”
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U.S. milk cow numbers will likely decline next year, according to
USDA’s Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook report issued last week.
USDA predicts that the size of the national dairy herd will average
9.245 million cows in 2009, about 20,000 less than this year. “An
adjustment process has been set in motion and the dairy cow population
is expected to decline each quarter in 2009,” according to the report.
The report notes high feed prices and falling milk prices have reduced
profitability, especially for producers of small- and medium-sized
operations. Even with the decline in cow numbers, total U.S. milk
production should be up slightly next year due to a 1% increase in milk
yield per cow.
In the beef section of the Outlook, USDA notes that a combination of dry
conditions, low hay stocks and/or high local hay prices will make it
difficult for beef producers in some parts of the U.S. to maintain
cattle inventories through winter. The Southwest, North Central and
northern Applachian states are most likely to be affected.
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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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Despite another drought-stressed growing season across the region,
there were 195 entries in the 2008 Southeastern Hay Contest held in
conjunction with last week’s Sunbelt Agricultural Expo in Moultrie,
GA.
David Harden, Walker County, GA, topped all entries with an entry in the
Perennial Peanut/Alfalfa Hay category. Harden’s hay scored 225
relative forage quality (RFQ) and tested 26% crude protein and 73.3%
total digestible nutrients (TDN).
In the warm-season perennial grass hay category, top honors went to
Yance Farms Inc., Houston County, AL. Top honors in the cool-season
perennial grass hay category went to Mitch Whitfield, Banks County, GA,
while Little Joe Reams, Madison County, FL, notched a first place in the
mixed, annual grass or other hay category.
Other category winners included Hidden Valley Farms, Oconee County, SC,
in grass baleage and Troy Platt, Madison County, FL, in legume baleage.
A more comprehensive listing of results is available on the University
of Georgia forage extension Web site at www.georgiaforages.com.
RFQ averaged 118 in this year’s contest. Entries came from all across
the Southeast, from Texas to Virginia. The contest, held annually since
2004, is a joint effort of cooperative extension in Alabama, South
Carolina, Florida and Georgia.
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With nitrogen prices up and beef-quality hay prices down, producers
may want to re-evaluate how much nitrogen they apply to bromegrass
hayfields and pastures this winter or next spring, says Dave Mengel,
extension soil fertility specialist with Kansas State University.
Traditional N recommendations for bromegrass hay production have been to
apply 40 lbs/ton of expected hay yield, or about 80-160 lbs/acre to
unfrozen ground according to the field´s productive capability.
Mengel evaluated 100 experiments on the response of bromegrass to
spring- and fall-applied nitrogen fertilizer. He concluded that the
appropriate N rate to maximize returns this fall is somewhere between 60
and 70 lbs/acre – not the 120 lbs N normally recommended for three-ton
hay production. This was based on an actual N price of 80 cents/lb and
a hay price of $60/ton. "While yields will be lower, the economics of
using reduced nitrogen rates are much more attractive,” he says.
“But keep in mind that nitrogen prices are volatile right now. If they
drop significantly, nitrogen rates should increase accordingly."
Mengel’s calculations don’t take hay quality into account. "Protein
levels will drop at the lower nitrogen fertilizer rates," he says. "So
where producers are relying on high-quality hay as their primary protein
source, they may want to push nitrogen rates a little higher or be
prepared to add supplemental protein to rations."
For more information, check out K-State extension publication C402,
"Smooth Brome Production and Utilization," at www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/crpsl2/c402.pdf.
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here to comment on the story or how you're dealing with high
nitrogen prices.
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The National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance (NAFA) released its
2008/2009 edition of Winter Survival, Fall Dormancy and Pest
Resistance Ratings for Alfalfa Varieties.
The publication provides a current and comprehensive listing of winter
survival, fall dormancy, and pest resistance ratings of alfalfa
varieties eligible for certification by seed certifying agencies. It
features about 225 alfalfa varieties from 37 marketers. Information has
been verified by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies
and the National Alfalfa And Miscellaneous Legumes Variety Review Board.
Low-resolution copies of the publication can be downloaded for free at
www.alfalfa.org. Hard copies are
available from NAFA for 50 cents. Email NAFA at nafa@comcast.net.
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Idaho
A freak snowstorm earlier this month brought 10” of snow to higher
elevations in some regions of the state, catching some hay growers by
surprise.
“Depending on location and individual circumstances, there was some
third-, fourth- or fifth-cutting hay laying underneath that snow,”
says University of Idaho extension forage specialist Glenn Shewmaker.
“It’s just one of the fun things that go along with trying to get
hay put up in October in this part of the country.”
Shewmaker expects the storm will have little effect on overall Idaho hay
production for 2008. “In most of the state, the last cutting was
already put up and covered,” he says.
For the most part, state hay producers are likely to remember 2008 as a
pretty good year for making hay, Shewmaker says. “We got off to a slow
start in the spring,” he says. “But after that, most of the hay was
put up under pretty good conditions. Yields were good and we’re still
seeing strong demand and good prices.”
Shewmaker reminds producers that the 2009 Idaho Alfalfa and Forage
Conference will take place in Burley Feb. 3-4. Details will be posted
soon on the Idaho Hay and Forage Association’s Web site at www.idahohay.com. To contact
Shewmaker, phone 208-736-3600 or send an email to gshew@uidaho.edu.
Kentucky
Kentucky hay growers and livestock producers were hoping adequate
moisture over the winter and throughout the spring would be enough to
bring state hay production back to near normal in 2008. Those hopes were
dashed with a return to extremely dry conditions starting in July.
“It’s been very, very dry for the last three months, especially in
the area from Lexington west,” says University of Kentucky hay
marketing specialist Tom Keene. “Some cattle producers have been
supplementing their pastures by feeding hay for the last four to six
weeks. Now that we’re well into October, it’s likely whoever is
feeding hay at this point will continue feeding until next March.”
Even so, Keene says it’s unlikely the state will have to import as
much beef cattle hay as it did following last year’s extreme drought.
“It will be nip and tuck, but we should be able to squeak by without
bringing in as much of that kind of hay,” he says.
Horse owners and dairy producers will face much tougher sledding.
“High-quality hay is scarce just about everywhere,” says Keene.
“And where it isn’t scarce, the prices have gone through the roof.
I’ve been warning people to brace for sticker shock if they have to
bring in hay from outside the state to meet their needs.” To contact
Keene, phone 859-257-3144 or email tom.keene@uky.edu.
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“Quality – A Solution To Rising Costs,” is the title and
focus of the Nov. 6-7 BEEF Quality Summit, to be held at the
Antlers Hilton Hotel, Colorado Springs, CO. Sponsored by the editors of
BEEF magazine, the summit opens with a trade show and a general
session on the long-term effects of rising costs on beef quality, demand
and profit.
Nov. 6 speakers include representatives from CattleFax, the U.S. Meat
Export Federation, USDA-Ag Marketing Service and the National
Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). An afternoon producer panel
explores ways of managing costs and product quality for profit. The
evening events include a 5 p.m. reception and a 7 p.m. event recognizing
award winners and industry leaders.
The trade show opens at 7 a.m. the second day of the summit. A morning
retail panel will discuss balancing beef quality and price in the retail
meat case and what consumers want. At a second morning session, NCBA
executives will talk about what 2008 election results might mean for the
beef industry. The closing session will discuss the benefits and
acceptance of pharmaceutical technologies in beef production. For more
information, visit beefconference.com.
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The third-annual Oklahoma Biofuels Conference will be held at the
Skirvin Hotel Conference Center in Oklahoma City on Nov. 12-13. The
event offers an in-depth look at the latest regulatory, agricultural and
technical developments impacting the biofuels industry in Oklahoma.
Among the topics to be addressed are new and proposed initiatives and
funding for bioenergy research, second-generation biofuel feedstocks,
the food vs. fuel debate and carbon control policies that may offer
income potential for producers.
Registration is $60. For more information, a complete list of speakers
or registration materials, visit www.GrowOK.com or call 800-203-5494.
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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. 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.
Jan. 27-28 -- Joint Annual Meeting/Symposium Of Midwest Forage
Association, Wisconsin Custom Operators And Professional Nutrient
Applicators, Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells, WI. Go to www.midwestforage.org.
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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