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Profit is the name of the game in most business ventures, of
course. But sometimes business owners have to forego short-term profits
to meet long-term goals.
Curt and Sharon Jacques, owners of West Lebanon Feed and Supply in West
Lebanon, NH, found themselves in that situation earlier this winter. A
shortfall in the local supply of hay, due mostly to an unusually wet,
cold growing season in 2008, meant many of their horse-owning customers
were struggling to pay for feed. “Historically, we’ve been able to
count on local farmers to meet our needs,” says Curt Jacques, noting
his store typically sells 100 small square bales a week during the cold
weather months, mostly to local horse owners. “But the weather we had
last year was terrible for making hay. It affected both the quality and
the quantity of the local supply.”
In turn, the supply shortage pushed up average prices for 35-lb bales to
the $8 level heading into the winter months. “It was to the point
where a lot of people were thinking about getting rid of their animals
because they couldn’t afford feed,” says Jacques. “And, for
obvious reasons, that’s something we didn’t want to see happen.”
To address the problem, the Jacques opted to bring in a semi load of
bales from Quebec. They offered the hay to customers at cost during a
special Saturday sale event in early January. On the day of the sale,
the bales sold out quickly. About 40 customers paid $4.83 for mixed
grass hay bales weighing around 45 lbs. When a waiting list developed
after that event, the Jacques followed up by holding a second “at
cost” sale in mid-January. It was equally well-attended, and now a
third sale is planned for early next month.
“We look at it as an investment in our business and in the animal
husbandry industry in general,” says Jacques. “If we can provide hay
at a more-reasonable price, our customers will still be around to buy
from us. It’s also just the right thing to do.”
To contact him, phone 603-298-8600 or email curt@westlebanonsupply.com.
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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
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Nothing beats being at a great meeting in person, of course. But
even if you weren’t able to get to last month’s California Alfalfa &
Forage Symposium and Western Alfalfa Seed Conference in San Diego, you
can still catch the gist of many of the presentations by going online
for a copy of the proceedings. Nearly 40 of the presentations are
grouped into categories like Dairy and Forage Industry Trends, Alfalfa
Pest Management, Equipment Innovations and Forage Systems and Producing
Quality Alfalfa Seed. To access the proceedings, go to the University of
California’s alfalfa and forages Web site at alfalfa.ucdavis.edu/+symposium/2008/.
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No matter how good a job you do putting up hay, you’ll likely end
up with some mold, notes Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska
extension forage specialist. The following are guidelines you can use
when making decisions about feeding moldy hay to livestock:
- Usually, mold makes hay less palatable, which can result in
lower intake or in animals refusing to eat the hay. Many other problems
from mold occur because of mycotoxins produced by certain mold fungi. As
you’re making feeding decisions, remember all molds don’t produce
mycotoxins and the amount produced by those that do is unpredictable.
- Among common livestock, horses may be the most sensitive to mold.
Mold spores can contribute to respiratory and digestive problems like
colic or heaves.
- Cattle apparently are less affected by mold, but certain molds can
cause mycotic abortions or aspergillosis.
- People can be affected by mold spores, too. Mold can cause a
condition called farmer’s lung, where the fungus actually grows in
lung tissue. “So try to avoid breathing in many of these spores,”
advises Anderson.
- Often, the best course of action is to minimize feeding moldy hay to
more-sensitive animals, like horses or pregnant cows. This may require a
keen eye or sensitive nose when selecting hay to feed each day.
Mixing moldy hay with other feedstuffs can dilute problems sometimes.
“But be careful that you don’t make your animals sick by tricking
them into eating bad hay they normally would refuse,” Anderson says.
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toughest grassy weeds in alfalfa. Get outstanding performance with
excellent crop safety at the right price. Learn more about Arrow from
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Correcting stand and soil fertility problems is an important step
for controlling weeds in tall fescue pastures and hayfields, according
to the University of Tennessee’s Clyde Lane Jr., extension beef cattle
specialist, and Gary Bates, forage agronomist.
Lane and Bates note that weeds move into fields because they are able to
outcompete the existing plants. Thick, aggressive stands of tall fescue
have little weed pressure. In thin stands, all the weeds can be killed
this year, but if large portions of the ground remain bare, a new crop
of weeds will germinate and grow.
Poor fertility can be the reason for a poor stand. Soil testing will
provide the information needed for proper fertilization. Once fertility
problems are corrected, evaluate the stand. If it’s weak, consider
replanting this fall. For more tips from Lane and Bates on controlling
weeds in tall fescue, see the latest edition of the University of
Tennessee Extension’s Beef Cattle Times newsletter at www.utextension.utk.edu/newsevents/newsletters/BCTwinter09.pdf.
For a roundup of weed problems from around the country, see the upcoming
February issue of Hay & Forage Grower.
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The 2008 Forage Variety Test reports for Kentucky are now available
online at the University of Kentucky forage extension Web site,
www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage. Along with that report, you can also access
yearly reports from 2001 to 2007.
Also, the University of Minnesota recently released the 2009 edition of
its Varietal Trials Results at www.maes.umn.edu/09varietaltrials/.
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Mississippi
After several years of drought, Mississippi is now experiencing rain in
a big way. Statewide, rainfall averaged 12” during the first two weeks
of December. Many parts of the state also had another 7.5” through the
first half of January. “It’s been a lot different than what we’ve
seen over the past couple of years,” says Rocky Lemus, Mississippi
State University extension forage specialist.
Lemus notes the abundance of rain, coupled with cold temperatures, has
kept many beef producers from turning cattle out on ryegrass pastures so
far this winter. “In turn, that has extended the period for feeding
stored hay,” he says.
Even so, hay supplies in the state are relatively abundant. “We
actually have a surplus of hay being offered on our online hay directory
(available at msucares.com/livestock/beef/mshay.pdf).”
says Lemus.
As of mid-January, he reports, 4 x 5’ bahiagrass and bermudagrass
round bales were typically bringing $28-40/bale. A year ago, the average
price was closer to $55-60/bale. Small rectangular bales have been
fetching $4-7/bale. To contact Lemus, phone 662-325-7718 or email rlemus@msstate.edu.
Nebraska
A one-of-a-kind exhibitor consignment auction will again be featured at
this year’s Mid-America Alfalfa Expo, slated to begin Feb. 3 in
Kearney. The auction has been a fixture of the expo ever since the event
was first held 15 years ago. “It’s truly unique,” says Barb
Kinnan, executive director of the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association
(N.A.M.A.), which sponsors the event. “Many people have told us over
the years that they come to expo just for the auction.”
In the auction, which starts on the first day, attendees can bid on the
use of a wide variety of equipment for various use periods. In past
years, auctioned equipment has included balers, swathers, rakes, bale
retrievers, stackers and more. The amount bid on the equipment is taken
off the purchase price if the producer decides to buy the item after
using it.
Other products (alfalfa seed, preservatives, twine, etc.) and services
(forage testing, inventory management, etc.) also will be auctioned off.
“Producers like the concept because it gives them the opportunity to
try new products,” says Kinnan. She says the dollar value of this
year’s auction items exceeds $50,000. “Exhibitors like it because
they can get their products into their customers’ hands. It also gives
them one more opportunity to promote the alfalfa industry and our
association.”
Kinnan points out that money raised from the auction makes up about
one-third of N.A.M.A.’s annual operating budget. Expo booth fees and
membership dues account for the remainder.
For more information on this year’s expo, held Feb. 3-4 at the Buffalo
County Fairgrounds, go to www.alfalfaexpo.com.
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The 25th annual Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference is
scheduled for Feb. 24 at the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield. Fred
Provenza from Utah State University will deliver the keynote address.
His topic: "Behavior-Based Management for Animal Well-Being, Ecosystem
Diversity and Enterprise Adaptability." Educational breakout sessions
and a trade show with exhibits by more than 30 companies and
organizations will also be featured.
The cost of the program is $25 per person in advance or $35 at the door.
A banquet lunch is included with the registration. To preregister
(before Feb. 17) or to get more information, contact the Greene County
Soil and Water Conservation District at 417-831-5246, ext. 3.
Conference information and a registration form are also available at agebb.missouri.edu/sfc.
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Jan. 29 -- Four-State I-29 Dairy Conference, Best Western
Ramkota Inn & Conference Center, Sioux Falls, SD. Contact Chris Mondak
at 712-737-4230 or cmondak@iastate.edu, or Alvaro
Garcia at 605-688-5488 or alvaro.garcia@sdstate.edu.
Jan. 29-30 -- Utah Hay and Forage Symposium, Holiday Inn Resort
Hotel and Conference Center, St. George. Go to www.utahhay.usu.edu.
Feb. 3-4 -- Idaho Hay And Forage Conference, Burley. Call Glenn
Shewmaker at 208-736-3608.
Feb. 9-13 -- Minnesota Forage Days, dates/locations. Feb.
9 – Lamberton; Feb. 10 – Floodwood; Feb. 11 –
Detroit Lakes; Feb. 12 – Royalton; Feb. 13 –
Rochester. Email peter072@umn.edu
or krishona@umn.edu.
Feb. 12-13 -- Clemson University Conference, “Profitable Approaches
For Managing Forage Based Operations in the 21st Century,”
Radisson Inn, Columbia, SC. Go to
www.clemson.edu/.
Feb. 17-18 -- Pennsylvania’s Professional Crop Producers
Conference, Penn Stater Conference Center, State College. To
register, call 877-778-2937.
Feb. 18 -- Manitoba Forage Symposium, Southern Manitoba
Convention Centre, Morris. Contact Dwayne Summach at 204-268-6014.
Feb. 19 -- Kentucky Alfalfa Conference, Cave City Convention
Center. Email glacefie@uky.edu or
raysmith1@uky.edu.
Feb. 21 -- Horse Education Day, University of Wisconsin-River
Falls Agriculture Building, jointly sponsored by University of Wisconsin
Extension and University of Minnesota Extension. Contact Krishona
Martinson at 612-625-6776 or krishona@umn.edu.
Feb. 24 -- Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference,
University Plaza Hotel, Springfield. Contact the Greene County SWCD at
417-831-5246, ext. 3.
Feb. 27-28 -- Indiana Cattle And Forage Symposium, Hilton
Indianapolis North, Indianapolis. Call 800-515-2333 or go to www.indianabeef.org.
March 6-7 -- Appalachian Grazing Conference, Morgantown, WV.
Phone 304-293-6131, ext. 4231, or email becky.casteel@mail.wvu.edu.
March 6-7 -- Joint Maryland Cattlemen's Convention/Central Maryland
Hay & Pasture Conference, Four Points Sheraton, Hagerstown. Contact
Scott Barao at 410-795-5309 or sbarao@marylandcattle.org,
or Les Vough at 301-405-1322 or vough@umd.edu.
March 17 -- Northeast Pennsylvania Grazing Conference, Tri-County
Church, DuBois. Call 814-375-1372, ext. 4.
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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