|
|
Hay & Forage Grower
USDA
Hay Prices
Weather
Send Questions & Comments To...
Rick Mooney, Editor, eHay Weekly, at
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.
|
|
|
A balance of phosphorus and potassium helps keep alfalfa stands
healthy, according to recent research at the Throckmorton-Purdue
Agricultural Center.
“Alfalfa removes more potassium than any other field crop with the
exception of corn silage, so growers need to pay close attention to
potassium levels,” says Jeff Volenec, Purdue extension crop
physiologist. “An imbalance between potassium and phosphorus
fertilizer can actually be more damaging when you apply phosphorus and
do not apply potassium. The stand thins out more quickly, which results
in added weed encroachment.”
Keith Johnson, Purdue extension forage expert, notes that soil tests
done in spring do not accurately reflect the amount of potassium
available to plants. If a soil test was not done last fall, Johnson
advises doing so after
Click here for more of the story.
|
AVAIL Phosphorus Fertilizer
Enhancer and NutriSphere-N Nitrogen Fertilizer Manager are innovative
products in today’s agricultural marketplace. By stacking the products
in your fertility program, you’re getting maximum efficiency from your
phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers which in turn gives you a 10-15%
increase in yield potential. For more information on AVAIL and
NutriSphere-N visit sfp.com today!
|
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will offer some producers the
opportunity to modify and extend Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
contracts scheduled to expire on Sept. 30.
The agency can extend only about 1.5 million acres out of a total 3.9
million acres expiring this year because the 2008 Farm Bill limits CRP
to 32 million acres. A general CRP signup is not scheduled during fiscal
year 2009. However, producers may continue to enroll relatively small,
highly desirable acreages, including land that is not extended, in
Continuous CRP. Continuous CRP includes such practices as filter strips
and riparian buffers.
FSA began notifying participants by letter last week. The sign-up for
this voluntary extension will begin May 18 and run through June 30.
Farmers and ranchers may apply for this extension at their FSA county
offices. CRP contracts with the highest environmental benefit or the
highest soil erosion potential will be selected. Contract holders will
generally be offered three- to five-year extensions. They’ll receive
their current contract rental rate. All or a portion of the acreage
under contract may be included in an extension, but no new acreage may
be added.
For more information about CRP and other FSA programs, go to www.fsa.usda.gov.
|
May’s cool temperatures and frequent rains make this a good time
for growers in many parts of the country to check their alfalfa fields
for leaf diseases, says XB Yang, Iowa State University plant
pathologist. “Knowing the occurrence of alfalfa diseases in early May
helps make decisions about the first cutting,” he says. “High levels
of alfalfa foliar diseases such as spring black stem can cause early
defoliation before you make the first cut, resulting in yield
reduction.”
When scouting for diseases, Yang advises keeping the following in mind:
Second- and third-year alfalfa fields have greater disease risk
than first-year fields. “The diseases may have occurred in the past
year and the pathogenic fungi can build up over time,” he explains.
Fields in lower spots with high soil moisture have higher disease
risk.
There are differences in disease tolerance among varieties.
Diseases are likely to start in dense canopy on the lower leaves of
plants.
If the disease level is high, Yang recommends early cutting. “Cutting
as early as mid-bud stage to avoid severe defoliation may be necessary
when the disease is severe,” he says.
Yang can be contacted at xbyang@iastate.edu. Or call
515-294-8826.
|
 Silencer®
insecticide maximizes your return on investment in alfalfa with the
premier pyrethroid. Silencer® provides highly advanced chemistry for
immediate knockdown and effective control of a wide spectrum of
yield-robbing pests. Dual action activity, by contact and ingestion,
strengthens performance. Protect alfalfa from competitive insects with
long-lasting Silencer from MANA.
|
Rig field sprayers with emergency kits for handling leaks and/or
spills, advises Jim Wilson, pesticide applicator training specialist
with South Dakota State University.
A kit includes extra hoses, hose clamps, a set of protective clothing,
electrician’s tape, duct tape, washer-head screws and caulking
compound.
Wilson also recommends putting a plastic tarp in the kit. If the sprayer
forms a leak, you can spread the tarp underneath the sprayer and use
dirt to build a berm at the edges so there’s a pocket or depression in
the middle to catch fluid. “That may serve to contain the spray and
eliminate the problem with soil contamination until you have time to
stop the leak and get it repaired,” he says.
Critical replacement parts, absorbent materials, plastic bags and a
shovel can round out an emergency kit. For information on preventing and
managing pesticides spills, download Handling Pesticides
Properly at agbiopubs.sdstate.edu/articles/ExEx8109.pdf.
|
$1-1.20/lb Price processors are offering
Alberta seed growers for common alfalfa seed, according to the May 4,
2009, Grass and Legume Seed Market Update. Published by the
province’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, it reports
that “the grass and legume seed sector has not seen a dead season like
this in quite some time, if ever.” To see the entire update, go to www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/newslett.nsf/all/glm14995.
$10 Price the Midwest Forage Association (MFA)
charges members for PEAQ (Predication Equations for Alfalfa Quality)
sticks. The non-member price is $15/stick. To learn more about using the
PEAQ stick as a tool for scheduling harvest to achieve forage-quality
target levels and/or for details on ordering, go to the MFA Web site at
www.midwestforage.org.
1,090 Fires occurring annually in U.S. barn
structures between 2002 and 2005, according to a report from the
National Fire Protection Association. The barn structure category
includes livestock, poultry and storage barns, stockyards and animal
pens. To download a fact sheet based on the report, go to www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/BarnsFactSheet.pdf.
20,000 U.S. farms (approximately) engaged in organic
production, according to the 2007 Census of Agriculture. USDA hopes to
learn more specifics about production, marketing, income, expenses,
etc., this spring with a first-ever survey of organic farmers. Organic
producers have been asked to complete the survey by June 17. Results
will be published later this year. For more information about the
survey, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov/Surveys/Organic_Production_Survey/index.asp
or call 800-727-9540.
$10 million Estimated value of fencing damaged or
destroyed in the 45,000-acre wildfire that swept through Montague
County, TX, last month. For details on efforts to help ranchers affected
by the fire, see “Hay Needed In Texas Fire Aftermath” in last
week’s eHay
Weekly.
|
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
|
Idaho
Cold weather this spring is likely to delay first-crop alfalfa harvest
in many parts of the state, reports University of Idaho extension forage
specialist Glenn Shewmaker.
“Ordinarily, we’d have people in southern Idaho doing some
greenchopping right now in order to put up some fresh feed,” he says.
“But our temperatures have been running 5-6 degrees below normal, and
that’s put us behind on growth. In some areas, we might be lucky to
get our first cutting in by Memorial Day. People who put it in pits or
bags will have some options. But people putting up dry hay will have
some challenges. It’s going to be one of those years.”
Shewmaker also notes there was more winterkill than normal in many parts
of the state this year. “We had good snow cover in general,” he
says. “But the plants were slow to come out of dormancy. Part of that
could be due to cold weather. But we also seem to be seeing more
problems with clover root curculio (a weevil that feeds on lateral
roots).”
Slumping milk prices also remain a concern for alfalfa growers, he says.
“Growers realize dairy producers are struggling. But, while they
understand the need to keep those dairy customers in business, most
growers also say they have to get more than $120-150/ton to cover their
cost of production and be competitive with other crops. Also coming into
play is that we have some carryover supplies from last year. There are a
lot of serious negotiations going on between sellers and buyers right
now.”
To contact Shewmaker, call 208-736-3600 or email gshew@uidaho.edu.
Maryland
The heavy rains during the first several days of the month represented a
case of good news/bad news, says Les Vough, University of Maryland
extension forage specialist emeritus.
On the upside, rainfall amounts were sufficient to end a late
winter-early spring drought affecting many parts of the state.
“Heading into the weekend, some areas were as much as 7” below
normal for precipitation,” says Vough. “As of last Tuesday morning,
though, officials were reporting that, with these recent rains, the
drought had ended for the entire state.”
Even so, the return of abundant moisture carried negatives, too. “Some
growers had already started on first cutting and anything that was
laying is pretty thoroughly washed at this point,” Vough says.
Long-term weather records show May 5-11 is typically the low point for
average precipitation in many parts of the state during May, he points
out. “We first noticed that a few years back and have been telling
producers that this is the week they should plan on making hay. That
wasn’t the case this year.”
At the same time, the earlier stint of dry and cool weather could hamper
yields. “From what I’ve seen at different spots around the state,
orchardgrass is coming in head but only about knee-high,” Vough
reports. “It should be about hip-high. First-cutting yields will be
short if growers cut when they should for best quality. If they wait for
more growth, we will just be adding to the amount of average- or
mediocre-quality first-cutting hay already in the barns from last
year.”
Vough says a large supply is putting downward pressure on average- to
low-quality hay. “For the last three years, we were so short of hay
you could sell anything. But because of our weather last year, there was
a lot of just average hay put up. As a result, there are parts of the
state where barns are still full and growers are having trouble finding
markets. On the other hand, any growers who have really good-quality hay
are not having any problems selling it. It’s gone.
“Right now, it looks like this could be another difficult year for
many Maryland hay growers,” says Vough. Contact him at 301-405-1322
or vough@umd.edu.
|
With a cool, wet spring in Michigan this year, alfalfa growers
should be on the lookout for stem nematodes, says Fred Warner,
diagnostician with Michigan State University’s Diagnostic Services.
Generally regarded as alfalfa’s most serious nematode threat, stem
nematodes have been reported in all areas where alfalfa is grown.
“They tend to be more of a problem in fields with heavy soils, on
irrigated sites or in seasons with heavy spring rains,” says Warner.
“Red and white clovers are also hosts.”
The nematodes can be spread by infested seed, irrigation water and
machinery contaminated with infested crop debris and soil, Warner notes.
“Water is necessary for new infestations because the nematodes move in
water films on stems and leaves.” Plants are weakened or killed, and
infested stands may decline in less than two years. The nematodes can
also cause alfalfa to be more susceptible to bacterial, fusarium and
verticillium wilts.
No control options are available in established alfalfa, but resistant
varieties help control the nematodes, Warner says. “Rotation to
non-host crops such as corn and small grains for two to four years is
required to reduce population densities of the alfalfa stem nematode.
“While examining alfalfa stands this spring, if any appear unthrifty
and the plants have very shortened internodes, you should collect leaves
and stems for nematode analyses and send them to MSU Diagnostic
Services,” he says. It costs $25 for a nematode analysis for Michigan
growers. Typically, results will be available in seven to 14 days.
Out-state samples are also accepted but triple the cost.
An added note: Stem nematodes typically occur at very low population
densities in the soil. They prefer to stay in old plant tissue until
they locate new hosts. “Therefore, it is critical, for proper
diagnoses of this particular nematode, to collect leaves and stems from
actively growing plants to avoid potential false negatives that may
result from only submitting soil or even roots to the lab,” Warner
says.
To contact Diagnostic Services, call 517-355-4536 or visit www.pestid.msu.edu.
|
Cattle management and hay production seminars will be the order of
the day at the University of Tennessee’s 2009 Beef and Forage Field
Day on June 11. It will be held at the Blount Unit of the East Tennessee
AgResearch and Education Center near Knoxville.
Along with presentations on pasture management, weed control, fuel and
fertilizer costs and soil testing, the event will feature a trade show,
youth program and lunch.
Preregistrations are encouraged by June 4. Contact a local county UT
Extension office, call the center at 865-974-7201 or visit east.tennessee.edu for more
details.
|
May 16 -- Northeast Washington Hay Growers Association Spring
Field Day, Hagen Cattle & Hay Co., Chewelah. For details, phone
509-725-4171.
May 26 -- University Of Tennessee Forage Conference, West
Tennessee Research and Education Center, Jackson. Sponsored by
University of Tennessee Extension and Tennessee Forage and Grassland
Council. Conference starts at 3:30 p.m. Contact Brian White at
731-968-5266 or dwhite3@tennessee.edu, or Gary
Bates at 865-974-7208 or gbates@utk.edu.
June 10-11 -- Four-State Dairy Nutrition And Management Conference,
Grand River Center, Dubuque, IA. To register online or download a
conference brochure, go to www.wasa.org or contact the Wisconsin
Agri-Service Association at 608-223-1111, or Dale Thorsen at
319-267-2707.
June 21-23 -- American Forage & Grassland Council Annual
Conference, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI. Call
800-944-2342, email info@afgc.org or
visit www.afgc.org/mc/page.do.
June 25 -- University of Tennessee Tobacco, Beef And More Field Day,
Highland Rim AgResearch and Education Center, Springfield. Call
615-382-3130 or visit taes.utk.edu/event/show.asp?which=403.
June 27 -- 2009 Equine Field Day, University of Kentucky’s
Maine Chance Equine Campus, Lexington. Phone 859-257-2226 or go to www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/EquineFieldDayFlieremail.pdf.
July 23 -- University Of Kentucky All Commodity Field Day, UK
Research and Education Center, Princeton. Details forthcoming at www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/.
July 29-30 -- U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center Getting More From
Forages Conference, Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center,
Madison, WI. Visit www.dfrc.ars.usda.gov/forages/Program.html
for more details.
Aug. 1-2 -- Florida Small Farms And Alternative Enterprises
Conference, Osceola County Heritage Park, Kissimmee. Go to smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu/floridasmallfarmsconference/index.htm.
Aug. 27 -- 2009 Arlington Agronomy And Soils Field Day,
University of Wisconsin Agricultural Research Station, Arlington.
(Agenda details will be available in early May.)
Sept. 17-19 -- National Hay Association Convention, Cadillac
Jack’s Gaming Resort, Deadwood, SD. Contact Don Kieffer at
800-707-0014 or visit www.nationalhay.org.
Sept. 29-Oct. 3 -- World Dairy Expo, Alliant Energy Center,
Madison, WI. Visit www.worlddairyexpo.com.
Oct. 29 -- Kentucky Grazing Conference, University of Kentucky
Research and Education Center, Princeton. Details available soon at www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage.
Nov. 10-11 -- BEEF Quality Summit, Stoney Creek Inn, St.
Joseph, MO, hosted by BEEF magazine. Visit beefconference.com.
Nov. 18-19 -- McCook Farm And Ranch Expo, Red Willow County
Fairgrounds, McCook, NE. Visit mccookfarmandranchexpo.net
or call 866-685-0989.
Dec. 13-16 – Fourth National Conference On Grazing Lands, Reno,
NV. Presented by the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative. Visit www.glci.org.
Feb 16-17, 2010 -- Idaho Hay And Forage Conference, Best Western
Burley Inn, Burley. Contact Glenn Shewmaker at 208-736-3608 or gshew@uidaho.edu.
|
|
|
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 2009, 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.
|
|
