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The National Hay Association (NHA) is expecting more than 300
people to attend this year’s annual meeting, which will run Sept.
17-19 at Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort in Deadwood, SD. “We’re up
by about 10% from last year’s registrations,” reports Don Kieffer,
NHA executive director.
Educational sessions will be an emphasis point this year. Ron Hansen, a
University of Nebraska ag economist, will be on hand to deliver
presentations on promoting harmony/avoiding conflict in
multi-generational farm operations. He’ll also discuss transferring
ownership of family businesses from one generation to the next.
Protecting the hay supply from bioterrorism will be the topic of a
presentation by Randy Gordon of the National Grain and Feed Association.
“That’s something other agricultural sectors have been addressing
more and more in recent years,” says Kieffer. “We thought it would
be a good idea to look at the implications for the hay industry as
well.”
Other topics on the agenda include a discussion of relative forage
quality vs. relative feed value, morning vs. afternoon cutting, growing
alfalfa in the South, horses and hay, the history of haymaking over a
300-year time frame, and the art and science of haymaking.
Along with the formal presentations, Kieffer notes, the convention is
structured to allow plenty of time for attendees to get together
informally with others involved in the hay business. He expects a lot of
this year’s “hallway conversation” will focus on what needs to be
done to improve the economic situation for dairy farmers. “They (dairy
producers) are going through some very tough times, and that’s
impacting a lot of people in our business as well,” says Kieffer.
Other NHA facts:
- The 2009 convention will be the 114th annual meeting of the
group.
- NHA has 550 members. The majority are commercial hay
growers/sellers.
- Dave Brumfield of Brumfield Hay and Grain in
Lexington, KY, will assume the duties of NHA president on Saturday. Gary
Smith, hay grower from Mission Hill, SD, is the outgoing president.
To learn more about NHA, contact Kieffer at 800-707-0014 or haynha@aol.com.
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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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The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), a trade group
representing more than 800 companies making equipment for agriculture,
construction, forestry, mining and utilities, is urging farmers and
agribusinesses to get involved in encouraging Congress and the Obama
Administration to pay more attention to funding needs of the nation’s
surface transportation – roads and bridges.
The most immediate concern, according to AEM, is a federal highway
funding bill (known as SAFETEA-LU) set to expire Sept. 30. In July, the
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works voted to recommend
postponing reauthorization for 18 months. AEM labels the postponement
“unacceptable” and urges agricultural interests to contact their
elected officials about addressing infrastructure problems now.
“Proper funding for surface transportation is more critical than ever
for producers and agribusiness because prosperity is tied to being able
to move goods to the right markets,” says AEM spokesman Rich
Jefferson. “If this lack of attention to transportation concerns you,
it may be time to let your representatives in Washington, DC, know what
you think.”
For more information about SAFETEA-LU, go to transportation.house.gov/.
For more about AEM’s position on the importance of immediately
addressing infrastructure concerns, go to www.aem.org.
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Well-managed perennial grasses provide good agronomic, economic and
nutritive complements to alfalfa on Minnesota dairy farms, surmises
University of Minnesota extension forage agronomist Paul Peterson from
two multi-year research trials.
The studies – at the university’s Rosemount and Grand Rapids
research stations – looked at perennial ryegrass and tall fescue,
planted at several seeding rates with alfalfa and with or without 30 lbs
N/acre applied per harvest. Check plots of alfalfa alone, grasses alone
and mixtures of alfalfa with reed canarygrass, orchardgrass and meadow
fescue were also included in the trials.
Some findings to date:
- Fears that some grasses might be too competitive with alfalfa
were unfounded. “Alfalfa persisted better than any of the grasses in
the trial,” says Peterson. “This may have been due to cutting
(grasses) too closely at times. Perennial cool-season grasses may
require a 4” residual to be competitive with alfalfa in mixtures in
our environment.”
- Perennial ryegrass-alfalfa mixtures looked very good in their first
production year and produced dairy-quality forage. But perennial
ryegrass didn’t persist. “Thus, while it may benefit a mixed seeding
in the short term, another more-persistent grass should be included for
longer-term grass presence.”
- Low-alkaloid reed canarygrass was the most persistent and compatible
grass with alfalfa in these trials. On the flip side, says Peterson, the
canarygrass may have somewhat inferior forage quality compared to the
other grasses.
- Strategic use of nitrogen fertilizer and/or manure on alfalfa-grass
mixtures may be economical during spring and late summer when weather
favors grass growth.
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 Use
our site to search for forage production tips! Plus, read what other
growers are doing to stay profitable.
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A little planning can head off problems when you’re putting an
old pasture or hayfield into soybean production, says University of
Missouri extension agronomist Pat Miller.
“It is simple to use a burndown herbicide, no-till plant with
herbicide-resistant beans and then spray again,” says Miller. “But
many fields planted this way are showing severe nutritional problems.”
Severe potash deficiency, indicated in soybeans by yellowing on the
edges of lower leaves, is a common problem. “Many of the hayfields
have not received adequate fertilizer for the nutrients removed. Three
tons of fescue hay will remove 100 lbs of potash and 27 lbs of
phosphate. In pastures, the nutrients will be rearranged so potash and
phosphate levels will be high near the water and shade areas and reduced
in the rest of the field.”
To improve chances for a good yield, Miller recommends the following:
- Before planting, take a soil test and apply lime and fertilizer
according to test results. Apply lime 6-12 months before planting; a
good soil pH is necessary for the nitrogen-producing nodules.
- Use a soil probe to monitor for compaction problems. Compacted soil
will restrict roots and compound fertility problems. Fields might
benefit from deep ripping or mulch tillage under the rows.
- Inoculate beans before planting. Soybeans need to produce Rhizobium
bacteria nodules to make nitrogen for the plant. Organic matter from the
sod will provide some nitrogen the first year, but inoculating will
allow the plant to provide its own nitrogen.
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- The National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance (NAFA) will conduct
a webinar on new supplemental payments for alfalfa and forages in
USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) this Thursday, Sept. 17,
from noon to 12:30 p.m. To join the webinar online, sign in at eval.webex.com/eval/j.php,
enter the meeting password (091709CSPWebinar), click on Join Now, then
follow the onscreen instructions. If you’d prefer to participate by
phone, contact NAFA at 651-484-3888.
- USDA’s Farm Service Agency has finalized guidelines and funding
provisions for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). The program
provides financial assistance to producers who deliver eligible biomass
material, including switchgrass, to designated biomass conversion
facilities for use as heat, power, biobased products or biofuels. For
more information, go to www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp.
- University of Minnesota farm management specialists are reminding
farmers that crop insurance proceeds need to be included as income on
tax returns. For more details, including examples of how to calculate
payments, go to www.cffm.umn.edu.
- Hay growers have until Sept. 30 to submit entries to the 2009
Southeastern Hay Contest. The contest is open to growers in 13 states
(Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and
Virginia). For an entry form and other contest information, go to www.georgiaforages.com/ and
click on Upcoming Events.
- Getting an alfalfa stand off to a good start requires a blend of
science, art and a little bit of luck, says Oklahoma State University
extension forage specialist Daren Redfearn. To see a 12-point Alfalfa
Establishment Checklist developed by Redfearn and his colleagues, go to
pods.dasnr.okstate.edu.
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South Dakota
Wet weather throughout the growing season made it tough for hay growers
to put up quality alfalfa hay in eastern South Dakota in 2009, reports
Gary Smith of Mission Hill. “There was a lot of rained-on hay around
here,” says Smith, who grows 900 acres of mostly alfalfa hay and farms
another 900 acres of row crops. “We didn’t have any weather window
for putting up hay. On the other hand, our corn and soybeans have never
looked better.”
Dairy farms in the Upper Midwest and eastern Corn Belt are the primary
market for Smith’s hay, packaged in 3 x 3 x 8’ square bales.
“Dairy producers are scratching hard to make a go of things,” says
Smith, who is wrapping up a one-year term as president of the National
Hay Association. “And if they’re not making any money, we’re not
making any money.”
Top-of-the-line dairy hay in his area is selling for around $125/ton. A
year ago, the going price was closer to $175/ton. “It’s not easy to
find that kind of quality this year,” he says. “There are guys
willing to pay that much for it, but people are also looking to get by
with as cheap a feed as they can.”
To contact Smith, call 605-661-5479 or email haygary@valyousat.net.
Tennessee
After three successive drought years, things definitely turned around
for hay growers in eastern Tennessee this year. “In terms of
production, we’ve had the best hay crop in years,” reports John
Goddard, University of Tennessee extension agent in Loudon County.
“The downside is that it’s also the poorest quality of hay overall
we’ve had in years.”
Area growers were nervous early in the season. “We had the third
driest April in history, and everybody was thinking we were in for
another dry summer,” says Goddard. “But then the rains started
coming, and they just didn’t quit.”
Abundant supplies have already translated into a significant price drop
in the area. Goddard reports that beef-quality hay in round bales is
currently fetching about half what it brought a year ago. “A roll that
was bringing $40 last year will only bring about $20 now. And you may be
lucky to get that.”
To contact Goddard, call 865-458-5613 or email jgoddar1@utk.edu.
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Keith Waldron of New York state’s Integrated Pest Management
program is advising alfalfa growers in parts of the state to watch for
plant stress that may indicate alfalfa snout beetle feeding. Signs to
watch for include short, discolored or otherwise weakened plants or
large field areas void of any alfalfa.
Native to Europe, alfalfa snout beetles in North America are found only
in nine counties in northern New York counties (Oswego, Jefferson,
Cayuga, Wayne, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Clinton, Essex and Franklin) and
parts of southern Ontario. The beetle’s larvae are legless, white and
an inch long.
Growers in the affected area who suspect fields are being injured by
snout beetle larvae should dig up a few plants showing symptoms, getting
as much of the root system as possible. “Look for damaged, girdled
roots and the presence of alfalfa snout beetle larvae.”
Waldron notes that Cornell University researchers are working to develop
snout beetle-resistant varieties and have also launched a project to
evaluate nematodes as a biological control measure. “But for now the
best option for managing this important pest is a three-year crop
rotation with a row crop,” he says.
To learn more about snout-beetle management, go to www.nnyagdev.org.
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The 2009 Kentucky Grazing School is designed to provide plenty of
hands-on experiences, says University of Kentucky extension forage
specialist Ray Smith. Along with learning how to design a rotational
grazing system, participants will set up temporary electric fence and
build a pasture water system from the ground up. The two-day grazing
school will also offer classroom instruction on all aspects of forage
and livestock production related to grazing systems.
The school is scheduled for Oct. 8-9 at the Woodford County Research
Station, Versailles. For a brochure, go to www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/Grazing.pdf.
For additional information, contact Smith at raysmith1@uky.edu or 859-257-3358.
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Sept. 22-23 -- Georgia Grazing School, University of Georgia
Livestock Instruction Arena, Athens. Go to www.georgiaforages.com/.
Sept. 25 -- Cow Country Congress, Corlay Farm & Cattle Co.,
Dodge, TX. Contact Texas A&M’s AgriLife Extension office, Walker
County, at 936-435-2426.
Sept. 29-Oct. 3 -- World Dairy Expo, Alliant Energy Center,
Madison, WI. Visit www.worlddairyexpo.com.
Oct. 23-24 -- Virginia Tech University’s 2009 Mid-Atlantic
Grass-Finished Livestock Conference, Holiday Inn Conference Center,
Staunton, VA. Contact Margaret Kenny at 434-292-5331 or makenny@vt.edu.
Oct. 29 -- Kentucky Grazing Conference, University of Kentucky
Research and Education Center, Princeton. Visit www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage.
Oct. 29 -- LSU AgCenter Calhoun Research Station Field Day,
Calhoun, LA. Innovative uses for forest and forage biomass will be
featured. Contact Michael Blazier at 318-927-2578 or mblazier@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Nov. 4-6 -- DHI-Provo 55th-Annual Herd Management Training
Conference, Provo, UT. Details at www.dhiprovo.com.
Nov. 17-19 -- Alfalfa Intensive Training Seminar, University
Place Conference Center & Hotel, Indianapolis, IN. Visit the National
Alfalfa & Forage Alliance Web site at www.alfalfa.org.
Nov. 18-19 -- McCook Farm And Ranch Expo, Red Willow County
Fairgrounds, McCook, NE. Visit mccookfarmandranchexpo.net
or call 866-685-0989.
Dec. 1-2 – Manitoba Grazing School, Victoria Inn, Brandon. Call
204-622-2006.
Dec. 2-4 -- Western Alfalfa And Forage Conference, Grand Sierra
Resort & Casino, Reno, NV. Go to alfalfa.ucdavis.edu/+symposium/2009/.
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.
April 8-9, 2010 -- Hay Production School, Spence Field, Moultrie,
GA. Details to come at www.georgiaforages.com.
June 20-22, 2010 -- American Forage And Grassland Council Annual
Conference, University Plaza Hotel, Springfield, MO. Details to come
at www.afgc.org.
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