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Hay & Forage Grower
USDA
Hay Prices
Weather
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USDA has adjusted its forecast for 2009 hay production. According
to the department’s October Crop Production report issued last Friday,
production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures will total 72 million tons.
That’s down 1.4% from the August forecast but up 3.4% from 2008
production.
Based on Oct. 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 3.43
tons/acre this year, down 0.05 ton/acre from August but up 0.11 ton from
the 2008 figure. Compared to August, yield forecasts were up in eight of
the major alfalfa-producing states: Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wisconsin. The largest October vs. August
yield increase is forecast in Pennsylvania, where growers are expecting
a record-high average yield of 3.7 tons/acre.
For other hay, USDA is now forecasting production of 80.8 million tons,
up 2% from the August forecast and 6% from last year’s number. Yields
are expected to average 2.06 tons/acre, up 0.05 ton from August and 0.11
ton from the final 2008 figure.
To see the entire Oct. 9 report,
click
here.
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Producers in some parts of the country may have missed the best
timing for the year’s last cutting of alfalfa, says Kansas State
University agronomist Jim Shroyer. “Depending on the weather in
October, producers can be tempted to make one last cutting in fall
before the first killing freeze. Often, though, that’s not a good
idea. The timing of the last cutting can have a long-lasting impact on
the productivity of the stand.”
At this stage of the growing season, Shroyer explains, alfalfa plants
need to store enough carbohydrates to survive the winter. “So even if
significant growth has occurred, a last cutting in mid-October could
reduce root reserves during a critical time.”
If root reserves are not replenished adequately before fall’s first
killing freeze (24-26 degrees), the stand will be more susceptible than
usual to winter damage. That, in turn, could result in slower green-up
and early growth next spring.
Shroyer recommends timing the last cutting before fall dormancy so the
crop has four to six weeks of growth time (for 8-12” of foliage)
before the average first killing-freeze date. That should allow adequate
time for restoring root reserves.
“About the worst thing that could happen to an alfalfa stand that’s
cut in mid-October would be for the plants to regrow about 3-6” and
then get a killing frost,” he says. “In that scenario, the root
carbohydrate reserves would be at a low point, and that certainly could
hamper green-up next spring.”
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The first frost of the fall season typically brings questions from
livestock producers about whether or not it’s safe to hay or graze
frosted alfalfa, notes Steve Barnhart, Iowa State University extension
forage specialist. His response: “Frost-injured alfalfa, clovers and
the commonly used perennial cool-season forage grasses do not have the
potential to form hydrodynamic acid, are not considered toxic and can be
safely grazed or harvested for hay or silage following a frost. There is
probably a slightly higher bloat risk for grazed alfalfa and white
clover the first few days after a frost. Follow normal bloat-preventing
grazing management when grazing alfalfa and clover.”
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 Know where to find the best alfalfa? It’s Syngenta for
varieties like Genoa, three-time Forage Superbowl grand champion and
new 6475 with PLH resistance. For these and other Syngenta alfalfas,
see your Garst seed advisor, Golden Harvest dealer or NK retailer.
The Syngenta logo is a trademark of a Syngenta Group
Company.
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Despite the recent weakness in commodity prices, prices of
high-quality farmland continued to show strength in a series of early
fall sales held by a leading farm real estate auction company in
Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
"September and early October provided a good test for agricultural land
prices, and we continued to see the trends that became established in
the spring and summer – strong prices on high-quality ag land with
weakness in prices of lower-quality land," says Rex Schrader, president
of Schrader Real Estate & Auction Co. "The lower commodity prices have
had no measurable impact on the prices for the better farms. The
supply-demand ratio is continuing to work in the favor of strong land
prices.
"On the buy side, we're continuing to see strong crowds and energetic
bidding. This, combined with the limited supply of land for sale, seems
to be providing support for strong prices."
In many cases, farmland that had shot up in price because of location
and development potential is reverting to pricing based on its
agricultural use. "With little development occurring, and with the
demand for country lots drying up, we're seeing less of a premium for
land in areas where development is likely," Schrader says.
For a rundown on recent sale results in the three states and more of
Schrader’s observations, visit www.schraderauction.com.
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Forage growers attending the Oct. 20-22 Sunbelt Ag Expo at Spence
Field in Moultrie, GA, will find plenty to hold their interest, says
Dennis Hancock, University of Georgia extension forage specialist.
A highlight of this year’s event is a full slate of in-field hay
equipment demonstrations on Tuesday and Wednesday. To help attendees
make more sense out of what they see at the demonstrations, Hancock has
put together a set of basic bullet points on different styles of hay
cutting, conditioning, tedding, raking and round-baler implements. Check
it out here.
Extension specialists from throughout the Southeast will be on hand
during the expo at an “Ask the Expert” booth in the cattle pavilion.
“We’ll try to help answer any questions you have on forage
management, beef cattle production, economic outlooks for the beef
industry in the coming months or any other related subject,” says
Hancock. There will also be a series of seminars on forage management,
cattle production issues and cattle handling techniques on each day of
the expo.
Winning hay samples from the annual Southeast Hay Contest will be on
display next to the Ask the Expert booth. “Some of these hay samples
are quite exotic,” says Hancock. “It is definitely worth your time
to stop by and see some of these winning entries.”
For more information on the expo, go to www.sunbeltexpo.com.
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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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$2.94 Average price of small square
straw bales in the Midwest as of early October, according to University
of Wisconsin Extension’s Weekly Hay Market Demand and Price Report
for the Upper Midwest. Large square bales were bringing an average
of $27.50/bale, while large round bales were fetching $25 on average. To
see the full report, click
here.
25 Number of states represented with
entries in the 2009 World’s Forage Analysis Superbowl held in
conjunction with World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI, earlier this month.
For more information about the superbowl, click
here.
28 Percent of rural Nebraskans who feel
they are worse off financially now than they were five years ago,
according to the 2009 Nebraska Rural Poll conducted by the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln earlier this year. Only 43% of respondents say they are
better off than they were five years ago, down from an all-time high of
53% polled a year ago. More than 2,800 people living in Nebraska’s 84
non-metropolitan counties participated in the poll. This year’s survey
was the 14th-annual poll. Complete results are available at cari.unl.edu/ruralpoll/.
4,000 Number of milk cows at New Sweden
Dairy LLL near New Sweden, MN. Davis Family Dairies and the University
of Minnesota (U of M) announced the opening of the facility last month.
Along with the milking operation, the dairy also has dormitories,
classrooms and laboratories that will be used by the U of M’s College
of Veterinary Medicine. Pfizer Animal Health, Cambria Natural Quartz
Surfaces, Davisco Foods International, Inc., Zinpro, Diamond V and
AgStar are also involved in the project as founding sponsors.
1.36 million Number of cows currently in
Alberta’s beef cattle herd, representing a 25% decrease from year-ago
levels, according to a report by Reuters last week. Severe drought and
escalating feed prices are major factors. The report notes that
beef-quality hay in the province is now selling for 4-6 cents/lb
(Canadian), “about double the normal price.”
$1.7 billion Amount that USDA will pay out
to U.S. producers enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in
fiscal year 2010. Currently, 33.7 million acres are enrolled. To see a
table listing acreage enrollments by state, number of contracts, number
of farms and CRP projected rental payments for fiscal 2010, click
here.
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Manitoba
Producers on this side of the U.S.-Canada border weren’t the only
ones hurt by erratic weather during the 2009 growing season.
“We faced the same kinds of problems that growers in Nebraska, South
Dakota and neighboring states faced this year,” says Phil Friesen of
Southman Alfalfa Producers Ltd. in Crystal City, Manitoba. “For sure,
we had a lot of humidity and moisture. It was hard to get quality hay
put up.”
Southman grows mostly alfalfa and alfalfa-grass mixed hay on 2,000
acres. The hay is packaged in 3 x 3 x 8’ bales. “This was the first
year in all my years of farming that I only had two cuttings,” says
Friesen. “Normally I get three.”
Friesen was part of a contingent representing the Manitoba Forage
Council (MFC) at the World Dairy Expo trade show in Madison, WI, earlier
this month. He reports that traffic at the MFC booth was slower than
normal at this year’s show. “Those who came indicated they would be
looking for hay next year. Cash flow is tight, but they still need hay.
From what we heard, it looks like things might loosen up in a month or
two.”
There seemed to be above-normal interest in buying hay on the part of
foreign buyers attending the show, Friesen adds. “(That) could lead to
alternative hay sales. But, again, interest is not sales.”
To learn more about Southman Alfalfa Producers, go to www.haysource.ca. To contact Friesen,
call 204-873-2001 or email phil@haysource.ca.
Oklahoma
With more acres coming back into production in 2009, alfalfa supplies in
the south-central part of the state should be more than adequate to meet
local winter needs, says Michael Pettijohn, Oklahoma State University
extension ag agent in Grady County. “I wouldn’t call it overflowing.
But there is plenty of supply around.”
County alfalfa acreage slipped dramatically from nearly 45,000 acres at
the start of 2007 to around 18,000 acres in 2008. “We had serious
flooding as the result of a hurricane in 2007, and that took a lot of
acres out of production,” says Pettijohn. “Last year, a lot of
farmers rotated their alfalfa ground into wheat. This year, a lot of
that ground went back into alfalfa.”
Even so, prices have held up fairly well, says Pettijohn. No. 1 cow
alfalfa (20% crude protein with green stems) is currently fetching
around $120-130/ton. “Some people are getting a little more, some are
getting a little less.”
Most of the premium dairy hay (170 relative feed value and above)
produced in the area this year has already been sold, Pettijohn adds.
“If there is some of that kind of hay to be found, it's mostly because
prices have backed off (from last year’s highs) and growers don’t
want to give it away.” According to a recent report from the Oklahoma
Department of Agriculture, premium-quality large squares are selling for
$145-160/ton. Movement is slow. A year ago, the price was $170-180/ton.
Looking ahead to 2010, Pettijohn says hay growers are keeping close
watch on developments in the dairy industry. He notes that dairy-cow
numbers locally and in neighboring Texas have been declining. At the
same time, even more alfalfa acres could come back into production.
“We could be set up for a pretty good-sized surplus next year. And
that would likely add to the slide in prices.”
The state’s ag department maintains an online hay directory to link
buyers and sellers. It currently has about 100 listings. To access the
directory – updated regularly – go to www.oda.state.ok.us or call the
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Hay Hotline at 800-580-6543.
Pettijohn can be contacted at 405-224-2216 or michael.pettijohn@okstate.edu.
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Researchers from Mississippi State University (MSU) will discuss
tall fescue varieties containing novel endophytes free of organic
compounds toxic to livestock at an Oct. 24 Beef and Forage Field Day.
The field day will be held at the Prairie Research Unit of the
Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.
“Results suggest that these new forages hold promise for cattle
production in the South,” says MSU animal scientist Holly Boland.
Other items on the agenda include a presentation on current research
into utilizing native warm-season grass pastures, wildlife and
ecosystems and a discussion on methods used to measure transportation
stress in cattle. Participants will also have the opportunity to take a
hands-on pasture evaluation tutorial to learn appraisal techniques for
pastures.
There is no cost to attend, and lunch will be provided. For more
details, contact Boland at 662-369-4426 or htb32@msstate.edu.
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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. 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. 10 -- 2009 Alabama Forage Conference, University of West
Alabama, Livingston. For more information, contact Don Ball at
334-844-5491 or dball@aces.edu.
Dec. 13-16 -- Fourth National Conference On Grazing Lands, Reno,
NV. Presented by the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative. Visit www.glci.org.
Jan. 14-15 -- 2010 New Mexico Hay and Forage Conference, Ruidoso
Convention Center, Ruidoso, NM. Visit www.nmhay.com or call 575-626-5677.
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 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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