|
|
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 non-profit agency’s effort to help buy affordable hay this fall
for livestock producers in 10 drought-stricken Texas counties has been a
success by just about every measure.
Over an eight-week period ending in mid-November, more than 6,100 large
round bales of grass hay were bought from suppliers in Texas, Oklahoma,
Arkansas and Louisiana at an average price of $49/bale delivered. Hay
bought through the program averaged about $31/bale lower than the going
market price in the mid-Gulf Coast region, estimates Jerry Pearce.
Pearce is coordinator of De-Go-La Resource Conservation and Development
District, the USDA-NRCS-sponsored non-profit group based in Victoria,
TX, that set up the program. (See the Sept. 22 edition of eHay
Weekly.)
“The total savings for producers in our area was somewhere around
$190,000,” he says, adding that 270 livestock owners were served
through the program. “It was a very rewarding experience. We were able
to help a lot of people who were in a bind get past a critical point.”
De-Go-La stopped taking new orders from producers seeking hay on Nov.
20. Those still looking for hay can contact the Texas Department of
Agriculture Hay
Hotline.
“Some pretty nice rains in October” have improved overall forage
conditions in the area, Pearce reports. “Pastures look a little
better, and some people have even been able to get a cutting of hay. But
I wouldn’t say the drought has broken. A lot of our hayfields and
pastures were hit very hard. It’s going to take awhile to recover.”
|
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
|
The quality-tested hay auction season will soon get under way in
eastern Wisconsin. The Dodge County Forage Council will hold its first
sale of the season on Dec. 1 at the Beaver Dam Auction Market near
Beaver Dam. Follow-up tested hay sales will take place on the first and
third Tuesdays of each month through the first week of April.
Forage testing for each sale is scheduled for 10 a.m. through noon to
allow time to process samples and print data sheets for buyers. Testing
fees will be collected for loads arriving after the noon deadline. The
hay sale begins at 1 p.m. Hay sale information, including sale dates
and current hay prices for the 2009-2010 season, will be available on
the Dodge County Forage Council Web
site.
“Tested hay sales provide the buyer with important information about
the load, such as percent moisture, crude protein, percent neutral
detergent fiber (NDF) and percent acid detergent fiber (ADF),” says
Matt Hanson, University of Wisconsin Extension agriculture agent in
Dodge County. “With that information, the hay quality is calculated
for the load of hay prior to the sale. Hay buyers benefit because they
have a very good idea how well-suited the hay will be for their
livestock. Sellers benefit as well because the sale is made on more than
just the visual appearance of the hay alone.”
Specific questions about the hay sale or the Beaver Dam Auction Market
can be directed to Dan Ritger at 414-333-8625. For additional
information, contact Hanson at 920-386-3790.
The Sheboygan (WI) County Forage Council will kick off its tested sale
season on Dec. 9. Additional sales are planned for the second Wednesdays
in January, February, March and April.
Auctions will take place at Chissy’s Restaurant in Waldo. Hay for sale
needs to be at the auction site by 10:30 a.m. on sale day. Auctions will
begin at 1 p.m.
For more information, contact Mike Ballweg at Sheboygan County
UW-Extension, 920-459-5904.
|
Beef producers who do a good job of sampling are more likely to get
accurate hay test results that will lead to good feeding decisions, says
University of Nebraska Extension forage specialist Bruce Anderson.
Deciding which bales and stacks to include in each sample is one of the
toughest parts of sampling, he says. “Ideally, each sample should
include only bales that were produced under nearly identical
conditions.”
As a starting point, Anderson recommends separating each type of hay –
alfalfa, cane, meadow hay, etc., – into its own group. Then separate
within each group by when hay was cut. Since no two fields or meadows
are exactly the same, especially if they were cut more than two days
apart, you’ll need still another grouping.
Also take into account whether hay in part of a field was rained on
before it was baled. “It is very likely that hay made without rain
damage will be different from hay with rain damage,” says
Anderson.
Once you’ve made all the separations, start sampling. Gather a dozen
or more cores from different bales or stacks within each group and
combine them into one sample. “Be sure to use a good hay probe that
can core into at least one foot of the bale,” advises Anderson.
|
 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.
|
A new online workshop aimed at helping ag producers understand
common financial statements and measures has been created by the
University of Minnesota’s Center for Farm Financial Management.
The free workshop – Interpreting
Financial Statements and Measures (IFSAM) – uses a video series to
teach producers the basics of four major financial statements and 21
financial measures recommended by the Farm Financial Standards Council.
As they work through the sessions, producers will utilize benchmarks
provided by actual farms to evaluate their own financial positions and
performance. Optional “test-your-knowledge” quizzes are available at
the end of each session. Total running time of the videos is around 2½
hours.
|
$2.35 Per-gallon cost of producing
cellulosic ethanol from corn cobs at Poet’s pilot ethanol production
plant in Scotland, SD. Poet would like to get the cost down to $2/gallon
by the time it starts up a commercial cellulosic plant in Emmetsburg,
IA, in 2011. Read more about the company’s plans at the Hay
& Forage Grower Web site.
30 Educational presentations planned for
the upcoming joint symposium of the Midwest Forage Association (MFA),
Wisconsin Custom Operators and Professional Nutrient Applicators. This
year’s meeting is scheduled for Jan. 25-27 at the Chula Vista Resort
in Wisconsin Dells, WI. Details will be coming soon to the MFA Web site.
65 Percent of respondents in a recent
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) survey who support corn ethanol
as a fuel alternative. The survey of 1,000 U.S. voters nationwide was
conducted in mid-September. For more details, visit NCGA’s
Web site.
79 Mississippi counties recently declared
primary natural disaster areas by USDA due to losses caused by severe
spring and fall flooding and summer drought.
$18,000 Total of cash prices to be awarded
to winners in the World Ag Expo Forage Challenge. New this year, the
contest is open to hay and growers in 11 Western states. Deadline for
entering samples is Jan. 8, 2010. Entry forms and contest rules are
available from World
Ag Expo.
$1.1 million Approximate price for 6,800
tons of alfalfa pellets bought for the 2009-2010 winter supplemental
feeding program at the National Elk Refuge near Jackson Hole, WY.
According to the Jackson Hole News and Guide, the cost is 45%
cheaper than it was last winter. Refuge officials expect this season’s
pellet deliveries to last into next winter’s feeding season.
|
 New from National Alfalfa &
Forage Alliance and Hay & Forage Grower
The Fall Dormancy & Pest Resistance Ratings for Alfalfa Varieties
2010 Edition is now available in print and online. National Alfalfa
& Forage Alliance produced and Hay & Forage Grower published the
2010 Varieties Guide. The 2010 Varieties Guide is well-regarded within
the alfalfa seed industry as the most accurate listing of alfalfa
varieties ratings available. Click here for the
2010 Alfalfa Varieties Guide.
|
California
Prices for high-quality alfalfa hay within the state have been pushing
up slightly in recent weeks and will likely move up more this winter,
says Rick Staas, CEO of the San Joaquin Valley Hay Growers Association,
a cooperative with 275 members spread throughout the state’s Central
Valley.
“(Prices) are nowhere near as good as they were last year,” he says.
“But they are a little better than they were earlier this fall and
certainly a lot better than they were throughout the summer. We still
have a lot of lost ground to make up, though.”
After hitting a low point of $150-160/ton in mid-2009, top-end dairy hay
in the Valley is currently bringing $175-180/ton delivered. A year ago,
the price topped out at around $250/ton.
Expectations of a tightening in supply this winter may be playing a role
in boosting prices. Grower reports indicate that average yields in 2009
were off by around ¾ ton/acre. Several factors contributed to the
slippage. “With the price of hay in the tank, some growers were
cutting earlier, trying to get higher quality that would bring a better
price. Others were cutting back on fertilizer and other inputs.”
At the same time, there’s been a bump up in demand. “A lot of
dairies didn’t get their hay bought early in the season like they
ordinarily would,” says Staas. “They either chose not to do it or
they weren’t able to get financing from lenders. Now, they’re buying
again. The market will tighten up a bit as we go through the winter,
especially on higher-quality hay.”
Hay acreages in the Central Valley will decline in 2010, Staas predicts.
“Seed dealers tell me orders for alfalfa seed are extremely light.
We’re still dealing with a water shortage, and prices for cotton and
other crops are picking up a little bit. A lot of older stands are not
going to be replaced next year.”
To contact Staas, call 209-835-1662 or email haygrower@caldsl.net.
Illinois
Prices for high-quality dairy alfalfa hay are well below those of a year
ago in Illinois and neighboring states, reports grower Kendall Guither,
Walnut.
Guither put up 6,500 medium square bales of alfalfa baleage on 430 acres
in 2009. His main market: Dairy farms. His customers have been paying
around $180/ton for top-of-the-line alfalfa baleage this fall. That’s
down $35-40/ton from last year’s prices. Prices for lower-quality
baleage have slipped by $40-50/ton. “Stuff that was bringing $190/ton
a year ago is now bringing $140-150/ton. There’s just more of that
kind of feed on the market. Growers understand they have to offer a
discount to move it, and dairy producers realize they can get it for a
little better price.”
Heading into the winter, prices will hold steady or even rise slightly
in the months ahead, Guither believes. “Milk prices have been coming
up a little bit. But a lot will depend how much they go up from this
point on. If dairy producers get another $1 for their milk, that will
probably make some difference (on what they’ll be willing to pay for
hay). If the milk price only goes up 50 cents, though, it may not make
any difference.”
To contact Guither, call 815-878-5175 or email kguither@cin.net.
|
Michigan farmers, agribusiness consultants and others can get
updates and recommendations for handling potential pest problems at the
upcoming Integrated Crop and Pest Management Update. The meeting is
scheduled for Dec. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Michigan State
University (MSU) Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education in
East Lansing.
Participants will have access to new research-based information from MSU
Extension specialists and other guest speakers. They’ll also receive
copies of the 2010 MSU Weed Control Guide and other related
bulletins. Speakers will also cover topics on biofuel crops and farm
safety practices during transportation and storage.
The registration fee is $50 before Dec. 11 and $60 after that date. That
includes lunch, refreshments and printed materials.
An online registration form is available through MSU’s Eaton
County Extension office.
|
Dec. 1 -- “Growing The Bioeconomy: Solutions For
Sustainability” conference. Registration
options and a conference
agenda are available online.
Dec. 1-2 -- Manitoba Grazing School, Victoria Inn, Brandon. Visit
www.mbforagecouncil.mb.ca, call 204-622-2006 or register
online.
Dec. 2-4 -- Western Alfalfa And Forage Conference, Grand Sierra
Resort & Casino, Reno, NV. Go to alfalfa.ucdavis.edu.
Dec. 4-5 -- Missouri Livestock Symposium, Kirksville Middle
School, Kirksville. Visit www.missourilivestock.com.
Dec. 9 -- 13th Annual University Of Wisconsin Arlington Dairy Day,
Arlington Agricultural Research Station. Registration is $25/person
through Nov. 25, then $35/person. For details, call 608-263-3308.
Dec. 10 -- 2009 Alabama Forage And Grassland Conference,
University of West Alabama, Livingston. 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.
Dec. 15 -- Mid-Missouri Grazing Conference, Boone County
Fairgrounds, Columbia. For more information, contact Ed Gillmore or
Peggy Lemons at 573-893-5188, ext. 3.
Jan. 13-14 -- Washington State Hay Growers Association Annual
Convention And Trade Show, Three Rivers Convention Center,
Kennewick. Details at www.wa-hay.org/convention.
Jan. 14-15 -- 2010 New Mexico Hay And Forage Conference, Ruidoso
Convention Center, Ruidoso, NM. Details to come at www.nmhay.com or call 575-626-5677.
Jan. 25-27 -- Midwest Forage Association, Wisconsin Custom Operators
and Professional Nutrient Applicators Symposium And Annual Meetings,
Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells, WI. For details, contact the
Midwest Forage Association.
Jan. 25-28 -- Virginia Forage And Grassland Council’s Winter
Conferences at four locations. Jan. 25 – Brandy Station
Fire Hall, Brandy Station; Jan. 26 – Mrs. Rowe’s Country
Buffet, Mt. Crawford; Jan. 27 – Southern Piedmont Ag Research
and Extension Center, Blackstone; Jan. 28 – Wytheville Meeting
Center, Wytheville. Contact Margaret Kenney at 434-292-5331 or download
the conference
brochure.
Feb. 2-3 -- 2010 Mid-America Alfalfa Expo, Buffalo County
Fairgrounds, Kearney, NE. For details, visit www.alfalfaexpo.com, call Barb
Kinnan at 800-743-1649 or email her at nebalf@cozadtel.net.
Feb 8-12 -- Minnesota Forage Days, held at various locations
throughout the state. Call 651-484-3888 or visit the University of Minnesota
forage Web site for specific locations, dates and times.
Feb. 16-17 -- Idaho Hay And Forage Conference, Best Western
Burley Inn, Burley. Contact Glenn Shewmaker at 208-736-3608 or gshew@uidaho.edu.
Feb. 18-20 -- 2010 Wisconsin Grazing Conference, Hotel Mead,
Wisconsin Rapids. Visit www.grassworks.org or contact
Heather Flashinski at 715-289-4896 or grassheather@hotmail.com.
April 8-9 -- Hay Production School, Spence Field, Moultrie, GA.
Details at www.georgiaforages.com.
June 21-23 -- American Forage And Grassland Council Annual
Conference, University Plaza Hotel, Springfield, MO. Details at www.afgc.org.
Sept. 5-7 -- National Hay Association Annual Meeting, Griffin
Gate Marriott Resort, Lexington, KY. Watch for details on the NHA Web site.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
