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Hay & Forage Grower
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Small square hay bale prices in the Midwest were up 19% compared to
those of a week earlier, according to the Weekly
Hay Market Demand and Price Report for the Upper Midwest, compiled
by the University of Wisconsin’s Ken Barnett.
Large square prices were down 9%, while large round prices were down 3%.
Barnett characterizes sales activity as “light to moderate.”
Missouri hay sales were particularly light, he reports. “Hay movement
is nearly non-existent, except for a few scattered sales to horse or
dairy farms. Many more trucks are finding other loads or are sitting as
opposed to hauling hay. High-quality alfalfa is a bit difficult to find,
but the heavy supply of lower- to mid-quality hay is overshadowing that
and just resulting in more sales of supplement.”
The average price of small-square straw bales in the Midwest as of Nov.
20 was $3.06/bale, up 2% from prices of the previous week. Large square
bale prices averaged $31.50/bale, up 21% from the previous week’s
prices. The average price for large round straw bales dropped to
$12/bale, down 70% from prices tabulated two weeks earlier.
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 Looking for top quality alfalfa? Syngenta has a complete
line-up of varieties for your needs. From Genoa, the three-time Forage
Superbowl winner to new 6552, a top performer in non-dormant areas. For
more, 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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Hay and forage growers in 11 Western states are reminded to submit
entries to the 2010 Forage Challenge, a new contest at World Ag Expo.
“This new event will allow farmers and ranchers the opportunity to
demonstrate their skills in producing high-quality forage while
challenging each other to some friendly competition,” says Bernie
Cargle, 2010 World Ag Expo chairman. Billed as the world's largest
annual agricultural exposition, the expo is scheduled for Feb. 9-11 at
the International Agri-Center in Tulare, CA.
Forage Challenge is open to farmers and ranchers from Arizona,
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
Washington and Wyoming. Cash prizes totaling $18,000 will be awarded
winning entries in three categories: alfalfa hay, standard corn silage
and brown midrib corn silage. Entries will be judged based on forage
analyses from three labs as well as on visual evaluations conducted by
dairy nutrition and forage production experts.
All forage samples must be submitted to the University of California
Davis by Jan. 8. Cost: $25/entry. Download
the entry form and contest rules.
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Don’t select an alfalfa variety the way you would a
discount-priced entree from a restaurant menu, recommends Shannon
Mueller, University of California (UC) Extension farm advisor in Fresno
County. “Variety decisions, when establishing an alfalfa stand, are
the first and foremost you can make because they affect the yield,
persistence, quality and pest management results for many years down the
road,” she says.
It takes less than one-tenth of one ton in yield to justify even a $2
increase in the price of seed, she notes. Many varieties may produce
yield differences worth 10 times that amount. That’s why seed price
– and promotional gifts – should be the last consideration. “The
only legitimate way to compare varieties is with side-by-side,
replicated trials where the alfalfa is grown under uniform conditions
and we have good control of the data used in the analyses.”
Results from UC multi-year variety trials, conducted throughout the
state each year, give growers a starting point for comparing new
varieties with established favorites and making informed and profitable
decisions. Along with yield data, the trials also generate information
about fall dormancy and pest resistance for roughly 300 varieties each
year.
Complete information about the variety trials is available on the
UC
alfalfa and forage Web site.
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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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Don’t buy into the notion that soil testing is an unnecessary
luxury when cash resources are stretched thin, says University of
Wisconsin (UW) soil scientist Matt Ruark. A common recommendation is to
collect one composite sample per five acres once every four years, he
points out. Using a ballpark rate of $7 for a routine soil analysis
(which includes pH, P, K and organic matter), that averages out to 35
cents/acre/year.
The information you get in return will allow you to make economically
optimum applications of lime and phosphorus and potash fertilizer. “In
these times of economic uncertainty, managing input costs is an
important component of farm sustainability,” says Ruark. More
information is available at the UW’s
Department of Soil Science Web site.
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A tutorial aimed at helping producers estimate the amount of
forage in their pastures is now available on the University
of Kentucky Forage Web site. Developed by Ed Rayburn of West
Virginia University and Jim Green of North Carolina State University,
the tutorial uses a slideshow featuring pictures of clovers and weeds
often found in mid-South and Southern pastures. It walks producers
through the identification/estimation process.
University of Illinois animal scientists have developed a
“Cost
of Feedstuffs Calculator” to help livestock managers, consultants
and veterinarians compare the cost of purchasing, transporting and
storing 120 different feedstuffs.
Iowa State University (ISU) has updated its Soil Management/Environment
Web site. The site offers information on past and current extension
and research projects relating to tillage and cropping systems, soil
carbon, residue management and cover crops. ISU Extension publications,
newsletter articles, refereed journal articles and relevant links are
listed under each area of interest. Several management/decision-making
tools – including residue and erosion calculators – are also
available on the site.
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 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.
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Missouri
Even with a plentiful supply of grass in pastures due to record-setting
rainfall this year, Missouri hay grower-dealer Bill Garrett, of Garrett
Hay in Golden City, says sales continue to push along steadily this
fall.
“We’ve actually been a little surprised at how well hay has been
moving recently,” says Garrett. “The grass we have here is unreal.
We had the wettest October on record and for the entire year we’re
10-15” above normal for rainfall depending on where you are.”
Garrett grows alfalfa-orchardgrass mixed hay on 300 acres (and other hay
on another 1,000 acres). Most of the hay is put up in 3 x 3 x 8’
medium square bales, but he also makes some small square and round
bales. About half of his production goes to dairies. The rest is split
evenly between the beef and horse hay markets. He has his own trucks and
also buys and resells hay, primarily in Missouri and neighboring states.
Because arranging backhauls on hay runs is difficult, he focuses most of
his marketing efforts within a 300-mile radius of home.
Sales were anything but brisk earlier in the year. “For the entire
year, we’re probably down a third on demand from where we were a year
ago,” Garrett says. “A lot of that has to do with the slump in the
dairy industry.”
High-quality dairy hay (150 RFV or better) is currently bringing around
$1/point delivered. That’s down roughly 10% from what it was a year
ago. Lower-quality alfalfa-orchardgrass hay prices are down by 25%.
“There’s just a lot more of that kind of hay around.”
The market for low-quality grass round bales in Garrett’s area has
crashed entirely. “People who have it are barely paying for the baling
cost.”
With top-flight hay in short supply, he expects prices will remain
stable over the next few months. “It’s still all about supply and
demand. Right now, the price is set more by supply than by demand.”
To contact Garrett, call 417-537-8368.
Pacific Northwest
Movement of hay in Washington and Oregon has slowed to a crawl in recent
weeks, reports Jack Getz, USDA Market News reporter at Moses Lake, WA.
“Dairies are only buying on an as-needed basis, and the exporters are
close to done for the year. They have their inventories bought up, so
they’re not as active as they were earlier in the year.”
Premium alfalfa dairy hay is selling for $115-145/ton at the stack,
about $100/ton off last year’s high. “That’s where prices have
been, and that’s where they’ll be for awhile, at least until the
milk price starts climbing a little more,” says Getz.
An adequate supply of hay is a key factor. “In California, we’ve
heard the really good hay is rapidly disappearing. But they didn’t
make that much of it this year. Here, though, it looks like we have
enough of a supply there won’t be that much pressure on prices. I
wouldn’t call it an oversupply, but there’s still plenty of hay to
be bought.”
Horse hay prices have dropped around $80-100/ton from year-ago levels.
“There seem to be fewer horses around and horse owners aren’t
feeding as much hay as they used to,” says Getz.
To contact Getz, call 509-765-3611 or email jack.getz@ams.usda.gov.
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An update on Roundup Ready alfalfa, irrigation management to
conserve water and nitrogen needs in wheat following alfalfa will be
among the featured topics at an ag production and pest management
workshop in Yuma, AZ, on Dec. 10.
The workshop will be held at the Yuma Agriculture Center. For more
information, call 928-726-3904.
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The Northeast Washington Hay Growers Association will hold its
annual meeting on Dec. 5 at John’s Automotive in Clayton.
Along with the annual business meeting, there will be presentations on
evaluating hay for nutritional quality, fertilizer management for
alfalfa, managing toxic plants in hay and commercial vehicle
registrations.
A
registration brochure is available online.
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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. 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. Details to come at www.nmhay.com or call 575-626-5677.
Jan. 15 -- Heart Of America Grazing Conference, Roberts Centre,
Wilmington, OH. A registration
brochure is available online.
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 visit vaforages.org-Beef-Brochure.pdf.
Feb. 2-3 -- 2010 Mid-America Alfalfa Expo, Buffalo County
Fairgrounds, Kearney, NE. 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.
Feb. 25 -- Kentucky Alfalfa Conference, Cave City Convention
Center, Cave City. More
information can be found online.
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.
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