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Hay
Acreage Will Drop 2%, Says USDA
USDA’s March 31 Prospective Plantings report does
little to alleviate worries that hay supplies will become even tighter
in the coming year. The agency says growers expect to harvest 60.6
million acres of it this year, 2% fewer than in 2007. Harvested acreage
is expected to drop throughout most of the Great Plains, Southeast and
Southwest. Texas is expected to have the largest decrease – 390,000
acres. South Dakota and Nebraska are expected to be down 300,000 and
150,000 acres, respectively. However, acreage is forecast to increase in
most states in the northern Great Plains, Western Mountain regions and
Northeast. The states with the largest expected increases are North
Dakota, up 120,000 acres, and Montana, Wyoming, Kentucky, Ohio and
Pennsylvania, each up 50,000 acres. In the West, minor increases are
expected in Oregon, Nevada and California, while a 40,000-acre decline
is predicted for Washington state.
Corn growers intend to plant 86 million acres of corn for all purposes,
down 8% from last year’s acreage, which was the highest since 1944.
Soybean acreage is forecast at 74.8 million, an 18% increase but 1%
below the record set in 2006.
Acreage of all types of wheat is estimated at 63.8 million, up 6%. USDA
says growers planted 46.8 million acres of winter wheat, 4% more than
they planted the previous year.
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Forage
Analyses Are Estimates, Not Absolutes
by Fae Holin, Managing Editor, Hay & Forage
Grower
Analyzing forage quality is worthwhile – despite
forage testing problems among labs and between growers and labs, and
test-result disputes between hay buyers and sellers. That’s according
to Dan Undersander, extension forage specialist with the University of
Wisconsin, who spoke at the February National Alfalfa Symposium.
Wisconsin studies have shown that milk production decreases as forage
matures and its quality declines, he said. “Some people have the idea
that, when forage quality is low, they can just feed a little bit more
grain. This is not true.” Concentrates can increase milk production in
dairy cows fed mid-bloom alfalfa, but not nearly as much as when
higher-quality forage is fed, studies have shown.
The results of tests that analyze forage quality, however, are just
estimates, Undersander said. “I think sometimes nutritionists or
others tend to forget that. We’re taking a whole bunker silo, a whole
lot of hay and then we’re subsampling that and basically getting it
down to three or four spoonfuls to measure forage quality.”
The more cores taken in a sample and submitted for analysis, the less
variation within that sample and the more accurate the measurements. But
all samples have variation, he added. “Some people take three or four
or five cores, and you can expect a wide range around a point. But as
you take 20 or 25 cores, it’s less of a range.”
Variation is unavoidable, he said. Some is caused by growers or dairymen
taking samples incorrectly. But some variation is caused by lab
subsampling and analysis errors.
“With regards to the accuracy of the labs, we need to be asking a
number of questions: Does the lab run the entire sample you sent in or a
subsample of that? Additionally, we should be looking at what is
measured vs. what is calculated. And does this lab use standard or
modified procedures?” He mentioned that growers should use labs
certified by the National Forage Testing Association.
Undersander suggested that growers periodically have multiple samples
analyzed – in part to see the amount of variation. Take around 20 core
samples, but divide them into three sandwich bags. Then send the bags in
together to be analyzed for a mean value. “And if you get into an
issue with differences (in test results with hay buyers) down the road,
you can assure yourself that good samples were taken,” he advised.
(For more on multiple sampling, see “Ward Off Disputes” in May 2007
issue of Hay & Forage Grower or visit hayandforage.com/mag/ward_off_disputes/index.html.)
“Variation among labs is about twice the variation within labs,”
Undersander said. Some labs determine the amount of neutral detergent
fiber (NDF) in a sample using Association of Official Analytical
Chemists (AOAC) methodology. Others run NDF using the Cornell model,
which gives higher values than the other method. “The National Forage
Testing Association certification is based on AOAC methodology, but a
number of labs are actually running NDF using the Cornell model. “So
you need to know if this is an AOAC number or a Cornell number, because
there will be two to three points difference in fiber.”
“We have variation. If we quantify it we can deal with it. If we run a
single sample we never have any idea what the error around that sample
is. And it’s important to begin to quantify what the error is.”
For more on forage testing, watch for the May issue of Hay & Forage
Grower. For other recaps of other Symposium topics, visit hayandforage.com/alfalfasymposium.
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Manage
Wheat Companion Crop Differently
Seeding spring wheat instead of oats as an alfalfa
companion crop “can provide excellent additional income this year,”
say University of Wisconsin extension specialists. But they emphasize
that the crop must be managed differently than oats to ensure good
yields and a productive alfalfa stand after the wheat is removed. They
recommend seeding 1 bu of wheat/acre, which should result in about 18
plants/sq ft. Higher rates will stress the alfalfa more, perhaps
resulting in poor stands and lower yields in future years. Nitrogen
fertilization for the wheat crop should not exceed 40 lbs/acre, they
add.
Leafhoppers can attack alfalfa under a cover crop, so consider planting
a leafhopper-resistant variety. Choose a wheat variety with excellent
protein scores and make sure the seed is treated with a fungicide to
reduce the risk of loose smut. In addition, be prepared to watch for
plant diseases and spray with fungicide if necessary. Spring wheat is
more susceptible to a number of diseases than is winter wheat.
Another option to consider is planting the wheat this spring and then
seeding alfalfa in August after the wheat crop has been removed.
Late-summer alfalfa seedings work well if adequate moisture is available
for stand establishment. In this scenario, the Wisconsin experts
recommend seeding 2½ bu of wheat/acre, resulting in about 40 plants/sq
ft.
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Kentucky
Switchgrass Research Project Growing In 2008
The potential of using switchgrass to produce ethanol
and electricity is in its second year of study by University of Kentucky
(UK) College of Agriculture forage specialists and 20 farmers in the
northeastern part of the state.
The farmers involved in the four-year project are located within a
60-mile radius of Maysville. Seven are in the second year of the project
and most successfully established switchgrass on five-acre plots; 13
more will work to establish plots this year. Most of the switchgrass
will go to East Kentucky Power Cooperative's Spurlock Station in
Maysville as a possible coal supplement to produce electricity. "We knew
that one of East Kentucky Power Cooperative's generating units has a
fluidized bed delivery system and can burn a whole range of products,"
says Ray Smith, UK extension forage specialist. "So it's easy for it to
take a product like this and burn it directly."
The main goals for the project: determining if switchgrass can
sustainably and economically be grown and if viable markets for it can
be developed. The project is funded through a grant to the Kentucky
Forage and Grassland Council from the Kentucky Agricultural Development
Board.
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USDA
Extends Ag Census Deadline To June 1
The deadline for U.S. farmers to turn in ag census
forms has been extended to June 1, according to Carol House, National
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) deputy administrator. The
deadline extension from Feb. 4 is because a large number of the census
forms have not been returned, she says. “We are sending another form
out there again with encouragement to fill it out. We’ll give a little
bit of time and then we’re going to start calling people. Of course,
calling costs money, taxpayer dollars, so hopefully producers will fill
it out before we have to make phone calls.”
Responding to the census, conducted every five years, is required by law
and the privacy of answers given is protected. If producers aren’t
filling out the forms because they have questions, they should call NASS
at 888-424-7828, House says. The census also can be submitted online at
www.agcensus.usda.gov.
Source: Southeast Farm Press.
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Minnesota
Kevin Nelson of Nelson Hay Co., Hadley, is counting the
days until the Minnesota Horse Expo on April 25-27 at the Minnesota
State Fairgrounds. He sells hay to horse clients throughout Minnesota
and surrounding states, and uses his booth at the Horse Expo trade show
to gain new customers and renew hay delivery contracts with existing
customers. He has been mailing contracts out to existing customers and
expects to have limited amounts of hay to contract this year.
“After the drought last year, I had to make sure all contracts were
filled,” he states. “Unfortunately, I had to turn down a lot of
call-ins because of the shortage. Corn and bean markets are pushing up
land rent prices. Due to the cash rent and fertilizer cost increases, I
have to raise the hay price $25/ton. I haven't accounted for fuel price
increases on the production side, because I hope those will come down
during the season, or it is my loss. I do expect sales to be down due
to the economy.” Nelson, who figures he’s about 60 days away from
taking a first cutting, is going to offer a $15/ton price difference
between small square bales and medium square bales. “I am hoping to
get customers to switch over to the medium squares to make baling,
handling and deliveries more efficient,” he says. “Small squares are
time- and labor-intensive.”
Nelson’s contract customers pick their prices based on delivery time.
If they ask for fall delivery, they pay an extra $5/ton for storage.
Delivery during January through March results in an extra $10/ton
storage fee. “The quicker I can get it out of my shed the less risk I
have,” Nelson says. He asks for a $30/ton down payment to secure
contracts.
He sends customers regular email newsletters and also has a Web site at
www.nelsonhayco.com.
Contact Nelson at 507-836-6181.
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Dairy
Nutrition Conference Is April 22-23
The Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, to be held
April 22-23 at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne, IN, will focus on
nutrition and animal health, heifer management and feeding management
strategies. The conference is a collaborative effort among Ohio State,
Michigan State and Purdue universities.
The deadline to register for the $150/person cost is April 4; late
registrations will be $180/person. For additional information or group
discount rates, call Michelle Milligan at 614-292-7374 or email her at
milligan.4@osu.edu. For program
details, visit tristatedairy.osu.edu/agenda.htm.
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Calendar
April 1-3 -- Dairy Calf And Heifer Conference,
Mayo Civic Center, Rochester, MN. Learn more at www.calfandheifer.org.
April 4-6 -- Hoosier Horse Fair & Expo, Indiana State
Fairgrounds, Indianapolis. Learn more at www.indianahorsecouncil.org/horse_fair.htm.
April 10-13 -- Ohio Equine Affaire, Ohio Expo Center, Columbus.
Visit www.equineaffaire.com.
April 18-20 -- Midwest Horse Fair, Alliant Energy Center,
Madison, WI. Visit midwesthorsefair.com.
April 25-27 -- Minnesota Horse Expo, Minnesota State Fairgrounds,
St. Paul. Visit www.mnhorseexpo.org.
May 16 -- North Carolina State University Horse Forage Management
Short Course, Ramada Inn Blue Ridge, Raleigh. Special emphasis on
maximizing use of forages and hay or pasture to economically meet
horses' nutrient requirements. Learn more at www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/horse/SC_Clinic/SCmain.htm.
June 6-8 -- Western States Horse Expo, Cal Expo Fairgrounds,
Sacramento, CA. Call 800-352-2411 or visit www.horsexpo.com.
June 11-12 -- Four-State Dairy Nutrition And Management
Conference,
Grand Harbor Conference Center, Dubuque, IA. Covering dairy industry
topics for Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota. Contact Evonne
Hausman at ehausman@uiuc.edu.
July 11-13 -- North Carolina Equine Extravaganza, North Carolina
State Fairgrounds, Raleigh. Learn more at www.equineextravaganza.com.
Sept. 17-20 -- National Hay Association Convention, Oak Brook
Hills Marriott, Oak Brook, IL. Contact Don Kieffer at 800-707-0014, or
visit www.nationalhay.org.
Sept. 30-Oct. 4 -- World Dairy Expo, Alliant Energy Center,
Madison, WI. Visit www.worlddairyexpo.com.
Oct. 31-Nov. 2 -- Virginia Equine Extravaganza, Richmond Raceway,
Richmond. Learn more at www.equineextravaganza.com.
Nov. 6-7 -- 2008 Beef Quality Summit, sponsored by BEEF
magazine, Antlers Hilton Hotel, Colorado Springs, CO. Visit beefconference.com/.
Nov. 13-16 -- Massachusetts Equine Affaire, Eastern States
Exposition Center, West Springfield. Visit www.equineaffaire.com.
Feb. 15-16, 2009 -- Southwest Hay And Forage Conference, Ruidoso,
NM. Contact Gina Sterrett at 575-626-5677 or Justin Boswell at
575-840-9908.
June 21-23, 2009 -- American Forage & Grassland Council Annual
Conference, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI. Call
800-944-2342 or email info@afgc.org.
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Send Questions & Comments
To...
Lora Berg, Editor,
eHay Weekly,
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.
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