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Winter
Cutworm Poses New Threat To Northern Hayfields
Northern hay growers may want to watch for a winter
cutworm that can damage alfalfa fields, grass pastures and small-grain
crops, say Michigan State University experts. The cutworm is actually
the larval stage of the greater yellow underwing moth, says Jerry
Lindquist, Osceola County extension director. A somewhat unexpected
outbreak caused damage in the northern half of Michigan’s Lower
Peninsula in 2007.
“This is a new pest to the U.S., although it has been a problem in
Europe and Canada for some time,” he says. “There hasn’t been
documented economic damage in the U.S. from winter cutworms before.
These cutworms are a lot like armyworms. The unusual thing about them is
that they can survive cold temperatures. The larvae emerge and feed in
September and then overwinter. There have been reports of people seeing
them crawling over the snow. Hay producers should start looking for
damage in April and May.”
The caterpillars are sandy brown to black and range from 1” to 3”
long. “They feed in the evening or after dark and can be found on
plant leaves,” Lindquist says. “On cooler days they may hide at the
base of the plant. Signs of early feeding may appear when fields don’t
green up as expected. You will often see large groups of the
caterpillars at one time.” The caterpillar eventually forms a cocoon
in May and June and then becomes a moth. Eggs are laid in August and the
larvae hatch out in September and begin feeding again, so fall crop
damage can also occur.
Harvesting the crop can remove the caterpillar’s food supply. Economic
thresholds for treatment have not been established, but Michigan State
entomologists recommend that action be taken if four or more larvae are
seen per square foot. Growers who used pyrethroid insecticides last year
reported good control, says Lindquist.
Learn more about the winter cutworm in the most recent issue of the
Michigan State University Field Crop Advisory Team Alert
newsletter at www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08field/fc04-03-08.htm#1.
Contact Lindquist at 231-832-6139 or lindquis@msu.edu.
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University
Of Nebraska Offers Online Forage Course
An independent study course being offered online
through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) this summer will
include in-depth information about the chemical characteristics behind
forages. The course will cover the way forage feeding value interacts
with ruminant physiology and digestion. It also will address the
laboratory procedures used to evaluate forages for grazing livestock.
Those interested in taking the course should have an understanding of
the basic principles of chemistry, ruminant nutrition and plant
physiology. This online course will be offered through UNL in the second
five-week summer session. Contact Dennis Brink, animal scientist, at
402-472-6446 or dbrink2@unl.edu, or
Walter Schacht, agronomist, at 402-472-0205 or wschacht1@unl.edu for further
details and registration information.
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Be
Patient When Grazing Native Range
High feed and fuel costs have many ranchers eager to
put cows out on grass as soon as possible this spring. But range
specialists caution that early spring grazing can have negative effects
on season-long forage yields of native rangelands.
North Dakota research suggests that grazing native range before the
third-leaf stage can reduce carrying capacity by up to 50% in some
situations, says Eric Mousel, South Dakota State University extension
range livestock production specialist. “The effects of early grazing
on improved pastures are likely not as pronounced due to differences in
management, climate and level of agronomic inputs. But a reduction of
10-30% in carrying capacity is not out of the question.”
Optimal turnout time depends on the type of vegetation available on
native range and pastures, Mousel says. Crested wheatgrass, for example,
typically greens up a week to two earlier than most other cool-season
forage species. “To avoid season-long reductions in forage yield,
grazing managers should wait until crested wheatgrass reaches a height
of 4-6” before turning cattle out.”
Turnout on taller species such as smooth bromegrass and intermediate
wheatgrass should be delayed until plants reach about 8”. Mousel notes
that key forage species on native range, such as western wheatgrass,
green needlegrass, etc., typically take longer to develop to the
third-leaf stage than do improved species. In most years, turnout on
native range should be delayed until key forage species are at least
4-6” tall, which is typically near the end of May or first part of
June in South Dakota.
Conversely, warm-season tallgrasses can benefit from light, early season
grazing. Research in east-central Nebraska revealed that grazing big
bluestem at a light stocking rate in mid-May can improve utilization
later in the grazing season without reducing season-long yield. However,
those species still shouldn’t be grazed until they reach the
third-leaf stage, or about 10” in height, says Mousel.
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Idaho
Not much hay is available in Idaho, reports Glenn
Shewmaker, University of Idaho extension forage specialist. “There
isn’t going to be much carryover, and certainly nothing of quality,”
he says. “It is still winter in the uplands, and snow is still on the
ground in some areas. Producers will still be feeding hay for two weeks
to one month. We have had cooler-than-normal temperatures and alfalfa is
at least 10 days to two weeks behind schedule. It’s the same story
with the grass on the range.” Shewmaker says there has been plenty of
moisture this winter, which should help hay growers recover from last
summer’s dry conditions. Snow pack has been normal to slightly above
normal and snow depths have been good. There has been some ice sheeting
in parts of the state, which may have damaged stands.
The cool-weather delay may have implications all summer. “I’m
looking for the first cutting to be below normal in yield and maturity.
Cutting before the alfalfa or grass has built up non-structural
carbohydrate reserves might be a problem. We could lose 5-10% of our
yield all year as a result.” The first cutting usually occurs between
May 1 and 16 in lower-elevation areas of the state. “The first crop
for dairy hay is typically fed green-chopped or put in a bag because we
have to put hay up by Memorial Day due to our weather,” Shewmaker
says.
Fertilizer prices are a big concern among the state’s hay growers.
Shewmaker is urging them to fine-tune fertility management. He says
growers should try to have phosphates at good levels before planting,
and that soil tests are especially valuable when making fertilizer
decisions. “High fertilizer prices make manure and use of legumes in
the rotation more valuable than ever.”
He expects some Idaho hay acres have been lost to wheat and barley this
year. In the meantime, hay demand continues to grow due to a strong
export market, and still more dairies are coming on line. Dairy owners
are buying land to make sure they have sources of feed and forage.
Shewmaker expects hay demand to stay strong into the next year.
Contact Shewmaker at 208-736-3608.
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Michigan
“I don’t think growers can produce enough hay in
one year to offset the short supply in Michigan,” says Jerry
Lindquist, Osceola County extension director. “We went into the winter
with depleted hay supplies, and we’re going into the spring with the
shortest hay supplies I’ve seen in 25 years.” The state’s
livestock producers stretched feed supplies to get through the winter.
In the past, Michigan producers had hay shipped in from states like
Nebraska and the Dakotas when supplies were short. But high fuel costs
this year made that hay too expensive. “People have had to take
evasive action to avoid a wreck,” he says. “Many herds have culled
cows.” Producers should be able to start turning livestock out to
pasture around May 1 in many parts of the state. The first cutting is
expected to start around May 25.
Fields in some parts of Michigan were covered by sheets of ice in late
January, and the ice stayed until March. There is some fear that
hayfields were damaged, although no reports have come in yet. Overall,
Lindquist says good snow cover and an easy melt-off helped replenish
soil moisture levels and could contribute to a good first cutting. Last
year was very dry throughout the state.
Contact Lindquist at 231-832-6139.
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Wisconsin
Unexpected spring snows the past few weeks have
probably slowed alfalfa growth and may reduce first-cut yields in
Wisconsin, predicts Dan Undersander, extension forage specialist with
the University of Wisconsin.
“We are running about a week or two late. Alfalfa is usually about
6-8” tall now. It hasn’t started growing yet,” Undersander says.
“The snow is largely gone and we’re finally getting close to normal
temperatures. Normal temps are 52 degrees and we haven’t been up to
them in the last couple of weeks. We’re getting in the high 40s, but
not the 50s. We may not be planting late because alfalfa planting’s
not until the 15th or 20th of April around here and the soil temperature
could be warm enough by then. But first-cutting yield could be down a
little bit because we’ll have fewer growing degree days,” he
adds.
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Midwest
Horse Fair To Be Held April 18-20
The Midwest Horse Fair is set for April 18-20 at the
Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI. Attend educational seminars taught
by foremost equine experts or visit the extensive
horse-industry-specific trade show. The 29th annual event will feature
horse-training presentations and special events and performances for
horse enthusiasts. A Parade of Breeds and Disciplines will also be part
of the program.
Learn more at midwesthorsefair.com/.
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Minnesota
Horse Expo Coming April 25-27
The 26th Minnesota Horse Expo will be held April 25-27
at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. Hay growers will be
among the 600 vendors showcasing their offerings alongside other
equine-related products, equipment and services. Keynote speakers will
address horse nutrition topics such as choosing quality horse hay based
on hay analysis, and pasture management. More than 50,000 people are
expected to attend.
Learn more by calling 952-922-8666, or visit www.mnhorseexpo.org.
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Calendar
April 10-13 -- Ohio Equine Affaire, Ohio Expo
Center, Columbus. Visit www.equineaffaire.com.
May 1 -- Beef Cattle and Forage Crops Field Day, Kansas State
University’s Southeast Ag Research Center, Mound Valley Unit. Learn
more at www.oznet.ksu.edu/SEARC/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=16.
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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