Despite bad weather, more than 200 people came to hear alfalfa-related topics ranging from forage testing to the Roundup Ready alfalfa debate at the2008 National Alfalfa Symposium in Kearney, NE. Hosted by Hay & Forage Grower and the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association, a wealth of information was offered by university specialists from Nebraska, Kentucky, Wisconsin and California, as well as by grower and industry experts.
Over the next several weeks, Hay & Forage Grower will provide recaps of many of the topics covered. This week, the presentation made by University of Wisconsin forage specialist Dan Undersander – Manipulating Hay Swath To Speed Drying – was analyzed and four articles from it focus on:
· Using wide swaths, particularly in haylage, to cut drying time, save costs and produce a higher-quality product.
· The advantages and disadvantages of flail/impeller and rubber roller mower-conditioners, superconditioners and macerators.
· The worthiness of raking, tedding, merging and other haying practices as well as some relatively new machinery developments.
· How to reduce the amount of ash picked up when harvesting forage.