October 2018 Hay Pellets

October 30, 2019

• Applications are now being sought for our Hay & Forage Grower summer editorial intern in 2019. College students currently in their sophomore year or later are encouraged to apply.

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is favoring a mild winter for much of the U.S.

• The 7th National Grazing Lands Conference will be held in Reno, Nev., from December 2 to 5. More information is available here.

• University of Georgia forage and livestock specialists recently offered guidance to deal with pasture, hay, feed, and livestock losses caused by Hurricane Michael.

• Grass tetany can be a problem in the fall, warns this South Dakota State University veterinarian.

October 23, 2018

• September milk production was up 1.3 percent compared to one year ago, according to USDA’s Milk Production report. The boost in milk was a result of 30 pounds more milk per cow being harvested. The U.S. dairy herd actually dropped by 32,000 head from September 2017.

• Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. totaled 11.4 million head on October 1, according to USDA’s Cattle on Feed report. The inventory was 5 percent above one year ago and is the highest October 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.05 million head, 5 percent below 2017.

• Emily Meccage, Montana State University’s extension forage specialist, recently outlined Montana’s current forage situation.

• John D. Russell was named Haymaker of the Year at the National Hay Association’s 123rd Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Mo., last month. Russell owns and operates JD Russell Hay and Straw in Pemberville, Ohio.

• Agricultural damage from Hurricane Michael is forecast to exceed $3 billion in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. The bulk of that damage occurred in Georgia. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said USDA will seek supplemental aid appropriations from Congress.

October 16, 2018

• Total alfalfa hay exports from the U.S. during August totaled 210,721 metric tons (MT), according to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. This was down 6.6 percent from July but up 3 percent from August 2017.

• Year-to-date alfalfa hay exports through August total 1,686,761 MT, down 9 percent from the same period last year. China’s shortfall of 163,311 MT so far in 2018 compared to 2017 accounts for about 99 percent of the total U.S. export decline.

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) started the first half of the year by importing far less U.S. alfalfa than they did in 2017. That trend changed during July and August. The UAE total in August was 31,896 MT, more than twice the amount they imported during the same month last year.

• North Dakota State University reminds livestock producers that there are considerations to keep in mind when grazing alfalfa or sorghum species after a killing frost.

• Last week’s Illinois Production Cost Report pegged the average retail price of bulk urea (46-0-0) at $405.83 per ton, or about 44 cents per unit. The bulk price was up $15 per ton from two weeks ago. Potash (0-0-60) averaged $368.87 per ton, or about 31 cents per unit. The potash price was $7.67 per ton higher than two weeks ago.

October 9, 2018

• Corteva Agriscience will focus alfalfa breeding efforts on dormant and semi-dormant varieties. They will maintain alfalfa breeding stations in West Salem, Wis., and Connell, Wash.

• Add California to the list of states that is in a battle with the sugarcane aphid.

• There was an advantage for shredlage in beef finishing rations in this Nebraska study.

• Alforex Seeds is expanding their Hi-Gest alfalfa lineup with AFX 460, which carries a fall dormancy rating of 4.

• Registration is open for the California Alfalfa & Forage Symposium, which will be held November 27 to 29 in Reno, Nev.