November 2019 Hay Pellets

November 26, 2019

• USDA pegged October milk production at 18.1 billion pounds, up 1.3 percent from a year ago. Production per cow averaged 1,941 pounds during the month, 33 pounds above October 2018. The number of milk cows on U.S. farms was 9.33 million head, 40,000 head less than October 2018 but 5,000 head more than the previous month.

• Cattle and calves on feed for the U.S. slaughter market (feedlots with capacity at least 1,000 head) totaled 11.8 million head on November 1. The inventory was 1 percent above one year ago. Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.48 million head, which was 10 percent above 2018.

• The University of Florida has released some new cereal grain forage varieties.

• The American Farm Bureau Federation's 34th annual survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year's feast for 10 is $48.91, or less than $5.00 per person. This is a 1-cent increase from last year's average of $48.90.

• This year’s Thanksgiving trivia: A turkey has about 3,500 feathers and a wide range of vision, about 270 degrees.

November 19, 2019

• Hay & Forage Grower is in the process of accepting applications for our 2020 summer editorial internship. Click here for more details.

• In New York, it looks as though 2019 corn silage quality will fall somewhere between 2017 and 2018.

• All hay exports from California ports in September were up 4.4 percent from one year ago and hit the highest total since June 2017, according to The Hoyt Report.

• Stockpiled limpograss may have potential in the Florida Panhandle.

• An Ohio State University extension educator warns that grass awns can cause significant health issues in animals.

November 12, 2019

• With a lull in trade war tariffs, China imported 97,371 metric tons (MT) of U.S. alfalfa hay during September. That volume represents the country’s highest monthly total of purchased U.S. alfalfa since December 2017. Total world exports of alfalfa hay from January through September currently stand at 2 percent higher than one year ago.

• Forage quality was way down in 2019 based on this report from the University of Arkansas.

• Have your hay and eat it, too, say Ohio State University Extension specialists.

• What state’s farmers use the most nitrogen fertilizer on their corn? According to USDA 2018 fertilizer use data, Ohio gets that honor with an average of 175 pounds per acre. Neighboring Illinois farmers were next at 172 pounds per acre, followed by Missouri farmers at 169 pounds per acre. Of the reported states, New York farmers applied the least amount of nitrogen per corn acre with a rate of 96 pounds.

• If you harvested corn silage during cold/freezing temperatures, be reminded that everything will move slower from a fermentation standpoint as the silage mass will tend to hold the harvest-day temperature. This means a slower drop in pH, a slower rise in starch digestibility, and a slower release of nitrates.

• Kansas State University Extension offers values on the nutritive value of corn and sorghum residue along with some grazing recommendations.

November 5, 2019

• University of Nebraska Extension offers some advice on what to do with wet hay.

• Minnesota research shows that alfalfa doesn’t need fall potassium fertilizer to enhance winter hardiness.

• In this bit of interesting research from the University of Illinois, the movement of food and feed in the U.S. can now be visualized. Los Angeles County, Calif., accounts for both the most outgoing and incoming amount of food and feed products.

• Iowa State University provides a look at the winter weather outlook for 2019 through 2020.

• The Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium kicks off on November 19. It’s time to get registered.