Forages from the farmer’s perspective

Farming can be just as much about crop and livestock production as it is about personal growth. Learning from mistakes, taking opportunities, and having aspirations is what moves farm businesses forward. That was a common theme at the American Forage and Grassland Council’s Forage Spokesperson Contest last week in Kissimmee, Fla.

This year, six forage spokespersons were nominated by their respective state affiliate forage and grassland councils to present a 15-minute overview of their operation to the national group. Speakers were encouraged to emphasize how their forage management contributes to their product marketing and farming objectives. Then, a panel of judges gave scores according to each individual’s innovativeness, application of sound principles, communication skills, and overall enthusiasm.

The top three placings went to a Kentucky beef farmer, a haymaker from Indiana, and a sheep grazier from Ohio. Champion spokesperson Jason Thompson from Tompkinsville, Ky., shared a meaningful message with the audience, getting candid about changing perspectives and having integrity.

A humble herdsman

Throughout his presentation, Thompson explained how he has become more intentional about growing forage and raising cattle, giving credit to other experts, neighbors, and friends for their help in the process. He first thanked Chris Teutsch, a forage extension specialist with the University of Kentucky, for demonstrating the costs and benefits of unrolling round bales in the winter.

In the past, Thompson avoided unrolling round bales when diesel prices spiked — especially when prices were over $5 per gallon. He thought refraining from this practice was the most economical option. But when Thompson learned from Teutsch that unrolling one bale of hay could disperse the equivalent of $40 worth of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium onto his grazing acres, he reconsidered his money-saving tactic.

“After that, I went out to the farm with a 140-horsepower tractor, and I unrolled hay,” Thompson said. In that time, the fuel gauge on the dash read that only 1.25 gallons of diesel fuel was consumed.

Considering the fertilizing potential of winter bale feeding, Thompson felt humbled by his original stubbornness to save fuel. Now, by unrolling bales for the 400 cows on his property despite diesel prices, he estimates that he adds nearly $320 to $400 worth of nutrients back to his pastures — and his pocketbook — every day.

Over time, Thompson has also redirected his approach to annual forages by adding cereal rye, hairy vetch, and crimson clover to his fall ryegrass seedings. He grazes these stands in the spring before cutting them for hay in mid-May. He also has a field of crabgrass where he grazes weaned steers in the summer.

Spring grazing is another area of improvement Thompson has identified on his farm. “I’ve always held off and waited to work cattle before I turn them out, but by waiting to deworm them, I miss a whole rotation. This year, they are going out on the grass earlier,” he said.

Second place

Brock Kiesler was the runner-up of the competition. His first job as a teenager was tedding alfalfa for his grandparents near Greenville, Ind., and so the third-generation farmer has always had a heart for making hay.

While still in college, Kiesler started leasing land from his grandfather to grow alfalfa and was brokering hay to local farmers. When he saved enough money, he purchased a Bale Band-It, which was the family’s first major investment in haymaking machinery.

Kiesler eventually upgraded to a Bale Baron and subsequently invested in a self-propelled mower and a large square baler, which originally seemed like a risky decision in a region dominated by round bale production. Nonetheless, these investments, as well as others, have ramped up Kiesler’s production to 40,000 small square and 1,750 large square bales a year.

“Hay innovations allow me to do what I do,” he said.

With roughly 625 row-crop acres, 325 acres of hayfields, and 145 acres in pasture, his bucket list includes being more profitable with his row crops, renting more land as opportunities arise, and seeding more acres to alfalfa.

“I can see myself planting another 30 to 100 acres every year to keep up with my rotation and slowly growing with technology to get that done,” Kiesler said. Overall, his biggest goal is to buy a farm of his own and see it continue for future generations.

Third place

Third place went to Levi Morrow from Morton County, Ohio. In the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the Morrows run a 500-head commercial sheep herd on roughly 275 acres of tall fescue-based pastures. A major factor in their decision to raise sheep was choosing a livestock species that is easy to manage.

“We have a young family, and we want to be involved together,” Morrow said. The cost to entry was also cheaper than it would have been to raise cattle, and domestic lamb demand is on the rise. Another driver, Morrow said, was sheep’s ability to turn weeds into feed.

During the grazing season, Morrow moves his sheep every two to three days, aiming for 45 to 90 days of pasture rest between rotations. Though this prolonged recovery period mitigates parasite issues for sheep, it can result in overmature forage by the time animals enter the paddock again. Therefore, he grazes stocker cattle through summer pastures to better control forage quality. He said proper fencing — and high voltage — is the key to maintaining the multispecies system.

By fall, Morrow begins stockpiling tall fescue and seeds ryegrass, oats, and turnips for early winter grazing. While the herd routinely grazes roughly 330 days per year, he stores some hay to fill feeding gaps and always provides animals with free-choice mineral. During southeast Ohio’s historic drought last summer, he also leveraged some corn silage to feed the herd when forages went dormant.

Morrow ended his presentation with a personal testimony to growing forage.

“I grew up always wanting to be a farmer,” Morrow said. “I feel that forages provide the perfect opportunity for someone who doesn’t have the background or the capital to get into the business of agriculture.”