“First cut alfalfa by a certain day in May or June” (location dependent); “Cut alfalfa stands 28 to 32 days after the prior cut.” These have been the standard rules of thumb
Alfalfa hay buyers and sellers now have a way to know the relative feed value (RFV) of every bale. A new on-baler system calculates and records RFV as each bale is made, and can assign that value by attaching
Summer annual forages (such as pearl millet, sorghum x sudangrass hybrids, etc.) are known for their remarkable ability to grow fast and produce several tons of forage in a short time period, ev
Proper maintenance of equipment and vehicles can also lead to energy savings, reminds Randall Reeder, an Ohio State University Extension agricultural engineer. Here are some tips:• Maintain the righ
Selecting grasses for pure stands is much different than species selection for pastures. With pastures it’s “the more the merrier”: A diversity of species, both grasses and legumes, on
When output doesn’t match between machines, hay harvest efficiency goes down the tubes. The author is an associate editor for Hoard’s Dairyman and an animal science graduate of Corn
Your hay storage needs to balance storage cost and forage loss.Given the value of hay today, the economic loss from large round bales stored outside, without cover, on the ground can be excessive. Thi
At on time, we cut hay and laid it in a wide swath for drying behind the cutter bar. When conditioners became commonplace, many growers came to think that a wide swath was no longer important when mak
Selecting grasses for pure stands is much different than species selection for pastures. With pastures it’s “the more the merrier”: A diversity of species, both grasses and legumes, on
The use of a foliar fungicide on alfalfa has been a popular topic at winter forage meetings and internet chat rooms as producers attempt to reconcile university research with the experience of many al
Many bales of expensive hay in big stacks is a recipe for financial disaster that is present to some degree on every dairy in the West. But it is a risk that doesn’t have to exist, says University
A cousin to alfalfa, red clover can produce yields equal to or exceeding alfalfa for two to three years. Wide swath plus tedding greatly enhances dry down
Wide windrows are routinely recommended for hay silage, but a drive through farm country during forage harvest season still finds many narrow windrows. Narrow windrows represent “Goldilocks management”
Twin row has emerged as an approach to boost yields without high equipment-switching costs given twin-row compatibility with postemergence herbicide or side-dress nitrogen applications and existing
Research has consistently found that crop rotation results in higher yields. A recent study in Illinois concluded that corn grown in rotation with soybeans yielded 25 bushels per acre more than did continuous
The Kuhn Krause DOMINATOR established an industry standard for a primary tillage product, designed to reduce subsoil compaction, provide residue management and maintain a level field finish. In an effort
DuPont Pioneer today announced its 2015 sorghum hybrid product offerings, including the addition of three new hybrids. These hybrids offer sorghum growers strong yield potential, improved agronomic performance,
Digi‐Star introduces the Moisture Tracker™; a hand‐held, Near-infrared (NIR) scanning device, which rapidly measures the dry matter and moisture content of animal feeds
Krone is introducing a new tedder model to its extensive lineup that offers ease of transportation and improved forage drying. The new KWT 882 T rotary tedder from Krone features a working width of 28’10”
One of the most dreaded jobs on dairy farms is covering bunker silos and drive-over piles. For this reason, farmers have always been willing to try alternatives, even though most have wound up as eith
