Hay

20 Phrases Every Farmer Actually Mutters About Rain

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 20:35:14 GMT

If there’s one topic that unites farmers across all sectors of ag, it’s rain. It’s more than just weather on the farm, it determines your profits, your schedule and your mood all wrapped into one frustrating package. And it doesn’t matter if it’s planting season, mid-summer or the final push before harvest, our entire lives revolve around what’s happening in the sky.

If two or more farmers are talking, you can bet rain will come up in the conversation within the first five minutes. Here’s a look at some of the most common phrases you’ll hear when farmers start talking about rain:

“We could use some rain.”
This is the go-to phrase farmers have said since the beginning of time. It’s a simple, familiar line heard everywhere from church parking lots to town meetings, starting at planting and sticking around through the end of harvest.
“It would be nice if it stopped raining.”
Ah, the full-circle moment. Just two weeks ago we were begging for a slight shower. Now it’s been raining cats and dogs for four straight days.
“How much rain did you get?”
This is more than small talk; it’s actually a competition between farmers, and there is a winner and a loser.
“How much rain did so-and-so get?”
Because we all know that one farmer magically got all the rain, again.
“Did you see the forecast for the week?”
This is a question that leads farmers to check five weather apps that all have five different answers.
“That cloud is looking pretty dark.”
If this phrase is said on any farm, everyone will turn to look and offer their opinion on if it’s actually going to rain or not.
“It always seems to miss us.”
Every time the radar shows a line of storms, somehow it splits, shifts or drifts just enough to leave you high and dry.
“We needed that.”
This is often said with a kind of relief that comes after waiting days or weeks, when even a small rain feels like a lifeline.
“It was just enough to settle the dust.”
This is farmer speak for: it looked better than it was, but we’ll still take it.
“The radar made it look like we’d get rain, but we didn’t get a drop.”
All the signs pointed to a downpour, but somehow the sky held back.
“It split and went north again.”
Of course it did. It always does. It never rains where it’s supposed to.
“The neighbor got an inch, and we got nothing.”
This can go one of two ways: You’re ticked that you didn’t get the rain, or you’re thankful that you didn’t get more of it.
“It’s too wet to get anything done now.”
Welcome to farming: Nothing goes according to plan, and every drought seems to end with a downpour.
“Hopefully it holds off ‘til we get this hay in.”
A tempting statement that all but guarantees a pop-up thunderstorm. Mother Nature never checks your schedule.
“At least we get a break.”
This is said when the rain slows work down but gives everyone a moment to catch their breath.
“We’re overdue.”
This is usually muttered out of practicality and frustration, recognizing that the dry spell has gone on longer than expected and something has to give soon.
“It was just enough to green things up.”
It wasn’t a drought-buster, but it was good enough to make everything look better.
“How long do you think this dry stretch will last?”
Asked like someone might have insider info. Nobody does, but that won’t stop the theories, calendar comparisons or 2012 references.
“You could see the rain line from here.”
Another version of “we missed it,” but with more drama and eyewitness testimony.
“I could be a meteorologist.”
Said when the forecast flips unexpectedly, reminding everyone that sometimes even the experts are just guessing.

Whether it’s not enough, way too much or the perfect amount, rain brings out every emotion in a farmer’s toolkit — hope, stress, gratitude, frustration, envy and relief. And no matter what the forecast says, one thing is always true: If you’re a farmer, you’ll never stop talking about rain.

How to Keep Good Hay From Going Bad: Barn Storage Tips That Protect its Quality and Value

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 21:22:45 GMT

Even with hay under cover, it’s easy to overlook how much its nutritional value can degrade over time. Moisture, temperature swings and how the hay is baled and stacked all affect feed quality. Just because a bale looks good on the outside doesn’t mean it’s holding its feed value.

“Storage losses have a big effect on hay quantities and quality, so in the long run, investing additional resources in hay storage could pay big dividends,” says former UW-Extension agriculture agent, Craig Saxe. “To put storage losses in perspective, let’s assume you store your hay outside and have a fairly reasonable storage loss of 10%. That may not sound all that bad, but a 10% storage loss means that for every 10 bales of hay that you harvest, you really only have the equivalent of 9 bales of hay to feed.”

Even in a barn, storage conditions still matter.

“The way you store hay after baling can have a big effect on hay quantity and quality losses, so it’s worth investing additional resources-money, labor and equipment-in hay storage,” says Bill Wilcke, retired Extension engineer at the University of Minnesota. “This preserves the value of the hay and ensures a good return on your initial investment to bale the hay.”

Wilcke stresses that hay should only be stored with a moisture content of 20% or less. Anything higher can lead to:

Molding and heating
Dry-matter and nutrient loss
Discoloration

“Large rectangular bales don’t lose much moisture after baling,” he adds. “This is why it’s important to bale at the proper moisture, instead of baling at higher moisture and counting on some natural drying in storage.”

Tips for Better Hay Storage in the Barn

Even small nutrient losses can make a difference. However, a few simple storage practices can go a long way in preserving hay quality. Wilcke and Saxe recommend the following:

Prioritize ventilation - Even under a roof, barns can trap heat and moisture. Ensure your barn has adequate ventilation via sidewall openings or ridge vents to help bales “breathe” and reduce internal condensation.
Let bales cure before stacking tightly - Avoid stacking bales too tightly right after baling. Let them sit loosely for a few days (especially if baled on the upper end of safe moisture levels) to allow any residual heat and moisture to dissipate.
Stack for airflow - Leave small gaps between stacks or rows to promote air movement. Avoid stacking directly against walls, which can trap moisture and limit drying. Palletize if possible to elevate bales and allow airflow underneath.
Use a well-drained base - Even indoors, moisture can wick up from the ground. Use crushed gravel, pallets, concrete or plastic sheeting under stacks to prevent ground moisture from reaching the bottom layer of bales.
Monitor temperature and moisture - Consider using a hay temperature probe or moisture tester, especially if storing large volumes. Spontaneous heating is a real risk if bales are put up too wet.
Keep bales off barn edges - Rain can blow in or wick through leaky walls. Store bales a few feet away from barn sides and doors to avoid contact with incoming moisture.
Rotate your inventory - Feed or sell the oldest hay first. Long-term storage, even in a barn, leads to nutrient losses over time.
Watch for pests - Barn-stored hay is susceptible to rodents, birds and other critters. Keep the barn clean, patch any holes and monitor for nesting or droppings.
Label hay by cuttings and quality - If you store multiple cuttings, mark stacks clearly. That way, you can feed accordingly, reserving the highest quality hay for animals with greater nutritional needs.

Hay takes time, effort and money to grow and harvest, so it’s worth taking simple, intentional steps to protect it. And as Wilcke and Saxe mention, you don’t need a fancy storage facility, just a few smart practices can make a big difference. In the end, preserving your hay’s quality means protecting your hard-earned investment and making sure every bale delivers the nutrition your animals need.

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All The Details: Inside John Deere’s New F8 and F9 Forage Harvesters

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 18:20:35 GMT

John Deere is rolling out two new forage harvesters for North American dairy producers and custom harvesting operations.

The brand new F8 and F9 Series feature three factory-installed operator cab options, a technology stack that will one day enable autonomous operation, and enhanced feed quality via an integrated inoculant dosing system.

How are F8 and F9 different?
The F8 Series (425PS to 645PS) is a narrow base model that takes the place of Deere’s 8000 Series forage harvester, while the F9 Series (700PS to 1020PS) replaces the 9000 Series. Within the F9 Series is the F9 1000, which is Deere’s largest forage harvest machine to date.

(Editor’s Note: “PS” stands for Pferdestärke, which is the German term for horsepower. PS to horsepower is not an apples-to-apples equal ratio. The F9 1000, for example, features 1020PS which equates to 1,006HP, according to the manufacturer.)

The F9 is available in two engine options:

John Deere 18X (no DEF required)
Liebherr V12 24L

It has five horsepower options, while the F8 comes with the JD14X engine and can be configured across six horsepower options.

The manufacturer last rolled out completely new forage harvesters in 2019.

How much will each new model cost?

The feed rolls on John Deere’s F8 and F9 forage harvesters have integrated metal detection to keep unwanted material out of your feed.

(Matthew J. Grassi)

John Deere is not sharing its pricing just yet, but the two new models are built at its Zweibrucken, Germany, factory. John Deere dealers will begin taking orders for the aggressively styled, technology-packed harvesters this fall, with final delivery in time for the 2026 forage harvesting season.

Deere representatives declined comment on what effect, if any, the still-developing U.S.and E.U. tariff situation could have on its launch plans.

Ahead of the launch, Farm Journal went to Madison, Wisc., to kick the tires and learn all about the new machines. The F8 and F9 harvesters we viewed and climbed into were the first finished production units off the factory line. Deere says several units will be field tested with U.S. customers ahead of the full fall launch.

“We’re really excited about the new cab and the technology we’ve added to these machines like central tire inflation, ground speed automation and the new kernel processing units,” says Bergen Nelson, go-to-market manager, combines and forage harvesters.

Here’s some of what we learned about the new forage harvesters:

(Matthew J. Grassi)

Cab Comforts: The same three operator cab options offered with Deere’s X and S Series combines — Select, Premium and Ultimate — are available on the F8 and F9 Series. A smoothly swiveling captain’s chair, as well as an all-new corner post display that shows real-time machine data, are among the additions. Operators who spend long hours in the cab will also appreciate integrated entertainment like SXM Radio and an optional mini fridge.

(Matthew J. Grassi )

Foundational Deere Tech Stack: Each new forage harvester in the series includes Deere’s baseline precision tech enablement stack — which consists of its G5 display, Starfire 7500 receiver and JDLink modem.

Central Tire Inflation System: A completely new feature (top left inset photo) within the G5 display allows the operator to adjust front tire PSI up or down from the cab.

John Deere Inoculant Dosing System 2.0

(Matthew J. Grassi)

Inoculant Dosing System 2.0: New on both the F8 and F9, a high-volume 85 gallon inoculant tank and integrated pump allow the user to accurately adjust silage inoculant dosage rates from the G5 display in the cab. The system is easy to pump and prime as well with the touch of a button located at the rear of the machine.

Ground Speed Automation: This cruise control-like option reads RPMs and throttles the harvester up or down based on crop conditions. For example, harvesting corn at higher moisture levels will increase power output, so the machine will automatically slow down to ensure it doesn’t plug up or do a sub-optimal job harvesting. This feature comes standard on all base models for both series and does not require a yearly subscription unlock or per-acre fee.

Pro Touch Harvest: Another new feature within the G5 display allows the operator to shift the machine from road transport mode to harvest mode in a single click. It can also be used to quickly engage AutoTrac and ground speed automation once the operator arrives at the edge of field.

This all-new XStream 305 Kernel Processing (KP) unit is built by Scherer in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

(Matthew J. Grassi)

New Kernal Processing (KP) Units: The new harvesters feature two completely redesigned KP units, the Ultimate 250 (also made in Germany) and the Scherer XStream 305, which is made in Sioux Falls, S.D. An integrated winch and internal rail mounting system makes switching the machine from corn forage to hay forage in the field quick and simple. The number signifies each KP unit’s roll diameter width in millimeters.

“Both KPs will go in both machines and have four different roll options depending on how aggressive the dairyman wants their end feed quality to be,” says Shane Campbell, product marketing manager, forage harvesters.

(Matthew J. Grassi)

Integrated Harvest Lab 3000: This on-demand constituent sensing module pulls over 4,000 samples per second with +/- 2% accuracy, and John Deere says it can save dairy operations time and money versus collecting and sending samples to a lab. The sensor tech (available as an add-on option) enables accurate measurement and documentation of dry matter, starch, protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber for both harvested forage and manure. The data can be stored, organized and shared via Deere’s Operations Center. Within Operations Center, users can take geo-referenced data and build out spatial starch content — as well as moisture and protein — maps for hybrid selection and fertility management. Because if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.

Active Fill Control 3.0: Using sensors and cameras on the grain spout, this tech feature automatically detects the trailer or grain cart next to the forage harvester and begins filling it with a preselected fill strategy. This reduces the number of times an operator has to adjust the spout manually and also lessens fatigue and neck strain, according to Deere.

(Matthew J. Grassi)

New Operating Modes: Several of the models within the F9 Series offer what Deere is calling its “Engine Power Plus” feature — which gives a sizeable horsepower boost when the machines senses it needs a little extra chopping power to the harvesting head. There is also an ECO mode that can be toggled on when the machines don’t need the extra torque.

Ease-Of-Access: Both models have side and rear panels that easily open to grant full access to the inner workings of the machines, making the new forage harvesters much easier to service and maintain without a lift or other heavy specialized equipment. The machine is setup so techs and mechanically-minded farmers will not have to climb underneath it to perform daily maintenance.

“At the end of the day, we know it’s all about the cow, and these machines will put out quality feed,” Nelson says. “We’ll have these out at the farm shows this summer, including Farm Progress Show, World Ag Expo, World Dairy Expo and the U.S. Custom Harvesters Convention.”

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Machinery News: John Deere Debuts Forage Harvesters, Ecorobotix Lettuce Algorithm, Kubota-Agtonomy Deal

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:10:19 GMT

John Deere has announced the launch of new F8 and F9 Series self-propelled forage harvesters, which the manufacturer says are built from the ground up with customer input to elevate forage performance and farm productivity.

Deere says the new F9 Series comes in two engine options — John Deere 18X and Liebherr V12 24L — with five horsepower options ranging from 700PS to 1020PS; the F8 Series comes with the JD14X engine bringing six horsepower options, ranging from 425PS to 645PS.

It also says the new machines offer improved automation with a higher level of comprehensive technology offerings compared with previous models.

The technology options include:

Ground speed automation — Deere also offers this feature on new S7 combines. The manufacturer says it helps maintain ideal load and prevent operator stress by adjusting ground speed in real time based on crop conditions.
ProTouch Harvest — A feature allowing operators to initiate multiple harvest-ready settings with the push of a button, while Active Fill Control ensures consistent truck fills even under the toughest harvesting conditions.

(John Deere)

“A higher-quality forage output with more power, more precision and more uptime, that’s the focus of the new forage harvesters for our customers,” said Bergen Nelson, John Deere go-to-market manager for harvesting equipment. “We’ve combined our strongest hardware with our newest and smartest precision ag technology to create higher-quality forage.”

More information on the new F8 and F9 Series SPFHs is available from a local John Deere dealer or deere.com.

Check out this test drive video from Farmworld_TV!

Specialty crop AI tech startup Ecorobtix unveils lettuce-thinning algorithm

Ecorobotix has announced the launch of its new lettuce-thinning algorithm, expanding the capabilities of its ARA Ultra High Precision (UHP) Sprayer to offer what it claims is one of the most advanced automated thinning solutions on the market.

The new functionality is available to ARA users via a software license.

“We’ve combined the power of AI with the reliability of ARA’s ultra-high precision spraying platform to eliminate one of the most time-consuming and labor-intensive tasks in the field: thinning,” said Katerina Lee, regional crop care manager for Ecorobotix.

Ecorobotix says its algorithm enables users to replace manual labor, grow crops with superior uniformity and cover fields faster than hand-labor crews.

Learn more here.

Kubota-Agtonomy join forces to develop autonomous specialty crop machinery

Kubota North America has announced a collaboration agreement with Agtonomy, an agricultural autonomy software provider, to commercialize autonomous operations on Kubota diesel tractors for spraying and mowing.

Kubota says the partnership reflects its commitment to pioneering solutions and equipping growers with smart technology.

“Our working relationship with Agtonomy represents a significant milestone toward commercializing our vision for autonomy by merging our expertise and technology with Agtonomy’s autonomous platform,” said Brett McMickell, chief technology officer for Kubota North America.

The initial phase of the partnership will focus on integrating Agtonomy’s capabilities with Kubota’s M5N specialty crop diesel tractor.

Learn more about Kubota’s vision for autonomous technology in farming here.

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Pennsylvania Farmer Spreads Joy with Hay Bale Art

Mon, 05 May 2025 15:41:39 GMT

Running a dairy farm is tough work. But for Lorraine Thiele of Cabot, Pennsylvania, it’s also a canvas for creativity.

Between milking cows and working in the fields, Thiele has found time for a unique tradition that’s been turning heads along a busy highway near her family’s sixth-generation dairy farm. What began as a seasonal decoration has grown into a local spectacle: intricately painted hay bales that bring both agricultural pride and joy to passing drivers.

“It started all about 10 years ago,” Thiele said. “I had just one round bale, and I screwed together some wood and painted turkey feathers and put a wooden head on it. People seemed to really enjoy it.”

Since then, the art—and the following—has grown. Thiele now paints bales for nearly every holiday and season, often choosing themes that are both farm-related and patriotic. From tractors to Santa Claus to thank-you tributes for local fire departments, her hay bale creations are as varied as they are heartfelt.

“I’ve done tractors, fire trucks, Santa in his chair… I just enjoy making people happy, putting a smile on their face,” she said. “People were stopping and taking pictures of their kids sitting on the Santa chair. It’s just fun to watch people have fun.”

Her most memorable creation? A tribute to local firefighters following a devastating fire on their farm.

“A couple years ago, this hoop [barn] behind us caught fire, and all the round bales burned down,” she recalled. “I actually painted two fire trucks—six round bales, stacked in two rows—and labeled them for the Herman and Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Companies as a thank you. They’re public servants, and they deserve recognition.”

Thiele’s medium of choice is simple - spray paint.

“When I first started, paint was $2.99 a can. Now it’s $6.99-$7.99, just for one,” she said, laughing. “I’ve never figured out how many hours it takes me to paint one. We do it in-between milking cows and field work. Sometimes we run out of paint and have to quit and go to town.”

Over the years, she’s painted replicas of their family’s tractors, including a Farmall 230 and a John Deere 630. She even documents all of her creations.

“I did try making a little book just to try to keep track. I try not to do the same one twice,” she said.

Though she doesn’t do it for recognition, Thiele said her goal is to celebrate agriculture and make people smile.

“I do it because I can,” she said. “Because I just like to promote agriculture, and people like driving down the road just to see something out of the ordinary.”

And thanks to Thiele’s creativity and community spirit, that stretch of highway in Cabot, Pennsylvania, has become a little brighter for everyone.

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Ag Meterologists Worry More Drought Lies Ahead For Spring

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:24 GMT

As Eric Snodgrass looks six weeks out to the end of March, he doesn’t like the weather pattern he sees shaping up for spring planting season – more dry conditions.

Varying levels of mild to moderate drought have dogged much of the upper Midwest, West and Southwest since last fall, and the outlook is for more of the same, according to Snodgrass, a leading U.S. meteorologist.

Check out the soil moisture deficit currently in the upper Midwest and West. At the opposite extreme, a broad band of soil moisture shows up in blue across much of the Ohio Valley region.

(Eric Snodgrass)

“I’m concerned about the way the central United States and the western Corn Belt, in particular, are going to be dealing with the risk of drought building into spring,” Snodgrass told farmers attending the Top Producer Summit in Kansas City earlier this week.

History shows that drought tends to beget drought. In six of the past 10 years with a really dry fall, Snodgrass says the spring to follow was also dry.

The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor echoes his observations. The Monitor released Thursday (Feb. 20) shows drought is impacting 45% of corn production acres, 36% of soybean production acres, 40% of spring wheat and 20% of winter wheat acres, respectively.In addition – of particular concern to beef and dairy producers – 49% of the U.S. alfalfa hay production acres are also experiencing drought.

Arctic Air Is Contributing To Drought Conditions
Snodgrass spells out what usually happens in late winter to create the moisture farmers need at planting time in the Corn Belt.

As the jet stream moves across the Pacific Ocean, it typically splits and sweeps into the West Coast from two positions – one from the northern North Pacific Ocean and the other from the southern North Pacific Ocean, close to Hawaii. The two portions of the jet stream usually then scream across U.S. western mountain ranges, picking up moisture they then deposit in portions of the Corn Belt before moving on to the East Coast and exiting the U.S. in Maine.

This year, the portion of the jet stream that normally comes from Hawaii has veered from its usual course and possibly even stalled. One indicator of that happening, Snodgrass says, is a drop off in ocean temperatures in the Baja of California and the Gulf of Alaska. The result is dry, arctic air has been moving into portions of the U.S.

In years when the Gulf of Alaska is in a warming trend, U.S. crop yields tend to be higher. The opposite is true when the Gulf cools.

(Eric Snodgrass)

For some parts of the U.S. the cold, arctic air has brought snow along with it. But the snow holds little moisture that would help alleviate the frozen dry soils. “We have some deep snow in areas right now, but it’s only got maybe two-tenths of an inch of liquid in it,” Snodgrass explains.

That’s bad news for farmers who need a full profile of soil moisture going into spring and don’t have one.

“If I’m in Iowa, Minnesota, northern Illinois, the Dakotas, even parts of Nebraska and Missouri, I’m going, holy smokes, that arctic air has prevented any sort of meaningful precipitation coming back at this point of the year,” he says.
Similar concerns were voiced by Drew Lerner, founder and president of World Weather, Inc., during the Top Producer Summit.

“If we continue bringing these cold shots of air through North America, we will have a below-normal precipitation bias [for the western Corn Belt] as we go forward through spring planting season,” Lerner explained during the taping of the U.S. Farm Report.

This map shows what the precipitation could look like in March. But remember, Mother Nature is unpredictable. It’s certainly feasible she could change course and bring moisture to the states west and southwest of the Mississippi River.

(Eric Snodgrass)

That’s not the meteorologists’ expectation for the eastern Corn Belt and portions of the Southeast. Lerner and Snodgrass agree those areas are likely to have plenty of moisture going into spring planting.

More Weather Trouble Brewing For Summer
If the current cold conditions continue through March, which Lerner and Snodgrass anticipate will be the case, what will likely occur is a knee-jerk reaction in the atmosphere: a warming trend will start in late March or early April and build through late spring and into early summer.

“If we warm up quickly in the spring, which is a high possibility, we could end up falling behind the eight ball a little bit more on soil moisture,” Lerner says.

While some meteorologists point to this year’s La Niña as a cause of the continued move to dryer conditions, Snodgrass and Lerner say that’s not the case.

“La Niña will be gone by the time we get into mid-March,” Lerner predicts. “This La Niña hasn’t lasted long enough to really have a big footprint in the atmosphere. As we get into April, it’ll be pretty much a non-event.”

Keep An Eye On The Pacific Decadal Oscillation
Lerner and Snodgrass believe a negative phase of what scientists call the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) could be a primary contributor to ongoing drought and higher temperatures by April. The PDO is a long-term climate pattern that affects the temperature of the Pacific Ocean and can influence weather patterns across the globe.

While the PDO has not had what Lerner calls a “tremendous amount of impact” in past years in the U.S., it’s looking more influential for the 2025 growing season.

“I’m seeing some additional cooling off the West Coast of North America that may end up leading us into a greater ridge building with all the dryness that’s in the soil and that negative PDO,” Lerner says. “I’m not ready to go all the way over with [that prediction], but that’s where I’m headed.”

The Surprising Solution To Drought
If Mother Nature continues on her worrying course, Snodgrass says continued low temperatures in the Gulf of Alaska would be a signal in early summer for farmers.

“If we get into June and it’s cool there, that is telling me that the atmosphere is not moving. And if it doesn’t move, well, all of a sudden we could find ourselves in a situation in late June into July with more drought and excess heat,” Snodgrass says.

The North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) is a seasonal forecasting system, showing this summer could be a dry one in portions of the West and upper Midwest and into Canada. However, summer is still months away, and Mother Nature could change course. However, being forewarned can help farmers plan ahead.

(Eric Snodgrass and NMME)

Another worrying sign he says to watch for is where the active spring weather pattern falls. If areas of Kansas and the Great Plains see an active tornado season, Snodgrass says that means the weather pattern is more favorable for rains to fall across the Corn Belt. But if tornado warnings blare across the Southeast, Snodgrass says that’s a signal drought could be a problem this summer.

There is a solution to the troubling weather patterns, he adds, one most farmers won’t welcome – a big, wet snow on the Northern Plains.

“The No. 1 thing I’m praying for right now is an April 4 blizzard. I want a foot of snow,” Snodgrass told farmers at Top Producer Summit, many of whom laughed.

Snodgrass laughed, too, and added, “You’ll hate me for about a week, and then love me through the rest of May.”

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AGCO Launches Massey Ferguson 2025 Compact Tractor Series, New Double Square Baler

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

AGCO has announced the launch of its Massey Ferguson 2025 compact tractor lineup as well as a new double small square baler for hay producers.

The 2025 lineup offers solutions tailored to smaller agricultural operations and AGCO says its model year class empowers operators to achieve better results with better value.

Included in the 2025 Model Year Class of compact tractors:

New Premium Series (24.8 - 60.3 hp) tractors designed for daily use and ideal for a variety of applications from snow removal and landscaping to fieldwork and property maintenance.
New MF Compact-Economy Series (24 - 57.3 hp) tractors balance affordability with capability and offer a variety of configurations.
New MF Sub-Compact Series (22.5-24.5 hp) tractors that Massey Ferguson says are perfect for hobby farmers and first-time operators.

For more information about the Massey Ferguson MY2025 compact tractor lineup, visit https://www.masseyferguson.com/en_us.html.

Hesston by Massey Ferguson Double Small Square Baler

The MF SB.1436DB is designed to help producers meet tight harvest windows with minimal costs and maximum productivity, according to Massey Ferguson.

(Massey Ferguson)

AGCO’s new Hesston by Massey Ferguson SB.1436DB small square baler is capable of producing two rows of bales per field pass. Massey Ferguson says this enables double the output of a single baler producing 14-by-18-inch bales. By producing two rows of bales per pass, the new machine effectively doubles production capacity while reducing the need for additional labor, equipment and fuel.

Its 105-inch pickup width is also the widest configuration in the high-capacity small square baler segment, according to Massey Ferguson. This helps improve field efficiency and reduce labor needs by optimizing movement of hay into the baler.

For more information on the MF SB.1436DB small square baler, visit https://www.masseyferguson.com/en_us.html .

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Data Shows Larger Hay Supply and Lower Hay Prices

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:20:52 GMT

Larger May 1 stocks and increased year over year hay production led to larger hay supplies in 2024 (Figure 1). Total hay production in 2024 was up 3.3 percent year over year and combined with May 1 hay stocks up 46.6 percent over 2023 levels to increase the total hay supply by 7.9 percent compared to year earlier levels. The total hay supply was 1.7 percent below the ten-year average supply from 2014-2023.

(Peel)

Total hay production includes total alfalfa hay production, almost unchanged from 2023 levels and 8.4 percent below the ten-year average as well as total other hay production, up 5.5 percent year over year and 0.6 percent above the 2014-2023 average.

Coming into winter 2024/2025, Dec. 1 hay stocks were up 6.3 percent year over year, though still down 3.2 percent from the ten-year average. Hay supplies have recovered from the drought-reduced levels of 2022-2023 (Figure 1) and, as a result, hay prices have dropped from record levels (Figure 2).

(Peel)

Table 1 shows the top ten state rankings for December 1 Stocks; All Hay Production: Alfalfa Hay Production and Other Hay Production and highlights the considerable regional variation in hay production and stocks. Texas is the largest hay producer, mostly other hay, with production and Dec. 1 stocks well above average.

Alfalfa hay production was down compared to the ten-year average in some important dairy production states (California and Idaho) as well as in some mostly beef cow states (Montana and South Dakota) that depend on alfalfa hay (Table 1).

(Peel)

In many states, increased hay supplies are providing more management flexibility for cattle producers and lower hay costs are reducing annual cost of production somewhat. However, among major beef cow states, Florida, Kansas, Montana, and North Dakota, 2024 Dec. 1 hay stocks are down year over year and below the ten-year average.

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2024 World Forage Analysis Superbowl Winners

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:00:00 GMT

The 2024 World Forage Analysis Superbowl marked the 40^th anniversary of the contest rewarding the quest to produce quality forages. The annual event is held in conjunction with World Dairy Expo^® in Madison, Wis. in October.

Out of 207 entries in this year’s competition, Meadow Brook Dairy Farms of Manitowoc, Wis. was named the Grand Champion Forage Producer, capturing the top honors with their BMR Corn Silage entry. They were presented $2,500 from Legacy Seeds.

The Grand Champion First-Time Entrant award of $2,000, sponsored by New Holland, went to Mulhern Dairy of Fountain, Minn. for their Standard Corn Silage entry.

Fisher Dairy of Marshall, Ind. won the Quality Counts Corn Silage Award, sponsored by Silostop, for their BMR Corn Silage entry. Top honors in Quality Counts Hay/Haylage went to Andy Schmitt of Fort Atkinson, Iowa. His award was sponsored by Agri-King.

Division winners included:

Grand Champion Baleage – Nuttleman Farms, Bangor, Wis.
Grand Champion Commercial Hay – Hardrock Farms, Wheatland, Wyo.
Grand Champion Dairy Hay – Holst Farms, Lake City, Minn.
Grand Champion Grass Hay – Ciolkosz Dairy, Thorp, Wis.
Grand Champion Alfalfa Haylage – Andy Schmitt, Fort Atkinson, Iowa
Grand Champion Mixed/Grass Haylage – Sand Creek Dairy, Hastings, Mich.
Grand Champion Standard Corn Silage – Watrin Farms Inc., Sandstone, Minn.
Grand Champion BMR Corn Silage – Horsens Homestead, Cecil, Wis.

Sponsors of the 2024 World Forage Analysis Superbowl were led by Platinum Sponsor, Brevant seeds. Other supporters included division sponsors, Scherer Inc., Agri-King, Inc., QLF Agronomy, Ag-Bag by RCI, Lallemand Animal Nutrition, Barenbrug USA, and CROPLAN. Additional funds were provided by ByronPRO, Trinamix, La Crosse Seed and ForageMate.

Your Next Read: Leap of Faith As Farmer Miraculously Escapes Burning Chopper

When is Hay Dry Enough?

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 21:09:09 GMT

Freshly baled hay with more than 20% moisture will heat up and actually reduce the energy level of the hay.
By: Dennis Hancock, University of Georgia, Forage Extension Specialist

There is a great misconception that once hay is “dry” and baled it is plain and devoid of life. The truth is that hay is never completely dry, and it is full of microscopic life. If the hay is not dry enough, those microscopic life forms can cause major problems. It’s Alive! Many microorganisms (mainly fungi species like Aspergillus and Fusarium, bacteria, and others) are ever present in hay (Figure 1). They feed on available carbohydrates on the surface of the forage plants and inside the stems and leaves. This feeding results in the loss of some dry matter (DM), reduces the quality of the hay, and also generates heat. The temperature of these hay bales, stacks, and barns can get very hot. In extreme cases, it can get so hot that the bales can catch on fire, even without a spark (i.e., spontaneous combustion). Even if the temperature does not reach these extremes, these microorganisms can also form spores. It is these spores that give the hay a moldy smell.

Figure 1. Summary of heating during hay storage, including recommended actions at various hay temperatures, what is causing the temperature increase, and what is happening as a result of the heat.

Nearly all hay goes through “a sweat” during the first few days after baling when the temperature rises. Figure 2 shows two cuttings of hay in a study I conducted while at the University of Kentucky wherein the bales’ temperature was tracked over time. Notice that the summer cutting, which was put up at 16% moisture, stayed relatively cool even during higher average ambient air temperatures. However, the fall cutting was baled a little wet (20% moisture) for round bales and it spiked over 140° F within just 3 days.

Figure 2. Temperature of round bale alfalfa hay from summer (16% moisture) and fall (20% moisture) cuttings relative to the ambient air temperature during the first few days after baling.

The heat that is generated when hay goes through “a sweat” is a side effect of the microorganisms consuming the most digestible portions of the forage, such as carbohydrates like sugar and starch. Consequently, a substantial portion of the hay could be used up during this process.

Wayne Coblentz, Research Agronomist at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service’s U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, has conducted several experiments on the impact that hay moisture and the resulting heating of the hay have on dry matter (DM) loss, hay quality, and heat risk. He recently found that for every 10° F increase in maximum temperature, the hay would lose up to 2% of the DM during storage.

Since these losses are coming from the most digestible forms of energy in the forage, hay heating comes at the expense of digestibility and the concentration of energy in the forage. Dr. Coblentz showed that the TDN of bermudagrass hay is decreased by more than 1 percentage point for every 10° F increase in maximum temperature over 100° F. In other words, a good bermudagrass hay crop that was just a little too wet when it was baled might have gone into the barn at 58% TDN, but it likely will come out of the barn with less than 54% TDN if it heated up to 140 °F or more.

What is “Dry Enough?”

Much of the original research suggests hay moisture content should be kept less than 20% for small rectangular bales, less than 18% for round bales, and less than 16% for large rectangular bales. These are still good “rules of thumb,” but there are exceptions. Consider, for example, the advances in bale package sizes and high-density baling systems that have occurred in the modern era. These denser bale packages enable the heat to build up to a higher degree. Other factors can also contribute to the extent of hay heating, including the amount of available carbohydrates in the forage crop, air circulation in the hay stack, relative humidity in the storage area, and the ambient temperature and humidity outside. Each producer’s situation will be somewhat different because of equipment, storage technique, and climatic differences. So, within the ranges provided in Figure 3, hay growers should allow for the effect that these factors might influence which target bale moisture is right for their farm.

Figure 3. The effect of bale moisture on the amount of damage that can be expected with different sizes and densities of hay bales, as well as other factors that affect hay heating.

Every year, I get 3-4 calls from folks who have had hay barns burn down. The calls almost always include the question, “Do you think I might not have gotten that hay dry enough?” It is truly tragic when it happens. The key is to control what you can control. For more information on hay molding and heating, visit our website at www.georgiaforages.com .

Weed Control in Pastures and Hayfields

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 20:58:07 GMT

Weeds can reduce the quantity and the stand life of desirable forage plants in pastures and hayfields. Weeds also impact the aesthetic value of a pasture. Therefore, producers may choose to initiate weed management strategies that reduce the impact of weeds on forage production.

The first step in effective weed control is to evaluate the pasture or hay field to determine the source of the weed problem. Soil testing to determine the current nutrient and pH status is the place to begin. After correcting fertility levels, the following things must be evaluated and corrected:

Stocking rate to eliminate overgrazing problems
Pasture rotation schedule
Need for additional grazing land
Prevent scalping and mowing-too-low
Correct the mower height in order to leave adequate stubble
Consider renovation where forage stands are very weak

First, a weed is defined as any plant growing where you don’t want it. Therefore, we must begin to think in a broader sense as to what weeds are. A weed can be Bahiagrass or Crabgrass growing in a Bermudagrass hayfield. These unwanted plants are often more aggressive than existing or desired forage species and compete for light, water, and nutrients. In latter stages of maturity, weeds can also reduce the quality and palatability of the forage available for livestock grazing. However, not all weedy plants are detrimental to pastures. In fact, some weedy plants provide nutritional value to grazing animals.

Grazing can be used as an effective weed management tool. Livestock will graze weeds when they are small. In the early vegetative stage of growth, many weeds have nutritive values equal to or greater than the desired forages. However, the forage quality of weeds decline rapidly as the plants mature.

Mowing is especially effective in reducing the amount of weed seed produced by established broadleaf weeds. The mower should cut as close to the ground as possible. Mowing may not completely eliminate weed seed production, since some seed could be produced by plants that regrow from tillers present on grasses below the height of cutting. Also, perennial weeds that spread by underground rootstocks, like thistle, are not effectively controlled by a single mowing.

Another control method includes various herbicides that are available to provide broad-spectrum weed control. When making your selection try to choose a product that will control as many weeds as possible. This reduces the use of herbicides and also minimizes cost by reducing the number of passes through the field. When applying multiple products choose products that can be mixed in the same tank and applied in one pass.

Two popular types of weed control products are pre-emerge and post-emerge herbicides. Pre-emerge herbicide must be applied before the weed seeds germinate. An example of a pre-emerge product is Prowl H2O. This herbicide is used to control Crabgrass in Bermudagrass hayfields. Post-emerge products are used to kill weeds after they have germinated. These herbicides must be used when the plant is actively growing and not simply green.

When using any herbicide, it is important to be aware of the surrounding crops. Drift from many of these herbicides are lethal to other crops like vegetables, shrubs and flowers. Pesticide spray drift is the movement of pesticide dust or droplets through the air at the time of application or soon after, to any site other than the area intended. They should choose a product that will not harm surrounding crops if drift occurs. Drift will vary with boom height, nozzle type, pressure, and wind.

Most herbicides have grazing and feeding restrictions stated on the label that limit the use of the crop for livestock feed. Producers should know and adhere to any grazing or haying restrictions. These restrictions can be anywhere from seven days to one year. Different products vary in their restriction guidelines. Many products that have no grazing restrictions for beef cattle will have grazing restrictions for dairy cattle. Most will also have a withdrawal period before slaughter.

Herbicides can be a useful tool for weed management in pastures and hayfields. They should be used where appropriate and when cost effective. A program that integrates several different control strategies is generally more successful than relying on only one method. Weeds present at the time of herbicide application may be controlled, but if the forage stand is not vigorous and actively growing, new weed seedlings will soon emerge and occupy the bare areas that remain. Thus, without proper use of mechanical control methods and good cultural practices, herbicide use will not be beneficial.

Hay, are Those Numbers Correct?

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 20:31:36 GMT

Hay is a high-dollar dairy investment, so it’s important to assess quality to make sure you get what you’ve paid for, and that your rations are formulated with accurate numbers.

Dr. Kevin Hoogendoorn, Hawarden, Iowa veterinarian and found of the ZISK App , said disparity in hay quality test results between seller and buyer is a common problem. Often, “the grower or hay broker will email their lab test results to the dairyman,” he explained. “And then the nutritionist shows up and samples the same lot when it arrives on the farm. Usually, two different labs are being used to evaluate the samples.”

As an example, Hoogendoorn said he works with one dairy that buys hay from a broker who regularly reports a Relative Feed Quality (RFQ) score of 180, while samples after delivery to the farm typically test closer to 140. “I rely on the on-farm numbers, because I have years of experience with the forage lab I use, and I know how their reports relate to cow performance,” stated Hoogendoorn.

To close the gap between the selling and receiving end, Hoogendoorn advised:

Be vigilant about consistently sampling every load of purchased hay when it arrives.
Only look at RFQ. Relative forage value (RFV) does not include a test of how well the cow can digest the fiber, and therefore doesn’t relate to cow performance as well as RFQ.
Only accept samples from reputable forage labs upon which you both agree.
Agree before making the purchase whether you are going to rely on the seller’s number’s, nutritionist’s sample, or an average of the two.
If there is a large difference between samples, have the hay broker and nutritionist meet at the dairy, with each sampling 8 bales of hay and submitting the samples to their respective labs.
MOST IMPORTANLY – Watch the cows. Their performance will tell you whether your samples were accurate or not.

“Inaccurate numbers cost you money and hold your cows back from maximum production,” he declared.

For more on nutrition, read:

6 On-Farm Priorities to Help Drive Success This Year

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 20:26:10 GMT

With the start of the new year comes the setting of resolutions for personal habits, behaviors and practices.

Dairies can and should do the same for their operations, according to Dr. Tom Overton, Professor of Animal Science at Cornell University, and Director of the Cornell PRO-DAIRY program. On a recent episode of the Cornell Cow Convos podcast, Overton shared his advice for on-farm priorities to drive success in the new year:

Keep a handle on IOFC – Overton said income over feed cost (IOFC) generally represents half or more of a dairy’s total profitability, so monitoring it regularly – at least monthly, or even daily – is critical. He noted the two main factors affecting IOFC are:
- Component output – how much fat and protein the dairy is shipping per cow per day; and
- Feed efficiency – pounds of energy-corrected milk divided by dry matter intake for the herd.

Overton added that many dairies also do an excellent job of tracking feed costs in terms of cost-per-pound of TMR dry matter, but that metric typically only accounts for about 10% of variation in IOFC.

Focus on forages – “Farms that focus on producing high-quality forages generally have the best income over feed cost,” stated Overton. They succeed by focusing on correct harvest maturity; harvest, packing, and sealing practices; silage management practices that minimize losses; and fiber digestibility, though the latter is often in the hands of Mother Nature. “An old rule of thumb that still holds up pretty well is that cows should be consuming 0.9-1.0% of their bodyweight as NDF from forage sources,” Overton shared.

Feeding management matters – Developing a ration is one thing, but delivering it is another. Overton said the most successful herds are those that routinely monitor dry-matter intakes; utilize feed management software programs; and follow on-farm routines that ensure consistent feed-delivery times. “And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of my pet priorities – make sure the straw chop length and moisture are correct in the dry-cow diet to discourage sorting,” he advised.

Stay in front of fresh-cow disorders – Overton advocates routine blood surveillance of fresh cows to detect subclinical disease and avoid fresh-cow “crashes.” Two key metrics to monitor are blood calcium and beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA). “We’re not so concerned about the cows with low blood calcium on Day 1 – we find those actually turn out to be the really good-milking cows. But the cows that need attention are those that still are struggling to maintain blood calcium on Day 4,” he advised. In terms of subclinical ketosis, he recommended a goal of no more than 15-20% of fresh cows with BHBA levels above 1.2 mmol/L.

Keep current on research – New discoveries continue to be made in dairy science, and Overton said it is important to stay informed and adjust management practices accordingly. As an example, he noted recent results by Cornell researchers indicating that feeding protein levels beyond requirements to fresh cows from 14-21 days can significantly increase milk production.

Let cows be cows – Overton said he is not a fan of intense fresh-cow monitoring programs because they interfere with normal cow behavior through unnecessarily long lock-up times. “I don’t like to see cows locked up longer than 45 minutes, and less is better,” he stated. He said wearable monitoring technologies are allowing dairies to monitor cows without disrupting them, and narrow down the number of cows that need individual health attention. Remote activity monitoring also has been a game-changer in terms of reproduction, allowing for “amazing flexibility” in terms of pregnancy and lactation efficiency, herd replacement creation, and capitalizing on new opportunities like beef-on-dairy breeding.

Market indicators suggest 2024 could be another tough year for U.S. milk prices, so Overton said it will be important for dairy managers to do what they can to maintain and improve on-farm efficiency. “I hope our farms will be able to focus on these practices and stick to them,” he declared.

For more on nutrition, read:

Management, Planning Key to Forage Quality and Production

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 15:53:18 GMT

In every aspect of dairy farming, details matter. As producers are adding more crop and grass options to their forage mix, the details matter even more to produce the quantity and quality of feed needed for a dairy operation

Matthew Oehmichen, part owner of Short Lane Ag Supply, and John Goeser, director of nutritional research and innovation with Rock River Lab, Inc. have been regular guests on The Dairy Signal® presented by Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW), leading interactive conversations with dairy producers about making the most of their forage crops and rations and effectively using data to make the best nutrition and ration decisions.

Both regularly provide recommendations as growers make plans for forage and silage crops for upcoming growing seasons and beyond.

A prevalent trend is addingcool-season grasses to alfalfa with new seedings to reduce winter-killed hay fields, according to Oehmichen.

“In Wisconsin, a lot of alfalfa got snuffed out from ice and slow thaw in spring 2023, setting back a lot of the hay fields that looked great going into the 2022 winter months,” he said. “Having a good concentration of high-quality grass like orchardgrass, tall fescue, meadow fescue or perennial ryegrass will help alfalfa stands persist with the same or enhanced quality.”

Goeser pointed out that management is increasingly important with grasses and winter forages.

“When grass converts from vegetative to heading out in the reproductive state, the quality drops quickly,” said Goeser “Grasses aren’t nearly as forgiving as alfalfa is with quality in advancing maturity.

Managing and micro-managing fertility with forage crops is also key, said Oehmichen. Potassium should not be overlooked in forage crops, including corn silage, grass hay and alfalfa.

“Potassium is linked to plant tissue, the cellular-wall development that influences tissue growth and its ability to withstand infections and disease,” said Oehmichen. “When you take a cutting, you’re not just taking the plant, but all the nutrients it took from the field, especially potassium. Without nutrient planning and/or skipping fertilizer applications, you can short your forage in both the near and long term.”

Adding micronutrients, such as sulfur, calcium and boron to fertility management also can give growers a boost for relatively low cost. For example, sulfur influences chlorophyll and photosynthesis, processing proteins and even nodulation in legumes like soybeans, alfalfa and clover, and comes in a variety of products.

“Having applications of micronutrients added to liquid, foliar or dry fertilizer formulations can elevate your plants’ processes and development without a lot of hassle,” Oehmichen said.

Ensuring that all members of your dairy’s team are focused on the productivity and quality of forage crops is also key.

“With tighter margins, plant health and productivity are even more important to squeeze out every bit of digestible energy from each acre,” said Goeser. “Team up with your agronomist, nutritionist and other advisors and encourage them to share resources and data and work together to help you make the best decisions for your acres and your operation.”

For more on forage production, read:

Feed Silage Success Test Plots wrap up twin-row research

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

The Farm Journal Test Plots reveal plant health and population as two keys to better silage production.

*Extended comment highlighted in blue.

After three years, the Farm Journal Test Plots have wrapped up their effort to maximize corn silage production. Located at the Illinois State University Research Farm, the test plot was designed to demonstrate how plant population, row spacing and fungicide application can impact silage yields in terms of tonnage and quality.

Key finding: Increasing population is key to increasing tonnage. In addition, narrow-row silage production increased tonnage without compromising quality as measured in milk tons per acre.

“Since population seems to be king in determining tonnage, we wanted to know what narrowing the rows would do to quality, as well,” says Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist. “Narrow rows and high populations push the environment for disease, so in the second and third years we added a fungicide application to evaluate its impact.”

In 2008, we chopped the third year of silage data comparing 30" rows and twin rows on 7.5" centers at 33,000 and 37,000 plants per acre, respectively. We planted two fields, 70 acres total, with a 40' Great Plains Yield-Pro planter.

“Using one planter eliminated any variables in having to use two planters with different metering systems, transmission settings or depth settings,” Ferrie explains.

At harvest, the chopper was equipped with GPS, so each load was logged and referenced by soil type” Ferrie says. The silage harvester was also equipped with a kernel processor.

The silage results were evaluated with the University of Wisconsin’s Milk 2006 test.

With an aerial application when the corn was tasselling, a plot partner applied Bayer Stratego fungicide, which has a harvest restriction of 30 days in silage.

“Paybacks were huge with a fungicide on silage,” Ferrie says. “In twin rows, the response to fungicide was at both populations with higher pounds of milk per acre.”

In pounds of milk per acre, where the fungicide was applied compared with the control, we saw no response in 30" rows at 33,000 plants per acre; an 8% increase in 30" rows at 37,000 plants per acre; a 16% increase in twin rows at 33,000 plants per acre; and a 23% increase in twin rows at 37,000 plants per acre.

Without the fungicide application there was an 11% increase in milk per acre in the twin rows compared with the 30" rows at 33,000 plants per acre. There was a 6% increase in twin rows compared with the 30" rows at 37,000 plants per acre.

Where the fungicide was applied, there was a 29% increase for twin rows compared with 30" rows at 33,000 plants per acre and a 21% increase for twin rows compared with 30"at 37,000 plants per acre.

“In the past, population was a big part of the tonnage result and that showed up in the pounds of milk per acre,” Ferrie says. “Adding a fungicide treatment raised the question of whether our populations in the plot were high enough.”

As he reviews the three-year effort, Ferrie says plant health and population are king in silage production. He notes that the results encourage him not to take silage for granted and to be aware of disease pressures in silage, especially at high populations and narrow row spacings.

Bonus content:

“Twin Rows Yield Tonnage,” September 2007

“Twin Rows’ Cutting Edge,” Mid-November 2008

Nutrition Lower protein rations

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

*Extended comments are highlighted in blue.

The paradigm for dairy cow diets is always changing.

In past times -- when protein was cheaper and abundant, margins were better and environmental issues were not as focused -- the strategy was to feed all that could be justified and then some more to be sure.

With tightening margins, higher feed cost and more attention to environmental consequences, there are opportunities to refocus on just how much or how little protein is needed to sustain high production and returns to the herd. We are seeing dairy producers reducing the protein levels in their rations by 2% of the diets or more while maintaining production and performance.

Researchers, Extension personnel, feed consultants and feed advisers are taking a new look at not just reducing protein levels in the diets, but how to better manage matching the cow’s fundamental protein or nitrogen requirements with her needs. The goal: to improve the efficiency of the protein and reduce the excretion of the excess or unused protein as nitrogen in the manure. The potential results are improved margins and a reduced environmental impact.

Establishing the animal’s protein requirements is a process that continues to evolve through research, new models and ration systems. At one time, the concept of crude protein was fundamental to all protein decisions and calculations. The idea was that crude protein is 16% nitrogen and thus, measuring the feed’s nitrogen times 6.25 results in the percentage of crude protein. That concept has held true for more than the past century.

What has developed is a greater and better understanding of what makes up that protein requirement and how those protein fractions are used by the modern dairy cow. The application of all that knowledge is encompassed in the modern dairy ration program that resides in the computer that you or your feed adviser may be using.

The on-farm challenge is to utilize this knowledge base, along with the other technologies and management strategies on your farm, to narrow the allowance for diet protein to the cow’s needs.

Here are some steps to help you meet that challenge:

Make sure you understand the concept so you can reduce the allowance for errors in the program and minimize errors in application.
Use a well-planned system for accurate and trusted feed analysis. Feed analysis should be representative, repeatable, regular and reliable. The system should be technically complete, matching the protein components that are used in your feed programming. Your feed testing program should include all the forage and concentrate portions of your diets.
Have a good system for feed inventory control. You need to know how much, where it is and how long it will last for each of the forages that you intend to feed.
Have a system for knowing and adjusting the dry matter content of all your feeds. Dry matter content is the biggest and most frequent variable in your bunk stored feeds. Day-to-day weather conditions will cause significant variation in dry matter and consequent changes in the total mixed ration.
Make sure you understand and correctly utilize your ration computer programs. Know their limits and opportunities and be able to deal with the details. There are several programs supported by university research and the National Research Council. Many of the proprietary programs are based on those concepts. All of them have some limits and strong points. It may not work to mix programs and all the components of the ration need to work together.
At the operational level, weigh and mix accurate rations. An extra hundred pounds dumped in the mixer is expensive, and to be short a few pounds of a concentrated ingredient just does not work. Feed multiple groups to be able to bore into the tighter diet standards. Feeding to the high end of a large group overfeeds everyone else.
Learn to use the milk urea nitrogen (MUN) test as a monitoring tool. High MUN is a good indication of wasted or misaligned protein in the diet. MUN above 16 mg/dL is an indication of excess nitrogen in the diet, and below 10 mg/dL indicates a possible shortage. A good target is 12 to 14 mg/dL.

Bonus content:

Practically Dropping Protein of Diets to Reduce Nitrogen Excretion

Nutrition High-forage rations

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

*Extended comments are highlighted in blue.

One strategy used by Midwest dairy managers in 2009 when feed prices were high and milk prices were at record lows was feeding more forages.

Incorporating more forage in the ration reduced feed costs while not writing a check to purchase feed (a common banker demand). Another plus was that most Midwest dairy managers are excellent crop managers who raise high-quality legume-grass forage, small-grain forage and corn silage. Those savings lead to lower forage prices and lower cost of production.

In Illinois, dairy managers could raise high-quality alfalfa hay for less than $90/ton, while it would have cost more than $160/ton to purchase. While high-quality forages are worth the higher market price, dairy managers could “sell” high-quality forage to their dairy enterprise at production cost (similar to “selling” their labor below market price to preserve capital).

The questions and answers below can help guide you when transitioning to high-forage diets.

What is a high-forage ration?

Midwest rations range from 45% to 55% of the total ration dry matter as forage depending on forage quality and inventory. High-forage rations can range from 60% to 70% forage dry matter. Inclusion of byproducts as fiber sources (such as beet pulp, corn gluten feed, citrus pulp and wheat midds) also fit this definition.

What are the key concepts behind high-forage rations?

Consistent quality is critical to maintain a constant source of nutrients for the dairy cow. This goal may be more attainable with high-corn-silage-based rations as harvest occurs once a year with a wider harvest window. That wide window depends on planting strategies (spreading planting dates by one to two weeks) and variety selection (changing from 100-day to 115-day corn varieties).
Legume-grass forages have several risks that must be controlled or managed: weather (e.g., rain damage); multiple harvests that vary in nutrient content due to heat and moisture stress; and variation in the field due to winterkill of legumes, light soil or insect damage.
High-quality forage is a must to deliver needed nutrients to the herd (optimal protein level and form, starch levels, effective fiber and energy requirements). Nutrient requirements do not change with high-forage diets. Corn silage dry matter can range from 30% to 35% dry matter, with more than 30% starch, less than 45% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), more than 55% NDFD (NDF digestibility), pH less than 4 and lactic acid levels more than 5% on a dry matter basis. Legume-grass silage can range from 35% to 60% dry matter (depending on storage structure), with more than 18% crude protein (higher with legumes), less than 45% NDF (less than 40% with legumes), more than 50% NDFD, pH less than 4.5 and lactic acid more than 4%.
The nutritionist can be flexible in building the ration around forage types available on the farm: corn silage for rumen-fermentable starch and high yield per acre; legumes for protein and functional fiber; grasses for digestible fiber and higher intake; small grain forage for an early forage source and double cropping with corn silage; and straw for lignin and effective physical fiber if needed.
Inventory control and availability are important factors in accessing each forage needed to develop the optimal ration. Corn silage bunkers and piles allow for economic storage and fast removal while silage bags allow storage of varied forage qualities and cuttings. Balage can provide a source of long forage without baled hay weather damage risks.

What are the economic benefits?

Cornell University workers surveyed 16 herds feeding 57% to 68% forage dry matter and found milk production ranging from 68 lb. to more than 100 lb. of milk/cow/day.
Using the Spartan II least-cost computer balancing function, the table above shows a 20¢ lower feed cost/cow/day as corn silage increased in the ration. In this example, a 1,400-lb. cow produced 80 lb. of milk with 3.7% milk fat. Alfalfa hay priced at $150/ton, corn silage at $32/ton, corn grain at $3.50/bu. and a protein supplement at $350/ton were used.
Higher milk components can be achieved with high-forage, high-fiber rations due to more favorable rumen fermentation environments and microbial growth.

Bonus content:

Spanish translation

High Forage Rations for Dairy Cattle - How Far Can We Go?

Positioning Commodity Feeds in Dairy Rations

Prevent Hay Fires Take precautions to reduce risk

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

Summer’s coming and so is the likelihood of hay fires.

Increasing in frequency on America’s farms, hay fires occur most often during the hot months of June, July and August, says insurance and workplace safety expert Rick Adams.

“Insurance companies are very concerned about hay losses,” Adams says. “The loss ratio for most insurers on hay coverage is 200% or more. It’s not uncommon to see $500,000 losses in a single hay fire.”

You can reduce the risk of a hay fire on your farm with these tips from Adams, who’s with California-based Winton Ireland Strom & Green.

Electrical sources are common starting points for hay fires, Adams says. When possible, keep electricity out of barns used for hay storage. Maintain and monitor the condition of all electrical units. That means no open boxes. Keep dust under control as much as possible.

Lightning is another frequent cause of hay fire. To reduce risk, place lightning rods on metal barns. Hay in the open is also susceptible to lightning, though fire usually results after lightning hits a neighboring structure and spreads to your stored hay.

Hay fires frequently originate with arson and accidents. Disgruntled employees are the No. 1 cause in this category, Adams says. To lower the risk, keep hay away from public access and maintain dusk-to-dawn lights. Make certain any smoking areas are well away from hay and that proper cigarette receptacles are placed there. “Better yet, have a smoke-free workplace,” he advises.

Spontaneous combustion is another leading cause of hay fires. Cut hay is not dead, since plant sugars will continue to burn, or “sweat.” That’s a normal process that occurs naturally in all bales. “But baled hay with a moisture level of 20% or more can produce a perfect environment for bacteria growth, making it susceptible to spontaneous combustion,” Adams says.

To reduce the fire risk from hay moisture concentration, make small bales at a moisture level of 20% or less. Large bales or rounds should have a level of 18% or less.

Concern over hay fires now has insurers writing stack or dollar limits into policies. “This is even when the hay is in the barn,” Adams says. “This can limit your coverage in the event of a loss.”

CONTROLLING A HAY FIRE

Contact your fire department immediately with your address and directions.

Evacuate any livestock.

Turn off any electrical to that area.

Monitor wind direction and remove other hay and commodities located downwind.

Be careful when removing hay from a burning barn. Smoldering hay can ignite easily and spread the fire.

Water down surrounding hay and buildings if a high-pressure hose is available.

If the fire department wants to accelerate burnout by breaking into bales, make certain the firemen have adequate trucks, equipment and water.

Bonus content:

Spanish translation

Signs of an imminent hay fire

More tips on controlling hay-fire risk

Precision Auto-Steer Systems evolve for farming operations

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

GPS-guided auto-steering has not caught on as fast for dairy farmers as it has for their corn and soybean brethren who farm tabletop-flat prairies. But that’s changing, as pioneering dairy producers try to squeeze every advantage out of this constantly evolving technology.

Skip Hardie of Lansing, N.Y., has been at it for the past eight years. He dairies with partners John Fleming and Steve Palladino, milking 1,000 cows, raising 900 heifers and farming 1,400 acres of corn and hay.

“We have compactible soils, and GPS is great insurance to make sure we’re running on the same wheel tracks with our tillage, planting, spraying and forage chopping operations,” he says.

But Hardie is the first to admit the learning curve can be steep—and frustrating. Hardie Farms started with the technology with a simple lightbar system. “There were a lot of issues. It was like trying to use an axe to perform surgery,” Hardie says.

He then went to a commercial auto-steer system. It was much better than the lightbar and performed to within the tolerances the company said it would. But it still didn’t provide the nearly dead-on, pass-after-pass accuracy Hardie felt he needed for strip-till operations.

In October 2008, Hardie worked with his crop consultant to test a new system that utilizes the state of New York’s CORS (continuously operating reference stations) network, which is also used by land surveyors and highway construction crews.

“It was amazing,” Hardie says. His crew used the Leica mojoRTK auto-steer system to guide a Veris soil mapper (with a 6'-wide straight disk) and repeated passes. The least accurate pass was ¾" off the previous pass—a level of accuracy Hardie says he needs for strip tillage and planting.

Last summer, Hardie decided to use the mojoRTK system in his hay mowing. “Before, we had two 18' windrowers with two operators. A good day was 125 acres,” he says. He thought he could do better—and with one operator—by going to a 32' Poettinger Novacat mower.

The auto-steer system allowed the operator to monitor the overall operation and not worry with each pass about overlapping portions that were already cut. “We mowed nearly all of our hay at 15 mph; it was scary how fast we were cutting,” Hardie says.

This past fall, Hardie used the system to apply manure. He uses a drag hose, and says it’s uncanny how straight and even the results are, with no overapplication or misses.

Next up: silage packing. Hardie says that like most farmers, he’s frustrated with the uneven silage densities in his bunkers. But with the advanced auto-steer system, he thinks he can be much more precise in packing—including at bunker edges. “We should be able to program it to get correct spacing across the bunker,” he says.

In fact, he envisions the day he’ll be able to take the driver out of the packing tractor altogether and operate it on remote control. No word yet from his partners on how they feel about that.

Bonus content:

Gear Up for VRT

Insatiable Software

Leica Geosystems Advantage

Price Hikes

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

If you buy feed, fuel or fertilizer, you are painfully aware of how much prices are rising. But the $64,000 question is: Do you know what impact those price hikes are having on your cost of production?

Bruce Jones, a University of Wisconsin Extension farm management specialist, with a little help from his friends, has run the numbers through a spreadsheet to give you some rules of thumb in the table below.

His calculations show that for every 50¢/bu jump in corn prices, your cost of producing 100 lb. of milk jumps about 25¢. For every $1/cwt increase in soybean meal prices ($20/ton), your COP jumps 9¢/cwt. And for every $20/ton increase in hay prices, your COP jumps anywhere from 40¢ to 60¢/cwt, depending on you’re herd’s level of production.

Increasing corn silage prices have a similar affect. In a one-half corn silage, one-half hay diet, every $5 increase in corn silage cost pushes COP up about 15¢/cwt in a herd averaging 75 lb./cow/day. If you’re on a two-thirds corn silage, one-third hay diet, a $5 increase in corn silage will cause about a 19¢/cwt jump in COP.

“Hopefully, this information will help dairy producers gain a perspective of the profits that are currently at risk,” says Jones. “Producers can try to preserve some of these profits by locking in a portion of their feed costs or they can roll the dice and hope that feed prices do not rise to even higher levels.”

To better understand the impact of rising feed prices, Jones compared prices from March 2006 to March 2008. During that period, corn jumped $2.70/bu, from $2.10 to $4.80. Soybean meal was up $7.85/cwt, climbing from $8.75/cwt to $16.60/cwt. And dairy hay was up $45/ton, from $100 to $145.

Jones then assumed a fairly high-producing herd, pumping out 80 lb./cow/day. The resulting impact on COP adds up like this:

A $2.70/bu jump in corn prices results in $1.35 higher COP.
The $7.85/cwt ($157/ton) jump in soybean prices results in 71¢ higher COP.
And the $45/ton increase in hay prices tacks on another $1.01 in higher COP.

“All total, the cost of producing 100 lb. of milk rose $3.07 due to the increases corn, soybean meal and hay prices from March 2006 to March 2008,” says Jones.

Dairy producers who raise their feed may think these price jumps don’t affect them, adds Jones. But the rising cost of fuel, fertilizer and seed could easily push the cost of growing corn up $1/bu. “Raising hay could rise as much as $20/ton due to higher costs of inputs and cash rents for cropland,” he says.

“These higher costs for raised feed are going to erode dairy producers’ profit margins the same way that increases in the prices of purchased feeds cut into producers’ net returns,” Jones says.

Bonus content:

Click here to see chart showing increasting cost of production.
Click here to view the chart showing changes in the per hundredweight costs of producing milk related to variations in the prices of corn silage and hay for rations formulated with differing mixes of corn silage and hay.

Not Your Daddy''s Sorghum BMR rivals corn silage

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

New BMR forage sorghums compete with corn silage on digestibility, yield and growing costs.

In Florida, the old joke is that farmers measure corn silage yields in tons per acre and forage sorghum yields in board feet.

But new, highly digestible brown midrib (BMR) varieties of forage sorghum change all that. Plus, yields are starting to rival that of corn silage, water usage is much less and growing costs are just a fraction.

The crop’s one drawback is that it needs 60°F soil temperature to germinate and a 95-day window between planting and a hard frost to produce full tonnage. The cutoff point is typically the southern borders of Wisconsin and Minnesota.

But for Southern growers, BMR sorghum deserves a look-see, say Extension agronomists. In Texas, where water is a precious and expensive commodity, some 40,000 acres of corn silage have been converted to forage sorghums in the past five years.

“Sorghum silage is a viable source of high-quality silage for the dairy industry in the Texas Panhandle,” says Steve Amosson, an Extension economist with Texas A&M University. The conversion to BMR sorghum silage has increased net returns by nearly $5 million/year relative to other forages in Texas alone, he and colleagues estimate.

“BMR sorghum works quite well, and we can replace corn silage on almost a one-to-one ratio,” says Rick Lund-quist, a dairy nutritionist who consults across the South.

The crop works especially well in double-cropping situations in Arizona, where irrigation cost is always an issue. Producers there typically plant corn silage as a first crop, then come back with sorghum as a second crop in June.

“By then, we’re into the hot part of the season, so corn silage doesn’t do as well and puts on a lot of fiber. The BMR forage sorghums don’t,” Lundquist says.

The BMR sorghums also work well in grazing situations where annuals are used. Last year, Matt Clark of Blackstone, Va., planted strips of 11 forage types for his herd of 230 cows. He then fenced off grazing sections perpendicular to the strips to gauge cow preferences.

“Cows went to the BMR sorghum and sudangrass hybrids and just picked over the others,” he says. “They probably would have eaten the other forage if we’d fenced by forage type. But looking at tonnage and digestibility, the BMR sorghum was definitely better.”

Chris Teutsch, an agronomist with the Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Blackstone, tested forage samples from the strips as well. “The BMR types tend to be more digestible,” he says.

But he also notes significant differences between BMR sorghum varieties. “People should ask the seed companies if they have university digestibility data,” he says.

In Texas research completed five years ago, economics slightly favored corn silage—due to higher tonnage yields. But total direct expense for the forage sorghum was two-thirds that of corn silage: $375/acre for sorghum, $560/acre for corn silage. Irrigation and seed costs were big factors. Irrigation ran $90/acre for sorghum and $150/acre for corn silage. And while BMR sorghum seed runs about $15/acre, corn seed can now exceed $100/acre.

Bonus content:

More on BMR nutrition

Brown Midrib Sorghum in Diets for Lactating Dairy Cows

Follow These Steps When Fertilizing Perennial Forages

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 16:49:02 GMT

With fall just around the corner, now is the time to think about applying fertilizer to perennial forages like alfalfa, clover and timothy. According to Dr. Mark Sulc, professor and extension forage specialist, and Greg LaBarge, agronomic field specialist, both from Ohio State University, September is a prime time to prep perennial forage soil.

“Soils are usually firm in September, and autumn topdressing provides needed nutrients for good winter survival of the forage stand and vigorous regrowth the following spring,” the duo state. “Hay crops will remove about 50 lb. of K2O and 12 lb. of P2O5 per ton of dry hay harvested. Adequate amounts of soil P and K are important for the productivity and persistence of forage stands. However, nutrient over-application harms the environment and can harm animals fed those forages.”

Before heading to the fields, there are a few steps farmers should follow. These include:

Have recent soil tests available to help guide you in what nutrients to apply and how much.
If you are applying high rates of phosphorus or potassium, consider splitting applications. There is an advantage to splitting the application, with half applied this autumn and the remainder applied next spring after the first cutting when soils are firm.
Don’t over apply P and K. According to the extension agents, many dairy farms have high levels of soil P, making the expense of fertilizer P unnecessary. When soil test P exceeds the agronomic level of 50 ppm, there is an increased potential for P losses into streams and lakes. Applying too much K will result in luxury consumption by the forage plants, leading to excessive levels of K in the forage that can cause animal health problems.
Apply at the right rate. Your soil test should give you indicators as to what rate you should apply fertilizer on different fields. For help determining what rate to apply, check out this free tool.

For more on forages, read:

Set Forage Quality Targets

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 22:10:35 GMT

Every dairy farm is a little bit different, and every milking cow ration is a little bit different as well.

So it makes little sense each and every dairy farm should have the same quality and quantity targets when harvesting forage, says Stu Rymph, a dairy nutrition and forage agronomy specialist with Purina Animal Health.

“We always tell dairy farmers we need better forage quality. But if we don’t give you any numbers, farmers will never be able to hit the targets,” he says.

As importantly, farmers and nutritionists need to look at what rations are being fed and what you need them to be. For example, a 1,500-lb. Holstein needs 64 lb. to 65 lb. of ration dry matter to reach and maintain 100 lb. of milk per day. On an as-fed basis, that means she needs to consume and digest up to 130 lb. of feed daily.

Forage quality is paramount to get that kind of intake. But the type of forage needed and the quality of each forage will depend on the type of ration being fed. Is it all corn silage, alfalfa haylage or a combination of the two?

Large farms are typically feeding a high proportion of corn silage because it yields greater tonnage and season-long feeding consistency. As a result, perhaps a lower relative feed quality haylage can be fed, Rymph says.

Or conversely, if a farm’s conservation plan calls to plant a high proportion of alfalfa on erodible ground, 150 RFQ alfalfa might not be good enough to maintain intakes and rumen throughput.

In turn, forage quality can be manipulated by corn hybrids and alfalfa varieties. BMR corn hybrids are gaining popularity for their digestibility, even though total yields still lag conventional hybrids. Low-lignin alfalfa varieties, despite their higher costs, are getting a lot of interest, as well, to increase digestibility, widen the harvest window or increase yields with fewer cuttings.

The key is farmers, their nutritionists, agronomists and harvest crew all need to sit down together to discuss what forage quality targets should be, Rymph says. Once targets are agreed on, specific decisions can be made on crop mix and variety selection along with harvest adjustments.

Haylage Quality

When harvesting alfalfa haylage, your focus should be on three key areas:

Increased neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFd).
Preserving the percentage of leaves in the forage mass.
Reducing ash content.

It’s important to remember alfalfa leaves don’t decrease in quality with maturity. The reduction in quality comes in the stem, where fiber increases and digestibility decreases as the plant matures. “Lower stems decrease in quality two times faster than the whole plant canopy as the plant matures and ages,” Rymph says.

The recommended cutting height is 2½" to 3" to reduce ash and dirt in feed. But if the crop becomes more mature than you’d like due to weather or harvest delays, consider increasing the cutting height to 5" or 6", Rymph says. “You might pick up 5 points of relative feed value per inch,” he says.

Agronomists are also recommending cutting alfalfa and depositing it in a wide swath, at least 85% of the width of the cutter bar. Laying the crop in a wide swath results in more even dry-down, minimizing risk of rain damage and preserving more leaves with less handling.

By spreading into a thin layer, the plant continues to photosynthesize as long as there is light and moisture. So the plant will continue to make new sugars and transpire, drawing moisture up from the stem for faster drying.

If using a disk mower, angled blades might be needed for first crop because it tends to be heavier and more easily lodged. The angle blades create a vacuum to lift the crop for cutting.

In later cuttings, when the crop is thinner and dryer, use flatter angled blades to minimize vacuum and reduce the amount of ash and dirt drawn up into the crop mass.

Ash can significantly reduce the relative feed quality of the haylage. The University of Wisconsin says hand-harvested haylage will have an ash content of just 6% to 8%. But mechanically cut haylage will have ash content of 10% to 12% or more. The goal should be less than 10% because the relative feed quality decreases 5 points for every 2% increase in ash.

“Conditioning the crop is probably not needed for haylage,” Rymph adds. Without conditioning, the stem and leaves tend to dry more evenly. With conditioning, the leaves might dry faster than the stems leading to more leaf loss at chopping.

If you can’t set your swath width to more than 80% of the cutter bar width, you might need to use a tedder to speed drying. If you do, tedding should be done within an hour and a half to two hours of cutting to minimize leaf loss. If the crop is rained on, ted in the morning when the dew is still on the windrow.

To minimize leaf loss, drive slow—at 3 to 5 mph. “Remember, it is a tedder not a tiller,” Rymph says. In fact, University of Wisconsin agronomist Dan Undersander recommends tedders not be used with alfalfa because of their potential for leaf loss.

And if you’re using a rake or a merger, do so when the crop is still at least 40% moisture—again to preserve as many leaves as possible. “Set the tines to pick up hay, not scrape the ground,” Rymph says. It’s better to leave a little hay in the low spots than to add more dirt to the windrow, he says.

Corn Silage

“Start corn silage harvest at the highest tolerable moisture to preserve the digestibility of both starch and NDF,” Rymph says, “because both will be higher at higher moistures.” For bunker silos, that means starting harvest at 70% whole-plant moisture.

Also consider increasing cutting height from 6" to 18". Doing so will reduce yield 10% to 15%, but has these advantages:

Increases NDFd 4.7%.
Increases starch 5.9%, or about 2.2 percentage units.
Decreases whole plant moisture (6% increase in dry matter).
Decreases nitrate levels. Also use a processor to process corn completely.

“A 32 oz. cup of silage should have no pieces of kernel larger than a half kernel,” Rymph says. “Cobs should be ground and stalks squashed or torn.

Forage Myths Are Costly: Forage Quality Impacts Your Bottom Line

Thu, 19 May 2022 15:28:42 GMT

Myth #1:

My feed company tests my silage for its nutrient content. However, I don’t feel that it pays to test my hay since I have many different cuttings and I have it fed out before the analysis comes back from the lab.

Truth about Myth #1:

Hay quality directly impacts the amount of milk the milking herd will produce and the amount of grain which needs to be fed. This is true no matter if you feed as little as 5 lbs of hay or if you feed over 10 lbs of hay per cow. To determine the quality of your hay and determine how much grain needs to be fed, the hay must be tested to determine its nutrient content. Also, forage testing allows you to allocate your hay to the group of cattle on your farm which can best use that quality of hay. The best hay needs to be fed to calves from 2 to 4 months of age and the milking herd especially when the largest percentage of the cows are in early lactation.

All of your hay needs to be sampled by the end of the final fall harvest. This allows you to not only have the samples back before the hay is fed but also to develop a plan on how to best use the hay you have. It is best to sample each field and cutting separately. However, samples can be combined if they are from similar types of hay crops and the same cuttings if they were not rained on to minimize the number of samples sent to a lab. The key is to sample at least 20 bales to get a representative sample.

Myth #2:

My cows just need some fiber to chew on so I’ll feed them some rough hay.

Truth about Myth #2:

Rough hay is lower in energy and protein than dairy quality hay. By feeding this quality of hay, the cows will fill up on poorer quality hay which will decrease the amount of nutrients they receive over the day. Result- the cows, especially early lactation cows will decrease their milk production may be as much as 2 lbs of milk for every 5 lbs of rough hay they eat.

Myth #3:

I test the hay I feed my milking cows but I don’t see the need to test the hay I feed to my bred heifers and dry cows.

Truth about Myth #3:

In order to provide heifers and dry cows with the proper nutrition, forages must be tested and these results used to balance rations. First, the calf growing inside the cow or heifer gets the nutrients it needs at the expense of the cow or heifer. Thus, when heifers or dry cows are not provided the proper nutrition, the cow suffers not the calf growing inside of her. Secondly, we need to remember that the last two months before a heifer or cow calves sets the stage for how well she will milk this lactation. Providing inadequate amounts of energy, protein, minerals or vitamins results in less milk over the upcoming lactation. Early lactation cows make the most profit for their owners and nutrition before calving affects production and reproductive performance during early lactation. Thus, underfeeding protein or energy hurts the cow’s future production and profitability and does not decrease the size of the calf at birth.

Myth #4:

I had my hay tested and it contained 12% crude protein.

Truth about Myth #4:

For both beef and dairy cattle, sheep, and goats, energy is often times the nutrient which limits optimum performance not protein. Thus, when reviewing your forage analysis, the energy content should be reviewed first before the protein content. The energy content of your forage is not determined directly in the laboratory. Over the years, nutritionists have learned that the lower the fiber content (acid detergent fiber or ADF) of the plant, the higher the digestibility which in turn supplies the cow with more energy. When looking at your forage analysis, always evaluate the nutrients on a dry matter basis (with all the water removed). Thus, the most important number to review on a forage analysis is the ADF or NDF content of a forage on a dry matter basis not crude protein.

Tips to Reduce Hay-Drying Time, Produce Quality Forage

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 18:00:28 GMT

By Tracy Turner, Purdue University

CALDWELL, Ohio - While producers might find it challenging to get hay dry in early June due to changing weather conditions, there are steps they can take to get the crop up quickly and reduce the potential for rain damage, a forage expert with Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences says.

“Proper tedding, raking, and equipment care are just some of the steps producers can take to reduce drying time and produce high-quality hay,” said Clif Little, an educator with the college’s outreach arm, Ohio State University Extension.

Although drying time for hay is affected by forage species, environmental conditions, cut height and swath width, Little said a good management plan can make a big difference in hay quality.

“Cutting and drying hay quickly is always important, especially with everything being a little behind this year because of the planting season,” he said. “Feed prices are high, so anything producers can do to produce quality hay is a benefit.

“We’re fighting rain as well as other work we’ve got to do around the farm. But we still have to get hay up quickly because when we get rain on our forage it can be devastated or ruined. So using these steps may allow producers to get it up a day or two earlier.”

Little’s tips:

* Make sure hay-mowing equipment rollers are adjusted properly.

* Cut hay in the morning after the dew is off to help speed drying time and reduce the loss of carbohydrates due to respiration. Respiration is a natural process and continues until the plant dries to a moisture content of about 40 percent.

* Lay high-yielding forages in a wide swath to give better access to sun and wind.

* Use tedding to reduce drying time by spreading the hay. While tedding increases costs in terms of time and fuel, the increase is offset by a reduction in drying time.

* Ted hay shortly after cutting and when it contains no less than 50 percent moisture to reduce leaf shatter and forage loss.

* Rake hay at an optimal moisture content of 30 to 40 percent. Raking hay at the improper moisture content can contribute to loss of plant leaf material. Raking when the hay is ready to bale (very dry) can cause major leaf shatter and reduce the overall nutrient content of the forage.

* Bale hay at the proper moisture content based on the size and shape of bales to reduce harvest and storage loss. For most small rectangular and large round bales, the recommended baling moisture content is 18 percent. For high-density large rectangular bales, the range can be 12-14 percent moisture for proper storage.
* If storing hay outside, make sure you choose a location that is dry, preferably on a solid surface, such as rock, and make sure the location is high and open to wind.

For More Information

Get the latest hay and forage news .

Take a Better Hay Sample with These 8 Tips

Thu, 20 May 2021 15:08:25 GMT

The sweet smell of fresh cut hay is in the air as dairy producers work to restock their forage inventories for the year. As feed prices continue to soar, producers are leaning on homegrown forages now more than ever to help feed their cattle.

According to University of Kentucky extension, knowing the nutritional quality of forage and hay is an integral part of a profitable and efficient dairy operation. Accurate estimation of forage quality starts with obtaining a representative sample of the forage to be fed. Therefore, proper sampling techniques are critical.

Whether your sampling square bales, round bales or baleage, it’s important to keep these eight tips in mind in order to get accurate quality predictions.

• Always collect hay samples by coring hay bales with a sampling probe designed for hay.

• Always sample hay in lots. A lot con sists of a harvest-field combination. Collect 20 cores per hay lot.

• Delay sampling for dry hay stored inside for three to four weeks after harvest.

• Delay sampling for hay stored out side until three to four weeks prior to feeding.

• Core square bales from the end. Core round bales from the side.

• Delay sampling baleage for four to six weeks after baling to allow fermentation to finish.

• Refrigerate baleage samples prior to shipping.

• Always submit entire samples. Subdividing samples can result in altered lab results.

Clover: The Forgotten Forager

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 01:52:51 GMT

Genetic engineering scientists have been working for years to improve alfalfa. Reduced lignin and condensed tannin traits have been targeted to address the shortfalls of alfalfa quality. The lower lignin products in the marketplace partially solve alfalfa’s low fiber digestibility problems. However, condensed tannins to solve alfalfa’s high protein solubility issues appear to be five or 10 years down the road.

The interesting thing is red clover excels at both challenges. At similar harvest schedules, red clover will regularly have 5% to 10% higher NDFD30 then alfalfa and lower protein solubility. Tannin in clover causes its protein to be much less soluble and much higher in quality. In fact, red clover has approximately double the amount of alfalfa’s bypass protein.

In the past few decades, dairy farmers have begun harvesting alfalfa at younger stages to increase leaf-to-stem ratios and help fiber digestibility. Unfortunately, that also increases the amount of soluble protein in the forage. In most diets, this becomes a challenge to balance with the energy components. Red clover forage quality management is much easier because of its reduced protein solubility and increased fiber digestibility.

Benefits of Red Clover

The agronomic benefits of alfalfa are many and in some areas of the country it is still my preferred legume. However, let us look at what modern improved varieties of red clover bring to the table:

More winter hardiness
Better tolerates “wet feet”
Not as dependent on high soil pH
Gets going quicker than alfalfa, which is important when using shorter rotations
Much higher fiber digestibility
Has higher RUP or almost double bypass protein than alfalfa
Has a root system that holds soil better when ravaged by rain
Nitrogen from fixation might be available for other plants (grasses) sooner
Can be seeded into a weak alfalfa stand to extend usefulness without the autotoxicity that would happen when seeding alfalfa into alfalfa.
When added to an alfalfa stand, you will see areas thriving with clover, which would otherwise be bare
Added in mixes with European cool season grasses such as meadow fescue (in the north) or orchardgrass (other places), clover will excel

And the Research Says

Work at the USDA Forage Research Center in Wisconsin with red clover replacing alfalfa showed dairy cows had reduced feed intakes with red clover-based diets but had similar milk yield and produced less manure. This is the result of increased digestibility (called milk efficiency). Less crude protein was converted to non-protein nitrogen, which improved dietary protein efficiency and reduced manure nitrogen.

Red clover is not the only clover option. We use a lot of annual clovers to not only add protein to the grass forage, but also to provide a winter cover crop and improve soil health. Annual clovers and vetches are included in virtually every cocktail mix we recommend. Clovers can be added (seeding rate 5 lb. to 8 lb.) to sorghum sudan, sudangrass, small grains and, of course, are a mainstay in any pasture system.

Caveats to Consider

There is a huge genetic difference between “medium” red clover and newer genetics. Some new varieties will last into the fourth year and have much greater regrowth potential.

Red clover doesn’t dry very well. This can be an asset in a haylage-focused harvest system, but it certainly was one reason farmers moved away from it when dry hay was a staple of dairy diets. Laying it wide is important for quick drying.

Red clover isn’t terribly drought tolerant and is best suited for heavier soils with adequate moisture is the norm.

If you’re farming heavier soils in a haylage-focused forage program, improved red clover might help your forage system and your dairy’s profitability.