Sarah Kenyon. Agronomy Specialist

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1 Sarah Kenyon Agronomy Specialist

2 Forage Species Stage of Maturity Curing and Handling Conditions Seed Quality Soil Fertility Strategies for managing high fertilizer prices

3 Yield, crude protein (CP), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) contents of various hay crops. Forage Species Yield (ton/acre) CP (%) TDN (%) Alfalfa Orchardgrass Tall Fescue Rye Ryegrass Bermudagrass Johnsongrass Pearl Millet Values are expressed on a dry matter basis. Adapted from: D.M. Ball et. al Southern Forages

4 Within each forage species, the most important factor affecting hay quality is stage of maturity.

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7 Recommended Stage of Harvest for Various Forage Crops Forage Species Alfalfa Tall Fescue, Orchardgrass, Timothy Harvest Time Bud stage for first cutting, 10% bloom for second and later cuttings. For new spring seeding, allow the first cutting to reach full bloom. Boot to early head stage for first cut, every 4-6 weeks thereafter. Red Clover, Crimson Clover Early bloom to 1/2 bloom Wheat, Cereal Rye, Ryegrass, Oats, Barley Boot to early head stage. White Clover Sudangrass, Sorghum Hybrids, Pearl Millet Bermudagrass Switchgrass, Eastern Gamagrass, Big Bluestem, Indiangrass Cut at correct stage for companion grass. 40-inche height or early boot stage, whichever comes first 15- to 18-inch height for first cutting, every four weeks thereafter Boot to early head stage, leave an 8- to 10-inch stubble height.

8 What is the boot stage? This is the stage just prior to heading out. The flag leaf is fully expanded, but the seed head is not visible. The seed head can be felt in the flag leaf sheath. Each plants ultimate goal is survival, which is dependent on seed production

9 What is the boot stage?

10 The effect of age on Tifton-44 bermudagrass hay on yield and quality. Cutting Interval Yield (lb DM/Acre) CP (%) Digestibility (%) 1 Week Weeks Weeks Weeks Values are expressed on a dry matter basis. From: Mason and Burton Agronomy Journal

11 The effect of stage of maturity at harvest on alfalfa hay quality. Stage at Harvest CP (%) Acid Detergent Fiber (%) Digestibility (%) Pre-bloom Early bloom Mid-bloom Full bloom Values are expressed on a dry matter basis. From: Kawas et. al Journal of Animal Science. 68:4376.

12 The effect of stage of maturity at harvest on timothy hay quality, animal intake, and milk yield. Stage at Harvest CP (%) Acid Detergent Fiber (%) Intake (lb DM/day) Intake (% body wt) Milk (lb/day) Late Boot Late Bloom Values are expressed on a dry matter basis. From: Vinet et. al Journal of Animal Science. 60:511.

13 Within each forage species, the most important factor affecting hay quality is stage of maturity.

14 Poor weather and handling conditions can lower hay quality Ran can cause leaf loss and nutrient leaching from plants Sunlight can reduce Vitamin A by bleaching Raking dry, brittle hay can cause excessive leaf loss

15 The effect of rain during curing on hay losses. Alfalfa Red Clover Loss No Rain (%) 2" Rain During Curing (%) 3" Rain on Dry Hay (%) No Rain (%) 2" Rain During Curing (%) 3" Rain on Dry Hay (%) Leaf Loss Leaching and Respiration Loss Total Loss Values are expressed as a percent of initial dry matter. From: Collins. M Agronomy Journal. 75:523.

16 Crushing stems (conditioning) at the time of mowing will decrease the drying time of large-stemmed plants (by approximately 1 day) and results in less leaf and nutrient loss Raking hay while it is moist, 40% moisture, and baling before hay is crisp, 18% moisture, will help reduce leaf loss

17 Plant certified seed of a recommended variety

18 Adequate amounts of lime, nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and certain minor elements are needed to produce high yields Maintaining a high level of fertility will also help to maintain the stand and prevent weed encroachment. A soil test should be used as a guide to determine the amount of fertilizer and lime needed for economical hay production

19 Shovel or spade Soil probe Soil auger

20 A power drill can be used for sampling rocky or dry soils. Use a plastic container with a hole in the middle to collect the soil as the auger pulls it out of the ground. Empty the soil out of the plastic container into the soil sample bucket after each successful attempt to get a 6- inch core.

21 15 20 Cores 6 Inches Deep Place in a clean bucket and mix well Remove grass, sticks, and rocks Place about a pint of soil in a soil sample box & label Discard excess soil Sample 20 acres or less 21

22 Avoid sampling soon after fertilization, liming, or manure application. Best to wait 3 months Sample every 2 to 3 years. Better to do a quality job (more cores per sample) less frequently Sample the same time every year. Avoid sampling within 150 feet of watering points, shade trees, gravel roads and other known hot spots 22

23 A. Field info B. Soil test info C. Rating D.Nutrient requirements E. Cropping options F. Yield goal G.Pounds per acre H.Limestone suggestions I. Special notes 23

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25 Avoid potential nutrient deficiencies Reveal possible causes for poor hay production Save money $$$ Apply enough plant nutrients Avoid excessive expense Decide if you are going to follow guidelines! Jim McCann I saved $20,000 in 2007 by spending $270 on soil tests.

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27 STRATEGY #1 Correct soil ph deficiencies Benefits of Proper ph Increased efficiency of fertilizers Reduced availability of Al & Mn Favorable microbial activity Better soil structure Increased longevity of legume stands Improved activity of certain herbicides Improved availability of soil nutrients

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29 Percent Nutrient Availability ph Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium (salt) % % % Dr. Gene Stevens Delta Center, Portageville, MO

30 STRAGETY #2 Add legumes to reduce nitrogen fertilizer costs University of Georgia Extension

31 Rhizobia bacteria fix N Legumes fix lbs N/Acre/year 20% of the N produced is transferred to the surrounding grasses Lag time after planting for N fixation to occur Need at least 25% stand for significant impact N fixation is reduced or stopped if N fertilizer is applied 31

32 Seeds should be inoculated to ensure fixation Not inoculated Inoculated 32

33 Treatment Yield lb/acre Tall fescue + red clover 11,100 Tall fescue + N 0 lb N/acre 3, lb N/acre 6, lb N/acre 9,900 Source: Taylor Kentucky Agric. Ext. Ser. AGR-26 33

34 Benefits Increased forage quality Lowers negative effect of endophyte-infected tall fescue Expands growing season Reduced nitrogen need Fertility requirements are higher ph 6-7 P and K at least medium

35 STRAGETY #3 Keep up with nutrient removal rates.

36 Inputs Nutrient Cycle Exports - fertilizer - manure - legumes (N) - remove 80% of nutrients in hay

37 N P 2 O 5 K 2 O Fescue Hay (3 Ton) Fescue/Clover Hay (3 Ton) Bermuda Hay (6 Ton) Alfalfa Hay (5 Ton) From: Ball et al Southern Missouri Forages.

38 To produce 1 ton Tall Fescue lbs of Nitrogen lbs P 2 O lbs K 2 O

39 Increase or maintain crop productivity Nitrogen effects on tall fescue yield

40 Hay Yield (lbs/acre) Increase or maintain crop productivity Phosphorus effects on tall fescue yield lbs P/acre 12.5 lbs P/acre 25 lbs P/acre Reinbott and Blevins,

41 Increase or maintain crop productivity Potassium effects on bermudagrass stand density LSU Agriculture Experiment Station,

42 Increase or maintain crop productivity Forgoing can lead to weed infestations If stand thinning occurs weed seeds are allowed space to germinate Many weeds do not require high fertility levels to thrive

43 Nutrients are slowly released because they are bound to organic components Approximately 50-60% of the N in manure is available to plants if surface applied P levels are usually high when application rate is based on N requirements K levels in manure are typically low for hay production and additional K fertilizer is often needed.

44 Test nutrient levels to determine the amount of nutrients present and how much to apply

45 Yield (lbs DM/acre) Evaluation of nontraditional fertilizers for bermudagrass yield A AB Total of two harvests (7/28 & 10/17) AB B B B Bars topped by the same letter are not different at the 0.05 level C C C C Ammomium Ammonium Nitrate Liquid Urea Urea + Urea + Urea + UAN Urea U+M ontys U+S90 U+FE M Monty's Sea 90 Fish ontys S90 FE Untreated Nitrate Urea Monty's Sea 90 Fish Plt Food Mineral Emulsion Check Plt Food Mineral Emulsion Treatments applied on 6/27 and 8/5 Treatment AN, Liq. Urea, & Urea applied at 75 lb/a N Monty's Plt Food pints/a Sea 90 Mineral - 2 lbs/a Fish Emulsion - 4 gal/a Source: John Jennings, University of Arkansas Extension

46 Fertilizing on a Budget Lime first Target very low and low testing soils Keep up with hay nutrient removal Increase dependence on legumes Manure can be an excellent fertilizer

47 Chemical Analysis Used to assess quality and determine the type and amount of supplementation needed for the desired level of animal production Matching hay quality to livestock nutrient requirements can lead to a more efficient foragelivestock program

48 Chemical Analysis Accuracy depends on taking a reliable sample use a hay probe MU Extension has hay probes for loan

49 Forage Species Stage of Maturity Remember to harvest at the boot stage! Curing and Handling Conditions Seed Quality Soil Fertility

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