The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team monthly webinar series continues on Wednesday, Mar 1 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. This program will focus on what does a 70 percent forage ration that results in 100 pounds of milk per day look like.
Tag: alfalfa
Monthly Dairy Webinar Feb 15 Focus on Forage Storage Options
The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team monthly webinar series continues on Wednesday, February 15 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. This program will focus on evaluating forage storage options for your farm.
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December Hay Stocks Down 21 Percent From December 21
All hay stored on Iowa farms as of December 1, 2022, was estimated at 2.48 million tons, down 21 percent from December 1, 2021, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. Disappearance from May 1, 2022, through December 1, 2022, totaled 1.88 million tons, compared with 1.44 million tons for the same period in 2021.
Hay stocks on farms: All hay stored on United States farms as of December 1, 2022, totaled 71.9 million tons, down 9 percent from December 1, 2021, which is the lowest December 1 stocks since 1954.
Disappearance from May 1, 2022 – December 1, 2022, totaled 57.7 million tons, down 3 percent from the same period in 2021. Record low December 1 hay stock levels were estimated in California, Colorado, and Nebraska.
The complete report can be found on the USDA NASS website at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications
I-29 Moo University Presents Feeding Higher Forage Rations Webinar Jan. 5
The I-29 Moo University 2022 Dairy Webinar Series continues Wednesday, Jan. 5 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. with a focus on feeding higher forage rations.
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Timing First Crop Harvest of Alfalfa with PEAQ
Timing first crop alfalfa harvest by calendar date does not usually work well. Spring climates vary from year to year, and fields managed differently also affect spring regrowth. Different varieties, age of stand, fertility, last season’s cutting schedules, fall harvest or not, all influence the rate of regrowth in spring.
Since the first cutting is usually has the highest yield with 35-40 percent of the year’s total crop, it is important that it is the quality forage your operation needs. If the first cutting is taken at a very immature stage it can be difficult to feed because its fiber level is too low for most high producing cows plus it can lower the life of alfalfa stands. Timely cutting permits aftermath growth to begin when when temperature and soil moisture are favorable for plant growth and generally increases total yield per acre.
PEAQ, which stands for predictive equation for alfalfa quality, is a quick and easy method to assess when individual alfalfa fields are ready for harvest based on a forage quality estimate. All you need is a yard stick and Table 1 in ISU Extension publication CROP 3141, which is available from your county ISU Extension office or download at: https://store.extension.iastate.edu/Product/15234
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Making the Most of Your 2021 Alfalfa Crop webinar April 21
The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team monthly webinar series continues on Wednesday, April 21 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. This month’s webinar will focus on making the most of the 2021 alfalfa crop.
Long-time ISU Extension and Outreach Field Agronomist in Northwest Iowa Joel DeJong will present an outlook for the 2021 alfalfa crop. He will review stand evaluation, fertilizer, and pest threats, as well as discuss how to use Predictive Equations of Alfalfa Quality (PEAQ) to determine when to harvest the highest-quality forage.
“Dairy producers, and all livestock producers really, rely on quality forage to help their herds maximize profits,” said Fred Hall, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “That is why we encourage producers, dairy consultants and related industry reps to attend this webinar.”
As always, there is no fee or registration needed to participate in the monthly dairy webinars. Interested individuals may join the program live at https://iastate.zoom.us/my/dairyteamfredprogram.
For more information, contact Fred Hall at 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu.
Timing First Crop Harvest of Alfalfa with PEAQ
Timing first crop alfalfa harvest by calendar date does not work well. Spring climates vary from year to year, and fields managed differently also affects spring regrowth. Different varieties, age of stand, fertility, last season’s cutting schedules, fall harvest or not, can all influence the rate of regrowth in spring. PEAQ, which stands for predictive equation for alfalfa quality, is a quick and easy method to use to assess when individual alfalfa fields are ready for harvest based on a forage quality estimate. All you need is a yard stick and Table 1 in ISU Extension publication CROP 3141, which is available from your county ISU Extension office or download at: https://store.extension.iastate.edu/Product/15234
Continue reading “Timing First Crop Harvest of Alfalfa with PEAQ”
Alfalfa Update
Extension Field Agronomist Joel DeJong reports “I am not certain we have a good window of opportunity for harvesting alfalfa soon, but I hope so”. He was out in a couple of alfalfa fields near Le Mars yesterday (Wednesday), and the stems measured 25” tall, and were in the bud stage. That would give it a RFV today of 176. In review, making haylage reduces the final RFV by 15 units, or making dry hay would cost about 25 RFV units. It is generally recommended to harvest alfalfa at about 150 RFV for milking dairy herds and 125 RFV for heifers, stocker cattle and lactating beef cattle. Find more information about the PEAQ quality assessment model found here. While out there, he noticed low levels of alfalfa weevils feeding on the leaves. Scouting detail, thresholds, pictures and more can be found in this ISU ICM article titled “Alfalfa Weevils Active in Northern Iowa.”
Weekly Hay Auction Report
Iowa hay offerings were tighter this past week and prices were higher even though the quality was lower. Supreme alfalfa could only be found in small squares and that supply, baled last year, was tight. The supply of large squares was limited, regardless of the quality of hay. The end of this week in Iowa was wet with the forecast for the rest of May also indicating wide spread rain and slightly below normal for temperatures. While this weather pattern may encourage the growth of pastures, it wrecks havoc in the harvesting of first cutting.
Rock Valley Hay Auction for Thursday, May 16, 2019 Receipts: 78 loads Last Week: 80 loads Last Year: 59 loads Alfalfa: Supreme: Large Squares, 6 loads 205.00-250.00; Large Rounds, 1 load 187.50. Premium: Large Rounds, 9 loads 170.00-182.50. Good: Large Rounds, 8 loads 155.00-165.00. Fair: Large Squares, 1 load 147.50; Large Rounds, 8 loads 130.00-145.00. Grass: Premium: Large Squares, 1 load 207.50. Good: Large Rounds, 18 loads 150.00-180.00; Large Squares, 1 load 152.50. Fair: Large Rounds, 7 loads 130.00-147.50; Large Squares, 5 loads 135.00-140.00. Utility: Large Rounds, 2 loads 125.00. Alfalfa / Grass Mix: Good: Large Rounds, 2 loads 147.50-155.00. Straw: Large Squares, 2 loads 155.00-162.50; Large Rounds, 1 load 120.00. Cornstalks: Large Rounds, 7 load 40.00-47.50.
Weekly Hay Auction Report
Hay and straw were more available this past week in Iowa, but the majority of it was lower quality. Some of the offerings may have been stored for an extended period of time. Prices continue to edge higher as end users continue scramble for both hay and straw to get them through a wetter and cooler spring.
Rock Valley Hay Auction for Monday, Apr 29, 2019
Receipts: 23 loads Last Week: 35 loads Year Ago: 26 loads
*** This will be the last Rock Valley Monday Hay Auction Report until
Rock Valley reopens Monday Hay Auctions again in November 2019.***
Alfalfa: Good: Large Rounds, 1 load 162.50. Fair: Large Rounds, 5
loads 140.00-155.00. Utility: Large Rounds, 3 loads 125.00.
Grass: Premium: Small Squares, 1 load 255.00. Good: Large Rounds,
5 loads 150.00-157.50. Fair: Large Rounds, 3 loads 132.50-140.00.
Utility: Large Rounds, 3 loads 110.00-120.00.
Alfalfa/Grass Mix: Good: Large Rounds, 1 load 150.00.
Straw: Scarce.
Corn Stalks: Large Rounds, 1 load 57.50.