June 4, 2008

Test soils to get most from hay, Purdue Forage Day speaker says

"I expect demand for hay to be high this year, and for those in the industry I don’t think they will have a hard time selling good quality hay," said Keith Johnson, Purdue Extension forage specialist. "We should have decent first-harvest crop quality this year, but not the high yields one would hope for."

Johnson said that a target date for total completion of first harvest for alfalfa, red clover and cool-season grasses is prior to May 20 in southern Indiana and June 1 for northern Indiana. Crop quality is reduced as the crop matures, he said.

"With the increase in fertilizer prices, growers really need to know how much fertilizer is needed," he said. "If you haven’t already had a soil test, get one and initiate a good soil-testing program."

A list of certified soil-testing laboratories is available at https://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/forages/index.html

For individuals wanting to learn more about forage fertilization and how to get the most out of their crop, Johnson will be speaking at Purdue Forage Day, which will be held June 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in northeast Indiana.

Depending on soil test results, Johnson said, potassium and phosphorus might need to be applied. The best time to apply recommended fertilizer as prescribed by a soil test is the day after bales have been removed from the field, he said.

Johnson cautions that there is often no sign of a potassium deficiency in the early spring, but symptoms become visible after the first harvest.

"Boron may also need to be added to alfalfa, particularly if grown in sandy soils or unglaciated areas of the state," Johnson said. "To figure out the nutrient status and if boron needs to be applied, send the upper 6 inches of random alfalfa shoots to a lab and have the tissue analyzed."

For cool season grasses such as orchardgrass, timothy, smooth bromegrass and the improved tall fescues grown without a legume, growers may want to consider applying nitrogen, he said.

"If growing conditions are good, adequate moisture and warm temperatures, then applying 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre to stimulate grass growth should be considered," Johnson explained. "If you can take it from a 1-ton dry matter per acre crop to 2 tons of dry matter per acre, then that's certainly cost effective."

Johnson cautions growers of applying a recommended common blended product.

"The wrong answer is to apply a certain amount of blended fertilizer without following the prescribed recommendation that can be formulated from soil test information," he said. "With the increased fertilizer costs, growers should know what they need and then apply the necessary amount -- not a common blend that may over supply or under supply the nutrients really needed.

"Each farm field is uniquely different and requires different levels of nutrients. Don't be afraid to be skeptical of a recommendation and get a second opinion. There is no need to apply more than what is warranted, especially with today's fertilizer prices."

Other forage day topics to be discussed include the Indiana sales tax as it relates to the forage enterprise, co-ensiling forage and distillers grains, possible double crop forage crops to follow winter wheat and attributes of a viable lignocellulosic biofuel forage crop.

The day will also include a session about the size of equipment growers should buy and an equipment demonstration in the afternoon. Mowers, tedders and rakes, balers, wrappers and other equipment will be on display and tested at Gary and Ann Hodupp's farm in Jonesboro.

Participants are encouraged to bring a small square bale and enter the hay quality contest. A sample will be taken and analyzed at no cost to the participant. Results are expected back within two weeks and those results will tell growers the quality of their forage and how they stack up against other producers, Johnson said.

For directions and more information, visit https://www.agry.purdue.edu/forageday/index.html  or contact Johnson at (765) 494-4800, johnsonk@purdue.edu

Writer: Julie Douglas, (765) 496-1050, douglajk@purdue.edu

Source: Keith Johnson, (765) 494-4800, johnsonk@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

To the News Service home page