Wisconsin Crop Manager newsletter

Author:	WCM Staff	Created:	4/21/2006 11:12 AM
Corn and more

Packing Silage – Get It Right

By WCM Staff on 4/27/2006 8:21 PM

Proper filling of bunkers and piles of forage pays big dividends. Dry matter losses occurring during filling, storage and feedout will be higher in silage packed at low density (< 14 lbs DM/Ft3). Higher density also allows more feed to be placed into a silo, thus reducing the cost of additional storage capacity.

Managing Corn Seed Costs

By WCM Staff on 4/27/2006 8:07 PM

Seed costs have dramatically increased over the last few years. The development of transgenic hybrids and the associated technology fees has driven the cost of hybrid seed to the highest prices ever seen.

Drying Forage for Hay and Haylage

By WCM Staff on 4/26/2006 8:14 PM

If we understand and use the biology and physics of forage drying properly, not only does the hay dry faster and have less chance of being rained on, but the total digestible nutrients (TDN) of the harvested forage are higher. As mowing and conditioning equipment has evolved, some of the basic drying principles of forage have slipped by the wayside and we need to review them.

The Relationship Between Corn Grain and Forage Yield: An Update

By WCM Staff on 8/24/2005 9:00 PM

Understanding the relationship between corn grain and forage yield is important to dairymen and grain farmers who often contract with each other for corn silage production. Recently, the grain versus forage relationship has set government Loan Deficiency (LDP) Payments to farmers for corn silage acres.

Late Summer Cutting Management of Alfalfa

By WCM Staff on 8/24/2005 8:00 PM

The difficult alfalfa harvesting conditions early this summer have meant that many farmers are off schedule for harvesting alfalfa. This raises the question of best management for alfalfa harvest as the end of summer approaches.

Getting the Most from Drought Stressed Forages

By WCM Staff on 8/4/2005 9:00 PM

The questions we should be considering is how to maximize that growth for good hay, silage or pasture production. Below we will consider the major crops and what actions should be taken.

Change in Yield and Quality of Alfalfa

By WCM Staff on 5/25/2005 9:00 PM

Many growers are asking about the tradeoffs in yield and quality as they enter quality pricing contracts for hay or haylage. The situation is that premiums are paid for quality but some of the higher price for increased forage quality is offset by lower yields of fields cut earlier for the higher quality.

Frost Damage to Alfalfa

By WCM Staff on 5/3/2005 8:00 PM

The cold temperatures during the last week of April have caused some frost damage to alfalfa. Following are recommendations for evaluating damage and taking action.

Negotiating the Value of Immature Corn Silage

By WCM Staff on 9/8/2004 9:00 PM

Arriving at a fair and equitable price for corn silage is difficult due to the number of factors involved that are dynamic and biologically variable. Some factors include production costs, grain price, harvesting costs, costs of handling, hauling and storage, grain drying costs, fertility value of stover, and forage quality (especially starch content and neutral detergent fiber digestibility-NDFD).

Grazing Soybeans

By WCM Staff on 8/25/2004 7:00 PM

Although there isn't much data on grazing soybeans, beans can be high in quality and provide good grazing. Recommendations are listed.

Rehydration of Corn Forage Standing in the Field

By WCM Staff on 1/14/2004 11:00 PM

Many fields in Wisconsin had uneven crop development during the 2003 growing season. We were interested in the forage moisture differences of corn in knoll and swale areas of the field.

Fall and Spring Forage Yield and Quality from Fall-Seeded Cereal Crops

By WCM Staff on 9/3/2003 7:00 PM

Cereal crops such as oats, barley, triticale, wheat, and rye may be a source of emergency fall forage and/or a source of forage the following spring. The choice of which specie to plant depends on the importance or need for forage in the fall as opposed to forage in the spring.

Planting Corn For Silage Following Winter-Killed Alfalfa

By WCM Staff on 4/23/2003 9:00 PM

The following is a summary of planting date trials conducted at Arlington, WI. The objective of these trials is to measure the impact of planting date on corn forage yield and quality.

Follow-up On Harvesting Corn Silage From Highly Erodible Land

By WCM Staff on 6/12/2002 10:00 PM

In the 25 April 2002 issue of the Wisconsin Crop Manager, I suggested one way to make T requirements is to raise the cutter bar on the corn silage chopper. This strategy lowers silage yield, but a trade-off exists whereby silage quality is increased.