Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

What Leading Alfalfa Producers Do To Produce Quality Hay, Jimmy C. Henning, Garry D. Lacefield, Buddy Sims

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is the highest quality forage legume crop grown in Kentucky and is the number one cash hay crop. Hay raised by Kentucky farmers has been recognized for its quality at local, state (state fair and Kentucky Alfalfa Conference), and national (American Forage and Grassland Council) hay contests. The testing records of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture also document the high quality alfalfa hay of Kentucky. However, little has been written about the farm practices used to produce high quality alfalfa hay in Kentucky. The current practices of top hay growers may be helpful in defining the options available to …

Grazing Alfalfa In Tennessee: Experiences And Opportunities, Gary Bates

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Animal agriculture in the southeastern U.S. is based on forages. This area has the advantage over all other sections of the nation in forage production. From Kentucky to south Florida, with a little planning forage can be grown almost 12 months a year. Forage programs in Tennessee and Kentucky are based primarily around cool-season grasses such as tall fescue and orchardgrass. These grasses grow over a long portion of the year. In fact, producers have to deal with excess forage production during the spring and fall (Fig. 1). The quality and quantity of forage during these times of the year …

Grazing Alfalfa In Lincoln County, Dan Grigson

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa grazing is becoming an important practice for our county's large livestock enterprise. Both dairy and beef producers use alfalfa grazing in various parts of their feeding operations. Lincoln County farmers have a reputation for being good forage producers and have over the years produced good yields and good quality alfalfa. Most producers realize that good forage leads to better profits for their livestock enterprises. That's very important to us as the livestock business generates over $21 million in cash receipts annually.

Alfalfa Seed Production In The Western U.S., Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is the primary forage for the dairy industry in the United States and provides a majority of the nutrients and energy needs for other classes of livestock including beef cattle, horses and sheep.

In order to maximize forage yield, quality and persistence, one should start with high quality seed. Seed must be free of noxious weeds, have a purity higher than 99.5 percent, a germination of 90 percent or higher and true to the variety stated.

Over 80% of the alfalfa seed was grown in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain states prior to 1948. This was mostly uncertified, …

Do's And Don'ts Of Alfalfa Round Baled Silage, Michael Collins

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Round baled silage provides an option for outside storage of round bales that protects them from weathering. With shorter field exposure times, silage can dramatically increase forage quality compared with hay. Harvest problems caused by wet weather and/or poor drying conditions during spring and for the freeze-down harvest during autumn could be alleviated by incorporating silage into the harvest system.

Alfalfa Hay: Quality Makes The Difference, Garry D. Lacefield, Jimmy C. Henning

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa "Queen of the Forage Crops" is one of the most important forage legumes grown in the U.S. It can be grown over a wide range of soil and climatic conditions, it has the highest yield potential and the highest feeding values of all adapted perennial forage legumes. Alfalfa is a versatile crop which can be used for pasture, hay, silage, green-chop, soil improvements and · human consumption (sprouts, etc.).

A Solution To Some Spring-Seeded Alfalfa Problems, Paul C. Vincelli

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

One of the most important assignments I received when I assumed this position in 1990 was to address the question, "What is the cause of seeding failure when alfalfa is spring-seeded into soils that remain wet after seeding?" Six years of laboratory and field work have finally borne fruit. Based on our research, we can confidently present Kentucky alfalfa producers with three conclusions and a recommendation.

Manure On Alfalfa: Why, When, And How Much?, Monroe Rasnake

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Manure is an excellent source of nutrients for growing crops. Its' value has been recognized for thousands of years. Before the development of chemical fertilizers, it served as the primary source of nutrients. It has decreased in importance as a nutrient source in this century and in some cases has become a disposal problem. This has led many farmers to consider using it on legume crops such as alfalfa that don't need to have nitrogen added, but will utilize it and other . nutrients in relatively large amounts. The first question to be considered, then, is why apply manure to …

Controlling Weeds In New Seedings And Established Stands, Jonathan D. Green

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The importance of weed control in forage production should not be overlooked, especially when you consider the high investment associated with alfalfa and other legume forages. Weeds may reduce forage yield by competing for water, sunlight and nutrients. For example, yield obtained from the first cutting of alfalfa can be significantly reduced by a heavy infestation of common chickweed. In addition to yield losses, weeds can also lower forage quality, increase the incidence of disease and insect problems, cause premature stand loss, and create harvesting problems. In some cases weeds are unpalatable to livestock or may be poisonous.

What I'Ve Learned From Three Years Of Intensive Experience With No-Till Alfalfa, Jimmy C. Henning, Garry D. Lacefield, Andy Anderson

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Three years ago, a project was begun to better understand the 'hands-on' aspects of no-till establishment of legumes especially alfalfa into fescue sod. Although no-till drills and technology had been around for nearly two decades, farmer feedback on the success of no-till establishment was not uniformly good. The University of Kentucky initiated a program called the 'Establishment Initiative' in partnership with seed companies and Agco-Tye to conduct no-till establishment demonstrations of no-till establishment. These demonstrations focused on getting alfalfa and red clover established into fescue sod which had been suppressed with herbicides. The following are some of the lessons learned.

Foreword [1997], Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

This is the front matter of the proceedings.