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Photo Highlights Of The 31st Kentucky Alfalfa Conference, Kentucky Alfalfa Conference

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.

What's New In Forage Equipment?, Dan Undersander

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The forage equipment industry is changing in response to farmers’ needs. These changes consist of innovations to increase capacity, to improve the usability of the machine, and to improve the quality of the product. Most changes are occurring with existing equipment, but some totally new product innovations are occurring.

Dollars & Cents Of Alfalfa Production, Kenneth H. Burdine

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The last several years have been incredibly challenging for all of Kentucky agriculture and hay producers have been no exception to the rule. Statewide, alfalfa yields have been below average in 3 of the last 4 years due to challenging weather in 2007, 2008, and again in 2010. In addition to the weather challenges, producers are also dealing with higher costs of fuel, fertilizer, and machinery. These challenges make budgeting especially important looking ahead to the 2011 growing season.

Alfalfa Hay For Horses: Myths Vs. Reality, Laurie Lawrence

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Does it really matter if hay has some mold in it?

Hay that is high in dust or mold can irritate the horse’s respiratory tract. Optimum athletic performance depends on a healthy respiratory tract, therefore dusty/moldy hay should never be fed to horses used (or intended for) athletic events. A chronic respiratory disease commonly called “heaves” can be aggravated by moldy and dusty hay. Horses with heaves can have so much difficulty breathing that even mild exercise is impossible. In addition, moldy hay may contain toxins that could affect the horse if they are ingested.

Horse owners should not rely …

Hay Drying, Preservatives, Conditioning, Ash Content, Dan Undersander

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Drying forage for hay has always been a challenge. While we cannot control the weather we can manage cut forage to maximize drying. The purpose of this paper is to give a few principles of hay and silage making and discuss machinery available relative to these principles. Then we will also talk about minimizing ash in hay to optimize the total digestible nutrients of the forage.

Making Your Fertilizer Dollar Go Further, Greg Schwab

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is a high quality, valuable forage crop that can be successfully produced on most well drained soils in Kentucky, for hay and silage, and for grazing. Fertilizing alfalfa can be uniquely challenging because it is a perennial crop. In addition, high-yielding alfalfa removes a tremendous amount of soil nutrients when compared to other crops grown in Kentucky. A thorough understanding of alfalfa’s growth habits, nutrient requirements, and the soil nutrient supply mechanisms for alfalfa is necessary to effectively manage fertilizer inputs and maximize profitability while minimizing the environmental impact.

Keys To Getting A Good Stand Of Alfalfa, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Profitable alfalfa production requires high yields of high quality forage, a long stand life and skillful marketing of the end product. This requires attention to details, timely action and advanced planning. There are four basic prerequisites for a successful alfalfa program: establishment, production, harvesting and marketing with a very specific goal within each component.

Alfalfa Varieties For Today And Tomorrow, S. Ray Smith

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

There are a number of new alfalfa varieties that have come on the market in the last few years. In fact, it can be hard keeping up with all the developments. In the following pages I will overview most of the important traits that can be found in new varieties. These include Roundup Ready®, potato leafhopper resistance, hybrids, lodging resistance, rapid regrowth, higher quality, resistance to new diseases, and more… Many times I am asked “Are new varieties really worth the cost?” The best way to answer that question is to consider work by Dr. Jimmy Henning where he summarized …

Foreword And Recipients Of Kentucky Alfalfa Awards [2011], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.