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The Prairie Naturalist Volume 24, No.1 March 1992

The Prairie Naturalist

HABITAT CONSERVATION FOR NESTING LEAST TERNS AND PIPING PLOVERS ON THE PLATTE RIVER, NEBRASKA ▪ J. W. Ziewitz, J. G. Sidle, and J. J. Dinan

DIURNAL FLIGHT TIME OF WINTERING CANADA GEESE: CONSIDERATION OF REFUGES AND FLIGHT ENERGETICS ▪ J. E. Austin and D. D. Humburg

MYCOTOXIN OCCURRENCE IN WASTE FIELD CORN AND INGESTA OF WILD GEESE IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS ▪ K. F. Higgins, R. M. Barta, R. G. Neiger, G. E. Rottinghaus, and R. I. Sterry

NOTES

Cost of Nest Reuse by Western Kingbirds ▪ T. M. Bergin

A New Record for Falcate Spurge in the Midwest …

Dollars And Sense Of Alfalfa: Marketing Your High Yield, High Quality Alfalfa At High Prices, David C. Petritz

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

It seems every farmer wants to be in the commercial hay business--growing hay for the cash market. Have you ever stopped to think about the amount of hay that would be produced if everyone who talked about producing hay actually produced hay?

Chemical, Biological And Machinery Aids For Quality Haymaking, Michael Collins

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Hay and pasture crops are critical to Kentucky Agriculture and to that of the entire temperate region of the US. The sale of cattle, calves and dairy products provide 29% of Kentucky's farm income compared with 23% for tobacco. Beef cow-calf enterprises comprise the majority of cattle numbers in the state, however, dairy production is also significant. A substantial horse industry exists in Kentucky which is an excellent market for high quality alfalfa hay. At present a substantial amount of alfalfa for horse feeding in the state is imported.

Alfalfa In My Cash Hay Operation, Nicky Baker

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

I'm Nicky Baker, a fifth generation farmer from the Fredonia Valley's area in Western Kentucky. My current farming operation consists of 65 acres alfalfa, 100 · acres of row crops, (basically a corn, wheat, soybean double-crop rotation) and 2.5 acres of burley tobacco. I also have a 50 cow beef herd.

I remember having alfalfa on our farm before the weevil days of the '60's caused farmers to stop growing it. In those days, most of the farms had alfalfa and the majority of them had dairy cattle. The grain explosion of the '70's further curtailed alfalfa acreage, thereby providing …

Alfalfa In Our Horse Operation, Ben H. Crawford

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

"There's nothing better for the inside of man than the outside of a horse and there's nothing better for the inside of a horse than alfalfa hay".

Our operation consists of approximately 500 acres of rolling clay land. We lease an additional 100+ acres for alfalfa and other hay production. Our rotational program includes com, soybeans, wheat, oats followed by either red cloverorchardgrass or alfalfa-orchardgrass for hay and pasture.

Alfalfa In The Shirley Dairy Operation, Gary Tilghman, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Mr. Larry Thomas Shirley grew up on a small dairy farm in southern Barren County, Kentucky where they milked 25 cows by hand. In 1960 he graduated from Austin-Tracy High School and attended Western Kentucky University for 2 years. He has also taken several other hours of class time at night. In 1962, he married Martha Spillman and they have 3 children; Debra 26, John 14 and Ben 11.

Mr. Shirley's first job was as a computer operator for Malone & Hyde, a wholesale grocery company. He worked in this position from 1962-1968. In 1968 he worked for Glasgow Manufacturing …

Alfalfa In My Beef Operation, Jay Quisenberry

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

I have had two failures seeding alfalfa in the past few years. Once I seeded into land that had been in no-till com only one year. I found that fescue came back into that stand of alfalfa and took it in several years. Another time I seeded alfalfa into land that had been in com for a few years but had not been seeded down properly. I thought I could no-till alfalfa in that piece of ground and there would not be too much competition. But I was wrong again. I realize that both times I could have come back …

Alfalfa In Beef Backgrounding Programs, G. D. Cantrill

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa can be a very important part of most beef backgrounding operations. Today I want to look at two ideas about alfalfa.

First, why we should consider making alfalfa our most important crop on a farm that's backgrounding. Secondly, what are some of the ways to best utilize the alfalfa we do produce?

We can say a lot of positive things about why alfalfa can be important to a beef backgrounder. In preparing for this presentation, I talked with several producers about why they grow and feed alfalfa. Most often I came away with the thought: Alfalfa improves cash flow.

Advances In Grazing Alfalfa, Charles T. Dougherty

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Many farmers are reluctant to develop a new enterprise based on the grazing of alfalfa if they have had no experience with grazing of this species. Their first negative reaction is usually based on their fear of legume bloat. Often their second reaction is that grazing will destroy the alfalfa stand in short order. Another response is that grazing is a wasteful and inefficient use of a valuable resource generating less income than conventional uses, such as hay and silage. Another reaction is based on the fear Alfalfa grazing, according to other sceptics, also requires lots of capital for fencing …

Is Ridomil Recommended When Seeding Alfalfa?, Paul C. Vincelli

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Ridomil 2E® fungicide received a federal label in 1991 for control of seedling diseases of alfalfa caused by Pythium and Phytophthora fungi. Pythium fungi are widespread in Kentucky soils but can be controlled with Apron^® seed treatment. Phytophthora is less common in Kentucky soils. Where present, Phytophthora can usually be controlled with a combination of resistant varieties and Apron seed treatment. Occasionally, yield increases may be observed using Ridomil in fields highly infested with Phytophthora. However, broadcast applications of Ridomil at seeding are not recommended for most alfalfa fields in Kentucky.

Alfalfa Varieties, Jimmy C. Henning, Linda Brown, Garry D. Lacefield, Leonard M. Lauriault

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the highest yielding, highest quality legume forage crop raised in Kentucky. This crop forms the basis of Kentucky's cash hay enterprise and is an important component in dairy, horse, beef and sheep diets. In 1990, 320,000 acres of alfalfa were produced in Kentucky, averaging 3.4 tons of dry matter yield per acre. At $75 per ton, the value of this alfalfa to Kentucky farmers would be $81.6 million.

This report will provide current yield data on alfalfa varieties currently in the Kentucky Alfalfa Variety Trials. Also, guidelines on selecting alfalfa varieties will be discussed.

Foreword [1992], Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

This is the front matter of the proceedings.

Fodder Trees And Shrubs For High Rainfall Areas Of South Western Australia, Daya Patabendige, P R. Scott, Edward C. Lefroy

Resource management technical reports

In south Western Australia, the lack of good quality feed in late summer and autumn is a major constraint to livestock production. This feed gap is usually filled by costly supplementary hand feeding of grain or hay. The ability of some trees and shrubs to provide good quality forage during summer and autumn has generated interest for many years (Corbett, 1951; Everist, 1969; Snook, 1987;Oldham et al., 1991, Lefroy, 1991). The dual benefits of reducing the need for supplementary hand feeding and deferring the grazing of annual pastures until they are well established has recently led to the recognition of …

Floristic Survey Of Remnant Vegetation In The Bindoon To Moora Area, Western Australia, Edward Arnold Griffin

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Fire In A Riparian Shrub Community: Postburn Water Relations In The Tamarix-Salix Association Along The Lower Colorado River, S. D. Smith, D. E. Busch

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Higher water potentials in recovering burned salt-cedar (Tamarix ramosissima) relative to unburned plants and the opposite situation in willow (Salix gooddingii) provide evidence that postfire water stress is reduced in the former but not the latter. Similarly, diurnal patterns of stomatal conductance in these taxa are consistent with the existence of more vigor in burned salt-cedar than willow. Plots of water potential and transpiration demonstrate that hydraulic efficiencies may contribute to differences in fire recovery.

Quantifying Loss Of Yield Potential Due To Leaf Disease., B A. Peters, R Loughman

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

To determine the impact of Septoria and barley yellow dwarf virus on wheat grown under the package approach on the south coast using different levels of fungicide and insecticide control on a susceptible variety of an appropriate maturity for early sowing.

Examine if there is any benefit for disease control of S. tritici from Baytan seed dressing. 92AL16.

Time of sowing and variety effects on the Septoria diseases of wheat. 92AL17.

Time of sowing effect on barley foliar diseases. 92AL19.

Evaluating variety mixtures to reduce Septoria using a range of lines. 92AL24.

Fungicides for control of Septoria nodorum of wheat. …

Bulletin No 4216 - Broadscale Boom Spraying, Roger Doyle, Gary Dorr, Des Gilbey, John Peirce

Bulletins 4000 -

For spraying to be effective it must do the job required at a minimum cost, with no unwanted side effects. It is impo1tant to use the right chemical at the right rate, at the right tin1e and in the best conditions.

It is just as important that both the sprayer and the way it is used allows you to meet this objective. This Bulletin will help you select the right boom sprayer, maintain it for efficient operation and use it efficiently and safely.

Results Of Stubble Research In Western Australia, Michael Perry, Ron Jarvis, Mel Mason, David Tennant

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Few farmers would question the desirability of retaining stubbles, both for control of erosion by wind and water, and to return organic matter to the soil. While the present debate is focused on the short term management of stubbles, longer term effects also need to be considered.

The Department of Agriculture has several long-running trials intended to measure long term effects.

Stubble : Friend And Foe, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Several articles in this issue of the Journal of Agriculture discuss some of the important issues of stubble management. The articles are condensed from some of the papers presented at a stubble workshop at Geraldton in 1991.

New Yellow Serradella Varieties For Low Rainfall Pastures, Clinton Revell

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Large areas of acidic, sandy soils in Western Australia's low and medium rainfall, wheatsheep areas are suited to the pasture legume, yellow serradella.

In the past, a lack of varieties with suitable maturity has limited the use of this species.

New varieties developed in Western Australia and significantly earlier in maturity than traditional types can now extend the use of yellow serradella into these regions.

Managing Brome Grass In The Wheat:Lupin Rotation, Aik Hock Cheam, Gurget Gil, Christine Zaicou

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Some farmers and scientists are questioning the sustainability of the cereal:lupin rotation in the Western Australian wheatbelt.

Being a 'tight' rotation, its continuation is constantly under threat by disease, especially lupin root rots caused by Pleiochaeta (the brown spot organism) and Rhizoctonia fungi. To control disease, some farmers have lengthened the rotation to three years, such as wheat:wheat:lupins or wheat:barley:lupins. The longer cereal phase also helps to stabilise soil against wind erosion. However, such rotations can lead to a rapid buildup of brome grass during the two consecutive years of cereals. The implications of these rotations on the severity of …

Wider Spaced Rows For Lupins, Ron Jarvis

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In this farm scale trial at Wongan Hills, a lined combine was used to seed lupins into rows spaced 380 mm apart in wheat stubble.

Oviposition, Larval Arrest And Establishment Of Chilo Partellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) On Maize Genotypes During Anthesis, Harish Kumar

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The oviposition, larval arrest and establishment by the stem borer Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) were measured on different maize genotypes during anthesis. The maize genotypes tested were: Inbred A (Susceptible), Mp 704, MBR-8637, MBR-8650, MBR-8668, Poza Rica 7832, ER-29 SVR, Katumani Composite B, MMV 400, Bulk CG 4141, and ICZ2-CM. The moths oviposited on the middle leaves of the plant and the neonate larvae moved to leaf sheaths and ear husks to feed (arrest). As they grew older, the larvae invaded the stem, ear shanks and tassel to complete feeding (establishment) and to pupate. The response of the stem borer differed …

The Pros & Cons Of Retaining Stubble, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Few farmers in Western Australia today would question the desirability of retaining crop stubble. The problem usually is how to manage stubble so that it does not interfere with other parts of the farming system

Stubble Retention For Control Of Wind Erosion, Dan Carter, Paul Findlater, Steve Porritt

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The surest way to control wind erosion in continuous cropping systems is to retain stubble. Over the past ten years, Western Australian research has focused on the amounts of stubble needed to prevent that erosion.

Distribution Of Foraminifera And Pollen In Coastal Depositional Environments Of The Southern Delmarva Peninsula, Virginia, U.S.A., Han Jun Woo

OES Theses and Dissertations

The coastal zone of the southern Delmarva Peninsula exhibits a wide variety of barrier island system subenvironments. This study investigates whether 20 a priori subenvironments can be distinguished from each other on the basis of abiotic environmental variables, pollen assemblages, living foraminiferal populations, and total (living plus dead) foraminiferal assemblages.

The physical data collected from the coastal zone were subjected to canonical variate analysis which discriminated 83% of the stations in 19 groups. These groups were clustered into two internally overlapping sets which represented the inside and outside of the inlet.

Twenty-two pollen types were found in low-energy marsh and …

The Role Of Earthworms In Western Australian Agriculture, Tom Mccredie, Lex Parker

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Earthworms have a reputation as soil builders and renovators, particularly among 'organic' farmers and gardeners. They improve soil fertility through increased aeration, aggregation, water infiltration and release of nutrients from organic matter. However, the benefits of earthworms in the wheatbelt have been doubted for many years because of their poor survival in cultivated soils.

Since cropping began in the Western Auslmlian whealbelt over 1OO years ago, the physical condition of many soils has deteriorated. The primary causes of soil degradation were the European cultivation practices used by farmers and the trampling effect of introduced animals. in particular, sheep.

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 23, No. 4. December 1991

The Prairie Naturalist

Paul B. Kannowski, Editor

Nikki R. Seabloom, Assistant Editor

Douglas H. Johnson, Book Review Editor

CONTENTS

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS RESPONSE TO BURNING: INTERACTIONS BETWEEN FIRE AND SOIL MOISTURE ▪ G. W. Blankespoor and B. S. Bich

FORAGE PRODUCTION AND USE ON BIGHORN SHEEP WINTER RANGE

FOLLOWING SPRING BURNING IN GRASSLAND AND PONDEROSA PINE HABITATS ▪ T. G. Easterly and K. J. Jenkins

SHORT-TERM MORTALITY OF SMALLMOUTH BASS CAUGHT DURING A LIVE-RELEASE TOURNAMENT AT LAKE OAHE, SOUTH DAKOTA ▪ J. J. Jackson and D. W. Willis

CRAYFISH IN SAND LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ▪ C. D. Dieter

PIPING PLOVERS NEST ON DRY …

Bulletin No 4222 - Management Of Properties With Pesticide Residues - Information For Farmers With Properties Affected By Organochlorine Pesticide Residues, Farran Dixon

Bulletins 4000 -

This publication is produced by the Department of Agriculture to help farmers who have been affected by the pesticide residue problem. Some material from previous issues has been included, so that as much information as possible is contained in a single publication. We suggest you keep it as a convenient reference on any aspect of the residue problem.

All owners of affected land are urged to read this publication carefully. This applies to the owners of any land which has a soil organochlorine residue level greater than 0.1 parts per million (ppm).

A management notice will be issued for each …

Describing And Quantifying Growth Stages Of Perennial Forage Grasses, K. J. Moore, Lowell E. Moser, Kenneth P. Vogel, Steven S. Waller, B. E. Johnson, Jeffrey F. Pedersen

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

A system for identifying and quantifying the stages of growth and development of perennial forage grasses was developed. The system consists of a universal set of morphological descriptors for forage and range grasses and a continuous numerical index. The life cycle of individual grass tillers is divided into five primary growth stages (i) germination, (ii) vegetative, (iii) elongation, (iv) reproductive, and (v) seed ripening. Substages corresponding to specific morphological events are defined within each primary stage. Each growth stage consists of a primary and secondary stage and has both a mnemonic code and numerical index associated with it. The codes …