Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Options For Managing Thin Alfalfa Stands, Jimmy C. Henning

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is the highest yielding, highest quality hay crop grown in Kentucky. Well cured alfalfa and alfalfa-grass hay is in high demand for dairy and in particular, horse owners. Alfalfa stands in Kentucky remain productive from four to as long as 8 years or more depending on several factors. Long stand life is favored by:

1. Using an improved variety with high resistance to the major diseases of Kentucky and that is proven to be high yielding in relevant trials such as conducted at the University of Kentucky.
2. Deep, well drained soils,
3. Soils that have been limed to pH 6.8 and …

When Weather Doesn't Cooperate: Which Fields Do I Cut First?, Dennis Wright, Brad Hines, Clayton Geralds

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Videos of this session are available on YouTube:

• Dennis Wright's presentation
• Brad Hines's presentation
• Clayton Geralds's presentation

Maturity Differences In Orchardgrass And Alfalfa: Implications For Forage Quality, S. Ray Smith

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Every forage producer knows that maturity is the most important factor in determining forage quality. When hay is harvested at the vegetative (leafy) stage, then there is a high likelihood that the forage quality will be high. Grass stands harvested at the boot stage (before seedhead emergence) will have increased yield over vegetative stands, but the quality is lower. Usually though, boot stage harvests provide a good compromise between yield and quality. The quality of grass stands continues to decline once the seedhead emerges and especially after anthesis (pollen shed) and when the seed starts developing.

Adjusting Equipment To Minimize Field Losses, Jordan Milewski, Philip Eby

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.

What Does Past Research Tell Us About Alfalfa Drying Rates?, Jordyn Bush

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Today I’m going to give everyone a brief overview of a literature review I’ve been working on at the request of a local farmer. While writing this literature review, I looked at the factors that influence how quickly alfalfa dries down. I also read past research that has been conducted in an attempt to predict when hay will be dry or how long it will take to do so. The ultimate goal of this literature review was to determine the feasibility of creating some sort of hay drying prediction or forecasting system for Kentucky.

Using Forage Quality To Market Hay, Tom Keene

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.

Measuring Forage Quality: Sampling And Interpretation, Christopher D. Teutsch

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Forage quality is often described with terms like crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, in vitro dry matter digestibility, neutral detergent fiber digestibility, and the list goes on! Perhaps the best definition of forage quality is the ability of a forage to produce a desired animal response. This concept is quite simple, but the process of getting from forage to actual animal performance is quite complex (Figure 1). It is important to realize that there is no perfect measure of forage quality. However, measures that are based on fiber digestibly provide better estimates of energy and dry matter …

Forward Of Kentucky Alfalfa And Stored Forages Conference [2021], Christopher D. Teutsch, S. Ray Smith, Jimmy C. Henning

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.