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The Conservation Reserve Program (Crp) And Conservation Compliance---Two Components Of The 1985 Farm Bill, Monroe Rasnake

Soil Science News and Views

The Conservation Reserve Program: This component of the 1985 Food Security Act is still open to participation by qualified landowners. Participation in CRP provides for farmers to be paid an annual rental fee for ten years to take highly erodible land out of row crop production and maintain a conservation cover crop. The annual rental fee for CRP land already signed up in Kentucky has averaged about 58 dollars per acre.

Evaluating Hay Quality, William C. Templeton Jr.

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

One of the frustrations to nutritionists interested in the feeding value of roughage has been that with all their book knowledge and technical aids no dependable scheme they could devise would consistently rank forages in feeding value, while the dumb ruminant animal could unerringly detect differences in their nutritive values.
-E. W. Crampton, 1965

Alfalfa Yield, Quality And Persistence, Michael Collins

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa management in complex because it requires the simultaneous consideration of factors that affect the yield of the crop, forage quality for ruminants and the persistence of the stand. Considerable research has demonstrated the importance of agronomic factors such as soil pH, drainage and soil fertility in successful alfalfa production. Beyond soil factors and cultivar selection, selection of harvest date is one the most important management factors that influence yield, quality and stand persistence.

The Alfalfa Plant's Reaction To Grazing, Paul Deaton

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Will the alfalfa plan survive grazing intensively by cattle? This question is asked most frequently these days.

Let's review the parts of an alfalfa plant to begin this discussion. Those parts are: Roots, crown and top growth. Alfalfa has a tap root which is used to store nutrient reserves for survival. It's ability to store these reserves and pull from them during times of stress (drought, cutting, etc.) makes it a very hardy plant.

Grazing Alfalfa — A Reality, John H. Wilson

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa offers an excellent opportunity to beef producers for receiving excellent performance. Exciting results have been seen for the past two years on the Thomas Farm (Registered Polled Hereford). A total of 1063 pounds of beef per acre produced this year, with similar results seen in 1986 - a total of 874 pounds of beef produced in 1986.

Weed Control In Alfalfa, Jonathan D. Green

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Since weeds which infest forages are harvested along with the alfalfa crop, total dry matter production does not necessarily increase with good weed control. However, controlling weeds which invade alfalfa improve the forage quality. In addition, maintaining good weed control may also prolong the productive life of the alfalfa stand.

If managed properly, established alfalfa stands can effectively prevent many annual and perennial weeds from becoming a major problem. Maintaining proper soil fertility, soil pH, and good soil drainage are some practices which help keep the alfalfa competitive against invading weeds. Other factors which put alfalfa under stress, such as …

Blister Beetles In Alfalfa, C. M. Christensen, Lee H. Townsend

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Blister beetles are Iong cylindrical beetles that may be black, gray, yellow and brown striped, black with gray margins on the wing covers or black with a red head. These insects are usually found feeding in clusters on alfalfa. They can cause severe sickness and sometimes death when livestock especially horses eat the live or dead beetles. They are usually not found in alfalfa in mid-July and early August which translates to the third or fourth cutting. Blister beetles (black ones, gray margined ones, and yellow striped ones) were collected in very noticeable numbers in several central Kentucky alfalfa fields …

Alfalfa Establishment, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa "Queen of the Forage Crops" is the most important forage legume grown in the United States. It is grown over a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. Alfalfa has the highest yield potential and the highest feeding value of all adapted perennial forage legumes. It is a versatile crop which can be used for pasture, hay, silage, green-chop, soil improvements and soil conservation. As a result. of this crops many merits; especially yield, quality and versatile use, it can be used successfully in many animal feeding programs.

Soil And Fertility Considerations For Growing Alfalfa, Monroe Rasnake

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is a widely adapted crop which is grown across the United states and in many other counties. However, it is very sensitive to many soil and fertility factors which can limit its productivity. It is important to understand these factors in order to be a successful alfalfa producer.

Foreword [1988], Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

This is the front matter of the proceedings.

Maximum Net Returns From Fertilizers, Lloyd W. Murdock, Kenneth L. Wells, William O. Thom

Soil Science News and Views

Considerable interest in trends taking place in the consumption of commercial fertilizers in Kentucky has been evident during the last two or three years. Due both to the stressed agricultural economy and to government programs, total tonnage has dropped significantly. This has made a direct impact on the fertilizer industry serving Kentucky. Concern has been expressed that UK is "telling farmers that they're using too much fertilizer", suggesting that this is the cause of the reduced volume experienced by many dealers. We hope to address this concern in such a way that UK's position regarding use of commercial fertilizers for …

Changes In Rainfall Patterns In Kentucky During The 1980'S, Kenneth L. Wells, R. E. Phillips, H. B. Rice

Soil Science News and Views

Annual rainfall patterns in Kentucky have not been average during the 1980's. During this timespan there have been two droughts of statewide significance, and there has been wide variability within the state during most years. Because of this wide fluctuation, there has been some concern that rainfall patterns either are changing or have changed. In order to evaluate this concern, rainfall data from sites in western, south central, north central, east central, and eastern Kentucky were analyzed. An average amount of rainfall which would be predicted for these sites was calculated, using the average of that which fell annually from …

Nutrient Losses From Conventional And No-Till Cornfields, Robert L. Blevins, Wilbur Frye

Soil Science News and Views

Farmers must be concerned about both the monetary loss and the threat of groundwater and surface water pollution associated with the loss of plant nutrients from their fields. There is also an increasing public concern about pollution and the role of agriculture in nonpoint-source pollution. Movement of water over the surface of the soil as well as through the soil profile increases the potential for loss of water-soluble nutrients, especially nitrates.

Potassium Mineralogy Of Kentucky Soils, Anastasios D. Karathanasis

Soil Science News and Views

Feldspars and mica minerals are the two primary natural sources of potassium for most agricultural soils in Kentucky. Potassium feldspars are common mineral constituents of loess deposits in western Kentucky. Mica minerals, although dominant in shales, are also found in variable quantities in siltstone, sandstone and limestone parent materials of soils in the other regions of Kentucky. Because most of the soils in the western Coalfields and western Pennyroyal, and to a lesser extent in eastern Pennyroyal and Bluegrass, are covered by a loess cap of variable thickness, their surface mineralogy has been influenced by the feldspar-rich mineralogy of the …

Using Residual Soil Fertility Effectively, Grant W. Thomas

Soil Science News and Views

During the past 30 years, the use of commercial fertilizer in Kentucky has resulted in increases in the levels of phosphorus and potassium in soils. As might be expected, the soil test levels are higher with tobacco than with any other crop. but all soils for all crops show increases in fertility levels. Comparisons between 1975 and 1985 (the latest year available) show the proportion of samples sent to the University of Kentucky that are medium or high in soil test phosphorus has increased considerably. Even more striking is the decrease in very low values of phosphorus.

Sludge For Agricultural Land, William O. Thom

Soil Science News and Views

Sludge is a product of municipal wastewater treatment with characteristics dependent on both the initial wastewater composition and the subsequent treatment processes used. The sludge composition influences the options that are available its use. For decades, the objective has been disposal. generally meaning that it was buried in a landfill or incinerated. Efforts in recent years have been directed toward application of sludge to agricultural land. Farmers should be aware of several potential problems when deciding whether or not to use sludge for such purposes.

Soil Microbes And Biotechnology, M. Scott Smith

Soil Science News and Views

There is nothing new about attempts to develop and market microbial products for crop or soil improvement. Several types of microbes have been sold for a variety of agronomic purposes for many years. With the important exception of rhizobial inoculants. these have been generally unsuccessful. Recently however. the scientific revolution in genetics and molecular biology, the need for low cost agronomic inputs. and widespread concern for environmental safety have tremendously stimulated research and commercial activity on microbial products. Claims that cheap, effective microbial inoculants can be developed for pest control, detoxifying pollutants, providing plant nutrients and improving soils have been …

Development Of Dynamic Non-Hortonian Watershed Models For Steeply Sloping Forested Watersheds: Application To Eastern Kentucky, Lindell E. Ormsbee, Abdul Q. Khan

KWRRI Research Reports

A comprehensive conceptual watershed model is developed to simulate the hydrologic response of steeply sloping forested watersheds. Two non-Hortonian and two Hortonian models were first tested with data from selected watersheds in West Virginia and eastern Kentucky in order to understand the different mechanisms of flow responsible for storm hydrograph generation in this type of watersheds. The two non-Hortonian models tested were the kinematic storage model (Sloan et al. 1983) and the saturation deficit model (Beven and Wood, 1983). Both models were unable to adequately reproduce the observed hydrographs in the four forested watersheds considered in this research. The two …

Seedbed Preparation For Fall Seeded Alfalfa, Kenneth L. Wells, J. Kenneth Evans

Soil Science News and Views

With the increased interest developed during the past few years on production of alfalfa hay for cash sales, the acreage seeded each year has increased • And. although UK forage specialists prefer spring seeding of alfalfa to fall seeding. some growers will and should opt for fall seeding. This is particularly true on fields which have a history of legumes and/or are contaminated with Johnsongrass. Those who do so should begin planning now to have the seedbed prepared for planting by mid-August to mid-September.

Basic Steps In Laying Out A Land Tract To Optimize Forage Production And Intensive Grazing Management, Harold B. Rice, Kenneth L. Wells

Soil Science News and Views

Of the four major components of production ... land, labor, capital, and management ... land (soil) is the one which is the most basic. This ls because soil characteristics are largely "fixed" and determine, along with the climatic regime, the crop species which will perform best in a given field. For this reason. It Is basic in planning a cropping system to know root-zone physical and chemical characteristics of soils which occur on the tract being planned. With such information, crops can be matched to sell productivity to "make land as least limiting as possible." A good soils map is …

Control Measures For Manganese Toxicity Of Burley At Transplating Time, Kenneth L. Wells, J. L. Sims

Soil Science News and Views

Manganese (Mn) toxicity of burley tobacco is viewed by tobacco specialists in Kentucky as the greatest single factor which reduces yields. Estimates are that this problem adds 30 to 50 million dollars to the cost of burley production because of the greater acreage (and all associated costs) required by growers to produce their allotment. And, even though the cause and cure of Mn toxicity has been known for about 50 years, many growers are caught each year at transplanting time with no knowledge as to whether Mn toxicity may be a problem in their fields. The solution to Mn toxicity …

Is Row Fertilizer Necessary For No-Till?, Lloyd W. Murdock, William O. Thom

Soil Science News and Views

Row fertilizer is an old practice which has been in and out of favor over the years. The use of row fertilizer and its benefits vary with the conditions. The efficiency of applied fertilizer is greatly increased by putting it beside the row and is very helpful on soils with a low soil test. For soils testing medium or high, a sufficient amount of nutrients exist in the soil so that additional fertilizer applied in the row will not increase yields. Regardless of soil test. row fertilizer will usually increase the vigor and early growth of a crop. Most of …

Basic Fertilizer Facts, Monroe Rasnake

Soil Science News and Views

The "foods" used by green plants for growth and life functions are referred to as nutrients or fertilizer elements. There are 16 nutrients required for plant growth and development (See Table l). Although carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are found in plants in the greatest quantities. they are obtained by plants from air (carbon dioxide) and water rather than from fertilizers or the soil. Of the nutrients provided by the soil or from fertilizers. those required in large amounts are called PRIMARY nutrients. Those required in smaller amounts are called SECONDARY nutrients, while those needed in very small amounts are called …

Marketing Quality Alfalfa Hay, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa hay is a potentially marketable-profitable product if--if quality is satisfactory to meet buyer's needs, if it is packaged such that it meets buyer's feeding program and can be transported efficiently, if in sufficient quantity, if storage site is accessible by truck or trailer, and if it is competitively priced. Meeting these minimum criteria only means the hay is potentially marketable; only after it has been sold does it become potentially profitable.

Feeding Alfalfa To South Carolina Dairy Herds, Fred E. Pardue, Terry Sudduth

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The nutritional value of alfalfa hay is important if it is to be used competitively with other feedstuffs in rations being fed to South Carolina Dairy Herds. Excellent quality hay has high nutrient concentration, digestibility and intake. The appearance of good physical characteristics of alfalfa hay as well as other hays and forages along with the knowledge of harvest dates, stages of maturity, and other conditions are not enough and can be deceiving. Therefore, forage testing is crucial and very important.

Marketing Kentucky Hay — An Update, J. Kenneth Evans

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Based on soil capabilities, Kentucky could grow 2-million acres of alfalfa while increasing the acreage of corn and soybeans. Even more than 2-million acres could be grown if Kentucky grown alfalfa should show market demands making it economically competitive with corn and soybeans. Marketing is the key to developing demand which could make hay a $1-billion Kentucky crop.

Many of you have heard or read my comments on marketing hay. In this presentation, I will present a brief review of what I have previously said and then bring you up to date on hay marketing activities since the alfalfa conference …

Evaluating Alfalfa Grazing — Dollars And Cents, Robert N. Barnes

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Returns on many Kentucky farms are declining due to reduced tobacco and feedgrain income. This fact, coupled with traditionally low (or negative) returns from typical cow/calf beef enterprises, has been associated with interest in alternative crop and livestock production systems. Alfalfa produced as a cash crop is increasing and many farmers are realizing substantial returns. In the Central Kentucky Area, many farmers have been stimulated to produce alfalfa since demand for high quality hay by horse farms has been strong. As interest in alfalfa is renewed, other farms have begun to introduce intensive or controlled grazing techniques in order to …

Grazing Options In Alfalfa Utilization, Paul D. Deaton

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Objective

1. The pure alfalfa stand would not be damaged during the grazing period.
2. For steers - animal performance while on the alfalfa was more important than pounds of beef produced per acre.
3. For cow/calf - animal density high enough to remove green leaf area in maximum of 5 days.
4. Initiate the demonstration with a minimal out-of-pocket cost for fence, water system, etc.
5. Minimize the occurrence of bloat where possible.

Comparison Of Electrical Moisture Meters For Baled Alfalfa Hay, W. H. Henson Jr., G. M. Turner, Michael Collins, O. J. Yeoman

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

A primary concern in producing quality alfalfa hay is moisture measurement. Some precision in moisture measurement is required since hay can be too wet, leading to dry matter and quality loss through mold; it can be too dry, leading to shatter loss during baling, handling and storage.

Moisture measurement in hay can take many forms. One form of subjective (personal judgment) evaluation is brittleness of leaves and stems in the windrow or bale. Typical objective methods consist of electric meters with calibration curves and oven drying.

Advances In Alfalfa Weed Control, James R. Martin

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The most significant advances in weed control in alfalfa have originated from developments in herbicide technology, This method of weed control began over 20 years ago when such herbicides as EPTC and 2,4-DB were being used by alfalfa farmers. Since then, more than twelve herbicides have been added to the list of products recommended for weed control in alfalfa. (For specific recommendations, see Extension publication "Chemical Control of Weeds in Kentucky Farm Crops", AGR-6).