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Full-Text Articles in Earth Sciences
Moisture Management In Hay Making And Storage, Tom Keene, Doug Overhults
Moisture Management In Hay Making And Storage, Tom Keene, Doug Overhults
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Making hay in central Kentucky can be one of the most trying on farm endeavors a producer can undertake. Our plentiful moisture, rolling topography, and climate make Kentucky ideal for producing high quality forage for either grazing or hay making. However, that same moisture, either in the form of rain or high humidity, can sometimes make it devilishly hard to make hay here in Kentucky.
Storing Alfalfa As Round Bale Silage, David C. Ditsch
Storing Alfalfa As Round Bale Silage, David C. Ditsch
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Hay is the most popular method for storing alfalfa because it stores well for long periods and is better suited to cash sale and transportation than silage. However, silage may be a suitable option when and/or where hay curing is difficult. Due to numerous improvements in baling and wrapping equipment, it is possible to make high quality round bale silage using long (unchopped) alfalfa crops.
Alfalfa As A Grazing Crop, Garry D. Lacefield
Alfalfa As A Grazing Crop, Garry D. Lacefield
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Over the past decade we have had several people address “Alfalfa as a Grazing Crop” including Warren Thompson, Jim Moutray, Gary Bates, Ken Johnson, Jason Sandefur, Byron Sleugh, and myself. Each has done an excellent job discussing the merits of this remarkable crop and the opportunities it offers for grazing. At the end of the Conference last year, I (as I always do) asked for your suggestions concerning topics for this years’ conference. As it has been for the past decade, “Grazing” was the most requested topic. In today’s presentation, let’s go back and revisit the question, “Is Grazing Alfalfa …
Fertilizing Alfalfa For Profit, Greg Schwab
Fertilizing Alfalfa For Profit, 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. 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.
Principles And Practices Of Successful Alfalfa Establishment, Gary Bates
Principles And Practices Of Successful Alfalfa Establishment, Gary Bates
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Alfalfa is the most widely known forage crop, due to its high quality and the versatility of use. There are few forages that are as widely distributed as alfalfa, and none that can produce the high yields and high quality. Even with all of the positives of alfalfa, growing this crop profitably is often difficult. An evaluation of alfalfa budgets shows that a key factor in the success with alfalfa is the stand life. Because of the establishment expense, an extra year or two of production can increase the lucrativeness of the stand. The start of having a long life …
Advances In Alfalfa Seed Coating, Bill Talley
Advances In Alfalfa Seed Coating, Bill Talley
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Seed coating for alfalfa has been available since the mid to late 70’s. Over the last 30 years, advances in the industry have made it the choice of many producers. The purpose of the coatings at that time was mainly to add weight to increase the ballistic properties and to be a carrier for the rhizobia. Through research and new technology, coatings have evolved and shown great agronomic benefits. Seed coating can provide an opportunity to supply effective quantities of needed materials to each seed, which can influence both the physical property, and the microenvironment of the seed. Coatings can …
New Alfalfa Varieties, S. Ray Smith
New Alfalfa Varieties, S. Ray Smith
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Commercial alfalfa breeding companies have continued to make great strides in the development of new varieties with unique traits. New traits include Roundup Ready®, potato leafhopper resistance, hybrids, lodging resistance, rapid regrowth, higher quality, resistance to new diseases, and more… I will address some of these new developments in the following pages. In addition, producers often ask the question: “Are improved varieties really worth the higher seed cost?” Dr. Jimmy Henning recently summarized 24 location years of Kentucky alfalfa yield data and found that the best 5 varieties in each test yielded 0.9 tons/A higher than the checks. Over a …
Foreword And Recipients Of Kentucky Alfalfa Awards [2006], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe
Foreword And Recipients Of Kentucky Alfalfa Awards [2006], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
No abstract provided.
Photo Highlights Of The 25th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference, Kentucky Alfalfa Conference
Photo Highlights Of The 25th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference, Kentucky Alfalfa Conference
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
No abstract provided.
Photos Of The 25th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference Award Winners, Kentucky Alfalfa Conference
Photos Of The 25th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference Award Winners, Kentucky Alfalfa Conference
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
No abstract provided.
Alfalfa: The Queen Of Forage Crops, It Don't Get Any Better, Warren C. Thompson
Alfalfa: The Queen Of Forage Crops, It Don't Get Any Better, Warren C. Thompson
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
For anyone who has grown or used alfalfa, there is no question but that alfalfa is the best forage crop they have dealt with. Perhaps that is one reason that we in professional agriculture have given so much special interest to the crop and why it is held in such high esteem and the position it demands in research and refinement investments over the years at the private and public sectors.
Alfalfa: Crop For The Future, N. P. Martin, R. D. Hatfield, D. R. Mertens, P. J. Weimer
Alfalfa: Crop For The Future, N. P. Martin, R. D. Hatfield, D. R. Mertens, P. J. Weimer
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Alfalfa use by dairy cattle has decreased in recent years because of excessive nonprotein nitrogen and low fiber digestibility. Ideal attributes for plant modification of alfalfa may include those that increase milk potential per acre and/or per ton, enhance digestible NDF, improve protein content and amino acid balance, improve agronomic traits for insect protection (safer forage supply), herbicide tolerance, virus resistance, drought tolerance, cold tolerance, improved mineral availability and enhanced yield. Progress in attaining these attributes will accelerate with the use of biotechnology. Livestock and hay enterprises will benefit from alfalfa that is less prone to contain mycotoxins or toxic …
History Of Roundup Ready Alfalfa, Mark Mccaslin
History Of Roundup Ready Alfalfa, Mark Mccaslin
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
In late 1997 Forage Genetics International (FGI) and Monsanto began a joint project to develop Roundup Ready alfalfa. FGI collaborated with Montana State University to produce the first transgenic Roundup Ready alfalfa plants. The same CP4 glyphosate tolerance gene that has been effectively used in developing multiple other Roundup Ready crops, was successfully inserted into an elite FGI alfalfa plant in early 1998.
Alfalfa In Our Dairy Operation, Lee Robey
Alfalfa In Our Dairy Operation, Lee Robey
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Welcome to Robey Farms. Our farm has been in our family for six generations. The farm was founded by my great grandfather, Herbert Robey, in 1899. Four generations live and are actively involved in the farm operation today. My mom and dad, Jane and D.L., my wife Denise and I, our oldest son Chris and his wife Jessica and three grandchildren, Jessalyn, Ethan, and Whitley, our middle son Adam and his wife Amanda, our youngest son Eli, who is a Sophomore at U.K. majoring in Ag. Economics, and my older brother Carr.
Growing Alfalfa For Wildlife, Don Ball
Growing Alfalfa For Wildlife, Don Ball
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Alfalfa has long been recognized as a superb forage crop, which is why it is widely grown for dairy cattle, horses, sheep, and many other types of domesticated forage-consuming animals. Reasons for its popularity include wide adaptation, excellent nutritive value, good yield potential, perennial growth habit, a long growing season, and the fact that (in association with Rhizobium bacteria) it is a nitrogen-fixing legume that does not require periodic applications of nitrogen fertilizer.
Progress Towards Sclerotinia--Resistant Varieties, Paul C. Vincelli
Progress Towards Sclerotinia--Resistant Varieties, Paul C. Vincelli
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Sclerotinia crown and stem rot (SCSR), caused by the fungus Sclerotinia trifoliorum, is one of the most important factors limiting the success of late-summer alfalfa seedings in the region. Infections of S. trifoliorum that progress into the crown of a fall-sown alfalfa plant can kill it during winter or spring green up. Stand losses by the following spring may be insignificant (1-3%) or nearly total, with 95-99% of the stand being dead (and often even rotted away and gone by spring green-up).
Alfalfa Hay For Horses (And Horse Owners!), Laurie Lawrence, Bryan Cassill
Alfalfa Hay For Horses (And Horse Owners!), Laurie Lawrence, Bryan Cassill
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Alfalfa is one of the most common hays fed to horses in Kentucky. Other hays that are often used include timothy and orchardgrass. As a legume, alfalfa has many nutritional advantages over timothy or orchardgrass. Alfalfa hay contains more protein and calcium than grass hays and thus is an excellent source of these nutrients for broodmares and growing horses. Another legume that may be useful as a hay for horses is red clover. Nutritionally, red clover has many of the same advantages as alfalfa. However, red clover has some non-nutritional characteristics which have traditionally limited its popularity with horse owners. …
Advances In Alfalfa Seed Coating, Bill Talley
Advances In Alfalfa Seed Coating, Bill Talley
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Seed coating for alfalfa has been available since the mid to late 70’s. Over the last 30 years, advances in the industry have made it the choice of many producers. The purpose of the coatings at that time was mainly to add weight to increase the ballistic properties and to be a carrier for the rhizobia. Through research and new technology, coatings have evolved and shown great agronomic benefits. Seed coating can provide an opportunity to supply effective quantities of needed materials to each seed, which can influence both the physical property, and the microenvironment of the seed. Coatings can …
Impact Of Alfalfa In Lincoln County, Dan Grigson
Impact Of Alfalfa In Lincoln County, Dan Grigson
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Lincoln County is located 45 miles south of Lexington, Kentucky. It is part of 3 geographical regions of the state-the outer Bluegrass, the Knobs, and the Eastern Pennyroyal area. Thus the land ranges from moderate sloping fields that can be row cropped to fields that are nearly too steep to mow. The majority of the land is best suited for hay and pasture production. The soil fertility is moderately high with limestone, sandstone, shale and siltstone parent material. The land is very well suited to growing very productive forage crops.
Teaching Stand Management Using Virtual Alfalfa Plants, S. Ray Smith, Lars Muendermann, Av Singh
Teaching Stand Management Using Virtual Alfalfa Plants, S. Ray Smith, Lars Muendermann, Av Singh
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
A ‘virtual’ alfalfa plant model was developed at the University of Manitoba in Canada as part of a comprehensive grazing research project. This model shows an alfalfa plant ‘growing’ on a computer screen and the plant’s response to grazing (similar to time-lapse photography). The original model was designed and constructed by Av Singh to show the research potential of visually modeling alfalfa plant growth. The ability to visually ‘grow’ a plant on a computer screen also provides an excellent teaching and extension tool.
Kentucky Alfalfa Conference 25th Anniversary, Garry D. Lacefield
Kentucky Alfalfa Conference 25th Anniversary, Garry D. Lacefield
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Today marks the 25th consecutive year we have come together for a full day’s conference featuring "Alfalfa - Queen of the Forages" as the theme and focal point. Only one other state in the U.S. has such an annual event.
Foreword And Recipients Of Kentucky Alfalfa Awards [2005], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe
Foreword And Recipients Of Kentucky Alfalfa Awards [2005], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
No abstract provided.
Photos Of The 24th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference Award Winners, Kentucky Alfalfa Conference
Photos Of The 24th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference Award Winners, Kentucky Alfalfa Conference
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
No abstract provided.
Moisture--Temperature Management During Alfalfa Hay And Silage Making & Storing, Michael Collins
Moisture--Temperature Management During Alfalfa Hay And Silage Making & Storing, Michael Collins
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
In some areas of the country, producers store a substantial portion of their forage for winter feeding as silage or haylage. However, hay remains the most popular storage method for forage. Hay stores well for long periods and is better suited to cash sale and transportation than silage. Mechanical conditioning, which gained acceptance during the 1950's is probably still the greatest single change in hay harvesting and storage technology during this century. However, a number of other noteworthy changes and innovations have occurred in recent years which have helped to reduce the extent of losses during hay harvesting and storage.
Marketing Kentucky Alfalfa, Nicky Baker
Marketing Kentucky Alfalfa, Nicky Baker
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
The main key to marketing hay over the years is flexibility. Don’t gear up too heavy for the one specific market. Keep your options open and remember there aren’t any government payments.
Marketing Kentucky Alfalfa, Tom Keene
Marketing Kentucky Alfalfa, Tom Keene
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
In order to market Kentucky produced alfalfa, we need to go back and look at our operation to see if we can produce high quality alfalfa. We can start doing this by determining what the best land use is given the particular soils and typography that makes up your farm layout. There are other things we need to be aware of after we determine our ability to grow alfalfa; is the terrain suitable for harvesting alfalfa using different types of harvesting equipment? Also do we have the equipment necessary to produce alfalfa, either as a grazing tool, grass hay or …
Balancing Agronomics And Economics Of Alfalfa Hay Production, Brian Lacefield, Garry D. Lacefield
Balancing Agronomics And Economics Of Alfalfa Hay Production, Brian Lacefield, Garry D. Lacefield
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Alfalfa has high-yielding, high-quality, persistent, and profitable potential if given adequate management and a balance of several agronomic and economic considerations. How can we account for the differences among producers who have the average alfalfa yields of 3.0 tons/A with the top hay producers who average approximately 5.0 tons/acre and the producer who has achieved the record yield of 10.13 tons/acre? Is the answer “luck”, better soils, moisture and growing conditions? The answer may certainly be yes, but. Yes, the factors above are important and can explain some differences; however, we believe the overall difference is the management of research-based …
Hybrid Alfalfa: Reality Or Pipe Dream? Dairyland Seed Company, Michael Velde
Hybrid Alfalfa: Reality Or Pipe Dream? Dairyland Seed Company, Michael Velde
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Progress in increasing alfalfa forage yield has been minimal over the past 20 years. This is due primarily to lack of pollen control in open pollinated synthetic varieties. All alfalfa varieties to date have been open pollinated synthetic varieties. New alfalfa hybridization technology provides the tools to overcome the forage yield barriers that have been hindering alfalfa breeders from making progress
Roundup Ready Alfalfa Update, Daniel O. Foor
Roundup Ready Alfalfa Update, Daniel O. Foor
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
No abstract provided.
Establishing Alfalfa Using No-Till Techniques, Gary Bates
Establishing Alfalfa Using No-Till Techniques, Gary Bates
Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
There have been many changes in agriculture over the last 50 years. One of the greatest has been the use of no-till planting methods. The development of drill and herbicides has made no-till seedings as successful as seeding into prepared land.