Three Pesticides for use in seed alfalfa

The Gowan Company (http://www.gowanco.com) has three insecticides registered for use in Montana.

Supracide 2E (methidathion) for control of alfalfa weevils, lygus bugs and leafhoppers. This is a Section 24 registration. This is a restricted use pesticide (RUP).

Onager 2E (hexythiazox) for control of twospotted spider mites. Also a Section 24 registration in Montana. This is a general use pesticide.

Metasystox-R (oxydemeton-methyl) for extended systemic control of lygus bugs and aphids. This is a restricted use pesticide (RUP). 

NOTE: Carzol SP (formentanate) for control of lygus bugs, stinkbugs and twospotted spider mites is NOT registered in Montana but is used in neighboring states as a lygus bug rescue program. If Montana growers wish to use this product they should call the Fergus County Extension Service and we can begin the process of obtaining a section 18 or 24 label. (Petroff)

Choosing Alfalfa Varieties 

Producers should select alfalfa varieties based on winterhardiness, yield potential, pest resistance, and availability. For irrigated production in short rotations (3 to 5 years), there are many high-yielding varieties available. For long-term dryland stands, several varieties are superior to Ladak 65. Unfortunately, we are unable to maintain our research stands for 10+ years to evaluate long-term persistence and production. Use the performance data for the research site most similar to your ranch or farm. Be sure to evaluate forage yields in the 3rd and 4th production years - downward trends in yield may indicate winter injury. Additional variety or trial descriptions are available from the authors.

To check out more information on choosing alfalfa varieties  click here.

Native Plants Scrutinized for Western Ranges

From wide-open grasslands of Montana to sagebrush-covered deserts of Nevada, a hardy native plant called Rimrock Indian ricegrass can help revegetate sites damaged by wildfire, overgrazing, or other problems. 

For more information check out the Agricultural Research site at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/apr00/range0400.htm

Precipitation Relative to Perennial Grass Production

Rod Heitschmidt, rangeland scientist at the Livestock and Range Research Laboratory at Fort Keogh near Miles City, shared some information at the annual convention of the Montana Stockgrowers Association in Billings which is very interesting and has lots of implications as we plan the management of perennial grasses during the coming grazing season. According to Rod and based on many years of data at Fort Keogh, fifty percent of perennial grass growth has happened by June 1. Eighty percent of perennial grass growth has been completed by July 1. In some of the foothill regions in central Montana, we might be able to move those dates back just a bit to mid-June and mid-July. The trend, however, is very clear. Summer rains (June and July) are nice and always welcome but they do not make up for spring rain when it comes to perennial grass production.

How to Make Irrigated Alfalfa "Pay" in it's First Year
By Dennis Cash,MSU Animal & Range Sciences Department Extension Specialist

Due to current hay prices, alfalfa acreage is expected to increase modestly in 2001. For irrigated producers, alfalfa hay is an excellent cash and rotational crop. Many producers in the Yellowstone valley routinely produce 7 to 8 tons of good or prime quality hay per year. With good management, alfalfa hay is a reliable cash crop, year in and year out.

Irrigated alfalfa hay production is optimized when everything comes together -- deep, well-drained soil, good fertility and weed control programs (prior to and during the alfalfa in a rotation), variety choice, good irrigation and harvest management and a long growing season.

One of the biggest obstacles for establishing a new stand of alfalfa is cost -- at current fuel, fertilizer, seed and pesticide prices, it can cost over $150 an acre to plant a new alfalfa stand. Obviously, a three-ton hay crop during the seeding year (on the way to that 8-ton crop) can help offset high establishment costs. Strong hay prices into 2001 would make this an even better benefit.

"3 Tons in Year 1" should be the goal. Producers and Montana Agricultural Research Center researchers have several recommendations for optimizing first-year alfalfa production, though best results require that some of the work be done in the fall before seeding.

The fall prior to seeding, fertilize with phosphorus and potassium according to a soil test, for three years of alfalfa. Additionally, control weeds and volunteer grain by spraying or tillage, and incorporate crop residue. If possible, leave the soil surface in a "ready-to-plant" condition, to allow for early planting. Have a good weed control plan in mind -- many producers have switched from the pre-plant incorporated herbicides, to some of the newer, broad-spectrum establishment chemicals (follow all label instructions).

Seed early, about at the same time as small grains are being seeded. Do not use a nurse crop unless it is absolutely necessary for crop protection or erosion control - it will depress hay yield for the life of the stand.

Fungicide seed treatments are recommended for early seedings. Seeding rates as low as 7 pounds of pure live seed are adequate when planting with a good drill under ideal conditions (proper depth and compaction). For other situations, increase the seeding rate up to 12 or 15 pounds. Irrigate as needed. The first growth of a new stand can be clipped for weed control, or cut for hay at the same time as your second harvest of established stands.

On a new stand, pay particular attention to NOT harvest during the fall "rest" period from about mid-August until early October (>30 days prior to first frost until the "killing" frost).

Obviously this plan will not work everywhere in Montana, or on sites that you did not already initiate plans for new alfalfa in 2001. However, good first-year hay production is very useful to offset high initial stand establishment costs, especially if hay prices continue strong into 2001.

Interseeding Grasses into Legumes Like Alfalfa
By Jim Bauder and Dennis Cash

What kind of success can be expected by seeding or reseeding brome grass into a one-year old stand of alfalfa?

A producer sent a note along indicating that he had seeded a 50-50 mixture of alfalfa and brome grass last year. The alfalfa established but the brome did not. He was now considering interseeding the one-year old alfalfa stand with brome and wanted to know if there was an allelopathic effect of the alfalfa that would hinder establishment of the brome.

Generally the difficulty or problem with mixed stands is the difference in dominance and performance of one species over another. In the case of an alfalfa-brome stand, one problem is the fertility requirements. Fertilizing for brome will result in the alfalfa essentially becoming 'lazy' and rather than fixing nitrogen using the nitrogen applied for the brome. On the other
hand, if you don't fertilize for the brome, the alfalfa will eventually dominate the stand. The advantage of the mixed stand is that the two crops have different water and heat requirements and performance characteristics during the growing season - and you have a crop of mixed composition. 

So, what about seeding the brome in the winter/early spring when the ground is still frozen and/or there is snow on the ground. One option would be to broadcast the seed on the snow. The other would be to frost seed into frozen ground. With regard to seeding brome while there is still snow and the ground is still cold: this practice should give the brome a chance to germinate and become established. Some researchers have had some success interplanting alfalfa in existing alfalfa, using disk openers. Similarly, we have seen some responses in established stands of alfalfa when disturbed/ conditioned by tillage. However, this applies mostly to established, sod bound stands. In a relatively young, one year old alfalfa stand, planting the brome with a shovel or sweep opener is likely to do significant damage to the alfalfa stand.
With regard to the allelopathy effects, alfalfa has an allelopathic characteristic, but this seems to be most expressed in alfalfa-to-alfalfa, i.e., seeding alfalfa directly back into alfalfa residue or interseeding alfalfa in an existing stand of alfalfa. It's not likely that alfalfa will exhibit an allelopathic effect on the brome grass seedlings. Also, it is not likely that the alfalfa stand, being only one year old, will have established a significant biochemical residue in the soil to cause the alfalfa to be toxic to brome.

Irrigated Pasture Management in Montana

Jeff Mosley
Extension Range Management Specialist
Department of Animal and Range Sciences
Montana State University

1.  Most Commonly Recommended Species

2.  Seeding

3. Fertilizer

Sorghum and Sudangrass for Forage
By Dennis Cash and Mike Schuldt

Dry conditions in western and central Montana may be setting us up for a shortage of grass and hay production early this year. For the past several years, there has been a significant increase in the production of small grains for annual hay -- hay barley, oat, etc. These "cool season" crops fit well for many producers, because they can be seeded and harvested with conventional equipment in our normal crop rotations. Further, these can be seeded in early spring to capitalize on spring moisture.

The "warm season" forage crops -- corn, sorghum, sudangrass, sorghum/sudangrass hybrids and millets have not been widely grown in Montana. However, several Montana ranchers have experimented with some of these crops, and have been very successful. These forage crops must be seeded after soil temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees
Fahrenheit. This is an advantage in Montana, because by mid- to late May we have a better idea of the seasonal moisture situation for perennial pastures and hay ground, plus the farming workload can be distributed.

After establishment, warm season forages can be very productive on dryland. Compared to our small grain forages, warm season forages generally yield more forage per inch of soil moisture (higher water use efficiency). Depending on moisture, warm season forages can yield 1.5 to 6 tons of dry hay per acre.

Sudangrass is an excellent pasture or hay crop. Sudangrass can reach a height of 3 to 5 feet, and has slender (less than one-half inch), leafy stems. Sudangrass is suited for pasture, dry hay or silage. Forage sorghum was developed from grain sorghum, and this crop is suitable for silage, but not dry hay production. There are a number of sorghum/sudangrass hybrids available - these are very high-yielding, and combine the leafiness and regrowth ability of sudangrass. These hybrids are excellent for silage or fall pasture, but not dry hay.

How do you grow these crops? First, work with a local reputable seed dealer. There are no recent university trials with these crops. Most of these forages require 60 to 90 days of frost-free weather, and there are tremendous differences among varieties or hybrids for adaptation and maturity. Many of the varieties specify soil temperatures of 65 to 70
degrees F, with specific information for seeding rate and management. One advantage of seeding later than small grains is that many annual weeds will emerge, and can be controlled by light cultivation or herbicides. Seeding rates vary between 5 to 35 pounds per acre, depending on variety (big differences in seed size), method of seeding and intended use. For dryland production of forage sorghum or sorghum/sudangrass in Montana, seed on wide rows (21 to 28-inch) with 5 to 8 pounds per acre. Sudangrass can be drilled or broadcast at a seeding rate of 25 to 30 pounds per acre. Under irrigation, the seeding rates should be increased to optimize forage yield and quality. Seeds should be planted one to 1.5 inches deep, into a firm seedbed.

With adequate moisture, these crops can be high-yielding, and are responsive to nitrogen fertility. Under irrigation with a potential yield of 6 tons of dry matter per acre, the recommendation for nitrogen is 100 to 125 pounds nitrogen (soil test plus fertilizer) pre-plant incorporated, then 40 pounds of top-dressed nitrogen on the regrowth. No current recommendations have been generated in Montana, but a good guideline is to supply about 20 pounds of N per every ton of anticipated yield. Phosphorus and potassium requirements are similar to those of small grains.

Grazing, haying, silage: Sudangrass is best suited for grazing or hay production. Sheep can be turned out when the crop is 12 to 14 inches tall, and cattle when the crop is 18 to 24 inches tall. Livestock should not graze the crop below about 4 inches to allow for fast regrowth. For optimum use, fencing should be used to set up a rotational grazing scheme.

Sudangrass should be cut for hay in the heading stage, or for silage in the dough stage. Sorghum or sorghum /sudangrass are best suited for silage or fall grazing.

Recently, several producers have successfully made high-quality "baleage" from sorghum/sudangrass. The crop was cut and round-baled with net wrap, then individual bales were wrapped in plastic bale bags while at about 50 percent moisture. This resulted in a very palatable and nutritious ensiled feed.

Potential drawbacks. Aside from the high forage yield of these warm season crops, these can be good in a cropping sequence for potential weed and disease control benefits. One disadvantage may be their deep water removal in the summer. Other potential drawbacks of these crops are nitrate and prussic acid toxicities. Many grasses can have high nitrate accumulations in the early stages of growth, and particularly during drought stress. Most MSU Extension Service county agents can provide a nitrate "QuikTest" on a representative sample of the crop prior to it being cut or grazed. Prussic acid (hydrocyanic acid, HCN) can accumulate in these crops from the breakdown of glucosides. The forage sorghums and sorghum/sudangrass hybrids tend have higher incidences of prussic acid, and these should either be
ensiled or NOT grazed until after a killing frost. There are commercial laboratories that can analyze for prussic acid concentrations, but sampling and timeliness are critical.

Establishing and Managing Improved Pastures

Jeff Mosley
Extension Range Management Specialist
Department of Animal and Range Sciences
Montana State University

1. Establishing Improved Pasture

• When to seed? - Very early spring, late fall, or winter

• How deep to seed? - Shallow: 1/4-inch to 112-inch deep

2. Establishing Improved Pastures

• What type of seedbed? - Moist and very firm
• Rows spaced how far apart? - Wheatgrasses: 10-14-inch rows, Ryegrasses: 18-24-inch rows

3. Management of improved Pastures

• How to fence?

1. Fence seeded pastures separately from native rangeland.
2. Fence seedings of different species or mixtures separately from each other.

• How soon to begin grazing a new seeding?

1. Defer at least until the first seed crop has matured .
2. May need to exceed 1 year if seedling establishment was slow (weather, weeds, etc).

• When to begin grazing in spring?

1. Minimum leaf or stubble heights: Crested wheatgrass: 4 inches, Most other grasses: 6 to8 inches
2. Wait until standing forage reaches: at least 200 to 300 lbs/acre

• When to stop grazing in fall?

1. Grazing fall regrowth is very risky.
2. Grazing should end 3 weeks before the first killing frost. Otherwise, more residual forage must be left in the pasture.
3. Rotational grazing better enables plants to withstand fall grazing.

• How much grazing is okay?

1. If grazing is too light, wolf plants develop.
2. If grazing is too heavy, especially in fall, then spring growth is delayed and plants produce fewer tillers.
3. 3 to 4-inch stubble traps snow, insulates plant crown, and plant growth begins earlier in spring.

• How well do cattle perform?

1. Gains average 2 lbs/head/day.
2. Overall ranch grazing capacity increases.
   • Increased stocking on seeded pastures
   • Increased stocking on native rangeland.

   Extended Grazing Season, Lower Feeding Costs

• Is fertilizer needed?

Annual Precipitation - 14 inches or less - no fertilizer

Annual Precipitation - more than 14 inches - 50 lbs N/ac

1. Including a legume in the seed mixture is usually more profitable than applying fertilizer.
2. Planting at wide row spacings will boost production and is usually more profitable than applying fertilizer.

• What are some appropriate pasture management strategies?

Grazing Selectivity/Stock Density

• Stock Density=number of animals per acre
• When density is low: grazing is selective and individual animal performance is maximized
• When density is high: grazing is more uniform and individual animal performance is lower.
• Less selective grazing:
  • Avoid "wolfy" plants
  • Smaller pastures
  • Short time periods: 7 days or less per pasture
  • Stock Density: 3 to 5 cows/acre
  • Recovery periods: 3 to 4 weeks in spring, 2 to 3 months in summer

Question: "What is the yield difference between Haybet and Piroline for forage? 

Is there enough difference to warrant purchasing Haybet when a grower has Piroline in the bin. I could not find any tables or charts with Piroline in them. Is it a hay barley? What does it compare to?

Long version/short answer: Small grains are really catching on for annual forages. In the eastern districts of Montana, Haybet was the leading barley variety in 1999. There are several varieties of barley that are "hooded awnless", and there are "awnletted" (awnless or reduced-awn) varieties of wheat, spelt or triticale. These were developed to eliminate feeding
problems like lumpjaw on dry hay of these cereal crops. Any awned cereal crop can be used for forage if it is put up as haylage, "baleage", or dry hay that is ground before feeding. Historically, these methods are limited in Montana, so awnless varieties were developed.

The limited efforts at MAES have been to release and evaluate new hay types with good forage yields. There has never been a big pot of money for developing hay varieties, and certainly less to evaluate every small grain variety for forage yield. Many malt, feed or commodity grain crops will produce acceptable hay yields. However, to completely avoid the awn problem, conventional small grains should be cut during heading. (Note: now you have created a potential nitrate toxicity problem).

I found no data, but hay yields of Piroline, Haybet, Westford or any other hay barley variety at the clear to milk dough stage might only vary from 0 to 10%.

However, Pirloline at heading (to avoid awn problem) would have 60 to 80% of the hay yield of Haybet or Westford at the clear to milk dough stage.

In a 2-ton per acre site, a 25% loss in hay production @ $50 per ton hay =$25 per acre loss.

At a 3-ton per acre site, a 30% loss in hay production @ $60 per ton hay = $54 per acre loss.
 
Bin-run seed of Piroline is certainly cheaper, but be sure to consider all the consequences. Seed of Haybet and Westford might be considered "expensive", and this is due to several reasons - they are not notorious for high grain production, the market and supply were limited in the past, and also these are commonly treated with fungicides to reduce potential
pathogens.

What The Analysis Means

The best hay or silage evaluation combines visual inspection with chemical analysis.  A breakdown of the lab test report that analyzed by a Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) instrument follows.

Moisture and Dry Matter
 

• To compare feeds used the 100% dry matter figures. This means the sample has been oven dried to eliminate all moisture. 
• The dry matter at time of cutting for most forages is 20-25% or 75-80% moisture. 
• Hay baling can be done when dry matter reaches 85% or moisture declines to about 15%. Baled hay will continue to dry in the stack to about 90% dry matter which is considered air dry. 

Crude Protein (CP)

Protein is a major nutrition requirement of all animals.  Protein is found in leaves much more than stems and is highest in immature forages before they bloom, declining rapidly after blossom or seed head development.

Crude protein ranges and averages for high quality forages are: 
 

Alfalfa	12 - 28%	High Average	20%
Grass	5 - 12%	High Average	10%
Corn Silage	5 - 10%	High Average	8%
Oat Hay	8 - 12%	High Average	10%

Weather Damage or heat damage in storage or stack will reduce protein available for animal digestion. 
 

Fiber

Fiber content is considered by many to be the best single determinant of hay quality. The greater the fiber content, the lower the quality.  Higher fiber feeds result in reduced feed intake or animal refusal to eat a full daily dry matter ration.  However fiber is required in the animal diet for normal digestion and butter fat production in dairy cows.

Crude fiber which in forages range from 20 to 40 percent has been replaced in some test reports by a more accurate assay as follows:

Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF)
is the assay of choice to estimate digestible dry matter and digestible energy. ADF is expressed as a percentage with the best legume feeds testing less than 31% ADF and top grass hays 33% ADF or less.  Early bloom harvested alfalfa will be 31 - 35%, mid bloom 36-41% and full bloom greater than 41% ADF.

As ADF increases digestibility decreases with less milk or gain resulting.

Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF)
is the best measure of voluntary animal feed intake. NDF is a percent with top quality alfalfa less than 45% ADF and top quality grass less than 55% NDF.

Digestible Dry Matter (DDM)
is the simplest measure of feed quality and is estimated from ADF. The DDM of alfalfa ranges from 50 to 70 percent with better quality alfalfa hay containing more than 62 percent DDM.

Energy or Net Energy
is that part of the feed that creates heat, warmth, milk or fat. Oil seeds and grains are high energy feeds while forages are low energy roughages. Energy levels in feeds are measured in calories or megacalories per pound of feed.

The Net Energy system rates feeds differently depending on how that feed will be used in the animal body either for maintenance or gain such as feedlot feeding or lactation for milk production.  The net Energy system is more commonly used for intensive feeding programs such as feedlot finishing of cattle or high production dairy cattle.

Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN)
percentage is an older measure of a feeds ability to provide energy for milk and gain or to keep the animals body warm and maintained. High TDN or high energy feeds include corn 90%, barley 84%, soybean meal 85%, with lower TDN roughages such as alfalfa 55%, grass 55% oat hay 55%, or corn silage 65%. TDN is still a valid measure of a feed nutritional value for average wintering situations such as calf wintering, feeding ewes and beef cows.

Relative Feed Value (RFV)
Is a single number which estimates overall feed quality based on the intake of digestible energy. Minnesota and Wisconsin RFV are slightly different. Feeds with RFV percentage greater than 143 (WI) and 132(MN) are considered prime. Table 1 below indicates RFV values and other data comprising the new market hay grading system of the American Forage and Grassland Council. 

1. Legume, 20% 
 Grass-F                                 17-19      31-35     40-60     62-65       127-143         118-131

2. Legume, 30% 
 Grass-EH                              14-16       36-40    47-53     58-61       114-126         102-117

3. Legume-FB1, 40% 
 Grass-Head                           11-13      41-42    54-60     56-57         98-113 (c)      88-101

4. Legume-FB1, 50% 
 Grass-Head                             8-10      43-45    61-65     53-55         86-97             75-87

Fair Grass-Head, &/ 
or Rain Damage                           ‹8      ›45        ›65          ‹53             ‹86                 ‹75 

Calcium

is a principal mineral utilized by livestock with alfalfa the richest source of forage calcium. Grass hay can be adequate to somewhat deficient depending on the situation and grains are low in calcium. Legume hay ranges from 1.10 to 1.4 percent calcium with gras hay .4 to .7 percent. Corn silage is usually deficient at .18 to .25 percent often requiring supplemental limestone to provide calcium in livestock rations

Phosphorus

is also a principle mineral deficient in nearly all Montana forages. Phosphorus ranges from .20 to .30 in grasses and alfalfa. Grains are high in phosphorus and animals grazing entirely forages will need to have phosphorus supplemented along with salt.