The results of the 2017 Kansas Performance Tests with summer annual forage hay varieties are available online at http://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/services/crop-performance-tests/forages/2017-summer-forages-performance-tests.html. The results are summarized by location and are split into hay and silage categories.
The following paragraphs are excerpts taken from the 2017 Forage Report. The full 2017 Forage Report will soon be available online at http://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/.
Summer annual forage performance tests are conducted each year by the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station. The objectives of the Kansas Summer Annual Forage Variety Trial are to evaluate the performance of released and experimental varieties, determine where these varieties are best adapted, and increase the visibility of summer annual forages in Kansas. Breeders, marketers, and producers use data collected from the trials to make informed variety selections. The Summer Annual Forage Trial is planted at locations across Kansas based on the interest of those entering varieties into the test.
In 2017, summer annual forage variety trials were conducted across Kansas near Garden City, Hays, Mound Valley, and Scandia. All sites evaluated included hay and silage entries. Companies were able to enter varieties into any possible combinations of research sites, so not all sites had all varieties. Across the sites, a total of 61 hay varieties and 66 silage varieties were evaluated.
In general, the 2017 growing season saw below-normal mean temperatures during the first part of August and below-normal growing season precipitation. The exception was Mound Valley, which had above-normal growing season precipitation. Hays and Scandia largely relied on stored soil water for crop growth resulting in little regrowth and no second harvest in those hay tests.
This work was funded in part by the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station and seed suppliers. Sincere appreciation is expressed to all participating researchers and seed suppliers who have a vested interest in expanding and promoting annual forage production in the U.S.
John Holman, Cropping Systems Agronomist, Southwest Research-Extension Center
jholman@ksu.edu
Augustine Obour, Agricultural Research Center – Hays
aobour@ksu.edu
Andrew Esser, Agronomist-in-Charge, North Central KS and Irrigation
aresser@ksu.edu
Jane Lingenfelser, Assistant Agronomist, Crop Performance Testing
jling@ksu.edu
Scott Maxwell, Agricultural Technician
scott8@ksu.edu
Thomas Roberts, Assistant Scientist
troberts@ksu.edu
Gretchen Sassenrath, Agronomist, Southeast Research-Extension Center
gsassenrath@ksu.edu
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