2019 Kansas Summer Annual Forage Hay and Silage Variety Trial results now available
Summer annual forage performance tests are conducted each year by the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station. The yield results of the 2019 tests are available online. Results are from 3 locations and split into hay and silage categories.
Forage options for freeze-damaged wheat
Late spring freezes have resulted in some level of damage to a portion of the Kansas wheat crop. Producers must soon decide whether to keep the crop for grain or possibly use it as forage.
Alfalfa management: Deciding on last cutting this fall
Alfalfa will stop growing after the first hard freeze. The timing of the last two cuttings impacts the winter survival and influences stand productivity the following year.
Tips for fall planting of alfalfa
Kansas has 568,324 acres of alfalfa, which is a very important leguminous crop for dairy and livestock industry in the state. Late summer and early fall are often the best times to plant alfalfa in Kansas. When sowing alfalfa, there are several recommendations to help establish a healthy stand.
Annual Forage Insurance Update and Examples
Annual Forage (AF) insurance is a rainfall index product similar to Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance (PRF). Alfalfa and perennial range can be insured under PRF. If you grow annual crops for forage (this includes annual crops used for grazing, haying, grazing/haying, grain/grazing, green chop, grazing/green chop, or silage), AF can be used to help insure against reduced forage yield due to less precipitation than normal during the producer-selected growing season. When rainfall falls below a set amount, a payout is provided.
Managing the prussic acid hazard in sorghum
While sorghum is a valuable forage crop, sorghum species can produce prussic acid, which can be toxic to livestock. The potential for toxic levels of prussic acid is affected by several different factors. If proper management occurs, sorghum can be a safe and beneficial forage crop.
Biomass production and nutrient uptake of drought-damaged corn
Many farmers across Kansas must make a decision on how to get the most from their drought-damaged corn this year. A number of factors should be considered when assigning a value to drought-damaged corn. Nutrient removal from the field is one key aspect since biomass can export significant amounts of nutrients.
Tips for fall planting of alfalfa
Alfalfa is a very important legume crop for dairy and livestock industry in the state. Late summer and early fall are often the best times to plant alfalfa in Kansas due to less weed pressure than spring planting. Available moisture at planting is crucial for alfalfa establishment.
Filling the forage gaps after a challenging summer
In forage-based systems, the forage budget is the key component of livestock production. This hot, dry summer has resulted in farmers needing to adjust their forage plans for their operation. Learn the best options for minimizing any forage gaps heading into the fall and winter.
Alfalfa management: Deciding on last cutting this fall
Alfalfa will quit growing after the first hard freeze. In Kansas, this could happen as early as October 1 or as late as November 1. The last cutting prior to dormancy should be made so there will be 8 to 12 inches of foliage, or 4 to 6 weeks of growth time, before the first killing frost.
Small grain forage options for this fall
In 2022, forage production was limited during the summer, and filling the gaps during the fall/winter will be a challenge. Small grain forages can be a profitable option for producers. They can be planted in the fall and either terminated or grazed out in the early spring.
Value of forage insurance during drought
Over two-thirds of all Kansas counties are experience extreme or exceptional drought. Cattle producers can take several actions to mitigate the impact of drought, including purchasing forage insurance, or Pasture, Rainfall, Forage (PRF) insurance. In this article, we discuss what the PRF is and report PRF payouts to-date by drought status for all 105 Kansas counties.
Want more forage? Kill some cedars
Eastern redcedar is the only evergreen tree native to Kansas and is a major component of an alarming wave of woody plant expansion in grasslands. During drought years, rangeland grasses may go dormant but cedar trees often stay green and continue using water. Controlling the growth of cedars in pastures is important, especially during a summer drought like we saw in 2022.
2022 Kansas cool-season forage performance tests
The results of the 2022 Kansas Performance Tests for cool-season annual forage varieties are available online. Results are available for both yield and nutrient value for the cool-season forages. Annual forage performance tests are conducted each year by the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station.
Annual Forage Insurance: New Policy Options and 2022 Performance
Annual Forage (AF) insurance is a rainfall index product for annual crops produced for forage. The deadline to purchase AF for any annual forage crop produced over the next calendar year is July 15. The USDA Risk Management Agency recently announced several changes to AF, that were designed to increase flexibility for producers. Learn more in this article.
Nitrate toxicity in drought-stressed corn and sorghum
Drought-stressed crops such as corn and sorghum tend to accumulate high nitrate levels in the lower leaves and stalk of the plant. It is wise for producers to test their drought-stricken forage prior to harvest. Levels of nitrates can increase in drought-stressed plants after a rain and delaying harvest may be beneficial.
Check herbicide labels before using soybeans for livestock feed
Drought conditions and extreme heat throughout Kansas are forcing farmers to consider harvesting soybeans for forage. The herbicide label is the law, and many herbicide labels do restrict the use of soybeans as a forage. It is important to know the waiting period between the application of a given herbicide and the grazing or harvesting of the soybeans for use as a forage.
Tips for fall planting of alfalfa
Alfalfa is a very important leguminous crop for the dairy and livestock industries in the state. In 2022, approximately 660,000 acres of alfalfa were harvested in Kansas. Late summer and early fall are often the best times to plant alfalfa in Kansas due to less weed pressure than spring planting.
Alfalfa management: Deciding on the last cutting this fall
Alfalfa will quit growing after the first hard freeze which in Kansas occurs on average around October 15, but can be as early as October 1 or as late as November 1. The last cuttings should be weather-based because the timing of the last two cuttings impacts the winter survival and productivity of the stand in the following year.
Kansas cool-season forage performance tests
The results of the 2023 Kansas Performance Tests for cool-season annual forage varieties are now available online. Annual forage performance tests are conducted each year by the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station. The trials help producers make informed variety selections.
Crabgrass could serve as an alternative cattle forage
K-State Research and Extension released a new publication this fall on using crabgrass as an alternative forage for cattle. In systems with cool-season forages, a lack of forage may occur during the summer. One option to extend the grazing season is to have pastures with warm-season forage grass, such as crabgrass, that produce most of the forage during hot months.
2024 Alfalfa School is set for February 13 in Great Bend
K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Forage and Grassland Council are hosting the 2024 Alfalfa School on Tuesday, February 13, in Great Bend, KS. This year’s event will feature several sessions covering a myriad of topics related to alfalfa production.
Central Kansas Forage Update - March 21
All are invited to attend a forage update sponsored by the Kansas Forage and Grassland Council in conjunction with the Mid-America Farm Expo on March 21. The update will feature a hay market review, tips for managing woody encroachment and Old-World Bluestem on rangeland, and a focus on non-traditional forage alternatives and annual legumes.
2024 Kansas cool-season forage performance tests
The results of the 2024 Kansas Performance Tests for cool-season annual forage varieties are now available online. The data collected from these trials is invaluable for breeders, marketers, and producers, aiding them in making informed decisions about variety selection.
Alfalfa management options for short or drought-stressed stands
This article discusses management options for short or drought-stressed alfalfa stands. Always use caution when harvesting alfalfa in the fall, especially if the plant is drought-stressed. Cutting the crop without leaving 6-8 weeks of re-growth before the first freeze can damage the stand and reduce persistence for subsequent years.
Small grain forage options for this fall
Pasture productivity has been reduced in the past two years, and forage supplies have been greatly reduced due to dry weather. Even in normal years, filling the forage needs outside summer grazing can be challenging. Small grain forages planted in the fall or spring can provide a profitable forage option for producers.
Management considerations before baling corn residue
Kansas produces around 5.5 million acres of corn and 9,800,000 tons of corn residue annually. Although baling crop residues provides additional income, producers should consider the potential impacts that residue removal may have on soil and crop health and long-term sustainability.
Crop residues: Nutritive value and options for grazing
Crop residue yield and nutrient contents depend on grain yield, fertility, harvest date, and harvest conditions. The duration and timing of grazing initiation also impact residue nutrient content. This article discusses the varying nutritive values for crop residues and the options for grazing.
Crabgrass could serve as an alternative cattle forage
A lack of forage may occur during the summer in systems with cool-season forages. One option to extend the grazing season is to have pastures with warm-season forage grasses, such as crabgrass, that produce most of the forage during hot months. Crabgrass can be a beneficial option for feeding cattle because of its high yield and palatability.
Native grasses: Factors for successful stand establishment
Establishment is the most important phase to ensure system longevity when planning the long-term use of a seeded native grass stand. Native species are slow to establish and do not compete well with other plants, such as undesired weeds and forage mixes. Native grass pastures can take up to four years to become fully established.