Alfalfa - There isn't a crop we can grow in Ohio which has the protein production potential of alfalfa. There just is not a substitute for this high yielding, deep rooted, high quality legume on a dairy unit. The crop and dairy production program should be built around alfalfa.
Whole plant corn silage - corn harvested as silage will produce the most digestible energy (TDN) per acre. The dairy program requires a large quantity of high quality energy.
Where protein and energy production are the goals, alfalfa and corn for silage are the crops to be grown. Any other crop grown on an acre of land is producing less protein or energy.
Comparison of Crops for Silage
| Crop | Expected Yield | Tons Dry Matter/A | T.D.N. lb./A | Digestible Protein/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corn | 125 bu. | 6 | 8,000 | 550 |
| Grain Sorghum | 100 bu. | 5.6 | 7,200 | 550 |
| Sorghum-Sudangrass | 25 T. | 4.5 | 5,400 | 525 |
| Sudangrass | 20 T. | 3.5 | 4,500 | 400 |
| Oats | 75 bu. | 2.5 | 3,000 | 475 |
| Alfalfa | 6 T. | 5.4 | 6,500 | 1,200 |
| Winter Grain | 40 bu. | 3.5 | 4,250 | 525 |
| Soybeans | 30 bu. | 2.5 | -- | 450 |
It is possible to put together some combinations, such as harvesting first cut forage followed by planting corn for silage, or harvesting small grain as forage followed by planting summer annuals. Summer annuals are more expensive to grow per unit of feed value and should be used on a temporary basis in most dairy crop production programs.
It is true that every field may not have the necessary characteristics to produce alfalfa and corn. The following tabulation compares soil drainage characteristics and forage species' success.
| Soil Drainage and Species Adaptation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Well | Moderate | Poor | Very Poor |
| Orchardgrass | X | X | ||
| S. Bromegrass | X | X | ||
| Timothy | X | X | ||
| Bluegrass | X | X | ||
| Tall Fescue | X | X | X | |
| Reed Canarygrass | X | X | X | X |
| Alfalfa | X | |||
| Red Clover | X | X | ||
| Birdsfoot Trefoil | X | X | X | |
| Ladino | X | X | X | |
| Crownvetch | X | |||
Obtain a soil test. Work from a soil analysis. Fields high in phosphorus or potassium may not need or need less fertilizer. If some fields have high fertility and some are low, fertilize the low ones. This practice will give a better return than fertilizing all fields at a reduced rate.
Sound fertility management is just as important during tight times as when cash flow is adequate. Avoid the temptation to buy unproven products. Stick with the proven, recommended practices. Often new, miracle products result in no increased yields.
Remember the major nutrients for forage production; lime, phosphorus and potassium.
Soil pH must be corrected to at least 6.5 for alfalfa, 6.2 for red clover and 6.0 for birdsfoot trefoil.
Soil phosphorus level should be a minimum of 60 (Bray P1) and exchangeable potassium 260 plus five times the CEC. Fertilize annually with 14 pounds of P205 and 60 pounds of K20 per ton of dry matter removed from the field. Potassium is the most important nutrient for stand maintenance and yield retention. Phosphorus is very important in stand establishment. Potassium may be split applied, one-half following first harvest and one-half in mid-September.
Apply minor and micronutrients where plant analysis indicates a problem may exist.
Prepare a level, firm, weed-free seedbed. Lack of a firm seedbed in the area of seed placement is a major factor in causing seeding failures. When firming the seedbed, the primary firming should occur prior to seed placement.
Seed shallow. Forage seeds need be placed no deeper than 1/4 inch in the soil. Ideally, only seed and soil contact is necessary.
Inoculate legume seed with the specific inoculum for the legume being seeded. Inoculation continues to be a means of ensuring the presence of adequate numbers of the desired Rhizobium bacteria.
Consider treating alfalfa seed with ridomil (Apron) to assist in reducing the incidence of the "damping off" diseases during the germination and early alfalfa establishment period. This should really be an integrated approach, by also using alfalfa varieties which have been developed for increased disease resistance. This ridomil treatment will not in all instances show a response. However, when conditions are favorable for the infestation of these "damping off" organisms, the stand establishment can be greatly enhanced. The treatment costs only cents per acre and is valuable insurance for alfalfa producers.
Generally, alfalfa should not follow alfalfa. The improved soil tilth, organic matter and nitrogen provided by the alfalfa can be used advantageously by corn. Interjecting at least one season of corn or small grain is therefore strongly recommended. Research and farmer experience from Ohio and comparable states have demonstrated that acceptable stands often are not obtained where alfalfa is seeded directly following alfalfa.
The forage producer is determining the nutritional value of the forage his livestock will consume as he harvests the forage. This is one of the most important decisions the dairy producer will make and is a major factor in determining the success of the dairy unit.
Nutritional values of forage vary directly with the maturity of the forage. From the time the heads begin to emerge in the grasses, digestibility decreases approximately one-half percentage unit per day. In the case of legumes, digestibility is also reduced by one-third to one-half percentage unit each day following the development of flower buds.
We realize and recognize the weather is a major factor in harvesting forage. To date, no one has done much to control the weather. So, we must attempt to live with it, work with it and be thankful for its positive points.
One of the reasons silage became so popular was the attempt to overcome some of the weather hazards. Most reports indicate approximately ten percent more feed value is harvested when the forage is ensiled, due to reducing the harvest losses by harvesting at a higher percent moisture than for hay.
Alfalfa requires a period during favorable growing conditions in the fall to replenish its root reserves. This period from early to mid- September until killing frost should provide ample time for replacement of root reserves. Iowa has recently reported that where alfalfa was cut during September, the yield was reduced the following year by approximately one ton. This reduction was caused by less vigorous plants and stand loss.
Attempt to apply manure, especially liquid manure, to corn fields. Realizing this may not be feasible for the entire year, the effort should be made to plan to accomplish this task. This practice will reduce compaction, weeds and stand loss in forage fields, especially those sown to alfalfa.
Forage production requires many trips over the field. It seems more and more apparent that physical plant injury and soil compaction to forages, especially alfalfa, due to traffic over the field is a major factor in yield reduction and stand loss. Be conscious of the number of trips over the field and combine or eliminate them where possible.
Agricultural Engineers indicate nearly 80 percent of the soil compaction by wheel traffic occurs on the first pass with equipment through the field. It seems reasonable to suggest using the same wheel tracks as much as possible rather than spreading the traffic over the area. Try to develop a pattern for wheel tracks and use the same one as much as possible.
Prepared by:
Donald K. Myers
Extension Agronomist Emeritus
Revised by:
John F. Underwood
District Agronomy Specialist
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Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.
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