Forage for the Best Summer Deals: Flexibility & Innovation Critical to Cost-Effective Decisions

forage for the best

summer deals

FLEXIBILITY & INNOVATION CRITICAL TO COST-EFFECTIVE DECISIONS

by Barb Anderson

Illinois beef producers must remain on their toes to find and produce the highest quality forages at the best available prices this summer. With grains continuing near record highs, cow-calf producers, especially, must be flexible and innovative in making feed ration decisions.

“With high input prices, hay is going to cost more this summer. Plus, some of the ground generally planted to hay is going into corn and soybeans instead, and that shift in acres will be economically hard on livestock producers,” says Don Brown, hay farmer near Davis, Illinois.

Varied Statewide Scenario

In comments presented at USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum in February, Livestock Marketing Information Center Director and Senior Economist Katelyn McCullock forecast a decline in U.S. hay acres with an increase in hay prices for the coming months. Ongoing drought in the western U.S. and high-priced corn and soybeans may compete for acres and reduce alfalfa seeding some 25%, she said, the lowest ever new annual seedings estimate.

“Illinois forage acres will be capped by corn and soybean plantings. Commodity prices versus forage opportunities favor corn and soybeans,” confirms Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Extension beef educator. “Dry weather also impacts forage seeding and availability.”

In fact, spring conditions and summer weather could have regional influence on forages across the state. Meteer notes that while northwest Illinois remains on the drought

monitor, the rest of Illinois has been receiving good spring moisture. That could result in good forage tonnage. However, Doug Hanson, ProHarvest Seeds forage seed lead and Illinois Forage and Grasslands Council president, says areas with dry conditions may see higher forage demand and prices.

“We have local producers in the eastern half of the state that are sitting on hay, while western Illinois and the northern Midwest are dry and are in need of hay,” says Hanson. “Where we usually bale hay in May that is often sold at steady to lower prices, this year market values may actually go up in some places. Producers are not likely to use as much highpriced nitrogen fertilizer, either, which could lower yields and raise forage prices by mid- to late summer.”

McCullock predicts a 20% increase in 2022 alfalfa prices followed by another 18%-20% increase during the following marketing year. With that in mind, now may be the best time for Illinois cow-calf producers who must purchase hay to get it booked.

“Forages are a smaller portion of feedlot rations. However, increases in hay prices combined with already elevated corn prices can result in record high feed costs. Utilizing coproducts and by-product feeds becomes even more important to controlling feed costs,” says Meteer. “Cow-calf producers facing elevated feed costs should prepare to manage forage needs and the grazing season to minimize cost and maximize performance.”

Maximize Summer Forages

Specifically, Meteer recommends cow-calf producers commit to rotational grazing in 2022. When cows are fenced into established areas, they can be moved at the right time for grass to rest. Preventing overgrazing will also maximize nutrition and palatability for the animals.

“Take half, leave half is a traditional rule of thumb with rotational grazing. Keeping forage heights between 6 to 12 inches maximizes quality and yield in most cool season grasses. More grazing days equates to less hay feeding and supplemental feed costs and less total cost,” he says.

Another option is to supplement forage fields with summer annuals that can fill in nutrition gaps. Common small-seeded forages like sorghum-sudangrass, sudangrass and pearl millet can be planted during the summer in Illinois and help stretch out forage availability in pastures.

“Summer annuals are usually a good addition to Illinois pastures because they use a third less moisture and nitrogen and produce good tonnage,” says Hanson.

However, like all crop inputs, summer annual seed prices have increased dramatically. Brown notes the drought in the West created a shortage of small seeds like clover for planting in 2022. He also reports that a 50-pound bag of orchardgrass seed that he typically purchases for $80-$100 was as high as $350 per bag in March and nearly out of stock.

“Since prices have gone up for small seeds, producers should pencil out whether planting any summer annuals will add any profitability to their operations,” says Meteer. “If you want to maintain a corn-soybean rotation and plant forages, consider utilizing cereal rye, triticale or wheat for cover crops. I also like summer annuals to help renovate sacrifice paddocks.”

Consider Other Options

Producers who have hayfields also have options to maximize forage availability and demand.

“If you have a hay field that is growing now, let it grow,” advises Hanson. “After the first cutting, you can terminate the hay and plant sorghum, pearl millet or sudangrass and produce more tons of feed per acre. Or, if the field has a good establishment of alfalfa, maintain it for additional cuttings to get more protein from each acre for feed. You can also terminate hay, plant corn or soybeans, and then buy hay with the added income from high commodity prices.”

Baleage is another option to maximize forage quality and yield. Meteer says baleage is becoming more popular in Illinois for producers who plan to harvest and feed their own hay. “Increases in cost and labor need consideration, but many have found the benefits of shorter harvest windows and a more palatable, higher quality hay as beneficial. Wet hay is more difficult to merchandise. So, if most of the hay you produce is sold off farm, baleage may not fit,” he says.

Meteer encourages producers to remain open to possibilities for generating additional feedstuffs. While planting sorghum-sudan, sudangrass or pearl millet can generate tons of summer forage to be grazed or harvested, anything that helps grazing and extends the season increases profitability.

“Producers can graze or bale corn stalks. Cereal rye or triticale planted in the fall can make great spring baleage for cow-calf operations,” he says.

Hanson agrees cover crops can supplement forage for producers who have planted them before or want to experiment with them this fall. “Illinois farmers have embraced cover crops. They can be grazed until mid-May, or

they can be harvested and stored for later,” says Hanson. “Last fall was not good for cover crop establishment, though, so that could weigh on availability this year.”

Buy Hay Right Away

If producing forage is not part of the plan, Meteer says buying hay and feeding it in combination with other materials can present cost-effective options for producers.

“Hay sellers this time of year want to clear out their barns, establish relationships with sellers and negotiate the best possible price,” says Meteer. “I am a proponent of alternate feeds when they can work, like baling corn stalks or planting fall oats. Producers don’t have to just think of corn and hay as their feedstuffs. You can be innovative and purchase byproduct feeds and pair them with poorer quality forages to still have successful rations.”

Brown says he and other hay producers in northern Illinois have had a good supply of dry hay in their area so far this spring, although prices are higher.

“Cow-calf producers are buying grass hay for cows to replace alfalfa hay and save money,” he observes. “However, producers will need better-quality hay to replace the protein they would normally get from corn if they choose not to feed as much corn this year.”

While there is a fine line between being profitable producing hay or not this year, Brown hopes to continue to meet producer demand into the future. High trucking costs are an additional concern, along with subsoil moisture deficits which could affect hay supplies this year and next.

“Look at prices and availability and pencil out whether it is cheaper to buy or produce hay. You may be able to reduce fertilizer rates and still get a decent crop if you plant it,” says Hanson.

Add Fall Cover Crops

As Illinois beef producers look to the future of forages, whether buying hay or purchasing high-quality forage seed for their own fields, these specialists suggest working with trusted partners.

“Producers are fortunate because Illinois has many good seed companies that can help them select the best, highquality, weed-free seed for their operations,” says Hanson. “I encourage producers interested in planting cover crops this fall to start now in making seed selections.”

Hanson adds, “Alfalfa and corn silage will probably always be big feed staples in Illinois. If you take corn and soybean acres and put rye on 50-150 of those acres and let it grow, you will also have baleage next May equating to two to six tons of feed per acre. At the same time, producers are doing good things for their farms environmentally with cover crops. Water quality and soil health improve, and they can still plant corn and soybeans on those acres the following spring.”

Illinois cover crop producers may have state or federal assistance available in the future as well. Hanson says producers should watch for cover crop insurance options. In 2022, the Illinois Department of Agriculture offered the Cover Crop Premium Discount Program for cover crop acres not enrolled in other state and federal program incentives.

Interested participants were notified of the program last fall for acres planted to cover crops that were slated to be planted to an insurable crop this year. Eligible applicants will receive a $5 per acre insurance premium discount on the following year’s crop insurance invoice for every acre of cover crop enrolled and verified in the program.

In addition, the Illinois program and federal crop insurance programs allow for managed haying and grazing of cover crops if the practice does not jeopardize the intended function of the cover crop and termination guidelines developed by USDA are followed.

For more information, visit www.rma.usda.gov/en/Topics/ Cover-Crops or www2.illinois.gov/sites/agr/Plants/CoverCrops/ Pages/default.aspx.

JOIN US FOR THE IBA SUMMER CONFERENCE & IFGC FORAGE EXPO JOIN US FOR THE IBA SUMMER CONFERENCE & IFGC FORAGE EXPO

Each summer, Illinois Forage and Grasslands Council (IFGC) hosts the Illinois Forage Expo. While the location moves around the state to various host farms, the focus of the annual expo remains the same…to share new forage management practices that can help improve forage production, whether for raising livestock, custom harvesting or selling forage products. While the educational sessions are always packed with information, the equipment and field demonstrations are always a highlight.

This year IFGC is happy to be joining forces with the Illinois Beef Association in sponsoring a combined IBA Summer Conference and IFGC Forage Expo. On the second day of the two day event, participants will have the opportunity to visit a local cattle and forage producer. During the pasture tour, attendees will get an inside look at how different grazing strategies can be implemented onfarm, some of the challenges associated with managing grazing cattle and providing quality forage to meet livestock needs. Over lunch, attendees will have the opportunity to visit with several foragerelated vendors before heading back out to the field for the afternoon. There are several equipment demonstrations planned, including forage cutting, forage baling and bale wrapping. Equipment representatives from several equipment manufacturers will be in attendance to talk about equipment and answer questions.