With diminishing hay, consider forage options

Another challenging year for spring moisture has created a deficit in hay production across much of the Dakotas and Minnesota, leaving ranchers to consider options to increase their forage supply. Lack of rainfall from mid-May to mid-June impacted forage production of perennial grass hay fields such as brome grass, crested wheatgrass, timothy and orchardgrass. Statewide reports have indicated as much as a 40% decline in hay production compared to the previous year.

“Recent precipitation may make annual forages and cover crops viable forage options for hay production or grazing,” said Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist.

Despite recent rains, available soil moisture and recommended planting dates will limit options. Forage species selected will vary based on primary planned use: hay, fall grazing, or next spring haying or grazing.

Recommended forage species for hay production

“The best options this late in the growing season will be warm-season forages,” said Kevin Sedivec, NDSU Extension rangeland management specialist. “Foxtail millets have the shortest growing period (seed germination to heading). With droughty conditions, Siberian millet may be the best option; however, under better moisture conditions, German millet could be a better option to maximize production potential. Other options include sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids.”

These warm-season crops should be planted by no later than late July or early August. Harvest before a hard frost or directly following the hard frost to retain forage quality and palatability. Sudangrass and the sorghumsudangrass hybrids have higher yield potential, but because of the shorter day-length and cooler temperatures in late summer and early fall, sufficient dry down to put up hay can be difficult when using a sorghum-sudangrass hybrid. A dry stalk trait is available in some sorghum-sudangrass hybrids that speeds drying time due to stalks containing a lower moisture content.

Recommendation for fall-winter grazing

Many forage options can be planted now and grazed late summer through early winter. Foxtail millet, sudangrass and sorghumsudangrass can also be used as pasture. However, once they freeze, livestock tend to be more selective and increase waste through trampling. Following a killing freeze, allow sorghum species to completely dry down before grazing to minimize prussic acid potential.

Cool-season cover crop mixtures make excellent pasture well into the early winter period. However, cool-season plants are less efficient at using water and will be more prone to fail if dry conditions persist. Make sure ample topsoil moisture is available for plant establishment.

A good option for a fall and winter grazing mix is a seed mixture with a combination of cool and warm-season crops. The cool-season crops will retain nutritional quality after a freeze while the warm-season crop provides fiber for energy and proper rumen function. Cool-season cover crop options may include a mixture of oats, barley, turnips or radish.

Recommendation for spring grazing or haying in 2024

Winter annuals can be a great option for spring grazing or late spring hay, helping to reduce pressure on already stressed rangeland and pastures while providing cover on the soils. September is the optimal planting date for winter annuals. However, they can be seeded in August if moisture conditions are good. Options include winter wheat, winter rye and winter triticale. Winter annuals can be utilized for early season grazing or harvested for hay in June.

Winter rye and triticale will be the best option for grazing in May through early June. Both winter rye and triticale can be harvested for hay by early June. Winter wheat produces less foliage in May and will provide a better option for high quality hay in late June.

When to purchase hay

“If you plan to purchase hay to offset a shortage, we recommend sourcing hay early this year,” said James Rogers, NDSU Extension forage crops production specialist.

Severe to extreme drought persists throughout much of the Central Plains states and Corn Belt. Demand for hay is expected to be high in these regions, with producers sourcing hay from the Dakotas and Minnesota. With a depleted hay inventory projected throughout much of the Great Plains, hay prices are likely to increase from their current levels.

Precautions

Many annual forages have toxic risks when growing under stress. Cereal grains, turnips, sorghum species and millet can be high in nitrates when grown in droughty conditions. Do not add any additional nitrogen fertilizers when planting these forage crops this summer. Test for nitrate levels, especially if plant growth occurs under drought stress. Sorghum, sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids are susceptible to prussic acid toxicity when immature, under stress or directly after a frost.

“We realize that producers are taking a risk in establishing an annual crop, given the dry conditions, and cost may be a factor,” Meehan said. “NDSU Extension has developed a cover crop cost calculator that provides the ability to estimate and compare the cost of different mixes.”

The tool is available at: tinyurl.com/ NDSUCoverCropCalculator.

“Farmers may be reluctant to plant annual forages because of fear of soil moisture depletion and desire to recharge the soil,” said Sedivec. “If the cover crop develops enough structure, it will protect the soil from erosion while providing aid in trapping snow and reducing evaporation for moisture conservation, potentially improving soil moisture for spring planting, while providing forage for livestock.”

Article courtesy NDSU Ag Communications

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Farm Equipment

For Sale

BACKHOE ATTACHMENT, Bobcat 811 Backhoe attachment for skidsteer. 701-206-0082, Marcus Fischer, Bowman.

FORD TRUCK, 1977 F600 2.5 ton truck with hoist. 65k miles. New motor. Good condition. $4700. 701-202-0400, Ron Monzelowsky, Bismarck.

THRESHING MACHINE, best offer takes it. 701789-1117, Bill Rahlf, Sutton.

JD 1620 COULTER (chisel plow converted to vertical tillage tool), 40’, new hoses, new lift cylinder, good tires and lots of new bearings, Blades measure 17”. $15,000 OBO. 701-3215711, John Kempf, Ashley.

SWATHER, Macdon 24 ft pull-type swather

For parts or with slight repairs ready to go; Farmking auger 60 ft side delivery, needs a bearing or two on end of auger; Cenex grain 2200 bushels, excellent condition to be moved. 701-263-1206, Lathan Romsos, Bottineau.

DRAPER HEAD, JD 935-D in good condition, ready to go; 8220-25 ft. Case swather, pull type, good shape and shedded; Combine trailer, bridge type with pinto hitch and 11 22.5 low pro tires; Cummings ISX engine block with crank and sleeve. 701-226-6633, Gerry Rattei, Napoleon.

MOISTURE-TESTER, JD baler-mounted moister tester, brand new, cab-mounted display for on the go moisture-tester, $300. 701-597-3525, Scott Nelson, Solen.

WINPOWER tractor driven PTO generator on wheels, 18/30kw, 72 amps. 701-376-5296/701260-1065, Bill Hourigan, Lemmon, S.D.

CHOPPER, 881 International chopper with hay head which is in excellent condition; 2 row 30” corn head. $2000. Lilliston drills with seeder weeders, 16 ft, $1200 in good condition. International 516 plow in good condition $800; 7 ft packer for $200; Melroe 514 plow and 6 ft packer $500. Versitile swather hydrostatic drives $400 for the set, they’re in good condition. 852 NH baler with auto wrap in good condition. 701-269-6216, Jerry Miller, Streeter.

SWATHER, JD 20 ft Pull type swather modified for cliping CRP. $600 or best offer. Vemer stump grinder. $5600 or best offer. 509-389-9562, Wade Wipperling, New Rockford.

STEEL BINS, two steel bins on cones w/aeration fans; 3 triangular grain auger hoppers w/straps/ chains to fasten onto grain auger; Simer water pump; Bourgault knock on cultivator sweeps; farm scale/steel wheels; used Case IH 8230 feeder chain; used 16” JD cultivator shovels/ spikes; John Blue anhydrous nitrolator w/hyd shut off hoses; combine pickup guards/lifters; 4x8’ wooden stone boat; old front tine rototiller. 701-629-9003, Doug Halden, Stanley.

MARFLEX PICKUP SPRAYER, 80’ hydraulic midmount booms, 400 gal. tank, 701-9255821, James Kimball, Noonan.

GRAIN CART, 400 bu. J-Craft grain cart, PTO drive, hydraulic fold auger and bottom slide, bottom auger, new roll tarp, 28L-26 tires, good, all gears and drives updated; Koehn 8 row Danish S tine cultivator 3 pt. hitch, depth wheels, stand, sway discs on ends $250 OBO. Use JD 635 flex head with AW air reel, multipoint hookups, with trailer, new knife sections, shedded, excellent condition. 701952-8973, Glen Nagel, Jamestown.

TRUCK, 48 Dodge 1.5 ton, 5 window truck in very good original condition. Turns over. Good tires. Rust and dent free. Loader, F11 Farmhand with controls, pump, and grapple fork. Deering Horse drawn mower, yard art, $100, 6 steel wheels $25 each. 701-258-5352, Allen Koth, Bismarck.

JD 300 tractor, 2010, dual loader on tractor $4,000. 701-302-0829, Andrew Bachmeier, Sheyenne.

15-30 MCCORMICK TRACTOR, 1 new tire LT245-75R-Load Range E. 2- Cream Separators, 4-wheel Steel Running Gear, 1 Covered Wagon Running Gear, 12’ Kirschman Drill, 1 Horse Potato Cultivator, 4 Btm. Pony & Packer, Saddle and 2 Bridles. Email: larryn@westriv.com. 701548-8020, Larry Nagel, Shields.

SQUARE BALER, New Holland 285 square baler has its own power source, good shape, $5400; JD 640 rake reconditioned, new teeth, new paint good tires $1700; 1170 Heston 16 ft. hydro swing reconditioned, new guards, new sickle $4500; 605j Vermeer baler, ready to go in field $3000; 1994 toner 4wd Chevy pickup, crew cab, utility box, pipe rack, duels, runs good, $7900. 701-400-5742, Gerald Miller, Mandan.

WANTED

FUEL TANK STAND, 6-8 high gravity feed fuel tank stand. 701-471-9119, James Snustad, Neche.

TRACTORS, IH 706, 806, 756, 856, 1256, 1456, 1066, 1466, 1566 and others; JD 4620, 5010, 5020, 6030. MM 950s on up: Olivers 1963’s on up; AC 200, 210, 220 ,D-21, others. Will buy running or not. 701-628-2130, Jerry Lumley, Stanley.

CATERPILLAR D2. 701-641-1173, Scott Grote, Battleview.

SNOW BLOWER, front mount for 420/430 garden tractor. 701-640-8843, Merle Rubish, Wahpeton.

HAY RAKES, Vicon 206 Gehl or #39 Massey Ferguson hay rakes in any condition or for parts. 701-226-4055, Lloyd Giese, Steele.

PROPANE TANK, 500 gallons, 701-327-4441, Donald Fanta, Tappen.

For Sale

BARN WINDOWS. 701-771-8653, Kenny Heilman, Rugby.

BAYLINER, 2004 Bayliner BR175 boat. Has snapon cover. It has always been covered or inside. Excellent condition; EZ Dock Kayak Launch. Both are located North of Bismarck. 701-206-0082, Marcus Fischer, Bowman.

DENIM DAYS, large collection of home interior denim days; many cake decorating pans. 701721-2444, Rachel Axness, Des Lacs.

REDWING POTTERY, 15 to 20 pieces ranging from 15 gal to 2 gal. Serious inquiries only. 701-318-6554, Gail Gunst, Fargo.

1997 CHEVY PICKUP, Silverado 1500 Z71 ½ ton, 114,741 miles. Red with chrome trim (paint and chrome in very good condition with no rust. Vortec 5700 engine. Always stored in a shed. Less than 10k miles on tires. 3-year-old battery. $9,000 obo. Call or text. 701-430-3348, Jack Vadnie, Clifford.

SIGNS/CAST IRON BASES, Our Own Hardware store sign, Benjamin Moore Paint sign, Left half of a Sinclair sign (SINC), Pennzoil Cast Iron Base, Coke Cast Iron Base. Willing to trade for other signs or old gas pumps. 701-220-5746, Val Ganje, Bismarck.

1930 MODEL A, 4 door, runs and drives. All original & 90% complete. Call evenings or weekends. Misc parts go with car. $6500 firm. Serious inquires only. 701-216-0094, Doug Perdue, Ray.

2008 CHEVY EQUINOX, AWD, 211,000 miles. Has some rust and a few dents but runs good. Many new parts. $4500 OBO. 701-321-5711, John Kempf, Ashley.

MOTORCYCLE, Harley Davidson, Model: Heritage Softail Classic, low mileage, lots of chrome, excellent condition; 1991 Ford pickup, maroon, color V-6 motor, have pictures. 701263-1206, Lathan Romsos, Bottineau.

CANOE, aluminum 17 foot with paddles $475; 20 ton wooden fertilizer bin $100. 701-3513305, Arne Berg, Devils Lake.

DODGE CARAVAN, 2013 Dodge Grand CARAVAN, 137K miles, nice shape, $8K obo. 701-597-3525, Scott Nelson, Solen.

CHEVY IMPALA, 2011, LT, 4-door, body and interior in good shape, gets over 30 mpg. 605530-2296, Vern Snow, Tolstoy, S.D.

1989 19’ ALUMACRAFT BOAT with cover, 9.9 HP Suzuki motor, (140 HP Suzuki needs work), Shoreland’r trailer with rollers, stored inside, 701-925-5821, James Kimball, Noonan.