Agricultural News Volume 1, Issue 1
Dates of Interest call for more details May 8th Master Cattlemen 6:30p May 8th 4-H Dairy Club 6:30p May 9th Farm Bureau Meeting May 15th District Board Meeting 12:00p May 13th Dairy Club Meeting 6:30
May & June 2017
Rob’s Report by Robbie Smith
Hay season is fast approaching and as usual weather will play a major role in decision making . I have had a number of conversations already with folks about what they are seeing in their hayfields, and many are not impressed. Most are not seeing the quantity that they normally see at this time of year. Most of that is due to
Effect of Stage of Harvest of Fescue Hay on Quality and Animal Gain.* ID-62
May 18th Bee Club Meeting 6:30 June 8th NC Beef Cattle Meeting 7:00 June 10th Garden Tour 8:00a June 12th 4-H Dairy Club 6:30p
Robbie Smith Agent for Horticulture
cooler night temperatures suppressing growth. However, please don’t make the mistake of waiting until the volume is there to cut, make your decision solely on the quality of the forage and not quantity. The chart below provides a visual for making your decision on quality versus quantity. You can always cut early, reapply nitrogen and then make a second harvest in 4 to 6 weeks.
Stage of Harvest
Dry Matter lb./ day
% Di% gestibil Proity tein
lb. of Hay Fed per lb. Gain
lb of Hay per Acre 1st
lb. of Gain per Day
Late boot to head, cut May 3
13.0
68
13.8
10.1
1334
1.39
Early bloom stage, May 14
11.7
66
10.2
13.5
1838
.97
Early milk stage-seed forming, May 25
8.6
56
7.6
22.5
2823
.42