Tri-State Livestock News- Forage 2016

Spring 2016 Edition

PRO-TORQ TRANSMISSION

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Forage 2016

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

1

NOT ALL MINERAL IS THE SAME

Our weatherized mineral resists caking and won’t blow away!

Complete & Balanced Nutrition with True Chelates.

Costs only pennies per head per day

EXPERIENCE THE KAY DEE DIFFERENCE

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Forage 2016

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DURABILITY REDEFINED.

Introducing Vermeer N-series balers – the newest models in the flagship line from the company that started it all. Heavy-duty components provide superior strength and durability. Smart features like the available automatic pickup clutch and auto lube system further extend machine life. Plus, they’re backed by the best distribution network in the industry. Vermeer 604N/605N balers are here to stay.

BOTTOMS UP.

TE Series tedders from Vermeer are a top choice among operators who want faster drying times and higher quality material. A unique “bottoms up” tedding action gently flips wetter Vermeer, the Vermeer logo, Inline and Equipped to Do More are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries. © 2014 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved. crop material on top of drier material – instead of just blending it together.

One-of-a-kind hook tines minimize leaf loss and contamination in crops both long and short. Plus, they’re the only tines in the field with a 3-year limited warranty. It’s everything you want and need in a tedder – from bottom to top.

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

3

Your Trailer H eadquarters

2014 CIRCLE D GN STOCK COMBO 6’8”X20’ $9,500

2006 WILSON FOREMAN GN STOCK 7’6”X30’ $22,500

2007 KIEFER 4 HORSE SLANT LIVING QUARTERS 7’X25’ $26,500

2003 EXISS GN STOCK 7’ X 24’ $11,300

2015 KIEFER GN STOCK COMBO 7’X24’ $21,600

2016 SUNDOWNER GN STOCK 7’X24’ $17,100

2016 SUNDOWNER 4HORSE SLANT 6’9”X18’6” $21,300

2016 WILSON RANCH HAND 7’X20’ $18,950

2016 CIRCLE D GN STOCK 6’8”X20” $9,950

2016 H & W BH TILTBED 84”X22’ $4,900

2016 CIRCLE D GN STOCK 6’8”X24’ $10,950

2016 WILSON RANCH HAND GN STOCK 7’X24’ $19,995

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photo by Greg Benzel

Table of Contents 7

8

16

Cover Photographer Todd Klassy

Planning for the Unpredictable Drought outlook and preparation

Growing in Alkali Country

The presence of alkali doesn’t have to mean the absence of useful forage.

22

Making Hay in Innovative Ways

28

Hesston celebrates its 100,000th swather

Getting Hitched

Quick hitches make short work of a tiresome chore

34

Nitrate Levels in Forage

How much is too much?

44

Balancing Act

Moisture content can be one of the biggest haying challenges

54

Better Safe than Sorry

Make safety your first priority in the hayfield

62 Cheatgrass

Is it anything other than a pain in your...socks?

70

Keep It Covered

74

Hey! Where’s the Hay?

Forage 2016

Cover crops benefit more than just the soil.

Production of hay is not always necessary for production of cattle

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

www.hutchison-inc.com www.hutchison-inc.com 1-800-525-0121 Forage 2016 1-800-525-0121

SERVING THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY FOR FIVE DECADES 1501 5TH AVE., SUITE 101, BELLE FOURCHE, SD 57717 1-877-347-9100 · (605) 723-7001 877-347-9126 (FAX) SUBSCRIPTIONS: 1-877-347-9100 Publisher: SABRINA “BREE” POPPE Cell (605) 639-0356 · Office (877) 347-9104 spoppe@tsln-fre.com Editor: CARRIE STADHEIM cstadheim@tsln-fre.com Digital & Sections Editor: MARIA TUSSING mtussing@tsln-fre.com Graphic Designer: CHRISTA VANDYKE LIVESTOCK MARKETING DEPARTMENT Department Director: SCOTT DIRK, Fieldman (605) 380-6024 · sdirk@tsln-fre.com West River SD, West River ND, WY, Western NE CHRIS EFFLING, Fieldman (605) 769-0142 · ceffling@tsln-fre.com East River SD, East River ND, Eastern NE, MN ROWDY BENSON Fieldman (605) 569-1493 · rbenson@tsln-fre.com Montana DAN PIROUTEK, Fieldman (605) 544-3316 · dpiroutek@tsln-fre.com In-house Advertising Sales for NE & Livestock Marketing Department Coordinator: Carissa Lee: (877) 347-9114 · clee@tsln-fre.com Digital Marketing Coordinator & East River SD-ND Commerical Accounts Manager: Deanna Levine: (605) 723-7008 · (605) 631-9080 dlevine@tsln-fre.com

Photographer Bio The cover photo by professional agriculture photographer Todd Klassy is of the lush green fields near the base of the Judith Mountains near Hilger, Montana, which were brimming with round bales as far as the eyes could see on a beautiful summer morning Todd grew up on a small dairy farm in southern Wisconsin, so he feels at home living and working traveling on the back roads and hidden corners of the American West photographing and video recording life on our nation’s farms and ranches.

Always an admirer of iconic symbols of American culture, Todd spends most of his time making photos and videos of the remote, anonymous places that dot America’s rural landscape. His photographs especially show his fondness for the West where he finds many of the old abandoned homesteads, schoolhouses and grain elevators that are featured in many of his photos.

Todd also spends much of his time photographing real cowboys and cowgirls, Native American Indians, and farmers, whose culture and traditional way of life is threatened by the hands of time. Recently Todd was distinguished as only the 19th “Montana Treasured Artist” by the state of Montana and this photos have been published by American Cowboy, Montana Magazine, National Geographic, People, Popular Photography, Sports Illustrated, Western Horseman and many other magazines, websites, and books.

Todd is available for assignment work, his images are available for purchase as prints, and his work can be licensed for commercial use.

Special Projects Coordinator & Account Manager: DIANNA PALMER: SD–N. of I-90 West of the River (605) 423-6045 · (877) 347-9112 dpalmer@tsln-fre.com Account Manager: SUSAN CABLE: SD–S. of I-90 Rosebud East Territory (605) 840-1986 · (888) 648-4449 scable@tsln-fre.com

Todd Klassy Photography P.O. Box 640 1425 U.S. Highway 2 NW Havre, Montana 59501-0640 Phone: (406) 282-1718 Website: www.toddklassy.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ toddklassyphotography Twitter: www.twitter.com/todd_klassy Instagram: www.instagram.com/ toddklassy

Major Accounts Manager SARAH SWENSON: Wyoming & Montana (303) 710-9254 · (855)370-0539 sswenson@tsln-fre.com Classifieds: classifieds@tsln-fre.com MAINLINE: (877) 347-9122 Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.

ERRORS: The Tri-State Livestock News & Farm & Rancher Exchange shall be responsible for errors or omission in connection with an advertisement only to the extent of the space covered by the error.

Opinions stated in letters or signed columns do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of Tri-State News.

Forage 2016

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

7

Story and Photos By Loretta Sorensen

Planning

unpredictable for the

Having a plan for managing during a drought can help avoid difficult decisions later

N

o one can predict when the next drought cycle will strike the Northern Plains.

However, climatologists like Dennis Todey at South Dakota State University (SDSU) know rains will dry up and hot, dry summer days will revisit the area again at some point.

“We know it will happen, it’s just a matter of when,” Todey says. “There’s no way to determine how long it will last once it happens. It might be a one-year event like we saw in 2012 or could be a multiyear dry period like the one we experienced between 2002 and 2007.”

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

The best weather experts can’t pinpoint specific time frames when drought will begin or end, which makes it challenging for beef producers to look very far into the future to prepare for dry conditions.

Some scientists believe drought events have become more frequent and may become long-term events before the end of the current century.

“It’s difficult to wrap your head around that because, over the last 25 years, most of the northern Plains has had relatively wet conditions,” Todey says. “I think one of the most difficult aspects of managing for current drought events is that drought didn’t

Forage 2016

As climatologists compile more data and improve the accuracy of that data, they will be better able to predict droughts, but it will probably always be an inexact science, fickle as...well, the weather.

Cattle have the same nutritional requirements during a drought as during a wet year, but it’s up to the producers to figure out how to meet those needs when Mother Nature doesn’t get the job done.

When Mother Nature doesn’t get the job done...

occur over a widespread area in the 1990s. Because of that, a lot of collective knowledge about managing drought was lost during that period. Crop growers generally have crop insurance. Ranchers don’t have that kind of safety net at this point.”

A new tool for both livestock and crop producers is the National Integrated Drought Information System’s (NIDIS) Regional Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS).

The organization works with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) to explore and demonstrate a variety of early

warning and drought risk reduction strategies that incorporate drought monitoring and prediction information in partnership with users and federal, state, regional and local agencies.

The DEWS use data and information developed through the NIDIS monitoring and research components, and from other federal and state agencies, as well as universities, to develop status reports, outlooks, webinars and forums for information exchange. The effort involves stakeholders from all levels of government and economic sectors, interagency data providers

and resource managers (such as the Department of the Interior, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and USDA), other government agencies, water conservation districts and community members to discuss status of the snowpack, stream flow, reservoir conditions, water demand, and provide short- and long-term forecasts, among other needs. (https://www.drought.gov/drought/) South Dakota livestock producers also have access to the South Dakota Drought Tool developed by South Dakota’s Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS).

The South Dakota Drought Tool

Forage 2016

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

9

Contracting early for feed can help minimize costs in a drought, by getting prices locked in before competition for the limited feed resources increases.

utilizes precipitation records to estimate the current drought status, and the potential future production at certain times of the year. This tool can also be used to help producers develop a drought contingency plan which is a key part of an overall conservation plan. Additional information is available at http://www.nrcs.usda. gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/ nrcs141p2_036044.pdf.

“Weather experts are working to assess weather patterns and events over the past 15 years to determine if weather patterns have become more erratic,” Todey says. “The problem is that data gathered 100 years ago doesn’t contain the same type of information we collect today, so making data comparisons is difficult.”

Nebraska NRCS state rangeland management specialist Nadine Bishop recommends that ranchers consider preparing for drought circumstances well before the next cycle begins.

“There are five general keys that can be used as a preparation

10

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

guideline,” Bishop says. “They include having a flexible management plan so changes can be made in the event a drought cycle begins, have a thorough knowledge of the current state of your grassland resource and use grazing strategies that promote the best possible plant quality.”

Livestock owners should complete a written drought plan before drought begins and use regular monitoring activities to identify drought conditions in their pastures as early as possible.

“Every livestock producer has different options for changing management plans to deal with drought depending on the kind of enterprise they operate, their geographic location and labor and financial circumstances,” Bishop says. “The important thing is to identify potential changes that can be made.”

Evaluating grassland resources includes inspecting the appearance of the grass as well as the health of the entire grassland ecosystem of soil and water. Soils in healthy systems

Forage 2016

allow for rain infiltration and use of the water by the plants rather than losing it to evapotranspiration.

Evidence of grassland ecosystem problems may include unusual amounts of bare soil, lack of diverse grass/forage species or a significant amount of weeds.

“Areas of bare soil are natural in some grassland settings,” Bishop says. “To determine what’s typical for your geographic area, review the NRCS Web Soil Survey, which will tell you what types of soils are in your grasslands and what kind of production you can expect under good, average and early drought conditions.” (http://websoilsurvey. sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm)

Observe the state of plant root systems – are they deep, midrange or shallow? Is there a good variety of root systems and are weed populations decreasing or increasing? Healthy systems don’t include high numbers of weeds.

Reviewing productivity information for the grassland’s geographic area will help in comparing potential forage

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AREAS LARGEST SELECTION OF TRAILERS - OVER 150 TRAILERS TO CHOOSE FROM – FINANCING AVAILABLE – WE DELIVER CALL FOR DETAILS ENGINEERED, BEST WARRANTY BEST WARRANTY OOSENECK NEW EXISS GOOSENECK NEW EXISS STOCKNew COMBO GOOSENECK NEW EXISS STOCK COMBO New Exiss Gooseneck Exiss New Sooner Ranch RAILER LIVESTOCK TRAILER CK TRAILER Livestock Trailer Stock Combo Stock Trailer 7’x16’, 7’x18’, 7’x20’, 7’x22’, 7’x24’, 7’x26’, 7’x28’ 7’x24’, 1 Gate With Slider, 56” Side Door, 3 Compartments, 8K Axels, 17.5” Wheels with 16 Ply 7’x20’, 1 Center Gate With Slider, Spare Tire & Available In White, Black, Mill, Gray, Champagne Wheel...................................................$14,775 Options Available, straight wall or slant wall, Bride 7’x24’, 2 Gates With Sliders, 5’ Front Hooks, Brush Tray, Saddle Rack, Blanket Bar, Plexiglass Compartment, 56” Side Door, Slam Latch On All inserts, life time rubber mats, carpet in gooseneck, 2 Gates, Spare Tire & Wheel....................$16,475 way pop roof vents, windows in gooseneck, camper

Slam Latch On All Gates, Spare Tire & Wheel .............................................................$16,875 7’x24’, 2 Gates With Sliders, 5’ Front Compartment Or Equal Compartments 50” Side Door, Slam Latch On All Gates, Spare Tire & door with screen, Spare Tire & Wheel Exiss Combo ...$14,275 7x16 Exiss Stock Wheel...................................................$17,975 For A Limited Time Combo Only! ...$14,2757x16 Starting atStock $14,775

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7x20 Exiss Stock Combo ...$16,975 Exiss Combo ...$16,975 Compartments,Slam 7x247x20 Exiss, 2 Stock Compartments, Slam Compartments, 7’x20’, 1Latch Center WithTire Slider, Spare Tire & ...$17,975 7’x20’, 7’x22’, 7’x24’, 7’x26’, 7’x28’ 7x24 Exiss 7’x16’, Stock7’x18’, Combo ...$17,975 Door, Rear Gate &Gate Spare ................$14,975 7x24 Exiss Stock Combo ................$14,975 ..........$16,775 Slam 7x24 Exiss, 3 Compartments, Slam Compartments, Wheel .......................................................................$14,775 Available In White, Black, Mill, Gray, Champagne mpartments w/ 56” Latch Stock & Sliders onoptions all Gates, 56” on all Gates, Stock Combo options – plexiglass, Combo – plexiglass, Options Available, straight wall or slant wall, Bride Hooks, Gates With Sliders, 5’Door Frontbrush Compartment, 56” Side rubber on all .........$15,575 gates, 7’x24’, 56” 2Escape/4 Wheeler .........$15,575 Door mats, brush tray, bridle rubber mats, tray, bridle r .........$17,175 saddle rack, 2 way up Bar, Plexiglass inserts, hooks, saddle rack, 2 way pop up Tray, Saddle Rack,pop Blanket Door, Slam Latch On All Gates, Spare Tire & Wheel ..$16,475 hooks, Brush roof vents, tie rings inside & out roof vents, tie rings inside & out

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Good Year Tires or 16” Steel Wheels with 14 Ply Tires, 56” Side Escape Door, Slam Latches On All Gates, Access Door In The Nose, Drop Cover Vents Under Gooseneck, Spare Tire & Wheel.

2016 7’6” x 26’..................................... $21,475 2016 7’6” x 28’..................................... $21,775 2016 7’6” x 30’..................................... $22,275 2016 7’6” x 34’..................................... $24,875 2016 7’6” x 36’.......................................... CALL

7’x24’, 1 Gate With Slider, 56” Side Door, Slam Latch On All Gates, Spare Tire & Wheel .......................................$16,875 7’x24’, 2 Gates With Sliders, 5’ Front Compartment Or Equal Compartments 50” Side Door, Slam Latch On All Gates, Spare Tire & Wheel.............................................................$17,975

NEW Exiss 7410 Living Quarters NEWdoor Exiss Living Quarters vents, windows in gooseneck, camper with8’x37’ screen,

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7’6” Wide Sooner Stock Trailer

2001 Sundowner 4 Horse livingquarters, quarters, 12-ft short wall with full living quarters, erHorse mats,with rearliving gate quarters, 4 12-ft short wall withwith full living mangers withdividers underneath storage.

Horse area has dividers and fans for each horse, door in the nose, drop cover vents under gooseneck, spare tire & wheel. rneath storage. Horse area has and fans for each horse, drop down feed jack doors and rear butt$27,775 windows, electric jack ....................... $27,775 ors and rear butt windows, electric .......................

2016 7’6” x 26’ .......................$21,475 ............. $5,975 2016 7’6” x 28’ .......................$21,775 1999 Trail Rite 4 Horse Horse front tack / dressing room, swing out front tack / dressing room, swing out 2016 7’6” x 30’ ...................... $22,275 $6,275 viders .............................................................................. $6,275 With Sliders And saddle rack, stall dividers ..............................................................................

4 Horse with Living Quarters, 10’ Short Wall with Slide-Out 4 Horse with Living Quarters with 6’ Slide-out 2016with 7’6” x 34’ .......................$24,875 Stock Combo Living Quarters, Mid Tack & Bunk Beds s, Rear Gate With 3 Horse Slant With Living Quarters 1990 1 Wilson 7X24 Stock Trailer, 1 center gate rear gate with roll-up door, 2016 7’6” x 36’ ..............................Call num 7X24 Stock Trailer, center Aluminum gate rear gate with roll-up door, ............. $7,975 local trade$34,975 $44,775 $51,975 $59,975 ........................................................................................................$7,995 ..........................................................................................$7,995

19892Wilson Trailer, 2 divider gates to make 3 compartments, Aluminum Stock3Trailer, divider 7X24 gatesAluminum to make 3 Stock compartments, sliders to make rear roll up door, Local Trade! ....................................................................... $8,995 cal Trade! ....................................................................... $8,995 ........... $12,775 WRANGLER 2 & 3-PEN SETUP 4 Star 3 w/ Horse Rear tack, front dressing area w/ A/C & weekender package, se Rear tack, front1989 dressing area A/C & weekender package, PORTABLE CORAL all new tires, trailer is in EXCELLENT$9,975 condition! ........................................... $9,975 s in EXCELLENT ........................................... make two equal condition!

Large - capacity of 150 cow/calf pairs or up to 300-800 # calves or

........... $10,975 Super Large – capacity of 250 cow/calf pairs or up to 500-800# 1993 Kiefer Trailer, one center rear 20’ Stock Trailer, one center gate6’8”X20’ to makeStock 2 compartments, rear gate to make 2 compartments, calves. No Lifting or Levers, No Climbing Over Panels, Multiple gate with slider & slam latch, steel tread plat floor ........................................ $2,975 am latch, steel tread plat floor ........................................ $2,975 Pens for Sorting, Works on Uneven Ground, 1 Man Set-Up, ........... $10,975 1980 Hale 6’8”x20’ w/ one gate ................................................................... $1,700 w/ one gate ................................................................... $1,700 Converts to Alley for Use w/ Squeeze Chute or Loading Chute,

Corral has Built-In Adjustable Alleyway, Transferrable at Highway make 1987 Kiefer 6’8”X20’ with one gate $1,975 slider.................................................... $1,975 20’ withtwo one equal gate slider....................................................

Speeds ............. $8,475 CALL 1993 Travalong Horselights, w/ front dressing room, stall dividers, lights, brakes X16 (3) Horse w/ front dressing room,7X16 stall (3) dividers, brakes work.

Recent on wheel bearings, good tires .................................... $1,975 e on wheel good tires service .................................... $1,975 feed doors,bearings, front ............. $9,875 1978 W W Stock Trailer, gray ........................................................................ $1,475 ailer, gray ........................................................................ $1,475

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gate at rear, Removable posts at rear allow for WRANGLER N SETUP CORAL lockingPORTABLE of crowd gates 3-PEN enabling use forSETUP basic chute PORTABLE CORAL

Large - capacity of 150 cow/calf w/calf pairs or up to 300-800 # calves or pairs or up to 300-800 # calves or Superpairs Large - capacity of 250 cow/calf pairs or up to 500-800 # calves.

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No lifting or levers, panels, multiple pens for sorting, works on uneven ground, g over panels, multiple pensno forclimbing sorting, over works on uneven ground, 1 man set-up, converts alley for use corral w/ squeeze chute or loading chute, corral has built-in y for use w/ squeeze chute or to loading chute, has built-in adjustable alleyway, transferrable at highway speeds ble at highway speeds

8’6” x 32’ Finish Line Flatbed, 12,000# Tandem Dual Axles, Hydraulic Tilt Dove Tail ...... $13,775 8’6” x 34’ Finish Line Flatbed, 12,000# Tandem Dual Axles, Hydraulic Tilt Dove Tail ...... $14,175 ARROW FARMQUIP DELUXE PORTABLE 16 X-FLOW TUB, ALLEY & QUICKCATCH SQUEEZE CHUTE

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ble Chute Adjustable Floor & Vet 10ft wide 8ft long, self catch head gate, split gates SD-2078932R r & Loading Vet 10ft widew/ x 8ft long, self catch head gate, split xgates both sides for full access, 5ft swing gate at rear, both sides for full access, 5ft swing gate at rear, ...........................................................$4,775 4,775 removable posts at rear allow for locking of crowd removable posts at rear allow for locking of crowd gates enabling gates enabling use for basic chute .................$3,375use for basic chute .................$3,375

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Forage 2016

Includes Q-Catch Squeeze Chute With Full Parallel Squeeze, Adjust Rear Control On Head Gate, Anti-Backing System, Offside Alley Adjustment Standard, Rolling Door At Each End Of Alley, Adjustable Rear Control On Head Gate, Manual Head Sweep, Weigh Scale Ready, Adjustable Alley 17” to 30”

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

11

production with current production levels. The evaluation should include a review of stocking rates to verify that the number of animals grazing the grassland is appropriate to the level of the area’s current and/or potential forage production.

“Stocking rates should be set by determining how many animals are grazing, how much they consume on a specific unit of land and the amount of forage that unit produces,” Bishop says. “Decide how much forage can be removed on that particular unit and still maintain plant health. In general, NRCS recommends taking half and leaving half of the forage to allow for forage recovery. To accurately

calculate what leaving half the forage leaf area requires, consider what cattle and wildlife graze, insects consume and how much forage is trampled in grazing.”

Measuring forage stubble height and maintaining what grass charts recommend according to the forage type can aid in grazing management decisions. For example, Nebraska grass charts referring to switchgrass recommend leaving 4 to 5 inches of forage stubble following grazing.

“Stocking recommendations are designed to maintain the health of plants throughout a wide range of conditions and maintain root system health to build in drought resilience,” Bishop says.

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Forage 2016

Once a baseline for forage health has been established, grazing strategies that maximize forage use while maintaining plant health can be developed. In areas where plant health needs to be improved, producers can include grazing practices that build up plant health and support development of strong root systems, which are important to keeping plants alive and suppressing an onslaught of weeds and undesirable forage during drought conditions.

“Producers should decide if they have too much bare ground or need to keep more litter on the ground or want to increase the diversity of warm season and cool season

Though it’s tempting to get as much feed off the pasture as possible in a dry year, harvesting too much of the forage doesn’t do the longterm health of the land, or the pocketbook, any good.

grasses,” Bishop says. “Careful grazing strategies can impact each one of those conditions.”

Bishop recommends that producers use calendar dates to establish a grazing plan, but rely on actual grass and moisture conditions to determine when cattle need to be moved. Rather than relying on generalities – such as move cattle quickly when grass grows quickly and slowly during times of less growth – producers should evaluate forage height, subsoil moisture conditions, forecasted above or below average rainfall and temperature conditions. All these factors will impact the health and recovery of grassland.

Preparing a written drought plan before drought begins helps ensure that important decisions are made in a timely and accurate manner when drought conditions become evident. While implementation of drought plans should be flexible according to actual weather and grassland conditions, enough specific plan details should be

included to accurately pinpoint times for action.

“Waiting until you’re under stress from drought conditions could mean you don’t have ample time to think about management options or to discuss a plan of action with your family and everyone involved with your beef operation,” Bishop says. “A thorough plan will outline what action can be taken if conditions are dry at the beginning of a grazing season, what steps you’ll take if moisture is 20 percent, 30 percent or more below normal.

That kind of planning relies on a thorough assessment of moisture and grazing conditions prior to grazing season. In Nebraska, April 1 can be used as a typical date for evaluating moisture conditions and plant health. In other locations, select an evaluation date just prior to grass green-up.”

Bishop recommends that producers re-evaluate moisture and grassland conditions at the beginning of each month to determine if further action might be required within the Forage 2016

month. Using baseline plant and soil conditions identified in an overall grassland evaluation help determine the significance and degree of drought conditions.

“Lastly, don’t let drought conditions creep in on you,” Bishop says. “Constantly monitor precipitation at the ranch, not just the closest town. Rainfall amounts can vary greatly in a small geographic area. Measure the growth of grass and decide if it’s below normal. Check to see how much leaf area has been removed with grazing and use that measurement to make decisions about rotating to another pasture.

Compare grassland conditions with the strategic grazing plan to determine if you’re meeting your goals to improve plant health, increase ground cover or increase plant vigor. Then act accordingly.”

Bishop highly recommends including all pertinent parties in both drought planning and monitoring. In addition to family and hired help, ranchers should keep TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

13

their bank informed about planned drought management strategy and ongoing grazing conditions.

Nate Franzen, President of the Ag Division at Yankton’s First Dakota National Bank says bankers like himself often can offer insight for managing and surviving adverse weather conditions for both beef and crop producers.

“We’re never surprised when weather conditions become adverse,” Franzen says. “That’s part of the ag industry. If a producer finds themselves struggling with dry conditions, the sooner they contact their banker the better.

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Forage 2016

in determining the best possible management strategy.”

Franzen recommends that a drought management plan include options for purchasing feed in the event that grazing resources dry up. In addition to identifying a specific resource, he says producers should consider reaching a purchase agreement as early in the drought cycle as possible to keep purchase costs as low as possible and help ensure the reliability of the feed source.

“In a drought, everyone’s looking for feed,” Franzen says. “Contracting early with someone could save a lot of money if feed becomes short and prices increase. If you’ve worked out a plan with your banker ahead of time, you know you’ll have their support and help to work through the drought event.”

Bankers like Franzen sometimes reach out to customers they anticipate may experience a struggle, not just with drought but with events such as hail or tornadoes. Their approach to managing unexpected and unpreventable events is typically a proactive one.

“Some farmers are comfortable coming to us early in a difficult situation, others may be more hesitant,” Franzen says. “We encourage producers to realize that drought and other weather conditions are part of the ag industry and it’s okay for them to ask us for help.”

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15

By Nicole Michaels

Growing in Alkali Country

Several acres of alkali at the back of this cow pasture in Big Horn County, Wyoming are taxed as agricultural wasteland because the area is rendered useless as salts leech to the surface. Photos by Nicole Michaels.

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Forage 2016

I

f you farm in Wyoming, you might be reciting a salinity prayer if you want to grow anything on alkali ground.

That makes Jay Norton, associate professor of soil sciences, a high priest,

or at least a church elder.

Norton, who works for the University of Wyoming, says almost all farm ground in the Cowboy State is alkaline.

“When we say alkali soil,” Norton says, “we basically mean soil with a pH above seven, so it’s really broad and typically it’s calcareous, and all of our soils in Wyoming are calcareous unless you are in the mountains, meaning there is free lime.”

Lime is high in calcium.

“The free calcium in the soil can combine with phosphorous in the soil and make it hard to grow anything. It drives farmers crazy.”

Alkali conditions vary, from extreme and not worth messing with, to challenging but feasible.

There are saline soils and sodic soils.

Forage 2016

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

17

Saline soils hold water so tightly that plants can’t absorb it.

“In that situation, the salts might be able to be leeched with enough irrigation water. You can put water on it and push it down below the root cell.”

Sodic soils have poor structure and a cakey appearance.

“Where sodium is dominant,” Norton says, “we have other problems because the sodium tends to push the soil apart.”

Sodic soils are the poster children for alkali.

18

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

“That’s when you see those thick spots and very white alkali. It’s pretty hard to deal with.”

Amendments can be useful, Norton says.

“If you have irrigation, you can add amendments like gypsum, some source of the other ions. Put that back in balance and over time, soil particles get put back together.”

Gypsum has been around for awhile, but farmers are trying sulphur, and seeing good results.

Sulphur reacts with soil microbes and oxidizes, forming sulphuric acid.

Forage 2016

Kurt Dobbs, an agronomist with Big Horn Coop Marketing Association, says some of his customers are using sulphur as an amendment.

“You’re never going to bring poor soil up to good soil, but it’s worth trying to farm,” Dobbs says.

Sulphur and also humic acid.

“You’re not going to knock it out of the park, but in an alkali based ground, changing irrigating practices and using something like sulphur out there, it can make a big difference.”

Dobbs agrees that in the extreme, alkali is unworkable. “A lot of it depends on the excessiveness of your alkali. The real white stuff where even weeds don’t grow, just leave it alone. It’s not worth bothering with.”

Such land is often identified by the county assessor’s office as agricultural wasteland.

Alkali can be exacerbated by management.

Irrigation without good drainage raises water tables, and then the salts start coming to the surface.

patches can be fertilized more efficiently using satellite imaging and an algorithm.

Dobbs uses technology that allows him to match fertilizer levels to zones, and deposit it at variable rates, saving farmers money.

“We have an algorithm that we put in the spreaders. We map it all out.

When that spreader goes from the

good zone to the bad zone, it takes up the amounts. That way you can maximize the profit of that crop to that zone. There is not one level of nutrient.”

Some crops are more tolerant of alkali.

Alfalfa is fairly tolerant and is good on alkali ground with good drainage.

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The Co-op can advise on irrigation practices. “We are not only working with new products but also helping with management.”

Lots of water combined with lots of drainage is key.

“A lot of people think – there is a misconception out there that water gets alkali out. Water with good drainage will flush it out.”

Dobbs says the new amendments show promise for hay producers and pasture. “We’ve really seen some gains with that, especially on pasture and grass.”

The amendments are improving nitrogen uptake.

“Plants take up the nitrogen better in that alkali environment.

It helps to get that grass into gear.”

Farm

ground

with

alkali

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Barley is highly tolerant, as are native grasses like buffalo grass, and weeds.

organic acids that can improve the pH. “The end result is plant productivity which starts a positive cycle of adding roots,” he says.

If you don’t have water, you can add lots of compost, Norton says.

Evaporation also plays a part.

Hot sun pulls water up out of the soil, depositing salts on the surface, giving the ground its snow-like appearance.

Over time, it has the effect of improving soil structure and drainage, adding nutrients and

Wherever you farm in Wyoming, you’ll be dealing with alkali, Norton says.

“If you’re somewhere where your soil isn’t like that, then you’re up so high, it’s too cold to grow anything.”

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21

Making Hay in Innovative Ways 100,000th machine rolls off Kansas assembly line

Photo by Greg Benzel

Hesston founder, Lyle Yost on Hesston 600 Courtesy PhotoS

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Forage 2016

1955

First self-propelled swather

T

he leader in hay and hay product machinery, Hesston has been producing innovative equipment since it was begun by Lyle Yost in 1947.

1956

Yost didn’t invent the technology that was cutting-edge back in his day, but he had the vision to see that those inventions would advance the hay industry. “He was innovative enough to see what the market needed, and that he could take something similar and make it the first mass production,” said Hesston marketing manager Kyle Kitt.

1959

Hesston revolutionized the hay and grain swathing industry, providing the equipment farmers and ranchers needed to have higher quality hay, with higher nutritional value, that was easier to ship.

One of Hesston’s first landmarks was a self-propelled windrower, a machine that was unheard of back when it was first built in 1955. Without needing a tractor to pull it, it made cutting hay more economical for producers.

1961

The draper head was also a big advancement. It was part of the original design on the machine, and in the last ten years, its popularity has returned.

1963

Another improvement Hesston made on its windrower was the disc head. It allowed producers to cut and condition far more crop than the traditional sickle-style header, with more capacity. Disc heads can cut up to

Windrower

Forage 2016

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

23

17.5 miles per hour in the field, where sickle heads are maxed out at about seven to eight miles per hour.

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Forage 2016

The hydrostatic drive system and double conditioning system were also advances to the windrower that Hesston made, and most recently, in the 2016 models, the RearSteer is one of the newest improvements. The double conditioning system helps prepare the crop to dry down faster. Hesston was the first (and is the only company) to have a double set, back-toback Twin Max™ conditioner that gives the crop a faster dry-down time, allowing for faster baling. The double conditioning also allows for more valuable, higher quality hay. “The faster it can be dried down,” Kitt said, “the better it retains feed value, allowing for better fed livestock and more dollars earned, all positive benefits for the end user.”

The RearSteer modification allows the rear axle to be engaged so it can steer the windrower, making it much more stable when driven faster, up to 24.5 miles per hour, the fastest in the industry, according to Kitt.

The producers who often benefit the most from the new RearSteer are the grain farmers in western Canada who are often 30 miles or more between fields.

Many of the changes and improvements that Hesston makes are driven by the end user, Kitt said.

The company has a program called “Voice of the Customer,” where customers can provide feedback to the company. That feedback may be offered though Hesston field representatives and product specialists as they are working with producers, or through dealers.

That feedback is processed through multiple channels: strategic marketing, product management, engineering, and production. Because of the customer feedback from hay producers in western Canada, the RearSteer option was created.

1971

Another advancement made by Hesston was on the WR Series introduced in 2011. The V –Cool is a crucial part of the windrower, a cooling system with radiators stacked in a V position. The “V” shape allows the air to float more freely through them without debris and heat transfer, which cause overheating and maintenance needs. The extra wide open space allows for a cooler and cleaner system requiring less maintenance, and the fan, hydraulic driven, reverses every fifteen minutes to blow debris off the radiator screen, resulting in more uptime for the end user.

1985

1994

Hesston’s advances go beyond the windrower. Owned by parent company AGCO, it was the first company to introduce the big square baler to the market. Its double tie knotter system made it possible for big square bales to be packed more tightly and more securely, meaning fewer bales and more tonnage.

1999

2015

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

25

The Hesston High School football team lines up with the Hesston WR 9870 windrower before running out onto the field. The team’s mascot is the “Swather.” Courtesy Photo

Ray Robinson, president of Moo Mountain Milk in Burley, Idaho, was surprised when he got the call that he had purchased the 100,000th windrower. He traveled to Hesston, Kan., to drive his machine off the line, and Hesston provided goodies to him. Robinson’s son Justin and grandsons Ryan and Blake accompanied him. The 100,000th windrower has special detailing on it, identifying it as the unique piece of machinery it is.

Robinson switched over to Hesston windrowers when they added the double conditioner. “We like it,” he said. “We feel like we can get a day to a day and a half more dry time by running the double conditioner.”

Robinson and his help put up 6,000 acres of hay, two- to threethousand acres of triticale, and

26

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

they cut 1,000 acres of wheat.

About two-thirds of the hay goes into bales and one-third goes into green chop. The feed is fed to the dairy cattle at Moo Mountain Milk.

stayed in front of the technology, they have the best windrower, best big baler, the best technology, and GPS system. They’re just far ahead of everybody.”

Earl Livingston knows Hesston well. The Chickashaw, Okla. man is the founder of Livingston Equipment, with six locations in western Oklahoma and Texas. He sold Hesstons through another dealership for six years, and then 29 years ago, started his own dealership. The Livingston Equipment Company has been one of the top ten dealers in AGCO’s Circle of Excellence every year since 1992, and Livingston owns one himself, using it to cut alfalfa on his 1200 acre farm. He loves the product. “They condition my hay better than any other roller on the market,” he said. “They’ve

Idaho’s Robinson purchases his Hesston products from AgriService in southern Idaho. He owns

Forage 2016

six windrowers and his brother runs six Hesston balers. The windrowers each get between 1,000 and 1,200 hours put on them annually. The special windrower he has received won’t be a trophy piece, he said. “It’ll get used like the others, and within two years, someone else will be the proud owner of it, and it’ll be gone.”

He keeps his windrowers no longer than two years before trading them.

“We have to stay in the new end of the equipment because we expect it to do a lot.”

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NEW LISTING An iconic Black Hills ranch with 880 acres in a scenic and remote setting on the west side of the Bear Lodge Mountains. A high country ranch with landowner elk tags and an incredible mountain landscape including excellent wildlife habitat and panoramic views. The ranch is a well-known landmark which has been in the same family for many years. $2,464,000.

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Sign up for email property updates at www.eRanches.com Forage 2016

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27

Getting

By Jan Swan Wood

hitched Quick hitches make short work of the process of hitching and unhitching equipment

This John Deere Quick Hitch has a scraper hooked to it and is ready to go to work. Jan Swan Wood photo

28

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Forage 2016

The operator can hook or unhook the quick hitch with this chain and spring system, thereby not having to get off the tractor to do so. Todd Boesen Photo.

E

very rancher or farmer who runs a tractor any amount of time can attest to how tiring it is to get on and off of a tractor repeatedly during the day. As we all know, getting older doesn’t make it any easier either. If a person is hitching and unhitching several implements in a day’s time, those trips up and down become harder and if there were a way to make it easier, it would be welcome.

Some have already discovered the benefits of devices that enable a three-point implement to be hitched without getting down and wrestling with it. Some call them quick hitches, some have other names, but there are several varieties of hitches that can make life easier.

William Huston, Belle Fourche, South Dakota, works for Bentz Equipment and says “Anyone who has ever hooked up a piece of three point equipment knows what a pain it can be. Though we don’t

sell many quick hitches for our big tractors, we sell a lot of them on the small compact utility tractors used by residential and commercial customers. They can turn a five minute job into a five second job.”

John Deere makes a quick hitch system that comes on the bigger category two tractors. Most ranch and farm customers, however, don’t choose them as an option. Huston explains “Most of our ag customers in this area just stay hitched up to whatever they are using for long periods of time, whether that’s a bale spear or unroller. They generally opt out on buying the quick hitch as it’s an added expense and they don’t think they’d use it that much.”

Todd Boesen, Kimball, South Dakota farmer, however, has used one on his tractors for as long as he can remember. “I don’t even know what make it is. We’ve used them for so long that we’ve had new ones built. The original

Forage 2016

probably came out in the ‘60s or ‘70s.” He adds, “It’s just always been on one of our tractors.”

One hitch that Boesen uses is an addition to the quick hitch idea.

It’s for a single pin type hitch and one simply lowers the three point frame it is mounted on and then lifts it up and the implement is hitched. “I have used this hitch on feed wagons and stack movers. It’s reinforced top and bottom to make it stouter and it can support a lot of tongue weight. I have pulled stack movers with 20 bales on them with no problem.”

“For winter feeding it really saves time. I can hitch up to the feed wagon and unhitch when done without getting down. Then I can hitch up to the hay rack or stack mover the same way. Even if I have to get down to hook up hydraulic hoses or a PTO, I can at least move the implement to where I’m on solid ground.”

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

29

Todd Boesen, Kimball, South Dakota uses this quick hitch to pull heavy loads such as a stack mover and it has never failed. It is in the locked position.

Todd Boesen Photo.

“We didn’t add the PTO pigtail to our hitch as it would be in the way if we needed to use the draw bar. This way we can just lower the three point and hitch up to the draw bar right through that frame,” says Boesen.

“The three point quick hitch sure works for a wide range of implements on our place. The newer planters hook to two arms of the three point and the quick hitch would work really good for them too,” he adds.

Variations to basic equipment are a farmer and rancher specialty.

Chad Clouser, Virgil, South Dakota, has welded a trailer hitch ball onto his quick hitch. “I can unhook from whatever implement I’m using, then back up to the stock trailer and pick it up on the ball, and lift it up. I’ll lock it onto the ball but I don’t bother to lift the jack. That way when I unhitch it’s still at the right We Know Livestock & Cost-Effective Feed Solutions level for the pickup. I can move pairs around during calving so easy that way and it doesn’t take but a minute to get the trailer hooked up.

Plus the tractor can go where Angela Koenig Aaron Amidon Shelby Lunden Mark Kruger Russ Williams Leo Westendorf, a pickup can’t in the spring.”

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Forage 2016

Another farmer, Ryan Lenger, says he uses his quick hitch on a New Holland TL100 and TM 175 to operate a cultivator, rotary mower and sprayer. It saves him time between implements when he is busy with spring and summer work.

The three point quick hitch works very simply. One lowers the three point arms,

This is a quick hitch for a pin type hitch found on an implement with a tongue. The hitch is in the open position. Note the hydraulic outlets on the frame above the hitch. Even though hydraulic hoses and a PTO may need to be hooked up, at least the operator can move the implement to solid ground to do so.

Todd Boesen Photo.

backs up to the equipment with the arms lined up, and then lift the three point. The implement attachments slip right into the quick hitch and when the three point is raised, it is hitched. The operator simply flips the little locking levers and it is

securely attached. On the smaller category one tractor, generally less than 45 horsepower, those levers are in easy reach from the seat.

5140 tractor and operates an eightfoot blade and a snow blower with it and has been very satisfied with how it’s worked and the time it’s saved.

Perry Grimme, Aurora, South Dakota, uses his hitch that he purchased at Runnings on a Case IH

Varieties of quick hitches can be purchased at a surprising number of farm and ranch supply stores,

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This is a John Deere quick hitch with a trailer hitch frame hooked to it. Chad Clouser, Virgil, South Dakota uses it to move a stock trailer around during calving, thus saving him the time it takes to hitch up the pickup. He leaves the jack legs down on the trailer and simply picks the trailer up with the three point, then when he unhooks, it’s still in position to hook to the pickup.

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Forage 2016

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This is a John Deere Quick Hitch for a utility sized tractor. The levers at the top of the hitch lock the three point on. The lever on the left is in the locked position, the lever on the right, unlocked.

JAN SWAN WOOD Photo.

Making a day’s work easier would be a welcome thing to farmers and ranchers, and a quick hitch could be the answer to the problem of repeatedly mounting and dismounting a tractor. Plus, as Todd Boesen says, “They’re just time savers. Work smarter, not harder.”

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By Heather Smith Thomas

r e g n a D ? t o n r o Nitrate Levels in Forage

N

itrates in some forages can be a problem for cattle under certain conditions, according to Ken Olson, Extension Beef Specialist, South Dakota State University. Some plants may accumulate too much nitrate to be safely fed to cattle unless those high-nitrate feeds can be diluted by mixing with other forages.

“Nitrate toxicity potential often occurs in two scenarios,” says Kevin Sedivec, North Dakota State University. “When planting annual forage crops to be harvested for hay, nitrate levels can be excessive if you use too much nitrogen fertilizer. If you fertilize the crop thinking in terms

34

of what would be adequate for X amount of production and it’s a dry summer—and the crop has less biomass than expected—there will be elevated nitrogen levels in those plants.”

This can also happen if the producer fertilizes a crop to promote grain production, and then the weather is too dry to make grain. “If you put it up as hay, but it was fertilized heavy enough for grain production, it had too much nitrate available for what actually grew,” Olson explains. Fertilizer management is for forage crops must be different than for grain production.

Sedivec recommends testing soils for nitrogen levels and then adding

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Forage 2016

The decision to cut forage in the afternoon instead of the morning can reduce the nitrate levels.

Photo by Heather Smith Thomas.

Oats are naturally prone to being high in nitrates, but when that’s coupled with drought stress, as in this field, producers should take precautions to make sure the feed doesn’t contain dangerous levels of nitrates.

“If you are feeding a high enough level it eventually becomes toxic.

The amount on any one day may not be toxic, but it eventually exceeds the threshold for safety,” says Ken Olson, Extension Beef Specialist, South Dakota State University. fertilizer as needed to achieve the production potential. If you end up with a shorter crop because of drought, then test the crop for nitrates.

The second scenario would be when dealing with certain crops that are known to be prone to nitrate toxicity.

“The main one would be oats, however all cereal grain crops can become high in nitrates under stressful conditions,” says Sedivec.

It generally pays to check nitrate levels (sending in core samples from bales, for instance) before feeding some of these forages. It may take a week or so to get test results back however, so Olson and other extension agents in South Dakota

started a nitrate quicktest about six years ago.

“Montana Extension has had a program like this for many years, so we imitated what they do. This involves a test kit with a solution, and we’ve provided these kits to every county educator in South Dakota. We trained them how to use it. This test is not available in all states, however, so you need to check with your Extension agent,” says Olson.

NITRATES AND NITRITES “When ruminant animals consume feed that is high in nitrates, the nitrates are quickly converted to nitrite

Photo by Kevin Sedivek.

Forage 2016

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

35

nitrate problems in forage because photosynthesis slows down without adequate sunlight. Last year’s wet summer caused some nitrate problems in South Dakota, Olson said.

More mature plants are also lower in nitrates, Olson said, so delaying cutting a small grain crop until it starts to set seed heads can help lower the nitrate levels.

Additionally, applying a herbicide that doesn’t kill the forage can cause nitrate levels to be higher.

PROBLEM .nevird ePLANTS ra eW

Summer annuals like corn and sudan-grass, sorghum, millet, etc. can present a problem, as can brassicas, like turnips and radishes, which are sometimes used as cover crops. Under some conditions, even some perennial cool season grasses, Wecanare like brome and orchardgrass accumulate nitrates. If there’s a lot of nitrate in the soil, it can cause problems in many plants that can’t convert it all.

.nevird era eW

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Some plants are more prone to Knowing how plants work nitrate accumulation. “Here on the can help producers make northern plains we know that small We are management decisions that can driven. grains are notorious for accumulating help reduce the risks. nitrates,” says Olson. “The worst is For example, when the sun goes oats. Next is barley and triticale, and down, photosynthesis stops, but then wheat. There are also differences the plants still accumulate nitrates. within the varieties of each of those Waiting until afternoon to cut forage species. A producer can work with a will give the plants a chance to forage agronomist to select varieties metabolize the accumulated nitrates. that are safer,” he says.

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Even if forage isn’t put up for hay, as in the case of brassicas used for cover crops, Sedivec said producers should be aware of the potential for brassicas to store nitrates, and test before grazing, especially in the case of drought.

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Forage 2016

by the rumen microbes,” says Olson.

“The original form (nitrate) in the plant is not poisonous. It’s the nitrites that are toxic,” he says. This is why consuming plants with high nitrate levels is a bigger problem in ruminants than in horses, pigs or other animals with a simple stomach.

“Once it’s converted to nitrite in the rumen, the nitrite accumulates in the animal’s system. If you are feeding a high enough level it eventually becomes toxic. The amount on any one day may not be toxic, but it eventually exceeds the threshold for safety. The first thing we notice in pregnant cattle or sheep is abortions. If the safety threshold is exceeded after lambing or calving it affects milk production,” Olson

says. If the animals keep eating the high-nitrate feed, the continuing toxicity and accumulation in the body leads to muscle tremors, weakness, and eventual death.

the excess nitrites accumulate in the body,” Olson explains.

As long as the producer stays below those thresholds while feeding nitrate-containing forages, nitrates will be converted to nitrite in the rumen and the microbes continue the process of conversion, changing the nitrites to ammonia.

“Rumen microbes can then use ammonia to form amino acids.

This is how a ruminant synthesizes protein,” he says.

The process in plant metabolism is similar to what occurs in the rumen. “The plant pulls nitrate from the soil. This is how it gets nitrogen. In the plant the nitrate is converted to nitrite, and then to ammonia and then to amino acids and that’s how we get protein in plants. The nitrate converts quickly to nitrite and sometimes it gets stuck there and never gets converted to ammonia—as when the plant is drought-stressed. It can’t finish the process,” Olson explains.

“Cattle convert nitrates to nitrites quickly, but conversion of nitrites to ammonia is slower. This is why

Other things can also affect plant metabolism. For example, a cloudy, wet summer can cause

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SAFETY LEVELS

1000 ppm or less – Nitrate level is safe under all conditions 1000 – 1500 ppm – Nitrate level safe for non-pregnant animals. For pregnant animals limit to 50 percent of total ration.

1500-2000 ppm – feed is safe if limited to 50 percent of total dry matter intake 2000-3500 ppm – feed should be limited to 35-40 percent total dry matter intake 3500-4000 ppm – limit to 25 percent of dry matter intake. Do not feed to pregnant animals.

Above 4000 ppm – do not feed!

He also encourages producers to always test oats, barley, sorghum-sudan grass, millet, etc. if those crops are harvested for hay, especially following a stress period like drought or an early freeze.

Other plants that can cause problems include weeds, especially certain annual weeds.

“Wild oats are just like farmed oats,” says Olson. Quack-grass, pig-weed, lambs-quarter, kochia, Russian thistle and many other weeds that end up in forage crops are nitrate accumulators.

These weeds can be deadly in hay, or when grazed. Areas that are not grazed throughout the summer, like barnyards and corrals, can cause a problem if the accumulated weeds are grazed later in the season.

38

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Forage 2016

Summer annuals can also be nitrate accumulators.

Photo by John Hall.

Forage 2016

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

39

Brassicas that are planted as cover crops and grazed, rather than hayed, can accumulate dangerous levels of nitrates and should be tested before grazing.

Photo by John Snider.

SAMPLING AND TESTING “Because soils vary, and fertility can vary tremendously across a field, it is important to sample forage at several locations,” says Olson.

A simple color-change test on the stems of the forage can determine if nitrates are present. If the solution applied to the forage turns blue, it indicates the presence of nitrates.

Further testing is required to

determine if the amount is high enough to be a major problem, but the test can tell the producer if nitrates aren’t a concern.

“If you are checking hay you want to cut, and it turns blue and you decide to wait a week, and it’s still turning blue, and you wait

If the solution turns blue the producer can either wait until the forage is more mature and test again, or send the samples to a lab for a more definitive quantitative test.

another week and it’s getting too

Though the quick test can help with quick decision-making, getting actual numbers from a lab is sometimes necessary.

something. In these instances you’d

mature to make good hay you cut it anyway. Or, you buy some hay and you know it was turning color on the test but you needed to buy send samples to a lab to find out the actual level is and whether it’s safe to feed,” Olson says.

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Forage 2016

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MANAGING NITRATES The lab will tell you what the levels are—safe, moderately safe, or toxic. “If the hay is high in nitrates, the next question is what to do with it,” says Sedivec. “Even after it’s been stored a long time, it is still toxic; nitrates don’t volatilize out like prussic acid does in the sorghum-sudan grasses,” he says.

The only way to safely feed a forage that’s high in nitrates is to dilute it by blending it with other feeds. If the producer has had it tested and knows what the levels are, they can figure out how to blend it with a feed mix to bring the nitrate levels down to an acceptable level.

“It’s easier to deal with a moderately high level feed, such as 2000 parts per million.

You can blend those easier than the feeds that are really high. Two years ago I saw some turnips that were over 4000 ppm, and those levels are deadly,” Sedivec says.

To accurately blend the feed, he recommends also testing the feeds it will be blended with. “It costs a little to test, but it will be a lot cheaper than dead cattle,” he says.

Olson points out that different classes of livestock have different safety levels.

“Non-pregnant animals can be safe with higher nitrate

levels than pregnant animals. If you are backgrounding calves or have a pen of young replacement heifers that are not bred yet and won’t be pregnant until after the winter feeding, you could feed them

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www.kubota.com

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

©Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2012

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PhotoS by Heather maude

44

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Forage 2016

Balancing

By Rhonda Sedgwick Stearns

ACT

The fine art of getting hay moisture content “just right”

O

ne of Mr. Webster’s definitions of “haymaker” is “a powerful blow with the fist, intended to cause a knockout.” Many an exhausted, sunburnt, sweaty, greasy-palmed, dust-caked, sore-eyed hay-maker of the summer field variety might agree with him. At least their ancestors would’ve – but technology has so vastly improved the methods, means and manageability of haying that keeping abreast of those advancements is becoming as important and difficult for producers as holding willful half-broke teams to a straight furrow was for their grandfathers.

Moisture content, at all stages of hay harvesting, is one of the most crucial components of quality in the finished product. Green enough to retain optimal nutrients when you mow, dry enough to avoid heating, mold and spoilage once it’s in the bale or stack, not dry enough for rich leaves to shatter during baling – you know your goals – yet the endless variables can knock you out with that haymaker blow.

Weather can be your worst enemy, or the best friend you have, because it’s the largest factor in controlling moisture. Both air and ground have major input, even when the sky is not leaking, and your tricky balancing act is further complicated by the type of forage you’re working with, plus your long-term storage choice.

When the sky does leak, it’s disastrous, as J.W. Schroeder, Dairy Specialist for the North Dakota State

Forage 2016

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

45

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© 2014 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is asemitrademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by • Selection of transmissions, including powershift, creeper and Auto Command™, or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. continuously variable transmission (CVT)

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Forage 2016

© 2014 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by • Choose your cab roof: low roof for low or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. clearance or deluxe high roof

University Extension Service, stresses. “One rain shower of about 1 inch on hay during curing can cause yield losses of greater than 5 percent, reduce total digestible nutrients by 5 to 6 percent and reduce dry-matter intake by 8 to 9 percent,” he explains.

Even if you are so unlucky, there’s still hope.

“The hay producer’s best friend is sunshine,” Schroeder affirms. “When the drying plant material intercepts sunlight, the energy of the light heats the plant and speeds drying. Harvesting forage in a narrow swath at first and then using a tedder to spread the forage out may be best,” he continues. “A hay tedder inverts, stirs and spreads out the hay crop. The proper use of a hay tedder can increase the drying rate of a hay crop substantially (15 to 30 percent). Further, the device is a relatively economical tool for the hay producer.”

On your quest for optimal moisture in ready-for-storage hay, you know grass hay species have less stem moisture than alfalfa varieties.

You also know there’s a

lot of difference between internal moisture of small bales and large bales; but sizable variants also show up between large round and large square bales.

So, what is the optimal moisture percentage?

Running the gamut of the aforementioned variables plus a few others like climate, temperature and hay storage sites, it could bounce all the way from 8 percent to 24 percent. Considering the dollar value of hay, you must narrow that down– a lot.

Dr. Mike Collins of the University of Kentucky, offering training seminar advice to the National Alfalfa Alliance, indicated, “The appropriate moisture level will depend on the type of baler you use. If you have a large hard-core round baler, 15 percent moisture is optimum.

At this moisture level, the bales will keep for an extended period of time.”

Juanita Kopp of the Alberta Ag Info Centre approves Dr. Collins’ findings. She further answers some other pertinent questions haymakers struggle over.

What will happen if I will consume nutrients that are unavailable to bale my feed at higher and as they grow they animals. These reactions moisture levels? generate heat. If the are undesirable because “When moisture levels are higher than those recommended, the bales will lose large amounts of dry matter caused by excessive heating and mould growth. Moulds

hay reaches 55º C (131

they

degrees Fahrenheit) or

amount

higher, severe browning

fibre that leads to a lower

reactions begin. Amino

digestibility or TDN. In

acids and sugars combine

addition, these reactions

to

may lead to spontaneous

form

nitrogen

insoluble compounds

increase of

the

insoluble

combustion....

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“Mould organisms under heat stress may produce toxins, these toxins can be harmful to livestock and may reduce intake. As well, moulds produce spores that if inhaled can cause lung disease or exacerbate existing respiratory problems” Kopp continues.

Do all bales heat?

“Heating in bales will occur to some extent unless the forage contains less than 15 percent moisture,” she concludes.

Paul Laurenzi, who represents the second generation of owner leadership as Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Delmhorst Instrument Company, says, “The

question is . . . just how dry does hay have to be before it can be baled? The answer to this question varies depending on several factors, including what kind of forage you’re using for hay, and how you’re baling it. Being more densely packed than small square bales, large square bales have a much lower tolerance for moisture . . . the allowable range for moisture content is often between 17 and 18 percent if a preservative is not being used.

“With their very low moisture tolerance, round bales can be much more finicky to get dry enough for storage or transport,” Laurenzi confides, adding, “For a hay grower who is looking to deliver large quantities of hay over long distances, small square bales are

MATERIAL MATERIALSIZE SIZE MATTERS. MATTERS.

MATERIAL SIZE MATTERS.

often the best choice. Testing your moisture levels before and after storage is crucial,” Paul continues.

Baling hay at proper moisture levels and storing it in a way that reduces mold development preserves leaves, color and even the feed value.”

Getting into specifics, Laurenzi explains, “Moisture should be measured in terms of ranges — not specific points . . . The challenge in either shape [bale] is the variability of both the electrical properties of the hay and its non-uniformity. This makes it more difficult to come up with an accurate representation of moisture.

Traditionally, the recommended moisture

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Vermeer, the Vermeer logo, Final Cut and Equipped to Do More are trademarks of Vermeer, VermeertheManufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries. © 2015 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

48 TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS 2016 Vermeer, the Vermeer logo, Final Cut and Equipped to Do More are trademarks of VermeerForage Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries. © 2015 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

content for baling hay without a preservative is between 18-20%.”

“Of course, if hay’s moisture content is too low, then different problems will occur. While hay with exceptionally low moisture might not be at risk of growing mold and bacteria, that’s because much of that hay’s nutritional value is already gone,” Paul notes.

“When hay is too dry before baling, the leaves of the forage become stiff and brittle, making them much more likely to fall off. In many cases, a significant portion of hay’s nutritive value lies in the leafy portions of the herbs used to make the hay.”

“Because of the incredibly challenging demands of growing top-quality hay, many farmers are up before the crack of dawn to start collection [to] get the most hay that they can before it becomes too dry,” Laurenzi explains. “Using hay moisture meters with extendedlength probes, these professionals check moisture levels in the windrow before activating their balers . . .

During the baling process, many hay experts attach special baler-mounted moisture meters to their baling machines to continuously check the %MC of their hay throughout the day so that they know right away when their hay is getting too dry to continue baling.”

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Office (605) 859-2568 Mark Buchholz (605) 685-5975 Kent Buchholz (605) 441-4842 www.kennedyimplement.com Forage 2016

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

49

The historic Padlock Ranch of Ranchester, Wyoming – flirting along the Big Horn mountains and nudging the Montana border – produces some 10,000 tons of hay each year. Her roughly 11,500 acres of rich meadowlands average near 4,000’ elevation and hope for 17” of moisture each year on their alfalfa, grass, alfalfa/grass mix and hay barley fields, plus a hundred acres of corn.

Under the watchful eye of Padlock Farm Manager Greg Benzel (from strong 3rd generation German-

Russian farm roots) the fields are fertilized chiefly with Padlock Feedlot byproducts to yield three cuttings. The first two are chopped for haylage, with 65-70 percent moisture considered optimal. Tests are done every half hour, with ranch technology flashing percentage updates to both Greg and the field harvesters.

After nearly two decades of monitoring Padlock fields, Greg is a perfectionist. “If our moisture readings get too high or too low we’ll change fields every half

hour to correct that,” he says. Ground moisture varies field to field and he explains, “That way we layer haylage into the pit to stabilize percentages.

If necessary, we may even add some dry straw before we quit at night, to absorb excess moisture.”

The third cutting, yielding 12,000 big bales annually, comes off the fields during the drier months of July and August, which helps attain optimal bale moisture content. For their 4’x8’ big square bales, Greg says a 10-14

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Forage 2016

percent moisture content works for him. The hay is conditioned by Hesston’s crimpers, and he’s quick to proclaim, “We use Hesston exclusively, and it is the best haying equipment made!”

Greg is not as adamant about moisture testers, except that he really liked the ranch’s old John Deere testers, until they all wore out. “The new ones are orange, how’s that?” was his response when asked what kind they have now. More specific and important is this guideline, “We never want to finish below 10 percent or above 15 percent moisture content.

We are extremely careful about wet slugs in our bales. That could occur above 15 percent; while we will lose quality if moisture falls below 10 percent. We also cover all of our big squares.”

North Dakota State University Extension Service dairy specialist J.W. Schroeder offers guidelines on yet another harvesting option.

“Preservatives may be the answer if the moisture content of harvested hay is too high for proper storage,” he says. “Cooler evenings and shorter fall days reduce drying time for late-season hay, which

could result in damaged hay if it is baled while it is too wet.”

In writing for NDSU Agricultural Communication, edited by Ellen Crawford, Schroeder addresses a variety of preservative-related issues.

To prevent heating, mold and diminished nutrients Schroeder says, “The correct moisture level for baling hay is 13 to 17 percent.”

Beyond that absolute there is the silage option; or organic acids may be sprayed on forage as it is harvested. They repress proliferation of heat-producing aerobic microbes in moist hay, and Schroeder says, “Severe heating can reduce protein digestibility to almost zero. Most hay preservatives do not improve the nutritional quality of the forage but merely prevent the decline in quality caused by heat buildup from excessive aerobic microbial action.”

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Hay baled at a higher moisture content doesn’t lie in the field as long risking rain, plus baling at higher moisture content minimizes drymatter and nutrient losses from leaf shatter.

NDSU further informs us that hay preservatives can be grouped into Forage 2016

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

51

Guidelines for hay moisture levels

three categories: organic acids and

tanks and a spray application system

internet and you can find how-to

their salts, ammonia-based, and

to their baler. Spray nozzles must be

videos and advice on building your

microbial additives.

spaced so the chemical is distributed

own chemical applicators with a

Schroeder calls Propionic acid “the most effective and most tested

over all the forage as it enters the baling chamber.”

preservative available,” and explains,

Neighbors sharing ideas over the

“It is a liquid, so producers must add

fence has been enhanced by the

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

53

By Amanda Radke

A

warm summer day, freshly cut alfalfa, meals in the field, hours spent baling windrows — these define haying season for many ranchers. And whether you dread the long days spent in the tractor or look forward to putting up bales each year, there’s one commonality every producer needs to keep in mind — safety.

According to the National Safety Council, farm accidents claim 1,300 lives and cause 120,000 injuries each year. So what can producers do to avoid injury or death during the busy days of the summer forage harvesting season?

Tracey Erickson, South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension field specialist, offers a few reminders for staying safe and avoiding heartache when working in the hayfield.

“The most common injuries seem to come from pinch points such as getting entangled in the baler by trying to help a slug of hay into the baler and getting entangled in belts or PTOs due to people not shutting the machine off while working on it,” said Erickson. “Another risk for injury is when producers fail to use safety locks to secure equipment while it’s being worked on. Other injuries can be attributed to guards and shields not being replaced or put back on if the equipment has been worked on. Often the injuries occur to the upper body, particularly arms.”

While the severity of the injuries can greatly differ depending on the situation, Erickson said the most common causes of death are producers getting sucked into the baler, entangled into PTOs, or crushed under fallen equipment or a tipped tractor.

According to Farm Safety For Just Kids (FS4JK), “Tractors are the leading cause of injury and death on the farm. Rollovers are the most common type of tractor accident.

About 125 people die in tractor accidents each year.”

PhotoS by Heather maude

“The most common injuries seem to come from pinch points” Tracey Erickson, South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension field specialist

54

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Forage 2016

Better safe than

sorry

Safety is worth a few extra minutes in the hay field

“The best way to avoid these injuries is to completely shut the baler and tractor off when working on the equipment, make sure to use proper locks or securing devices, and to make sure the tractor has a ROPS (Roll Over Protection Structure) guard,” advised Erickson.

Erickson said the topic of farm safety is very personal for her as she

Forage 2016

has had some close friends lose their lives to accidents with balers.

“I lost a close 4-H friend as a teenager, who was only 16 and killed in a baler accident,” she shared. “In addition, I had another close friend get severely injured in the arm from a big round baler. Over the years, I have quit counting how many people have been injured or killed

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

55

that I have known due to farm accidents. Families are devastated and never fully recover when these accidents occur. We just need to slow down, maintain equipment and train the people operating it on what can happen and why it can happen before we send them out to do a task. Often times we assume that if someone has a farm background, they know how to operate and do all farm tasks, and this simply is not true.”

Haying season comes just once each year, so it’s important for producers to familiarize themselves with the owner’s manual before using the haying equipment. This advice rings true for hired help or teens who may be helping in the field. Communication is key when working with family members and employees in the field.

“Let someone know where you are baling and when you expect to be done,” recommended Erickson.

“That way, someone can check on

you if you don’t show up when you were supposed to return from the field. Communication goes a long ways in one’s personal safety. This is especially important as a lot of baling occurs late at night.”

Oftentimes a spark or hot bearings can ignite the dry hay, creating a dangerous fire situation that can quickly get out of hand. Ericsson recommends that producers have emergency equipment on hand including a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, water, a fully charged cell phone, and location of the field, which is particularly important for hired labor or contracted baler who might not be familiar with the area fields.

“When baling under dry conditions, fires can occur easily due to the build up of dust and debris on equipment,” said Erickson. “This can easily be ignited by a spark, so it is important to remember the following: one-before starting, clean or blow off

your equipment and remove any buildup of debris; two--perform a maintenance check on the equipment, looking for leaks, worn bearings, and loose belts; threebe prepared and carry the proper emergency equipment with you; four-- be observant and monitor equipment ,watching for trouble or breakdowns continuously; and, five-- make sure you are physically and mentally fit to perform the task at hand before starting it.”

The fifth tip might be one of the most important but easiest to ignore. Haying season can require long days and late nights, leading to fatigue.

According to FS4JK, “Fatigue increases stress levels and encourages us to take dangerous shortcuts. Often, a break in the weather for getting the hay down, dried and baled is way too small, but it has to be done. The window for getting the best quality hay may be very narrow. You are tempted

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

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Forage 2016

to push, push, push to beat the weather, the weevil or the wilt.

Many serious injuries and deaths occur on farms at just such a time.”

To keep yourself alert during harvest season, FS4JK recommends drinking plenty of liquids, eating regular meals, getting enough sleep, and taking breaks.

In addition, if operating a tractor without a cab, producers can be exposed to the hot sun, leading to sunburns, dehydration and fatigue much quicker. Take a few precautions to protect against the heat including wear wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeve shirts and jeans, an SPF of 15 or higher applied frequently, and sunglasses.

Personal health can also be at risk if the producer suffers from allergies or asthma.

“Make sure you are prepared ahead of time by taking your appropriate medications such as allergy or asthma medicines as

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recommended by your physician,” said Erickson. “Visit with your doctor to let them ahead of time to let them know that you will be making hay – which means dust, pollen, and possibly molds. When harvesting, wear proper respiratory gear – at minimum a face mask to help minimize breathing in dust, pollen and molds. Driving with an enclosed tractor cab and air conditioning will help filter the air also. When done for the day, make sure you shower, washing all body parts, especially your hair. Wash your clothes and wear clean clothes each day, to help minimize the irritants you are exposing yourself to. You will also want to carry an inhaler with you, in case you have an asthma attack.”

It’s also quite common for kids to get involved in the hay field, and there are some considerations for keeping kids safe when putting up hay. Farm surveys indicate that the injury rate is highest among children age 15 and under and

adults more than 65 year of age.

According to FS4JK, “A child dies in a farm accident every three days, and over 35 children are injured on a farm every day.” This statistic should serve as a harsh reminder of why farm safety is something that should be discussed at length before the youth is given responsibilities.

“In South Dakota, to work for another farmer that is not your family at the age of 14-15 you must participate in a Hazardous Occupational Training Course (H.O.T. Course),” said Erickson.

“These courses teach youth about safety on the farm and focus a lot on tractor and equipment safety.

Each youth is different in their mental maturity and physical ability, and this should be taken into consideration when delegating tasks. Make sure that youth have been trained on all safety aspects of the tasks you are asking them to perform. Even if you are only asking them to help load bales, there are proper lifting and handling

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57

techniques that they should know so they do not injure themselves.

Additionally, youth need to know how to properly stack or haul bales whether it is small squares or large rounds. Running the tractor and baler, tractor and rake, or even just the tractor while loading/stacking bales requires the cognizant ability to perform multiple tasks at once,

and youth must have knowledge and skills to do so safely before these tasks are delegated.”

how to use it? Has the child shown he can do the job safely several times under close supervision?

Ask a few questions before putting a kid to work including: Do the bales the child will lift weigh less than 10-15 percent of his or her body weight? Can the child balance and walk while carrying 10-15 percent of his body weight?

Is the child going through a growth spurt? (For example, is he clumsy or growing rapidly, which might make him less flexible or less coordinated for the job?) Can the child repeat a manual procedure for 50 minutes without becoming exhausted? Is the child responsible? Do you trust the child to do what’s expected without anyone checking? Can the child recognize a hazard and solve the problem without getting upset? Has the child been trained on lifting techniques? Has an adult demonstrated the equipment and

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 40 percent of all farm work injuries could be avoided if protective equipment such as seat belts are used.

While the advice may seem elementary, there are a few simple rules of thumb that could help prevent injuries or death.

For protection from the PTO, remember to wear close-fitting clothing; remove draw strings from sweatshirts and jackets; tie back long hair; be sure PTO shields are in place and in good condition; start and stop the PTO from the tractor seat; walk around, never over a PTO; and make sure all guards and shields are in place on your equipment.

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Forage 2016

It’s also important to remember...

• Never try to unplug the baler until you have disengaged the PTO, shut off the tractor engine, and put the ignition key in your pocket.

• Never work on a baler until the flywheel has completely stopped.

• Make sure twine is properly threaded and the twine arm is adjusted and in good working condition.

• Do not feed twine by hand into the baler.

• Stay clear of the discharge conveyor on forage wagons while operating.

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• Never try to adjust cutter bars, reels, or conditioning rollers without disengaging the power.

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• Avoid rushed movements when working close to the equipment; remember, even when stationary, sharp edges can still cause injury.

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• Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, and the repercussions can last a lifetime.

Remember that no hay crop is worth a trip to the emergency room or the morgue.

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

59

LIVESTOCK MARKET • NAPOLEON, ND

NAPOLEON LIVESTOCK 701-754-2216

ND’s #1 YEARLING MARKET Regular Cattle Sale Every Thursday Monthly Cow Sales Through April Large Yearling Runs: Aug.-Sept.

40,000 Feeder Cattle Sold Jan.-Apr. Ray Erbele: 701-424-3307 Jim Bitz: 701-754-2404 Paul Bitz: 701-754-2440 George Bitz: 701-754-2857 For Market Reports & Upcoming Consignments.

Check out our website: napoleonlivestock.com

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LEMMON LIVESTOCK INC. 605-374-3877 800-822-8853 • Regular Sales Every Wednesday

Brett Loughlin 605-210-0615 Randy Curtis 605-892-5694 K.P. Stevens 406-784-2459 Craig Deveraux 307-746-2317 Mike Greenough 307-620-2597 Joe Vodicka 307-351-2024 Dan Piroutek 605-544-3316 Bob Anderson 605-641-1042 Bill Johnson 605-866-4813 Gary Krell 307-746-8051

P.O. Box 290

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Cheatgrass:

America’s most ubiquitous, determined weed

By Savanna Simmons

B

romus tectorum, downy brome, june grass, bronco grass, military chess, cheatgrass. It is known my many names, but most commonly it’s known as bad news for ranchers.

This hardy grass can be found in all 50 states, but most commonly in and west of South Dakota and Nebraska, said Mitchell Stephenson, assistant professor of ranch and forage specialist for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Panhandle Research and Extension Center.

“It is such strong competition in arid and semi-arid ecosystems,” Stephenson said. “The places where it’s most worrisome is Western

62

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Nebraska and west. The Great Plains are the eastern boundary where it’s a problem.”

“Cheatgrass was first recorded as being present in Pennsylvania in 1861,” said Brian A. Mealor, Associate Professor and former Extension Weed Specialist for the University of Wyoming Department of Plant Sciences.

“There’s records when it started its march into the western U.S. in 1900. The first record in Oregon was 1889, Wyoming was 1900.”

“History believes cheatgrass to have come to us a lot of different ways,” Stephenson said. It may have arrived in contaminated wheat seed, ship ballasts, or packing for fine dishes. Some people even planted it thinking

Forage 2016

Very little viable green grass peeks through a vast sea of purple/red cheatgrass that has gone to seed and is no longer a grazing source in a postfire cheatgrass research study outside Lander, Wyoming.

Photo by Brian Mealor.

it was a hardy crop, not knowing its potential damage, Stephenson said.

The moisture commonly received during the spring makes for an abundant crop of cheatgrass.

“The precipitation regimes in the Great Plains provide a lot of moisture early in the spring, then it dries out, especially as

you go west. Cheatgrass can take

Scientists have been studying

advantage of that early moisture

cheatgrass and the harm it causes

then take over the perennials,”

since early 1900.

Stephenson said.

“They’ve been researching for

Bromus tectorum, as scientists

decades and are still trying to find

dubbed it, is a winter annual,

best way to manage it,” Stephenson

growing in the late fall, then

said. “Hopefully we’ll get some

overwintering. It is generally the

better ideas on how to manage it and

first plant to green in the spring.

apply treatments over large areas.”

Forage 2016

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

63

“We still don’t know all there is to know about cheatgrass,” Mealor said. “People have been doing research for 80-plus years. It’s not a new weed, but if it were easy to get rid of, we would have gotten rid of it a lot time ago.”

year. If we didn’t do anything, it was 200 pounds. With herbicide control, we reduce it down to almost nothing.”

There are several means of trying to manage cheatgrass, though there are no known methods of eradicating it.

“Two to three, maybe four years in lower precipitation, but then after that cheatgrass comes back,” Mealor said. Participants in the study were more aggressive on cheatgrass eradication, Mealor said, than the average rancher.

“Right now, if we look at proven performance of management practices, chemical control is most consistent over a number of years,” Mealor said. “We think about: can we graze it at the right time? Is there a bug we can use? Can we mow it or till it?”

Mealor and a team performed a three-year study near Torrington, Wyoming, comparing grazing to using herbicides to control cheatgrass.

“With it being an annual, we reduced the seed production,” Mealor said. “Even with 50 percent reduction [of cheatgrass] with grazing alone, it was still producing 100 pounds of seed per acre per

It’s a limited time of effectiveness with herbicides, however.

“There are very limited grazing restrictions with the chemical Plateau,” Mealor said. “Our research program has consistently found that early fall applications of Plateau have been most consistent for controlling cheatgrass, preemergent treatment. We get it on the soil, and cheatgrass germinates in the fall, little seedlings take it up and die.”

Timing is important.

“Applying chemicals in the fall offers a little more of a time window.” Mealor said.

After testing of herbicide applications in the Thunder Basin near Bill, Wyoming, Mealor drew conclusions in regards to grazing after applying chemicals.

“In my opinion, as long as you manage grazing to moderate utilization, even during growing season, there is limited effect on perennial grasses,” he said.

Mealor leaves the decision to rest grass after treatment or graze it up to producers.

“The is no harm in letting them go a full year after application; it’s probably a good approach, but if it was my operation, after putting out money to spray herbicide and see this influx of really good grass, I would want to use it, especially knowing the cheatgrass is going to come back,” he said.

Grazing the herbicide application area has to be in the right balance, however.

“Overgrazing might make cheatgrass come back faster,” Mealor said. “But cheatgrass is facilitated by plant litter. Leaves

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Forage 2016

Wyoming sheep take advantage of grazing cheatgrass in its short two- to three-week window in the spring while it is a viable protein source in a targeted grazing study at the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center near Lingle, Wyoming. Photo by Brian Mealor.

fall down if not grazed; by not removing plant material, you might be shortening the effect of chemical application.”

cheatgrass and then removing to let

Grazing without the use of herbicides is a possibility.

battling cheatgrass.

“What I’m interested in and we’re starting to develop research on is how grazing animals can be applied as a tool, so grazing can be utilized,” Stephenson said. “We’re exploring understanding what kind of density [of grazers], will they select for it, use of small paddocks, applying heavy, heavy grazing on

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the perennials come back.”

There is a strategy in order for grazing to be a success in

“The biggest thing is to graze cheatgrass before it goes to seed,” Stephenson said. “There is a window where grazing is short, maybe two to three weeks where you can take advantage of that high quality before goes to seed. Animals won’t eat when it goes to seed; it pokes them in the mouth and eyes.”

Mealor said exclusive grazing of cheatgrass as a management tool isn’t always possible due to pasture size.

“If you think about the pastures in this part of the country, they’re big, so to get reduction of cheatgrass from grazing, you would need high densities of grazer so unless you have electric wire, it’s pretty tough,” he said.

“One of the difficult things is you have to be able to put negative pressure on cheatgrass without putting pressure on the grasses you

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65

Plotted areas are in a research trial evaluating various herbicide rates for cheatgrass control near Casper, Wyoming.

Green areas were treated with herbicide the previous fall; the reddish-brown areas are cheatgrass. Photo by Brian Mealor.

want to keep by removing grazing pressure when that perennial comes in,” Mealor said. “Cheatgrass is really nutritious while it’s green, then it starts to dry up, loses its nutrition. It is green and palatable for two weeks and that’s about it in most years.”

Stephenson’s recommendation for timing is knowing your land.

“The biggest thing is to go out and map some of those cheatgrass areas and be aware of them so you can watch for that time just barely before it puts out a seed head,” he said.

There has been buzz, Mealor said, about cheatgrass suppressive bacteria.

“A group in Washington is studying a naturally-occurring soil bacteria that attacks cheatgrass roots,” he said. “I’m pretty skeptical.

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

I’ve seen no actual data where it’s been really effective.”

Photographs of results from various sites can be seen, though Mealor said they are inconclusive.

“There are pictures that show these really clear lines, but they’re pictures taken where bacteria may have been mixed with herbicide,” he said. “If it works, and does what the claims says it would provide six to seven years of cheatgrass control, that’s really fantastic.”

Mealor has his doubts about the bacteria.

“It’s like any new tool. We find out what it does and what it doesn’t do. I’ve seen things promised before that didn’t deliver,” Mealor said.

“If it works, fantastic, if not, we’re stuck with the same tools.”

Forage 2016

No matter how much effort and tools are put forth to minimize cheatgrass in pastureland, one thing is agreed upon.

“Cheatgrass can really decrease function of rangeland and ecosystem,” Stephenson said. “It’s a challenge to get under control and has potential to drop forage production.”

For more information on cheatgrass, you may view a Cheatgrass Management Handbook published in August 2013 by University of Wyoming and Colorado State University.

Mealor was involved with the project. The link is http://www. wyomingextension.org/agpubs/ pubs/B1246.pdf or you may purchase a hard copy from University of Wyoming.

Rancher Sidebar

‘My motto is embrace the cheatgrass...”

Larry Cundall, Glendo, WY Rancher

He has personally studied crowding cheatgrass with a fellow asian-native grass: orange kochia.

“My motto is embrace the cheatgrass. We have to figure out a way to graze it or utilize it in a way that keeps the land productive, puts pounds on cows, and doesn’t invade our neighbors,” said Larry Cundall who ranches on a spread east of Glendo, Wyoming, that has been in the family for more than a century.

“Haying cheatgrass varies from year to year and you’ve got to be watching it like a hawk,” he said. “If you cut too early, it will come back and go to seed, then you’ll be genetically modifying it to have a shorter growing period.”

“I’ve dealt with cheatgrass ever since I can remember,” Cundall said. “When we were just ranching it was just one of those things, like Canada thistle and tumbleweed, that I thought we had to live with, and maybe we do.”

Other cheatgrass research and strategies intrigue the longtime student.

“It is a high-moisture plant that has been planted in Nevada in millions of acres,” Cundall said of orange kochia.

“It has the same growing season as cheatgrass, has high protein, and is non invasive. You plant it in winter on top of snow, and the seed is viable for one season.”

“The bacteria is a neat idea, I’m hopeful about it,” he said.

Cundall’s 10 years of orange kochia, however, has failed to yield a success.

Cundall has personal reasons for wishing to avoid management of cheatgrass with herbicides.

“It’s too hard to establish. It’s not the answer either. Cattle like it, horses love it,” he said.

“I’m a Vietnam veteran. I was in agent orange and had cancer. I’m not a fan of chemicals,” he said. “They’re short-term, and a waste of money on the range.”

Rotational grazing has been a choice strategy for Cundall.

Cundall has been on the advisory board for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Lingle almost 20 years and is an incoming chair of Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.

Preventing cheatgrass from overtaking the necessary perennials has been a life-long battle, but Cundall has discovered a few ways to utilize the tough grass.

“I hay cheatgrass early enough that it becomes a working protein,” he said. “Graze it early to get high protein. That’s not the answer, that’s just part of the answer because that doesn’t get rid of it.”

Cundall said cheatgrass makes wonderful hay, but “if wait two days too late, it’s a mess.”

Cattle love it when hayed at the proper times, Cundall said.

His opinion is not without testing.

“I’ve sprayed cheatgrass preemergent,” Cundall said. “It gives one year of reprieve, then it comes back.

Chemicals are a lazy way of trying to do something with an invasive species that is just going to come back.”

Cundall has better plans for his funds than chemicals.

“I would rather spend money on research for a more permanent way to take care of cheatgrass,” Cundall said.

Forage 2016

“Our ground is really sandy; rotational grazing has helped,” he said.

“If we can figure out how to utilize cheatgrass, then it’s either going to go away because we’ll overgraze it, or it’ll work because we’re utilizing it.”

Cheatgrass has been an area of concern and study for about 100 years.

“If [eradicating cheatgrass] was easy, someone would have figured it out a long time ago,” Cundall said.

“It’s frustrating, a problem not only in Wyoming, Nevada, California, Oregon and all of those states.”

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2 Sections Issue 51 Volume 51 •

1963-2013

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By Loretta Sorensen

Keep it

covered Cover crops offer opportunity, but need more research The nutritional benefits of using cover crops for grazing can be maximized by selecting complimentary species that provide a balance of nutritional quality and yield and timing planting to give plants the longest possible growing time frame.

Research is demonstrating that additional factors affecting cover crop nutrition include the types of grasses selected, inclusion of legumes and forage maturity.

University of Nebraska/Lincoln (UNL) Nebraska Extension Forage and Crop Residue Specialist, Photo by Greg Benzel

70

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Forage 2016

Daren Redfearn, says warm-season grasses typically have lower nutritional value than cool-season grasses and grasses have lower nutritional value than legumes.

“Season of growth and plant maturity are also important factors in nutritional value,” Redfearn says.

“For example, most forage cover crops have outstanding nutritional value in the fall. Exceptions to that are warm-season species, such as earlyplanted sorghums or millets and some earlyplanted spring species like oats or spring barley. All of these have potential to reach

reproductive maturity, which can lower nutritional value.”

Nutritional value of forage cover crops planted between midAugust through early September is typically high, with TDN (total digestible nutrients) ranging from 70 to 80 percent. Crude protein in the cover crops will vary from 10 to 20 percent depending on the amount of nitrogen available for plant uptake.

Determining the exact nutritional value grazing animals obtain from cover crops is challenging because it’s not easy to identify how much of each cover crop species each animal consumes.

Redfearn explains that mixes heavy on warm season species tend to produce more growth when they’re planted in late summer for fall grazing, but also are likely to be lower quality forage than mixes with more cool season species.

In planning a cover crop mix for grazing, Redfearn recommends planting cover crops behind cash crops such as wheat to give the cover crop time to grow and mature.

“Wheat crops provide one of the earliest starts for cover crops,” Redfearn says. “On dryland, wheat also leaves more moisture in the

field to help give cover crops a start. Moisture levels are likely to be highest immediately following harvest. The moisture, combined with a longer growing time frame for the cover crop, makes planting cover crops following wheat harvest a good option.”

Because corn silage is harvested earlier than corn and removes corn residue from the field, cover crops can get a good start following corn silage harvest. The cover crop can also help with silage field erosion problems by keeping plant roots in the soil and living plants on the soil surface.

“...most forage cover crops have outstanding nutritional value in the fall”

“I understand the value of diverse mixes for cover crops, but I’m University of Nebraska/Lincoln (UNL) Nebraska Extension Forage and Crop Residue Specialist, not enthusiastic about Daren Redfearn highly diverse cocktail mixes for grazing,” Redfearn says. “In my opinion, with any cocktail mix, there are generally three or four species that dominate production anyway.

It’s more difficult to know what livestock actually consume when you plant a high number of species.”

Providing a blanket formula for selecting cover crop species is not feasible because each livestock producer’s nutritional goals, planting conditions and livestock production goals differ. Fluctuating moisture and temperature conditions each year must also be considered in selecting cover crop species.

Forage 2016

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

71

“Wheat and corn silage offer the best options for planting cover crops for fall grazing,” Redfearn says.

“Most other cash crops are best followed with a cover crop planted for spring grazing.”

Nearly all current cover crop species have a history of being used as forage. Understanding the forage production potential of each species and knowledge of what types of cover crop plants livestock are likely to consume help guide selections.

In contrast to the idea that maturing forage plants decrease in value, the short growing time frame for cover crops means cool-season grasses, such as oats, will provide higher nutrition as they reach the end of the growing season.

“That’s especially true for species like oats and barley,” Redfearn says. “If species like sorghum, sudan grass and pearl millet are planted, they become stemmy as they mature.”

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Forage 2016

Research has also shown that highly nutritious brassicas – often a favorite grazing species – could actually lower average daily gains (ADG) because of their high moisture and low fiber content, which causes a high rate of passage through a ruminant. Pairing brassicas with an appropriate dry matter product, such as free choice hay or planting them with a small grain improves utilization of the brassica’s high nutritional value.

“In a cover crop mix, brassicas provide the advantage of germinating and growing in just about any kind of weather conditions,” Redfearn says. “When cattle consume a brassica like turnips, they develop digestive upset and start looking for something like dry hay they can nibble on to ease the ache. That dry matter doesn’t have to be high quality, just a free choice additive like wheat straw would be adequate.”

Jerry Volesky, professor, range and forage specialist at the UNL West Central Research and Extension Center in North Platte, Nebraska, says whether cover crops are grazed or not, they do improve soil quality. Cover crop mixes that include legumes, whether grazed or not, add nitrogen to the soil.

“Keeping a living root in the soil helps maintain soil microbial action and deep-rooted cover crops can help break up or reduce soil compaction,” Volesky says. “When deep-rooted cover crops die back, the space roots leave open in the soil helps water and air infiltration.”

The success of cover crop mixes is affected by soil quality, moisture availability and ambient temperatures. Selecting the species most likely to thrive in a grower’s specific conditions will add to the level of cover crop growth and nutrition.

Minimal data is available about animal gains realized in grazing cover crops and researchers note that varying weather and soil quality affects average daily gains in each situation. Researchers do know that differences in animal gain from grazing forage cover crops are caused by the differences in forage production and nutritional value. Rate of passage is also a consideration.

nd crop and saw visible improvements in body condition during the grazing period.

North Dakota livestock producer Derrick Dukart at Manning, started using cover crops in 2008 during a severe drought in his area. He has used a range of cover crop species for grazing and plants full-season cover crop mixes. His goal with the crops includes improving soil quality and health as well as grazing his Red Angus cattle.

On the soil quality side, Dukart has seen reduced weed pressure in corn following a cover crop, which provided significant residue for the field.

size t and “In 2014 we had a field of grain corn that was in cover crop in 2013,” Dukart says. “We grazed the cover crop and seeded corn into the field for 2014. We harvested 120 bushel per acre from the field. We soil tested the field that fall and were surprised that we still had a very high nutrient profile left for the next crop.”

“We use a multi-species cover crop mix because we are trying to mimic what native range would have, which is a large diverse mix of species,” Dukart says.

“Natural range would also have a lot of different root structures and a variety of warm and cool season plant species. The diversity also gives livestock a variety of species to choose from when grazing, in turn balancing their diet.”

nstruc h Mou Redfearn notes that, while there is little scientific data regarding the potential for animal gain on a diverse cover crop mix, existing data and producer experience suggest there are opportunities for improving the nutritional value of cover crops.

Dukart has developed his cover crop mixes over the years, adding and subtracting different species based on annual results. In selecting species today, Dukart looks for plants that both provide livestock forage and soil benefits.

“I came to UNL to further explore cover crop practices and gather research information on some cover crop mixtures that might be valuable for grazing,” Redfearn says. “Interest in using cover crops for grazing is pretty high in Nebraska and seems to be growing every year.

There are benefits of including livestock in cropping systems and if no cost share program is available to the grower, then grazing may be the best way to recover the cost for establishing a cover crop.”

A basic full-season cover crop mix can include cowpeas, soybeans, vetch, two types of clover, sorghum, sudan, two types of millet, radish, turnip, sunflower and buckwheat.

To measure the benefits his livestock gained from grazing covers, Dukart took 46 cow/calf pairs in 2015 and put them on a 30-acre field of multi-species cover crops for 25 days. Cows and calves were weighed prior to the start of grazing the covers. Using a poly wire fence, Dukart gave his cattle access to four acres of the cover crop every six to seven days. At the end of the 25 days, cattle were weighed again. Fit full size

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“Our results showed that pounds on average, but calves gained roughly 67 Dodge, GMC/ Chevrolet and Ford Trucks Fit full size Dodge, GMC, pounds, about 2.7 pounds per day,” Dukart says. “The Heavy Duty Construction Fit full size Fit full size with Winch Mount option Dodge, GMC/ Chevrolet and Ford Trucks GMC/ Chevrolet and Ford Trucks Chevrolet andDodge, Ford Trucks. weather during this time was very hot and dry and theThe lookAvailable of our product is createdHeavy to Duty Construction Heavy Duty Construction cover crop had pretty much stopped growing and was match the vehicle it mounts upon.

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Hey!

Where’s the

hay?

Photo and Story By Savanna Simmons

Production of hay is not always necessary for production of cattle

O

74

ne of the biggest expenses in cattle production is buying or putting up feed.

Dakota receive minimal snow cover in the winter, eliminating, in most years, the need to supplement with hay.

But in some areas of the country, ranchers are managing so they don’t need hay to get their cattle through the winter. Some areas in eastern Montana, eastern Wyoming and southwestern South

“If you’re lucky enough to live in an area where over half of your years, you’re not covered up with snow, then you can start thinking about wintering on grass and haying as the exception rather than the rule,” said JD Williams, manager

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Forage 2016

of the Four Three Land and Cattle north of Lusk, Wyoming, for 16 years. The ranch’s low elevation in relation to the rest of the state offers little snow cover and exposed pasture most or all of the winter months.

“I’ve worked down south where they don’t even have a hay stack, then you get this far north a lot of people feel obligated to feed hay; that’s how they stay busy all winter,” Williams said. “If you challenge that practice some expert will tell you ‘You can’t starve the profit out of the cow.’

Those two things don’t necessarily go together. Just because you aren’t feeding

“Just because you aren’t feeding hay doesn’t mean your cows are skinny”

hay doesn’t mean your cows are skinny.

A lot of fat cows are wintering on grass.”

Ken Knuppe operates a ranch east of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota, that was his wife’s grandfathers. He also produces livestock without putting up hay.

Ranching without hay “is how the ranches used to operate,” Knuppe said.

“Over time everybody started putting up a little hay, then a lot of hay then that’s what they did all winter. Some of these places have gotten a lot smaller, maybe

more efficient.”

Knuppe said ranching without hay may not be feasible for all.

“You have to have the acres to do it too, not anybody can do it,” he said. “You must have the right climate.”

Both Williams and Knuppe take advantage of their ideal pastureland for one big reason.

“It’s a lot less money to put out for machinery,” Knuppe said. “Haying equipment is unbelievable high. This way eliminates repairs and machinery.”

“It’s about the bottom line: if you don’t have a big string of machinery and a farming enterprise it makes a big difference for most ranches,” Williams said. “You’re not hauling hay to them everyday all winter long; it changes your occupation from hay-feeder to whatever else you’d like or need to do. It frees up labor, you and the help.”

Knuppe said his neighbor once gave him advice that has never left him.

“If you want to make it in the ranching business, don’t buy anything you have to grease or paint,” Knuppe said his neighbor told him. “I still don’t have a lot of machinery. It’s been beneficial to us.

Machinery depreciates. What we have is a caking pickup.”

Ranchers must supplement a source of protein to grazing cattle not receiving the nutrition captured in hay and lacking in winter grass. This may be accomplished

Forage 2016

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

75

via cake or range cubes, lick tubs, protein blocks, or urea mineral, Williams said.

“Cattle need nitrogen for the micro flora in the rumen,” Williams said. “Any way you can get nitrogen, you’re increasing rumen population, increasing digestion of the available roughage.”

The native hay put up off ranches is not much higher protein than brown grass present on the same ranch, Williams said. He continued, “perhaps a little, but you have to consider the cost of the feed and delivery to those cattle. If you put that crop up and you could sell it for $100 a ton, that’s the value you’re putting into your cow: the value of your hay plus the cost of feeding and delivering it. That’s 10 times more than what your protein supplement cost will be.”

Knuppe feeds his cattle cake every other day, unless the temperature drops below zero. He feeds a cake that contains all necessary minerals for his area and said the production is still far cheaper than haying.

“Not all cake is made the same; cheaper isn’t always better. I’ve found that out through the years,” Knuppe said. “What we use now, and have used for quite a while, Nebraska Sandhill Ranch is a 20 percent cottonseed cake. It is a little higher fat content than regular cake. We’ve tried a weed-based

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TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

Forage 2016

cake, which worked good in an easy winter. We had a bad winter, though, and couldn’t hardly get enough cake to them to keep them in shape.”

Williams supplements the calving cows and heifers of Four Three Land and Cattle with lick tubs.

“Tubs work well in bigger pastures, but they must be formulated to regulate consumption,” he said.

“Over-consuming is a common problem with most tubs.”

“What needs to be mentioned is wintering a cow on grass goes best or is complemented by changing her calving schedule to where she’s calving on green grass,” Williams said. “If you winter on grass and calve in January, she’s going to get thin. Changing when she calves to May or June, she’ll be fine.

Some operations are stuck in a production-driven operation: raising a 600-pound calf, feeding two tons of hay a winter, because she’s in the third trimester in the dead of winter. Consider weaning a 450-pound calf and feeding no hay because she is in the third trimester in the spring time.”

Knuppe calves in the middle of March, “But I do have quite a bit of protection here. We have a lot of cedar draws and river breaks.

If we didn’t have quite that much

Forage 2016

protection we would probably calve a little later,” he said.

The cost of calving later and selling lighter calves doesn’t deter Williams.

“We sell lighter calves for more dollars per pound and they’re going to bring from $100 to 200 less per head, but it costs you $200-$300 less per cow to winter her that way,” he said. “So that calf is going to be bringing home a little less than you’re used to, but that cow will be costing a lot less to winter, and that’s the trade off. You’re still $100 ahead per cow.”

The last piece of this, Williams said, is to “manage your grass in the summer with winter grazing in mind. Move cows around as much as you can. Graze hay meadows, that you usually don’t graze at all, quick and early, so when they grow back, they’ll be palatable feed and not shoulder-high lumber.”

Tweaking your grazing methods to where grass is bitten off only once in the rapid-growth season helps grass be more productive for a second grazing.

“Hit grass pretty fast in the spring, and then let it rest,” Williams said.

“Whatever your growing season is, move through there and graze it fast, graze it for a quarter, say, of your grazing season.”

TRI-STATE LIVESTOCK NEWS

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