Presentation Transcript
Field and Forage Crops An Overview for Small Farm Operators: Field and Forage Crops An Overview for Small Farm Operators Terry E. Poole
Extension Agent
Frederick County, MD
What are field crops?: What are field crops? Crops grown for grain
field corn
soybeans
wheat
barley
oats
grain sorghum
cereal rye
Slide3: Field crops harvested for grain often find their way into grain elevators for storage.
What are forage crops?: What are forage crops? Crops grown for animal feed.
Alfalfa
timothy
field corn (silage)
orchardgrass
red clover
kentucky bluegrass
Slide5: Forage crops are harvested directly for animal feed.
Where do field and forage crops fit?: Where do field and forage crops fit? Both rely on machinery for production - except for pasture (grazing)
Field crops have high production costs and limited prices received - requires more than a few acres to be profitable
Forages are excellent conservation crops/cover crops
Where do field and forage crops fit?: Where do field and forage crops fit? Field crops are very flexible.
- grain (cash crop)
- animal feed (forage)
Both forages and grains have established markets.
Both field and forage crops have established production technologies.
Field Corn: Field Corn Frederick County 2001
48,000 acres planted
23,500 acres harvested for grain
24,000 acres harvested for silage
Avg. yield grain 90.1 bushels / A.
Avg. yield silage 13.5 tons/ A.
Planting date varies (mid-April to mid-July)
Harvest date corn grain late Aug. to Nov. - early to late hybrid maturity
Average price received $2.19/bushel (56 lb)
Wheat : Wheat Frederick County 2001
13,500 acres planted
12,000 acres harvested
Average yield 65.4 bushels / A.
Planting date early Oct. to late Nov.
Harvest date late July
Variety maturity date can vary 2-3 wks.
Straw is a bonus crop $50 - $100 / ton
Average price received for grain $2.43 / bu.
Bushel weight 60 lb.
Soybeans: Soybeans Frederick County 2001
26,500 acres planted
25,900 acres harvested
Average yield 35.4 bushels /A.
Planting date:
- full season: May 15 to mid-June
- double crop: late June to mid-July
Maturity date rated by groups III, IV, and V Group III (115-120 days) Group V (136-148)
Average price received $4.09 / bushel (60 lb)
Barley: Barley Frederick County 2001
6,700 acres planted
5,500 acres harvested
Average yield 71.7 bushels/ A.
Straw is a bonus crop.
Planting date mid-Sept. to mid-Oct.
Harvest date mid to late June
Maturity date can vary 2 weeks between varieties
Average price received $1.34 / bushel (48 lb)
Oats: Oats Frederick County 1997
1,400 acres planted
800 acres harvested
Average yield 62.3 bushels/ A.
Straw is a bonus crop
Planting date mid-March to mid-April
Harvest date late July
Average price received $1.44/ bushel
Bushel weight 32 lb.
Criteria for Selecting a Crop: Criteria for Selecting a Crop Is there a market for it?
Can you use it?
Are inputs too costly, limiting profit?
Can you grow it; is there expertise available for technical support?
Can you get it harvested; timely?
Does it fit into your rotation?
Be sure that when you select a crop that you can get it harvested.: Be sure that when you select a crop that you can get it harvested. Field and forage crops can be very labor intensive to harvest.
Field Crop Decision-Making: Field Crop Decision-Making Do a budget first; include:
land rental
soil preparation
seed
seeding (if custom)
fertilizer and pesticides
harvesting and drying
hauling (if custom)
storage (if necessary)
interest (on land)
crop insurance
Some Custom Farm Rates 2002: Some Custom Farm Rates 2002 moldboard plow $16/ A
disk/heavy $12 / A
harrow / cultipacker $12 / A
cultipack $ 9 / A
corn/soybean planting convent. $14 / A
corn/soybean planting no-till $15 / A
drill small grain convent. $13 /A
no-till drill seeding $15 / A
combine grain $26 / A
mow $11 / A
spray $ 7/ A
apply fertilizer $ 7 / A
Take a look at some crop budgets at http://agguide.agronomy.psu.edu/PDF03/CM/Sec11toc.html in the Penn State Agronomy Guide.: Take a look at some crop budgets at http://agguide.agronomy.psu.edu/PDF03/CM/Sec11toc.html in the Penn State Agronomy Guide. You will see how tight it is to make a profit with field crops.
What is forage?: What is forage? Vegetable matter in a fresh, dried, or ensiled state.
What can you do with forage?
- graze it
- machine harvest and store it
- it’s animal feed
Forage allows you to raise an agricultural crop on land where other crops cannot be produced.
Forage Conditions: Forage Conditions Fresh
- pasture / grazing
- greenchop (cut & carry)
Dry
- hay (80 - 85% dry matter)
Ensiled
- haylage (45 - 60% dry matter)
- silage (35 - 40% dry matter)
Silage and Haylage: Silage and Haylage Fermented feed (anaerobic process) - pH 3.8 to 5.0
Storage facilities - upright silo
- trench silo
- ag bag
- round bale stuffer
- round bale wrapper
- round bale bag
Forage Species Selection: Forage Species Selection Match forage to your animal production needs.
Match forage to the style of operation.
Match forage to the soil type and soil conditions.
When possible, select improved varieties of forage species.
Getting off to a good start with a healthy thick stand eliminates early problems.
Forage Species Menu: Forage Species Menu Legumes
alfalfa birdsfoot trefoil
red clover crownvetch
white clover lespedeza
hairy vetch soybeans
ladino clover alsike clover
Legume Inoculation: Legume Inoculation Legumes “fix” nitrogen (N) in a symbiotic relationship (root nodules) with Rhizobium sp. bacteria.
Infection takes place at seed germination so high populations of the proper bacterium are necessary for adequate nodulation.
Root Nodules on Clover: Root Nodules on Clover This slide shows healthy, pink nodules on clover roots.
The nodules were formed when Rhizobium bacteria invaded the clover roots.
Alfalfa Roots: Alfalfa Roots Healthy, pink nodule Healthy, functioning nodules are pink, while nonfunctioning are gray.
Alfalfa Inoculation Study: Alfalfa Inoculation Study Good Inoculation
No nodulation
Here is a comparison of alfalfa plots seeded with and without
proper inoculation. The green strips are alfalfa plants grown
with proper seed inoculation. The yellow strips show severely
nitrogen deficient alfalfa plants grown without proper seed
inoculation.
Proper Inoculation: Proper Inoculation Always inoculate legume seed, or use pre-inoculated seed.
Check expiration date on seed, or inoculant package.
Use correct inoculant specific to the legume you are inoculating.
Store inoculum and inoculated seed in a cool, dry place. Inoculum is a living organism.
Low pH and heavy N use reduce nodulation
Forage Species Menu: Forage Species Menu Grasses
timothy sudangrass
orchardgrass sorghum
kentucky bluegrass sudex
tall fescue pearl millet
perennial ryegrass field corn
annual ryegrass reed canarygrass
small grains (wheat, rye, barley, oats)
Mixing Forage Species: Mixing Forage Species Consider the traits of each species.
Aggressive vs. Passive
Maturity dates: early vs. late
Other traits that can be utilized:
N fixation heat tolerance
fast germination wet tolerance
sod formation palatability
summer dormancy hay, or grazing
life span fertility needs
Tillage and Seeding Methods: Tillage and Seeding Methods Conventional
moldboard plow disk
harrow cultipacker
planter (drop, broadcast, drill, etc.)
Minimum till (30% or more residue)
chisel plow disk
planter (no till drill)
No till
no till drill sprayer
Forage Establishment: Forage Establishment Plan at least 1-year ahead.
Planning includes soil testing.
Don’t be cheap with fertilizer, limestone, and seed.
Do proper field preparation.
Select the right forage species and best available varieties of that forage.
Need good seed/soil contact.
Don’t bury seed too deep.
Forage Establishment: Forage Establishment Pay attention to forage planting dates.
- Spring (mid-March to early May)
- Fall (mid-August to early Oct.)
- Summer annuals, after May 15
- Winter annuals (Sept. to Nov.)
Monitor new stands for early trouble.
Harvesting Forages: Harvesting Forages Stage of harvest is #1 quality factor.
- boot stage for grasses
- early bloom for legumes
Field losses during harvest is #2 factor
- moisture is the enemy
- hay is most at risk while drying in the field
- drying stems is the toughest
Harvesting Forage: Harvesting Forage Equipment is available to help speed up drying.
- mower conditioners, tetters, rakes, row flippers
- drying agents, or preservatives are available to be sprayed on hay to speed up drying, or prevent molding
Harvesting Forages: Harvesting Forages Making quality forage is an art.
- need to know your forage species
- keep on top of the weather
- have flexible production options
- have timely access to equipment
- have equipment in good working order
- have healthy forage and few weeds
- have some luck!
Forage Storage Losses: Forage Storage Losses Uncovered bales stored outside
Hay baled too wet
Bales stacked in contact with the ground
Holes in plastic bags and tubes, or leaky silos
Poorly packed and uncovered trenches
The End: The End