Frost Damage to Alfalfa by Dan Undersander The cold temperatures in early spring can cause some frost damage to alfalfa. Following are recommendations for evaluating damage and taking action. New seedings: Damage to new seedings has been minimal due to their excellent frost tolerance. To determine if damage has occurred examine plants – they will first […]
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Effect of Wheel Traffic on Alfalfa Yield by Dan Undersander1 In response to farmer concerns about the effect of wheel traffic on alfalfa yields, we began a study to look at these effects. Studies were established at the UW Arlington Research Station and ABI Research Station (Napier, IA) during the spring of 2000. In a second […]
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Alfalfa Cutting Height to Maximize Forage Yield and Quality by Robert W. Wiersma – Marshfield Agricultural Research Station and Ron Wiederholt – UWEX Clark County Extension University of Wisconsin Current recommendations regarding cutting height of alfalfa are designed to maximize yield while maintaining high quality forages and stand longevity. Forage growers frequently cut forages at a height of 3-inches […]
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Wisconsin Forage Council AM/PM Forage Harvest Study by Jerry Clark1 and Randy Knapp2 Situation Recent studies done at USDA Agricultural Research Stations in Idaho indicate that pm harvested hay had greater concentrations of mono- and disaccharides (sugars), greater total nonstructural carbohydrates, and tended to have lower concentrations of both neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. In […]
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Forage Options Following Alfalfa Winterkill by Dan Undersander What are the best forage choices for planting mid-April to mid-May? A small grain-field pea mixture is the best choice for those needing forage in early/mid summer. The primary benefit of peas mixed with small grains is to improve quality; yield effects are variable ranging from 0 to […]
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Prevent Hay Mow and Silo Fires by R.L. Tormoehlem, R.G. Koegel, H.D. Bruhn and D.V. Jensen Numerous barn and silo fires occur annually in Wisconsin. Barn fires, usually caused by spontaneous ignition of hay, occur during and after the haying season. Silage may spontaneously ignite when it is ensiled at less than 40 percent moisture. Barn and silo […]
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Digestion Kinetics of Forages by D.K. Combs1, E.P. Beyer-Neumann1,2, M.T. Rodriques, D.J. Undersander2 and P.C. Hoffman1 Departments of Dairy Science1 and Agronomy2 University of Wisconsin-Madison As cattle are fed for higher levels of production it becomes more important to define nutrient requirements in increasingly sophisticated terms. The National Research Council (NRC, 1989) has established requirements for NEL, […]
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Redesigning alfalfa: Can we reduce protein loss in alfalfa by introducing traits from red clover? Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is often referred to as the “Queen of Forages” due to its relatively good digestibility, high protein, and ability to readily fix nitrogen. As a result of fixing nitrogen, the protein produced by alfalfa should have […]
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Frosted Alfalfa by Dan Undersander Alfalfa may start growing in the spring while some freezing nights are still occurring. This has caused many management questions among farmers. Alfalfa is tolerant of cold temperatures. To make the best management decision we must understand the growth and biology of alfalfa. A few alfalfa growth principles in mind: Temperatures […]
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Recovering Flooded Forages by Dan Undersander, University of Wisconsin-Madison Many factors affect the extent of crop damage after a flood. Seasonal temperatures can be a major factor. For example, a July flood wreaks more havoc on a crop than a spring flood. The warmer mid-summer weather increases the rate of damage and death to submerged plants. During […]
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