Al2-Lancasttr Farming, Saturday, April 20,1985
Consider both animal and plant needs in alfalfa planning
TIPTON, IN - Alfalfa
management must be approached
from both an animal nutrition and
a crop persistence standpoint in
order to get the most out of the
investment.
“The idea is to produce forage
with a high nutrient content, but at
the same tipne, produce a crop that
will persist,” says Bill Fleet, an
agronomist with the Eastern
Division of Pioneer Hi-Bred In
ternational, Inc. “It is relatively
simple to do one at the expense of
the other, but combining both goals
takes a great deal of planning.”
To make the highest quality feed
possible, alfalfa must be grown on
soils where constant attention is
paid to pH and nutrient levels. The
soil’s pH level is the backbone of a
fertilization program, Fleet says.
“The plant is definitely han
dicapped if the level is not kept
between 6.5 and 7.0. Lime is an
important soil amendment not only
for alfalfa, but for crops in general.
It’s a soil regulator, increases
nutrient availability, prevents
micronutrient toxicity, supplies
calcium and magnesium and
stimulates microbial activity.”
Potassium and phosphorus are
the two most crucial
macronutrients with potassium
being the most important to
mature stands, according to the
Pioneer agronomist.
“It acts much like an antiifreeze
in the plant to help it get through
the winter, thus promoting winter
hardiness. Potassium also
promotes disease resistance.”
Fleet says alfalfa plants like
potassium so much that will
continue to take it up whether or
not it’s actually needed at that
Plow blades pivot automatically
to discharge rations on one or
both sides of the belt
Plow blades lock open for fast,
high-volume conveying
■ UIUMi IVIHYTHINa
LFSS^rj
I Barg Equipment Company, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, U.S.A.
1 Borg Equipment Co. (Canada) Ltd., RR-6, London, Ontario NBA 4CI
I Borg Equipment Limited, RR-2, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 5Y2 Canada
Send details on Berg’s Belt Feeder/Conveyor to
| Name
■Address
City
□ Student □ Barn Cleaners J
time. He recommends split ap
plications to ensure that adequate
amounts are available when the
plants need them.
“Research shows alflafa will
utilize potassium more
economically if it’s split-applied
after the first and fourth cuttings.
After the first cutting in spring, it’s
needed to prevent deficiencies and
get the stand through the summer
growth and harvest periods. Ap
plication after the last cutting gets
the plant ready to go into winter.”
However, sometimes there can
be too much of a good thing. This
leads to imbalances between
nutrients in the soil that Fleet
compares to the unbalance bet
ween calcium and phosphorus in
the bloodstream of dairy cows
“Just like milk fever results
when that ratio is off in dairy
cattle, alfalfa has problems when
ratios of one element are not in
sync with another.”
To prevent over-fertilization,
Fleet recommends both fall soil
testmg and plant tissue tests.
“Tissue tests are extremely
valuable during the growing
season when alfalfa needs to
maintain adequate levels of
potassium, phosphorus and
micronutrients such as boron and
sulfur,” he said.
Although alfalfa requires high
levels of nutients to sustain
quality, other yield-limiting fac
tors also need to be considered.
“Yield projections have to be
adjusted to the capabilities of the
soil. Certainly, enough fertilizer
can be spread on a stand to give a
high yield on paper, but that high
quality and tonnage won’t be
coming off no matter how much is
Bed Feeders are
not alike... and now,
BERG PROVES IT!
Berg’s, new “Feed Express” Belt
Feeder/Conveyor system brings you
many exclusive, cost-efficient
advantages that give you more for your
money when you install it and save you
time, work and money when you use it.
Berg's unique plow design delivers
equal rations, quickly and quietly, to all
animals at feed bunks in single or
multiple lots or in straight-line
stanchion barn set-ups. An economical,
non-reversing, electric motor powers
both the plow and Berg’s high-volume,
deep-trough, continuous-loop belt. An
automatic tightener lengthens belt life.
St ntf coupon for
eomplttt Information!
State
invested if the soil’s physical
characteristics pervent it,” the
Pioneer agronomist says.
Yield can also be affected by the
stand's age. A stand is considered
to be past its prune after four
years, although there can be ex
ceptions to this.
“An older stand tends to lose
both production and quality. It gets
stemmy, weedy and loses feed
value. Economically, it’s better to
turn it under and use the legume
produced nitrogen for a com
crop.”
Timely harvest is as important
as proper fertilization when it
comes to feed value, according to
Fleet.
“The first cutting on an
established stand should be at full
bud stage and successive cuttings
for next Saturday
NEWARK, DE - Education and
entertainment will strike a perfect
balance at Ag Day, Saturday, April
27, on the grounds of the University
of Delaware’s College of
Agricultural Sciences. The popular
annual event will take place at
Townsend Hall from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. and is open to the public.
Among other activities, visitors
can stroll through the co*.ege’s
attractive teaching gardens, tour
the Agricultural Experiment
Station farm on a hay wagon, learn
about plant tissue culture, and
watch computerized cows being
milked in the college’s new elec
tronic milking parlor
One stop for all of your
dual wheel needs*
Your M&W Dual Wheel dealer hi
thing you will need this spring for addi
tion and flotation. #T-RAILUNIVE
OPEN CENTER WHEELS for quick o
sion from duals to single wheels. #DI
AXLE HUBS when the load must be pk
the axle. #DOUBLE STRENGTH, SUP
ER STRENGTH and FLAT PLATE
WHEELS for a choice of wheels to fit
'gtw Super Strength
Wheel and Direct
Axle Hub.
Also send
□ Barn Equipment |
□ Ventilation
□ Walerers
S-168
Feel the buds to determine when
they will break rather than waiting
for flowering,” the Pioneer
agronomist recommends.
Properly timed harvests are
crucial for both stand life and feed
quality because of the way alfalfa
manufactures and stores food.
Energy, in the form of readily
available carbohydrates, is stored
in the tap root. This stored energy
is used to support growth until the
plant is 15 centimeters (six inches)
tall and its own leaf system can
manufacture enough to restock the
supply and support continued
growth.
“Each time the stand is har
vested, the energy stores are used
to begin the cycle again,” Fleet
explains. “But if the last cutting is
made too late in the fall—if the
Delaware’s Ag Day slated
Ag Day is run by students in the
College of Agricultural Sciences.
By tradition it offers a festive
array of experiences designed to
show people what modern
agriculture is all about and have
fun in the process. Following are
some highlights of this year’s
event:
• Petting zoo featuring young
farm animals;
• Horsedrawn carnage
(from noon to 3 p.m.);
• Livestock shows featuring
young beef cattle and lambs;
• Clown and balloons;
• Chicken barbeque (from 11
a.m. to 3 p.m.);
• Soft drinks and hot dogs (from
10:30 a.m. t01;30p.m.);
• Tractor tours of
perunental farm;
• Sheep shearing
stra turns;
• Plant sale (10 a.m., as long as
supply lasts);
strength requirements
I
Contact your M&W Representative today
HAMILTON EQUIPMENT, INC.
Wholesale Distributors
567 South Reading Road, P.O. Box 478
Ephrata, PA 17522
Phone; 717/733-7951
• Sick plant clinic;
• HUB EXTENSIONS and SPACER BANDS
for added flotation in row crops. # STEP
UP KITS and WHEELS for increased speed
and fuel economy. £ SPECIAL APPLI
CATION DUALS. From economy duals
to duals for big 4 wheel drive tractors,
M&W has the most complete line of
dual wheel products available.
THE NAME TO LOOK FOR IN DUALS
M&W GEAR
plant does not have at least four
weeks to re-stock its car
bohydrates-it will have a tough
tune making it through a hard
winter.”
In areas where forecasters
predict an early freeze, Fleet
advises waiting to harvest until
after a killing frost.
“Even though the alfalfa may be
past the optimum stage from a
feed value standpoint, there won’t
be enough regrowth if the cuttings
are taken off just days before a
freeze. It’s a case where quality
has to be sacrificed to a degree to
let stand persist.”
Alfalfa management is often a
compromise between feed value
and crop viability, but it’s a wm
win situation when planning enters
the picture.
• Cow milking demonstration;
• Butter and cheese making;
• Poultry display featuring
famous Delaware blue hen and
other special breeds; -
• Plant tissue culture display;
• Baby chicks hatching;
• College careers counselling;
• Ag college tours;
• Modern farm machinery
display;
• Home baked bread sale;
• Seed picture-making
children;
ride
• Pony rides;
• Blood pressure testing;
• Beekeeping exhibit;
• Dairy cattle show;
• Tour of university’s new
electronic milking parlor (2:30
p.m.).
Ag day is open to everyone, and
most events are free. Food and
other items offered for sale will be
available as long as supplies last.
Townsend Hail is located on Route
896 across from the Chrysler plant.
the ex-
demon-