NEWARK, Del. - The present drought has caused a shortage of available hay, grazing and greenchop on many Delmarva livestock and dairy farms. By August 1 it’s too late to plant many of the traditional warm-season annual emergency hay crops such as millet, sorghum, sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids. But University of Delaware ex tension agronomist Dr. Richard Taylor says several other crop groups-including the small grains, brassica or cole crops, and ryegrasses-have forage potential if adequate rainfall occurs for a successful seeding. Among the small grains, for example, spring oats is an ex cellent choice for good fall yield, sown either broadcast or drilled in narrow rows in a weed-free, conventionally prepared seedbed. Taylor says oats should be sown at a rate of 2 to 3 bushels per acre, at a depth of 1 to 2 inches. Use either press wheels or a cultipacker to firm the soil over the seed. “Spring oats should receive approximately 50 to 75 pounds of nitrogen preplant incorporated, along with phosphorus and potassium if needed,” the specialist says. “Check the most recent soil test results on the field for its p and K status.” PURINA® TOP-16 DAIRY WORMER One. day worming - no withdrawal No need to throw milk away during deworming - F.D.A. approved Cows can be treated anytime in the production cycle - dry or lactating Broad spectrum control Safe Easy to use -1/10 pound per 100 pounds of body weight It pays to worm - tests show higher milk production on dewormed cows. Contact Your Farm Consultant For More Information 6 S. Vintage Rd. Paradise, PA 17562 (717)442-4183 (717)768-3301 Registered trademark of Ralston Purina Company Emergency Forage Other small grains with emergency forage potential are cereal rye (at a seeding rate of 2 to 2 1 /z bushels per acre), barley (at 3 bushels per acre), wheat (at 2% bushels per acre) and triticale (at 2 bushels per acre). Taylor warns that early plantings of barley and wheat may run the risk of Hessian fly infestations, but this shouldn’t be a problem as long as the crop is only used for forage. Growers who wish to use brassica or cole crops have a choice of either forage rape or a forage turnip called Tyfon. Sow brassicas broadcast or in narrow rows on a weed-free, con ventionally prepared seedbed. Seed at a rate of 4 to 5 pounds per acre at a depth of v< to x h. inch on a firm seedbed, the agronomist says. Follow broadcast seedings with a cultipacker to ensure good soil/seed contact. The fertility program for cole crops should include 50 to 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre preplant incorporated. Phosphorus and potash should also be applied preplant, according to soil test recommendations. “Another possible choice for emergency hay would be the an nual ryegrasses, or perhaps one of the tetraploid ryegrass varieties,” Taylor says. “The annuals may kssMus X. | PURINA CHOWS Crops Can Reduce Drought Loss experience anywhere from no to severe damage during the winter. Tetraploid ryegrasses may grow slightly slower, but are more likely to survive the winter with little damage, if planted on well-drained soils.” He recommends a seeding rate of 25 to 40 pounds per acre to ensure rapid fall establishment. Plant any of these ryegrasses on a conventional seedbed, or seed by air into standing com or soybeans. If planting into soybeans, seed at about 50 percent soybean leaf drop; for com, wait until leaves begin to change color. Apply 50 to 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre, either preplant incorporated or shortly after establishment. “Any of these crops should provide grazing for livestock from mid to late fall until the ground freezes,” Taylor says. While they make excellent forage, brassicas crops do require considerably more management than grasses, the agronomist says. They should be grazed only a few hours each day as a supplemental livestock feed, not as the sole feed. This is due both to their high water content and the fact that cole plants contain toxins which can injure animals if fed exclusively for four to six weeks. Animals may need a day or two to adapt to cole crops; so to speed acceptance; it’s Rt. 82 Unionville, PA 18375 (215)347-2377 Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, September 6,1986-Al9 best to put livestock into the field when they’re hungry. Brassicas must be rotationally grazed, because if cattle, sheep or other livestock are’ allowed to roam over a large block planting, they will soon trample much of the available forage. To reduce waste, Taylor advises allowing animals to feed for a short time each day on a limited area. Rotate back to that area in another few weeks. Milk Order Amendment Hearing Slated WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has scheduled a public hearing to consider proposals that would provide payments for market-wide services under seven southeastern federal milk marketing orders. The hearing will consider amend ments to the Georgia, Tennessee Valley, Louisville-Lexington-Ev ansville, Alabama-West Florida, New Orleans-Mississippi, Greater Louisiana, and Nashville milk orders. The Sept. 8 hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Colony -Square Hotel, Peachtree and 14th Street, N.E., Atlanta, Ga. Edward T. 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