Page 14—foraging Around, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 24, 1998 HARVEST MANAGEMENT ALTERS ECONOMIC RETURN COOL-SEASON GRASSES M.H. Hall, Penn State Extension Cool-season grass use in Pennsylvania farming systems is increasing as farmers attempt to better manage and utilize nitrogen from manure. Harvest management recommendations for many cool-sea son grasses are generally based on research which monitored yield only. With forage quality being a major concern in balancing animal rations, livestock farmers are asking more about harvest management prac tices to manipulate forage quality and the economics of these prac tices. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of harvest frequency and number on forage yield and quality, and net economic return of cool-season forage grasses common to the northeastern United States. Study Description Established stands of orchard grass, reed cauarygrass, smooth bromegrass, and timothy at the Russell E. Larson Agric. Research Center near Rock Springs, PA were subjected to two (70-d interval), three (45-d interval), or four (35-d interval) harvests per year. Dry matter yield and forage quality were determined and economic evalua tions of each treatment were made based on the value of the harvested forage and the differential costs associated with production. Applied Questions • Which harvest schedule pro duced the greatest DM yield/acre? In dry years, greatest DM yields for all species were obtained when 2 or 3 harvests/year were taken on a 70 or 45-d interval, respectively (Table 1). During the growing seasons with normal or above normal rainfall, greatest yields of smooth bromegrass and timothy were again achieved when Harvested 2 or 3 times/year; howev er, yields or orchardgrass and reed car|Brygrass were greatest when" harvested 3 or 4 times/year (Table 1). • Which harvest schedule resulted in the highest quality forage? Regardless of rainfall dur ing the growing season or grass species, forage quality improved and value of the forage increased from $49 to $Bl/ton as harvest interval decreased from 70 to 35 d, respec tively. • Which harvest treatment produced the greatest economic return/acre? In dry years, the number of harvests (harvest inter val) made no difference in net eco nomic return regardless of the grass species (Table 1). This response is logical because harvest schedules that produced the greatest yields also produced forage of the lowest quality, resulting in similar econom ic return for all harvest schedules. In growing seasons when rainfall is normal or above normal, frequent harvests (35 or 45-d intervals) tend ❖ Special Report ed to result in the greatest net eco nomic return per acre (Table 1). Frequent harvests also produced the highest quality forage but did not negatively impact forage yield as Table 1. The effect of number and frequency of harvests on the annual dry matter (DM) yield and net economic return from four perennial cool season grasses under different environmental conditions. Species #/yr x interval Orchardgrass Reed canarygrass Smooth bromegrass Timothy tDry and wet conditions averaged 70 and 135 percent, respectively, of normal (29.6 in. by 1 Oct). Reduced plant growth permitted only three harvests to be made from the four-harvest treatment in dry years. +Based on relative value of the harvested forage ($65/ton hay with a forage quality of 16% CP and 60% DDM) minus costs for harvesting ($2B/harvest) and fertilization. §AII values are the mean from 2 years. THE WRAPPER OTHERS WONT A complete range of Round, Square & Rectangular Wrappers. Patented advantages like the unique “Deep Cradle” continuous full width belt, and fully supported turntable where four poly urethane wheels provide Tanco’s renowned even and balanced operation, even with overweight and misshapen bales. Quality wrapping and quality machines that has made Tanco among the World's leading manufacturers. Treatments Harvest schedule DM ton/acre 2 x 70 d 3 x 45 d 3 x 35 d 4 x 35 d 2 x 70 d 3 x 45 d 3 x 35 d 4 x 35 d 2 x 70d 3 x 45 d 3 x 35 d 4 x 35 d 2 x 70d 3 x 45 d 3 x 35 d 4 x 35 d [ Tanco Autowrap Ls 4 THAT WRAPS BALES ACT NOW FOR THE BEST DEAL ON A TANGO WRAPPER! 0% INTEREST -NO PAYMENTS UNTIL JUNE 1999! Low Rate Financing At 8.9% In June For 24, (25% Down) 36 OR 48 Months Through C&B's E-Z Flex Program. HURRY! OFFER ENDS SOON! Call 800-222-8969 For Details And Your Nearest Tanco Dealer. lOO-120 Lehigh Ave. • P.O. Box 928 J Batavia, New York 14021 -0928 miV 716/343-5411 Serving Farmers Through Farm Equipment Dealers Since 1961 much as in dry years. An exception to this trend was for timothy where harvest frequency had no effect on economic return. Recommendations In the northeastern United States, cool-season grass harvest schedules must remain flexible and responsive to climatic conditions. In dry years, reduced yields associated with more frequent harvests of orchardgrass, reed canarygrass, smooth bromegrass and timothy were offset by improved forage qual ity so that net economic return per acre was unaffected. Therefore, under dry conditions, the level of Dry Conditions'! Economic returnj: $/acre 3.97§ 3 77 3.04 ton/acre 88 97 97 3.78 % 3.63 97 2.87 108 130 117 103 4.45 3 89 2.77 106 88 87 4.13 3 70 2.89 CUMMINGS and BRICKER. Inc /Wholesale Normal to wet conditions'! Economic returnf DM $/acre toon/acre 5.35 159 ' 5.64 217 5.55 258 5.48 197 5,86 250 5.15 247 6.31 233 6.19 283 4.89 252 5.70 172 5.25 194 4.54 forage quality required by the con suming animal should be used as guidelines for implementing a har vest schedule. Sufficient DM intake for high producing dairy animals would be impossible with the quali ty of forage obtained with 70-d har vest intervals. In years when rain fall is at or above normal, 35 to 45-d harvest intervals should be employed to maximize DM yield and forage quality. Forage producers need to be able to plan a harvest strategy that will maximize net economic retui n with out knowing what the growing sea son will be like. Consequently, pro ducers who want high quality for age, should plan the first harvest as if four harvests will be taken on 35- d intervals. This means that in cen tral Pennsylvania the first harvest should be taken about 20 May to ensure that a large portion of the grass forage for the season will be of high quality since a large portion of the total annual yield comes ifl the first harvest. The 35-d harvest interval could then be lengthened to 45d or more unless rainfall and grass growth are well above normal. 100 Stover Drive Carlisle, PA 17013 717/249-6720
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