MACHINERY TRAFFIC SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCES ALFALFA YIELDS Jim Moutray America’s Alfalfa Recent U.S. studies show that traffic on alfalfa fields reduces yields much more than anyone pre viously thought. A few years ago, faced with the problem of soil types that cause early stand thinning under machine traffic, researchers in northern Japan had the idea to try alfalfa de veloped in America under continu Wedge-shaped Wall aealed geara cutter bar and baarlnga HLA Fully protected cutter bar bottom VICON'S KMR Trailed Mower Condi tioners combine a superb cut with excellent conditioning performance. Available In 7’10", 9’10”, 10’, 10’6" and 12' 6” widths. VICON is bringing tech nology down to earth. Top service hubs man CM & DMP MOUNTED DISC MOWERS • Cutting Width from s’B” to 10’6” • Unique 3 Blade Discs perform well in all crops • For tractors as low as 36 HP • Flail Conditioner models available, 7’10” and 9’10” only Distributed By: ous grazing by cattle. They theorized that alfalfas that would withstand abuse from hoof traffic associated with constant grazing throughout the growing season might maintain stands longer. They obtained some interesting results after three years of running a tractor over the plots after each har vest to simulate cutting, raking, and chopping. These are: • In the third year of the test, the American grazing tolerant varieties yielded up to 250 percent more than the regular varieties bred in the U.S. • At the end of the test, the graz ing tolerant varieties had three times as many plants per square foot CUMMINGS and BRICKER, INC. Wholesale Distributors 100-120 Lehigh Ave • PO Box 928 Batavia, New York 14021-0928 100 Stover Drive, Carlisle, PA 1701 j (716) 343-5411 (717) 249-6720 Visit Our Web Site at; www.cummingsandbricker.com • E-Mail Us At: info@cummingsandbricker.com left the following spring. • Stands of the grazing tolerant varieties were good enough to keep for another year’s production of dairy quality hay, while stands of the regular varieties had large holes with weed invasion and were too poor to keep. • The grazing tolerant varieties America’s Alfalfa develops are also traffic tolerant. .In 2000, the University of Wis consin initiated a test of 20 varieties in duplicate side-by-side research plots. In one set of plots, a tractor was driven over each row three times, five days after each harvest. The other set of plots was harvested without running over them. The average yield reduction in the seeding year was more than 40 per cent, with typical on-farm wheel traffic. 7?/| liEOfl) DOUBLE ROTARY RAKE SIDE DELIVERY ONLY BS^^ * Trail Type * 25’3" Working Width (Includes Windrow) * Ideal for Merging Large Amounts of Hay or Straw for chopping or baling * Tandem Axles on Each Rotor * Hydraulic Fold Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 10,2001, Foraging Around- *r H^^pi^stAV/ A probiotic culture providing the bacteria required to cut hay and silage losses and improve quality. In this test, America’s Alfalfa grazing and traffic tolerant varieties were the highest yielders with or without traffic. These plots will be continued for two more years. In 2001 and 2002, we expect a large yield difference between the traffic-tolerant varieties and those developed without traffic (frequent hoof traffic and defolia tion) as occurred in the earlier study. This “real world” testing is re vealing the importance of wheel traffic on fields. What can be done about it: • Strongly consider varieties that are traffic tested. • Avoid unnecessary trips across the field by combining operations when possible. • Finish driving on fields as soon as possible after cutting. Longer delays will damage regrowth more. ■ Forage Inoculant that Pays for Hay and Silage Easy to apply Reduces nutritional loss Helps control heating Improves payability Improves digestibility Helps eliminate spoilage Non-corrosive, nontoxic Non-chemical, safe to use (7^2o^) Fertrell Company Box 265, Bainbridge, PA 17502 201
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