AFGC’s Conference For Affiliate Leaders
Sponsored by the American Forage and Grassland Council and
the Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council
November 5 -7, 2002
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
The slh Conference for Affiliate Leaders will be held at Carlisle Pennsylvania Tin.
program includes a special tour of nearby Gettysburg The Gettysburg campaign
(1863) lasted three days in which tune 48,000 men were either killed, wounded or
missing and was a turning point in the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln made Ins
famous Gettysburg Address there Gettysburg National Military Park. Gettysburg
National Cemeteiy, and the farm ol President Dwight D Eisenhower are national
historic shnnes and popular tourist attractions
Cost
Your only cost to attend is transportation to Carlisle and a great ‘package price ol
S9O/person double occupancy or SKK) single room occupancy (Package price includes
2 nights lodging and 5 meals)
Who Can Attend
Anyone interested in learning more about AFGC and wavs to energize affiliate
councils Participants do not have to be the ol final affiliate council contact for a given
state
Main Program Goals
To help affiliate councils catch a vision of what could be done at the
local level through their own leadership
To share effective program ideas among affiliates
To gne affiliates a chance to shape future AFGC programming and
services in order to serve affiliates belter
To produce stronger forage councils at the local level
To increase communication between affiliate councils and AFGC
For more information contact the AFGC otfne at 1-800-944-2342
Constant
Feed Angle 4
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Applying Manure On Alfalfa
Scott Hendrickson
UW Extension
Spreading manure on al
falfa ground boils down to
three options: 1) apply
manure on older alfalfa
stands in the fall immediately
before plowdown; 2) topdress
manure on viable alfalfa
stands during the growing
season; and/or 3) apply
manure before alfalfa estab
lishment.
Applying manure on older
alfalfa stands immediately
before fall plowdown has a
lot going for it. These are
fields typically targeted for
corn the following spring.
Field “drive-ability” is usu
ally pretty good in fall along
with time and help to get the
job done. Heads up though
for the possibility of manure
runoff. Plans for incorpora
tion the day following
spreading don’t mean much
if an evening gully washer
sends runoff into critical
water sources. Think also
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Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, July 13,2002, Foraging Around-
about the nitrogen needs for
that corn crop. When you
factor in the nitrogen credits
from manure along with
those from the plowdown al
falfa crop, you may have
more nitrogen than that corn
crop needs. Nitrate leaching
to groundwater isn’t much of
a problem on eastern red
clays, but on sands and
loamy sands this may be
something to check out with
local soil and water profes
sionals.
Topdressing manure on
viable alfalfa stands during
the growing season is an
option, but it certainly
wouldn’t be the best choice.
No doubt that on fields test
ing low for phosphorus and
potassium the fertility from
the manure can add some
yield potential. There are lots
of drawbacks though. Among
them; possible leaf burning
from manure-carried salts
and ammonia, crown damage
from wheel traffic, and ero
sion susceptibility.
If this is the only option on
the table, there are some cri
teria to keep in mind. Target
older alfalfa vs. younger al
falfa stands. Damage to
younger alfalfa stands is
something you’ll have to live
with for several years. Older
stands may soon be sched
uled for rotation. Grassier
stands may benefit from
manure nitrogen and would
be better choices than pure le
gumes. Limit manure to
3,000 to 5,000 gallons/acre or
10 tons/acre in a single appli
cation. Leaf burn potential is
less if manure is applied right
after harvest before regrowth
starts. Also, pay attention to
soil conditions (i.e. avoiding
soggy fields offers less com
paction and crown damage).
Finally, limit those large
spreader chunks that can
cause smothering.
The final option that works
well for many is applying
manure before alfalfa estab
lishment. Around here, these
are typically fall applications
ifter corn grain or silage har
vest with alfalfa planned for
the following spring. There
are lots of advantages with
this. Preplant manure appli
cations can save commercial
fertility dollars for phospho
rous, potassium, boron and
sulfur. Some interesting re
search from the University of
Minnesota (Schmitt, 1992)
found the preplant manure
applications may enhance
yield more than commercial
fertilizer, possibly related to
aeration and other organic
matter benefits from the
manure
Several disadvantages,
however, need to be man
aged. Mix manure well into
the topsoil to minimize prob
lems with poor seedbeds. Pay
close attention to spring her
bicide timing and on-time
cutting schedules.
New Publication
A new publication entitled
Understanding Forage Qual
ity is now available. This 20-
page multi-colored
publication was written by
forage scientists from across
the country and represents
the most up-to-date, practi
cal, easy to read information
on forage quality. Compli
mentary copies are available
from the Crop and Soil Sci
ences Dept, at Penn State by
calling Lisa at (814) 865-2543
or e-mailing LACB@psu.edu.
Attention Grassland Farmers
World Feeder Bermuda Grass
Field Day
Saturday, July 27, 2002
Mike Phillips Farm
near Harrisonburg, VA
11:30 am until 4:00 pm.
Call (540) 896-7381 for information.
197