UNL Extension Educator,
Webster County
August 17, 2012 Edition
I just got off the phone for an interview with a news service in Washington DC. They must have figured out that we are in the middle of a drought and wanted to know my opinion on several things that come out of a drought. For you that know me, I probably gave them more information than what they really needed, but they did ask. It seems to me that people in places that decide where you are as far as environmental disasters go are rather conservative in listening to us out here who have been trying to tell them that something extraordinary was going on. It is good to see that there are some efforts now in helping offset the effects of the drought.
I have become aware through our South Central Cattlemen Association that the National Beef Cattlemen Association has created a resource to be of help to its membership and other producers with updates on recent USDA announcements on the drought, important information related to taxes and hay hotlines. Please go to: http://www.beefusa.org/ Please note the links (red and underlined) in the resource are active and will allow you to access websites for additional information. If you don’t have access to a computer or internet, just call our office or stop by and I will give you a copy of the document that is on the web at that site. It is my understanding that the NCBA will update this resource as additional announcements are made at the federal level. There are a lot of things to consider this year, this resource may help.
For more state wide help I suggest that you utilize the resources made available through the University of Nebraska Extension which can be found at: http://drought.unl.edu/ and you can also go to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at: http://www.droughtcentral.nebraska.gov/ which has references for information on hay and forage supplies and forage management and feeding strategies. This includes a Hay Hotline where you can buy and sell hay.
Grain Sorghum Field Day: I have always been a proponent of hedging your bet in crop production, especially in dryland fields, by planting more drought resistant crops such as grain sorghum or more commonly known as milo. This year really bears that out as the milo is holding on better than any other crop. I know that it has found some disfavor with some producers, but with the increased interest in gluten free alternatives, drought potential crops and some positive direction in the farm bill, grain sorghum may be something that producers, both irrigated and dryland, should take a look at. People in south central Nebraska have a golden opportunity to find out more about this much maligned crop at a field day that will be held just south and east of Blue Hill.
One of two 2012 Sorghum Field Days to be held in Nebraska will be at Blue Hill on Thursday evening, September 6 at 5:30 pm with a tour of the Hybrid Demonstration Plot on the Ronald Bolte farm, followed by a free meal at 7:00 pm at the Blue Hill Community Center. This is the first year for two demonstration plots featuring leading sorghum hybrids. Directions due to road construction: From Highway 281 – 2 miles south of Blue Hill, 1 mile east, 1 mile south to Highway 4 and 1.5 miles east or from Lawrence: 7.5 miles west on Highway 4. The plots are sponsored annually by the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Producers Association, UNL Cooperative Extension, the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board, participating seed companies, and area ag businesses.
Representatives from the commercial seed companies will be on hand to discuss their plot entries and farmers will be able to see and evaluate field performance. The program will also feature Dr. Scott Staggenborg, Director of Technical Services for Chromatin, Inc’s Biomass Research Division, who will speak on “Optimizing Sorghum’s Yield and Performance to Benefit Producers”. Gerald Simonsen, Past President of the National Sorghum Producers has been invited to provide an update on the Farm Bill and policy issues that impact sorghum. The field day will also include door prizes and a yield guessing contest for the plot. This year’s extreme drought has certainly demonstrated the resilience and resourcefulness of the crop and this may be an eye opening experience for producers who want to look at an excellent alternative to crop production that may pay big dividends, especially if this dry weather continues into next year.
Using Winter Annuals to Stretch Feed Inventory: With the loss of grasses in our pastures, and the lack of hay going into fall and winter, we may want to consider an alternative for livestock producers. They perhaps should be looking to winter annuals to sustain their beef herds and sheep flocks. Producers needing to provide quick grazing should consider planting winter annual forages such as annual ryegrass, wheat, or triticale all of which can be planted as early as late August with good soil moisture, which of course right now is at a premium, but could provide grazing into late fall. Adequate soil moisture during germination and early seedling growth is important for cool-season annuals planted for forage. While moderate water stress during vegetative stages can reduce yield, it often leads to improved forage quality.
Oats can also be planted in the first half of August with potential to produce 2.0 to 2.5 tons forage per acre for fall use. However, water needs during August and early September can be relatively high, reducing its production efficiency. Annual species including turnips, rapeseed, and other brassicas, either planted alone or in mixtures have also been used for forage. Adequate water for these small-seeded species is important during germination and early growth because of their shallow planting depth. There is no doubt that many producers are going to be creative this year… Good Luck!
The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: www.webster.unl.edu/home
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