Post

Dry weather stressing Indiana forage crops

Lack of rainfall has decreased potential yields for Indiana’s forage crops.  Without decent rainfall in the near future, Purdue Extension forage specialist Keith Johnson says that is not likely to improve. 

Johnson notes forage crops were already struggling to yield after they were damaged by hard freezes in April.   “The first cutting was reduced fairly substantially in comparison to other years,” he says.  “It was off at least 25 percent – and maybe more than that in some areas putting us in a deficit in terms of total season hay production possibilities.”

Johnson says because of the potential for a reduced crop – producers should be mindful of their final harvest dates.  “Somewhere around September 5 should be around the last growing season harvest for northern Indiana and for those in southern Indiana we can stretch that to around September 15,” he says. “This allows enough time before a killing freeze comes along to build carbohydrate reserves.” 

Johnson notes that gives the plants a “full tank” going into winter dormancy.