News

Upper Midwest alfalfa crop does not look good

“This is probably the worst year for winterkill we have had in over 20 years.” That’s how University of Wisconsin Extension forage agronomist Dan Undersander describes the alfalfa crop not only in his state but across the upper Midwest. He says the southern edge of the damage area is in southern Wisconsin where 20 to 30 percent of the fields are showing damage up to 80 percent loss in Central Wisconsin. The area extends from Ontario to the Dakotas.

He says a combination of factors have contributed to the loss, a lot of the crop went dormant last fall without storing up nutrients and then the late spring was just too much to withstand. There is also a lot of evidence of winterkill especially in low spots in fields.

The situation has created a “worst-case” scenario for dairy farmers who are already running out of forage and facing a hay shortage across the upper Midwest. As a result, Undersander says farmers may need to try to salvage a stand they would usually replace. He says the best options at this point are:

1. Keep the stand and overseed with Italian ryegrass immediately to increase first cutting yield then kill the stand and plant corn for silage 
2. Tear the stand up and plant corn for silage
3. Plant oats and peas for an early season crop in July then plant oats in August.

Some have tried sorghum-sudan in this situation but Undersander says that requires hot weather and that is not the norm in the affected area.  He suggests it be used only if no other seed is available. 

AUDIO:Undersander talks about the situation 6:00 mp3

In response the UW Extension has established a website of multiple materials addressing all aspects of the situation.  It is http://fyi.uwex.edu/drought2012/alfalfa-winterkill/

In a related matter:

The University of Wisconsin Extension Dairy Team is holding five producer meetings around the state to talk about feeding options. Consultants and industry professionals will talk about building rations with less alfalfa, availability, pricing and utilization of feed by-products and forage options from June to the first frost.

The sessions will be:

May 28th; 9 to 11:30 am, Bear Creek Town Hall, Bear Creek;

1:30 to 4 pm Chase Town Hall, Pulaski

 

May 29th: 9 to 11:30 am Millhome Supper Club, Kiel

1:30 to 4 pm Van Abel’s of Hollandtown, Kaukauna

 

May 30th: 9 to 11:30 am U.W. Extension Marathon County, Wausau