Once thought of as a wet-soil disease, aphanomyces root rot is more widespread than many realize. It’s also one of the few alfalfa diseases to develop races — genetic variations of the pathogens that challenge established resistant varieties— making it doubly threatening to long-term alfalfa productivity.
Read More8 Factors That Can Determine Alfalfa Success
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing alfalfa seed and fashioning your overall forage management plan, including yield potential, stand persistence/winterhardiness, disease resistance and forage quality. Following are tips for making sure you’re selecting the best seed for your specific fields and covering what is necessary from a systems management perspective to help maximize yield potential.
Read MoreSpecializing in Compressed Small Square Bales
Steve Flack specializes in cutting big square bales into compressed small square bales. Big square balers and bales are much more efficient from harvesting to hauling than small square balers. However, not everyone is set up to handle a 700 to 1,200 lb big square bales.
Read MoreCan Albion Perennial Ryegrass Survive an Indiana Summer?
In the spring of 2014, I put Albion perennial ryegrass out on our farm. Most PRG varieties do well in cooler, wetter environments, but when faced with a hot, dry Indiana summer they can go dormant or die. Albion has been touted as being able to grow in the state of Missouri and well adapted to the “Fescue” belt.
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Unintentional Cover Crop Leads to Improved Soil Health
After the oats hay/straw was removed, Super Sugar DM (Delayed Maturity) Sorghum Sudangrass was no-tilled into the oats residue. Super Sugar DM is a unique non-BMR sorghum sudangrass that will not set a flower until it is over 90 days old.
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