You may be thinking about planting some fall triticale, balansa clover, or hairy vetch in the fall. What might things look like the following spring in April?
Read MoreTriticale spread September 18th, 2023. About 2 feet tall today.
Alfalfa Weevil
When scouting for alfalfa weevil, begin by looking at the newest leaves on the plant. Feeding damage from alfalfa weevil begins as very small pin holes in the newest leaves and damage around the leaf margin. Inspect the plant buds where the new leaves are unfurling and look for a very small green caterpillar with a black head and faint white stripe.
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The Basics of Early Spring Grazing
All this new green growth does make me eager to get livestock back on pasture again although I’m not going to get in a rush. That initial growth is important to restore the solar panel/photosynthesis and restore roots. You certainly don’t want the forage to get ahead of you, but initiating grazing too quickly does hurt productivity.
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Examining Alfalfa Stands
Depending on region, livestock type, and forage source, it is safe to say many livestock producers could be planning to augment forage stands as soon as possible this spring. Having a better understanding of what alfalfa stands might look like in a couple of months will help guide those decisions. Alfalfa injury or death (from winter weather OR overall plant hardiness) occurs because of a myriad of factors:
Read MoreConsider a Forage Planting of Peas and Oats
One of the quickest growing forages is a small grain paired with forage peas. This option can be planted as soon as field conditions allow in April/May and are usually ready for harvest in 60-90 days, depending on tonnage and/or quality requirements.
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