Resources from Winter Crop Meeting 2022: Session 2 (January 21)

Topic: Key Considerations Feeding 2021 Corn Silage and Planning for 2022 with Joe Lawrence

Slides and links available

Northern Corn Leaf Blight (NCLB) is one of the most serious diseases of corn. It has become endemic in NYS, affecting all corn growers. Although we cannot predict when first infection will occur, it has occurred regularly for over ten years consecutively. This field scale study sought to measure and compare effects on yields and quality from fungicide treatment at an early and late timing on five cooperating farms in Northern, Central and Eastern New York. Applications were made at two timings: early vegetative and reproductive. Treatments included: 1) an untreated control, two early vegetative fungicide treatments with

2) Priaxor^® and 3) Affiance^®, and two post tassel treatments of 4) Affiance^® and 5) Headline Amp^®.  This year was an anomaly because occurrence was absent to arriving fairly late and then only with light infection. NCLB disease incidence was very low, below 1% in the majority of the plots. Although disease pressure from common rust was abundant as well as other abiotic stress factors, there were no statistically significant effects on yield or forage quality components from the fungicide treatments compared to the untreated check plots.

 

An overall assessment of first cutting growth from fields we measured: 

Quite a few farms across the region have started harvest of pure grass stands, as well as mixed stands.  Recommendations are for 50% or less alfalfa stands to make prudent use of this cutting window to harvest for peak dairy quality across the region.  There is still time for pure alfalfa stands to gain yield, given Jerry Cherney's observations.  Look for our final report on Wednesday, May 30^th.  We will be sending out a brief survey of how you use the reports, so please feel free to give your assessment of how we are doing in regards to timing of first crop.  You can also reply to Betsy with any comments you may have on the use of the report or how we can improve. 

In the meanwhile, stay safe out in the fields and update the team with any conditions you encounter that would be of interest. 

An overall assessment of first cutting growth from fields we measured:
Many stands of alfalfa are too short to give adequate predictions for pure grass stand harvest - especially those at higher elevations. That being said, many lower elevation fields have alfalfa measuring 11-12", and predictions for harvest of nearby pure grass fields look like this weekend for peak quality. 50/50 mixed grass/alfalfa stands predictions are saying harvest in ~2 weeks, but time and weather will give us a better prediction next week for mixed stands. Weather looks like rain on Saturday, but a decent stretch of weather to start next week out. Look for our next report on Wednesday, May 16th. In the meanwhile, stay safe out in the fields and update the team with any conditions you encounter that would be of interest.  

A message from Kevin Putnam, Dairy Specialist with Dupont-Pioneer

First Cutting Updates - Utilizing Alfalfa Heights as a Predictor for Quality

The SCNY team is monitoring alfalfa heights again this spring to help predict quality and %NDF for first cutting hay crop. Alfalfa height has been proven to be a reliable indicator of NDF values in the field for alfalfa, alfalfa/grass mixed and all grass stands. Results will be compiled and emailed on a weekly basis - please feel free to forward on. To be included on the weekly email, or to be removed from the email, please contact Betsy Hicks, bjh246@cornell.edu. 

First Cutting Updates - Utilizing Alfalfa Heights as a Predictor for Quality

The SCNY team is monitoring alfalfa heights again this spring to help predict quality and %NDF for first cutting hay crop. Alfalfa height has been proven to be a reliable indicator of NDF values in the field for alfalfa, alfalfa/grass mixed and all grass stands. Results will be compiled and emailed on a weekly basis - please feel free to forward on. To be included on the weekly email, or to be removed from the email, please contact Betsy Hicks, bjh246@cornell.edu.

UPDATES FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 15th, 2017:

Comments from Janice: Mowing has begun and it's right on for clear grass fields since orchard grass is heading and other grasses will be heading in the next week. Alfalfa is approaching or at 2 ft this week. Only occasional early buds found. With the adequate soil moisture and the predicted heat for the week ahead we have the potential to gain significant yield in the next week to alfalfa. The weather windows and percent alfalfa will drive when to target harvest of mixed stands. The time is near and the switch from corn planting to hay harvest may be necessary to capture high quality. Wet fields will be a factor to consider when planning harvest. In soils that have been saturated or even waterlogged over the last 3 weeks the alfalfa is obviously stressed. It's growing very slowing and in some fields actually going backwards. There are spots of significant winter damage, mainly crown heaving. These fields are going to have a disappointing yield and may be candidates for turning into corn after first cutting.

Comments for Southern Counties (Broome, Tioga, Chemung, S Cortland): Most fields saw a good 3" of growth from last week and are above that 20" mark. Hill ground maybe a bit less, but valley ground a bit more. Several fields of triticale and fields of grass have been mowed already, as well as some fields of mixed alfalfa/grass. Fields continue to be drier here than the northern part of the region (I didn't have to use 4wd to access fields this week!), so I would expect more mixed fields to be knocked down in the coming week. Predicted dates to cut for a 50/50 mix in the southern counties is the end of this week to beginning of next week. Forecast looks like rain Thursday/Friday with a decent weekend, although cooler than the heat we're getting today and tomorrow. Pure alfalfa stands still have some time to gain yield while maintaining quality.

Comments for Northern Counties (Tompkins, N Cortland, Onondaga): Fields saw similar growth to the southern counties in our region - a good 3" overall, hovering around that high teens to low 20's in height. The heat and sun in the next two days will hopefully help to dry out conditions. Predictions for peak quality for a 50/50 mix are looking like this weekend. Don't be fooled by the amount of alfalfa in the stand - often we overestimate the amount in the stand and harvest it later than what the grass's peak quality is. The weekend looks like decent weather, so getting on those mixed fields may be a good idea. We still have time to gain yield in higher percentage alfalfa fields without sacrificing quality. Pure alfalfa stands have time to gain for sure - predictions to cut are still out there to around Memorial Day. The 10-day forecast looks like a small percentage of rain every day, so waiting on the weatherman to figure out his forecast won't hurt quality and will gain tonnage on pure stands in the meanwhile.

Thoughts on pure grass fields that are past peak quality: If you are able to segregate your first cutting, you may want to leave your fields that are past peak quality and save them for dry cow or heifer feed and focus on getting your mixed fields in at peak quality. Certainly, field conditions will play a role, but yield can be a factor to take into account as well.

Please let us know conditions you observe while harvesting, and any comments back about the alfalfa height project are appreciated! We also welcome any sample results you would like to share, so forward them on me, bjh246@cornell.edu. You can also post harvest pictures on our team's Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/SCNYDairyandFieldCropsTeam/ and use the hashtag #harvest2017. 

Tom Kilcer's Advanced Ag Systems: Crop Soils May newsletter addresses timing of harvest for optimizing quality of a winter small grain cover crop.

Tom Kilcer outlines some precautions to prevent compaction when tilling and planting under wet conditions with some other spring tips