First Cutting Updates - Week of May 29, 2018
Betsy Hicks, Area Dairy Specialist
South Central New York Dairy & Field Crops
An overall assessment of first cutting progress from fields we measured:
Most fields we measure have been harvested or are in the process of being cut. Early samples we've gotten back have shown that grass cut on recommendations looks really nice. One all grass sampled showed Adj Prot 22.0%, NDF 53.2 and NDFD 30h at 76. Early grass varieties are well headed by now, but later maturing grasses are just to head stage. If you have alfalfa fields standing alongside grass fields, it may be a good idea to harvest the grass for heifer or dry cow haylage, and focus on getting your alfalfa crop for lactating quality. Most alfalfa fields still standing are showing signs of early bud. A sample we've gotten back on a mostly alfalfa field cut on recommendations showed Adj Prot 22.6%, NDF of 48 and NDFD at 66, with the NDF and NDFD numbers a bit surprising. We'd like to see more samples of both grass and alfalfa and mixed if you'd like to share with Janice or Betsy. Also, please consider responding to our brief survey of how you use the reports to give your assessment of how we are doing in regards to timing of first crop. You can find the survey here: https://cornell.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6yxqOhaPo7YE22h. You can also reply to Betsy with any comments you may have on the use of the report or how we can improve. Your comments and feedback help us to be able to continue to provide this information every year!
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 posted/sent out on a weekly basis. To receive weekly email/text updates, please contact us at 607.391.2673 with your preference of email or cell phone number and mobile carrier. The email will contain the report as an attachment, the text update will contain a link to view the report on our website. To be removed from this list, email Betsy at bjh246@cornell.edu.
The numbers that are indicators for using alfalfa heights for NDF content are as follows:
- 100% grass stands should be cut when nearby alfalfa is 14 inches tall, to achieve 50% NDF
- 50/50 mixed alfalfa/grass stands should be cut when nearby alfalfa is 22 inches tall, to achieve 44% NDF
- 100% alfalfa stands should be cut when alfalfa is 28 inches tall, to achieve 40% NDF
Predicted days to cut are based on daily NDF increases for grasses of 1.0% point, 50/50 mixed alfalfa/grass stands of 0.8% points, and alfalfa of 0.5% points.
Predictions are adjusted for the coming week's weather.
- Typically NDF increases about 0.8 to 1.2 per day for grasses, with cooler weather being the lower end of the range and warmer weather being the higher end.
- For alfalfa, NDF increases about 0.4 to 0.7 per day, also dependent upon warm/cool weather.
The weekly email will have a table of the locations around the region where we have measured the alfalfa height, as well as the elevation, and target date for harvest. Even if your fields aren't measured, you can use the location and elevation as a guide to conditions that may be similar to your own.
Alfalfa height reporting sheet 5.29.18 (pdf; 254KB)
- alfalfa heights for Broome, Cortland, Chemung, Onondaga, Tioga and Tompkins Counties
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Upcoming Events
NYBPA Region 6 Beef Meeting - Cortland
January 8, 2025
Cortland, NY
Open to all beef producers, even if you're not a member of NYBPA!
Featured Speaker: Dr Adam Murray, Cornell PRO-LIVESTOCK
Topic: "What is finished? Managing cattle to optimize carcass value"
NYBPA Region 6 Beef Meeting - Owego
January 10, 2025
Owego, NY
Open to all beef producers, even if you're not a member of NYBPA!
Featured Speaker: Dr Adam Murray, Cornell PRO-LIVESTOCK
Topic: "What is finished? Managing cattle to optimize carcass value"
The first ever Bale Grazing Winter Pasture Walk
January 11, 2025
Watkins Glen, NY
Have you heard about or seen bale grazing and wondered if it would work for you?
Do you want to learn the nuances and logistical context for implementing this regenerative practice?
Are you interested in seeing the impacts of bale grazing on land and animals from a practicing farmer?
Do you need some fresh air, a bowl of chili and to network with other beef farmers in the snow (or possibly mud)?
If you answered Yes to any question, The Northeast Region National Grazing Lands Coalition, the Cornell Cooperative Extension SCNY Dairy & Field Crops Team, and Angus Glen Farm are teaming up to showcase The first ever Bale Grazing Winter Pasture Walk!
Announcements
Farm Participants Needed for Bale Grazing Grant!
Information on the Project:- Approximately 10 acres total needed to bale graze two different bale densities
- "Core" farms will graze two winters, "Demo" farms will graze one winter.
- Payments for both "Core" farms and "Demo" farms
- Baseline soil sampling by bale grazing team
- Forage measurements in early season by bale grazing team
- Late season clipping if residual not trampled down by farm
Cornell Cow Convos - New Podcast
On-going podcast, New episodes released on the last Thursday of the month.Guest speakers, CCE Dairy Specialists.
Housed on Soundcloud Channel is CCE Dairy Educators
- Preventative healthcare for cows
- The trend of beef on dairy
- What to look forward to in the new year for dairy
- Socially grouping or pair-housing calves
Dairy Acceleration Program Funds Available
- organization of financial records/benchmarking up to $1,000
- continued business planning (for farms awarded in a previous year) up to $2,500
- business planning up to $5,000
2018 Drug Residue Prevention Manual
For more than 30 years, the U.S. dairy industry has focused educational efforts on the judicious use of antibiotics through the annual publication of a Best Practices Manual. The 2018 edition of the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management? Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual is the primary educational tool for dairy farm managers throughout the country on the judicious and responsible use of antibiotics, including avoidance of drug residues in milk and meat.The manual is a quick resource to review those antibiotics approved for dairy animals and can also be used as an educational tool and resource for farm managers as they develop on-farm best management practices necessary to avoid milk and meat residues. Visit the Manual and Form Library to download copies of this important tool!
Follow us on Facebook
The team updates our facebook page frequently - follow us to be updated on our events, see some fun videos and get local area updates!facebook.com/SCNYDairyandFieldCropsTeam
ProDairy Forage Management
Are you prepared to change your routine this spring?While spring tasks vary by farm, there are many "rites of spring," and they are often completed in a fairly rigid sequence. Depending on the farm, these often include fixing fence, spreading manure, planting new seedings, planting corn and harvesting first cutting, and are often performed in this order.
We are optimistic that the upcoming turn in weather will allow these task to be accomplished in a timely manner, but at this point it is time to ask yourself: Are you willing to change your spring routine?
In addition to adverse weather it is no secret that everyone is facing extremely tight economic times, and dealing with forage inventories of poor digestibility forages from 2017. This combination of factors makes it more critical than ever to be ready to tackle the task that will have the most impact on your business at the proper time.
Recent reference articles on dealing with tough times:
• Key Opportunities to Optimize 2018 Crop Production Efficiency
• Resources for Dealing with Spring Weather Delays
First Cutting
The number one focus should be on timely harvest of first cutting.
• Park the corn planter when a field of first cutting is ready for harvest.
o Monitoring 1st cut harvest timing
• Approach harvest by the acre, not by the field. Be ready to skip over a field that has passed its optimum harvest stage.
o Dynamic Harvest Schedules
• Strategically plan feed storage to best utilize forage inventories for the right group of animals.
o Strategic Forage Storage Planning
o When More is Better
Corn Planting
The window for planting for silage is generally wider than for grain, which is why first cutting can and should take priority over corn planting. However, in the event of extreme delays in planting corn, performance will diminish with late plantings. If corn planting progresses into late May or early June, begin to consider alternative options for those acres. Previous research from Cornell and Penn State suggest a 0.5 to 1 ton/acre per week decline in silage yield for planting after mid to late May.
Multi-Tasking
First and foremost during a time of year that can be very busy and stressful, taking every precaution to keep your team safe is critical.
The idea of fitting all of this work into a condensed time period, and still getting key tasks completed before critical deadlines can seem impossible, but year after year many find unique ways to get it all done. Consider working with neighbors, custom operators or renting equipment to accomplish these key tasks on time.
If you currently utilize custom operators, now is a good time to set up a time to meet with them and make sure you are on the same page to get tasks accomplished in the time-frame needed. Make sure that your expectations and goals are clearly defined. They will also be under stress to fit their work into a condensed period and meet their customers' expectations, so defining expectations and pre-planning how to most efficiently get the work accomplished when the custom operator arrives can go a long way to increase the chances for success.
NYSERDA Agriculture Energy Audit Program
NYSERDA offers energy audits to help eligible farms and on-farm producers identify ways to save energy and money on utility bills. Reports include recommendations for energy efficiency measures.For more information and the NYSERDA Agriculture Energy Audit Program Application click here