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 IN THIS ISSUE...  Aug 2003

Opportunities to Make Your Farm Business More Profitable Abound This Fall 

Take a break from the goofy weather and crappy prices and participate in some of these outstanding educational programs for farm families this fall:

10th Annual Country Living Field Day - There will be something for every farm family at this year's field day, including the opportunity to see many exhibits and programs from this year's Farm Science Review, in case you don't make it to this year's Review.  A real-time satellite internet connection at the field day will show you how to market your products online and how GPS systems might work on farms in our part of the state.  Bring the kids too, as there will be lots for them to learn and do at the field day.

Managed Grazing Field Day - One of the nation's most respected forage specialists, Jim Gerrish, will be in Carroll County to lead an on-farm grazing workshop on September 26.  If you'd like to do a better job with managing forages and livestock, don't miss this opportunity.

Farm Science Review - Need we say more?  Hundreds of acres of exhibits and field demonstrations, nearly 1,000 exhibitors, and the opportunity to kick the tires of farm equipment larger than your house!  See the attached flyer about this year's event scheduled for September 16-18 near London.  Tickets are available for $5 at your local Extension Office before September15, or at the gate for $8.

Tri-County Forestry Field Day - On many local farms, timberland is the most overlooked source of potential farm revenue.  At this year's forestry field day scheduled for October 24, we'll show you how to use a management system called crop trees, to increase the growth rate and value of your woods.

Be sure to check out the details about these programs in the flyers attached with this newsletter. 
 

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Oats For Forage
Oats can be used for both hay and grazing and can be planted in both the spring and fall. Oats can provide a very palatable, high quantity, of a moderate quality forage. Planting oats this summer into harvested wheat fields or acres that were not planted can replace the first cutting hay that was lost due to the wet weather this year. The oats planted now can also provide some excellent grazing into the winter months. Oats will keep on growing long after they would need to be cut for hay. Unlike cereal rye, wheat, and triticale that go dormant in the fall, spring oats will keep on growing until they are killed by several hours of below 27 degrees.

Oat forage is nutritious enough for sheep, dry dairy cows, beef cattle, and horses. Typically they will contain 25 to 30 percent crude protein level from green up until jointing. The plants need to be at least 8 to 10 inches tall before grazing. The protein levels will drop to 14 to 16 percent as the plants start heading out. Hay yields at this stage will typically be 3 to 5 tons per acre. Planting oats in August can grow a large amount of excellent winter-feed. Turnips can be added to the seeding to provide more energy for acres that can be grazed. Spring planted oats for forage can be harvested and the field planted to a summer annual for another crop.

Seeding rates should be 2 to 3 bushels per acre. The best oat forage production is going to occur when soil pH and fertility levels are adequate. A soil test can determine the current fertility levels. Oats can also utilize carry over fertilizer applied for a crop not planted or not totally used by an existing crop. Oats can utilize nutrients from manure applications and stabilize them from being lost into the environment from leaching or runoff. Nitrogen will increase vegetative growth and encourage more plant tillering. The nitrogen rates should range from 30 to 50 pounds per acre. Phosphorus and potassium should be applied according to soil test levels before planting. Harvesting and marketing oat hay could be an excellent way for producers of confined livestock to lower soil nutrient levels from manure applied fields. Each ton of hay harvested removes about 15 pounds of phosphorus (P2O5) and 60 pounds of potassium (K20). This hay crop would not interfere with grain crop rotation.

Another option to increase forage production is interseeding small grains like oats into existing pastures. The best results from this practice occur in dry summers and falls when pasture growth is slow. This practice is quite successful in the southern United States. It works best in pastures with abundant warm season annual grasses like crabgrass and foxtail. Seeding oats into these types of pastures can provide an additional 60 to 90 days of high quality forage for grazing.
 

Sign-up For Livestock Assistance Program Is Underway
Sign-up began August 6 for the Livestock Assistance Program (LAP), a federal program that makes $250 million in federal funds available to livestock producers for grazing losses in either 2001 or 2002. The sign-up period ends October 24. USDA says funding may be adjusted proportionately if the total value of all applications at that time is in excess of $250 million.

Under LAP, a producer's grazing land must be located in a county declared a primary disaster area under a Presidential or Secretarial declaration. The county must have been approved after January 1, 2001, and a designation requested no later than February 20, 2003, and subsequently approved. Contiguous counties aren't eligible.

For counties designated as a disaster area for 2001 or 2002, additional LAP eligibility criteria must be met for each year. A county must have suffered at least a 40% grazing loss for three or more consecutive months in a calendar year in order to be eligible for that year. A county may meet eligibility requirements for both 2001 and 2002; however, a producer in that county may receive a LAP payment for only one of the years.

Payments will be made on a per head basis of eligible livestock, including beef and dairy cattle, buffalo, beefalo, sheep, goats, swine, and certain equine animals. A producer must have control of adequate grazing land to support the eligible livestock.

The 2003 Act required that an adjusted gross income (AGI) limitation apply, a change from previous LAPs. Also, LAP payments to a producer will be reduced by the amount of assistance received by that producer under previous Livestock Compensation Programs (LCP-I, LCP-II) and the 2002 Cattle Feed Program. A producer must possess beneficial and financial interests in eligible livestock that have been owned or leased for at least three months. A $40,000 payment limitation also applies to LAP assistance.

Presently, the following Ohio Counties are approved as eligible for LAP, with more expected to be added to the list shortly: Adams, Ashland, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Huron, Jefferson, Licking, Medina, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Ross and Tuscarawas.

For more details and info on new and existing disaster assistance, go to http://disaster.usda.gov/.  To see the Secretary of Agriculture press release on LAP, go to http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2003/08/0275.htm. 
 

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Feeding Lower Quality Hay Crop Forages
This year's rainy spring had negative effects on the quality of first cutting hay crop forages. Rain either delayed cutting, caused substantial weather damage to mowed crop that could not be removed quickly for the field, or forced farmers to harvest hay or silage at improper moisture contents.

Delayed harvest means that forages were more mature when they were eventually cut. Fiber (NDF) and lignin concentrations increase and protein and energy decrease as forages mature. The negative effects of maturity are greater for grasses than for legumes. Rations should be formulated to contain adequate, but not excessive concentrations of forage NDF (usually between 18 and 21% of dietary DM). High concentrations of forage NDF in diets reduce DM intake and milk production. Intake depression becomes substantial when diets have more than about 25% of the DM as forage NDF. If forages have high NDF, diets should contain less forage. For example, if corn silage makes up 25% of dietary DM and has 44% NDF, it will provide 11% forage NDF (0.25 x 44). If alfalfa has 40% NDF and the dietary target is 21% forage NDF, the diet should contain 25% alfalfa (21% in total diet 11% from corn silage = 10; 10/0.40 = 25% alfalfa). If the alfalfa contained 50% NDF, then the diet should contain 20% alfalfa (21 - 11 = 10; 10/0.5 = 20%). Additional supplemental protein may be needed because of the lower concentration of protein in the more mature forage.

Weather damage reduces the concentrations of protein, energy, and soluble carbohydrates, and increases the concentration of fiber. These changes are caused by rain leaching away soluble compounds and concentrating the less soluble compounds. Although the cause of quality loss is different for weather damage and maturity, the results are the same - DM intake decreases. Indeed, depression of intake can be greater in weathered forages than mature forages because of the development of mold and other anti-quality factors. The same diet modifications as described above should be made when weather-damaged forages are fed.

Silage made with too much moisture because of poor wilting conditions can undergo an abnormal fermentation. Wet silage (especially when moisture is >70%) can have high concentrations of acetic and butyric acids and a low pH and often adversely affects intake. About the only solution to this problem is to feed less of the poorly fermented silage. Some experiments have shown positive effects on intake when wet silage with low pH is treated with sodium bicarbonate (2 to 4% of silage DM) immediately before feeding. Positive results were reported for corn silage only, no hay crop silages.

Hay baled with too much moisture usually becomes moldy and heats. Heat-damage reduces the digestibility of energy and protein, but proper diet formulation can minimize those effects. Effects of mold are more complicated. Moldy alfalfa hay that contained no detectable mycotoxins reduced intake by dairy heifers (approximately 300 lb of body weight) but not beef steers (about 600 lb of body weight). Cattle in both experiments sorted against severely molded hay. Moldy hay also can contain mycotoxins which may adversely affect health and production. Because of the risks, moldy hay should not be fed to high producing dairy cows. Several commercial binding products are available, but their value has not been proven in controlled experiments with dairy cows.

Recommendations for feeding low quality hay crop forages

1. Have the forage analyzed. Concentrations of NDF and available protein are important quality measures. Alfalfa with > 44% and grasses with 
>53% NDF can reduce milk production.

2. If possible, feed lower quality forages to animals with lower nutrient needs, such as growing heifers and late lactation cows. Feed early lactation cows the highest quality forage available on the farm.
3. If forage quality is poor because of high NDF concentrations, reduce the amount of forage in the diet but ensure that the diet still contains adequate NDF. Diets with >25% of the DM as forage NDF usually reduce intake.

4. If forage quality is poor because of a bad fermentation (wet silage), reduce the amount of that particular silage in the diet. Neutralization of the acids in wet silage with sodium bicarbonate may help increase intake.

5. If forage quality is poor because of mold (wet hay), intake may be poor and toxicity risks are present. This type of forage should not be fed to high producing cows and may or may not be acceptable to other types of cattle. Moldy hay can increase sorting which may increase ruminal acidosis. Other than not feeding or severely limiting the amount fed, little can be done to overcome the problems with moldy hay.

-Dr. Bill Weiss
 OSU Dairy Forage Specialist

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Ohio Bull Test Nomination Time
The Ohio Cattlemen's Association, Ohio State University Extension, and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center are making preparations for the 35th Annual Ohio Bull Test (OBT) and Sale. One of the improvements planned for 2003-2004 includes the renovation of the feeding system. A new bunk feeding system with augers to each pen should be in place prior to the start of the testing period. This will allow for the elimination of the current self feeders.

The 2003-2004 OBT will closely resemble the past couple of years in terms of schedule and procedure. Nominations are due September 19, 2003, delivery day will be October 28, and the sale will be held April 17, 2004. A strict set of pre-delivery vaccinations will be required, bulls will be tested on delivery for BVD virus, and all bulls originating from a herd participating in their state sponsored Johne's Disease (paratuberculosis) test-negative status program will be appropriately identified. Get-of-Sire groups, a minimum of three bulls from the same sire and consigner, will continue to be identified, a certified technician will collect carcass ultrasound measurements, and Five State Beef Initiative Power Scores will be calculated.

A few changes will be implemented that impact the April 2004 sale. Bulls will be ranked for sale order based upon a five-star evaluation system in place of the old four-star system. And the floor sale price for bulls in the sale will move up from $1,000 to $1,200.

The Ohio Bull Test offers an excellent marketing opportunity for both small and large beef producers. The test provides efficient and effective management and facilities for bull development. Collection of on-test data in combination with EPDs from an entire breed population provides a unique index to compare bulls. This is not only a tremendous value to potential buyers; it allows a consignor to see how their animals stack up against fellow breeders.

Nomination forms for the Ohio Bull Test are available from your local OSU Extension office.
 

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Will Slower Than Normal Corn Development Increase Likelihood of Frost Injury and Slow Grain Drying?
Cooler than normal conditions have slowed the development of the corn crop this summer. Moreover, due to excessive rainfall many corn fields were planted late (well into June) or replanted. According to the Ohio Agricultural Statistics Service, as of August 17, 2003, corn is 52 percent in dough and 4 percent in dent compared with 66 and 17 percent for the five year average, respectively. The later than normal maturation of the corn crop has led to questions about the potential for frost damage and whether more fuel will be needed to dry the crop.

Physiological maturity (when kernels have obtained maximum dry weight and black layer has formed) occurs 7 to 8 weeks after silking. At physiological maturity (kernel moisture approximately 30-35%), frosts have little or no effect on the yield potential of the corn crop.

Table 1 shows the average number of calendar days and growing degree days (GDD) required to reach physiological maturity after silking. With average daily high and low temperatures of 80 to 60 degrees F, 20 GDD accumulate each day. At these temperatures, 65 days from silking to maturity are required (1300 divided by 20). Therefore, corn silking in early August would probably not be safe from major yield reductions due to frost until early October.

With "cooler" high and low temperatures of 75 and 55 degrees, only 15 GDD accumulate daily, requiring 87 days from early August silking to maturity. This would require warm, frost-free weather until mid October, which is past the average frost date for much of the state.

Table 1. Relationship between kernel growth stage and development. Source: National Corn Handbook. Chapter 40. Growing Season Characteristics and Requirements in the Corn Belt. R.E. Neild and J.E. Newman, 1986.
 
 

Stage	Calendar Days  to Maturity (Days)	Growing Degree Days to Maturity* (GDD)
Silk	65	1300
Blister	52	1040
Late milk/Early dough	39	775
Early dent	25	510
Fully dented	12	250

*Based on average daily high and low temperatures of 80 and 60 degrees F, respectively, during grainfill.

How many GDD can be expected from now until an average date of a killing frost? To answer this question, estimate the expected GDD accumulation from August 19 until the average frost date (50% probability) for different regions of the state (Table 2). These GDD expectations are based on 30-year historical normals reported by the Ohio Agricultural Statistics Service. The growing degree day accumulation was calculated using the 86/50 cutoff, base 50 method.

If you want to determine the "youngest stage of corn development" that can safely reach black layer before the average frost date at a given weather station, use the information in Table 2 on remaining GDD in conjunction with Table 1 which indicates GDD requirement to reach black layer at various stages of grain fill. Compare "GDD remaining" for the site with the GDD required to achieve black layer depending on the corn's development stage.

Table 2. Estimated GDDs remaining from August 19 to the first fall frost for Ohio
 
 

If your corn is in the early dent stage as of August 19, will it be safe from frost? Table 1 indicates that it needs about 510 GDD to reach black layer from full dent stage and Table 2 indicates that all regions of the state will accumulate sufficient GDD to escape frost injury.

If your corn is in the late milk/early dough stage as of August 19, will it be safe from frost? According to the kernel development - GDD accumulation relationships indicated in Table 1, corn needs about 775 GDD to reach black layer. Table 2 indicates only two regions of the state (SW and SC Ohio) with that number of GDDs remaining until the 50% frost date. However, late planted corn has shown the ability to adjust its maturity requirements, and most of this adjustment occurs during the late kernel development stages. Corn planted in early June compared to early May requires 200 to 300 fewer GDDs to achieve physiological maturity. Also, during past growing seasons (such as 1992) when GDD accumulation was markedly less than normal, the corn crop achieved physiological maturity before the first frost occurred.

When GDD accumulation is less than normal due to late planting or a cool growing season, it may result in grain moisture content at black layer that is higher than normal. Also since black layer is likely to occur at a later calendar date (late September-early October), fewer drying days may be available. However, in several recent years when we have experienced later maturing corn crops, dry conditions in September have facilitated crop maturation and grain drying and minimized drying cost.

Corn - 2003-27

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Sincerely,
 

Mike Hogan Extension Agent Agriculture & Natural Resources

Ken Simeral Extension Agent Agriculture & Natural Resources Community Development

sw

Trade names are supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University is implied.

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.

OSU Extension will provide accommodations to handicapped persons needing assistance to participate in Extension programs. If you require some type of assistance/accommodations to attend programs, utilize written materials or visit the Carroll, Harrison, or Jefferson County Extension Offices, please contact that office or TTD#1-800-589-8292.

Visit Ohio State University Extension’s WWW site “Ohioline” at: hhtp:/www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioline/
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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.
TDD # 1 (800) 589-8292 (Ohio only) or (614) 292-1868