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Agriculture

If you have any questions regarding Agriculture in

Green County, please contact:

Mark Mayer Mark Mayer
Green County Agriculture Agent Department Head
Professor, UW Extension
2841 6th Street
Monroe, WI 53566-9397
Phone: 608-328-9440
Email: mark.mayer@ces.uwex.edu

AGRICULTURE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

Latest News and Information

Alfalfa Maturing Slowly Due to Cold Temperatures

Two scissor clippings were taken from the fields being monitored this spring for alfalfa maturity on April 23rd.  The samples were tested in the lab and came back testing at 216 and 225 RFV.  These results were actually higher than what the PEAQ stick readings were showing that were taken on the same day that were 211 and 202.  Due to cool nighttime temperatures and below normal daily highs alfalfa developent has slowed significantly in April.  This is not surprising given the fact that we accumulated more Growing Degree Days during a seven day stretch in March (March 15-21) than we have for the entire period of April 1st to the 25th!    

Observations made on April 25th showed that one field had about at about 10% of the plants  had reached bud stage and in the other field about 5%.   Given the forecast for high temperatures not to exceed 60 F. with lows in the mid 30′s for the remainder of April it appears that the two alfalfa fields being monitored will not reach bud stage until approximately May 1.  For dairy  cows alfalfa should be cut when it reaches a RFV of 170 -175 standing in the field.  You lose about 20 points RFV from harvest loss and respiration meaning that alfalfa harvested at 170 RFV will end up testing around 150 RFV when it is fed.

Farmers are encourage to scout their fields for Alfalfa Weevils.  They are abundant in some fields and their damage from feeding on leaves will increase over the next 10 days as they reach the 3rd and 4th instar stages.  If fields have more than 40% of the plants exhibiting feeding damage we would recommend to cut those fields immdietly to control the weevil damage and preserve the quality and quantity of alfalfa.  Samples will be taken from the two fields being monitored and sent to the lab for analysis again on April 30th with the results posted at:   Click here to follow the latest PEAQ status of two fields in Green County.  Keep in mind that alfalfa plant maturilty will vary from field to field depending on the field orientation, location, alfalfa variety, and soil fertility.  4/25/2012

 

Frost Impacts on Alfalfa

I recorded tempartures dwon to 22 degrees F. in Alfalfa fields on both April10th and 11th.  The books tell us that alfalfa will be killed if tempartures fall below 24 degrees F for a period of 4 hours or more.  In scouting alfalfa fields one should wait for 2-4 days after the frost to asses the damage.  Many fields are showing signs of yellowing and that is due to many of the leaf tips getting burned by the freezing temperatures that occurred earlier this week. 

However, when assessing fields on April 13 all of them had less than 25% leaf/ tip damage from the frost and that most of the growing points were still alive and intact.   This was somewhat surprising given the temperatures we encountered.  My guess is that we might have been saved by some wind (does not allow frost to formulate on the plant tissue) and the additional radiant heat from the large plant mass that already exists.  Regardless of the reason, it appears that the maj0rity of the alfalfa fields in Green County dodged severe damage from the freezing temperatures this week.   To assess your fields pull the tops 2-3″ off some plants and look closely at the growing point (area where all the new leaves are sprouting from).  If those leaves look green a vibrant it means that the growing point has not been killed and the crop should not be cut as  the plants will accumulate additional growth before harvest.  We may lose some leaves dues to frost and first crop yields will likely be reduced some, but second crop should be fine as long as adequate fertility and moisture is present for re-growth.   Alfalfa plant development stalled this week due to cold temperatures, but will pick up with the rain and 70 degree temperatures fore casted for the weekend of April 14-15.   Click here to follow the latest PEAQ status of two fields in Green County.  4/13/2012

 

Crop-Budget-Analyzer-2012   The 2012 Crop Budget Cost of Production Calculator for Wisconsin can help producers in making their cropping decisions in the upcoming year. It allows producers to construct enterprise budgets for corn after corn, corn after soybeans, corn silage after alfalfa, corn silage after corn, soybeans, wheat, seeding alfalfa and established alfalfa for hay and haylage.  The Cost of Production Calculator is an Excel spreadsheet that can be modified to fit individual farm costs.

What is Standing Hay Worth 2012 pdf   There are many factors that impact the value of standing hay.  The value of hay will fluctuate depending on the local supply and demand, along with the amount of winterkill that occurs.  This document guides landowners and farmers through the topic of what standing hay is worth in 2012.

Determining Land Rental Rates 2012 – Rental rates for farm ground in Green County have increased dramatically over the past several years.  The increasing demand for farmland in the county has been driven by higher commodity prices, larger livestock farms seeking more land for both manure disposal and feed, and larger equipment allowing grain producers to run more acres.  The high cost and limited availability of land in the surrounding counties has also driven our land rental rates higher here as more operators are looking for land.

Newly Revised Lease Publications & Forms

- Fixed and Flexible Cash Rental Arrangements For Your Farm (NCFMEC-01) (pdf)

– Fixed and Flexible Cash Rental Arrangements For Your Farm (NCFMEC-01A) (pdf fillable form)

- Crop Share Rental Arrangements For Your Farm (NCFMEC-02) (pdf)

– Crop Share Rental Arrangements For Your Farm (NCFMEC-02A) (pdf fillable form)

- Pasture Rental Arrangements For Your Farm (NCFMEC-03) (pdf)

– Pasture Rental Arrangements For Your Farm (NCFMEC-03A) (pdf fillable form)

 

Green County Agriculture: Value & Economic Impact Agriculture works hard for Green County every day.  Family-owned farms, food processors and agriculture-related businesses generate thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of economic activity while contributing to local income and tax revenue.

The Economic Impact of Agriculture in Wisconsin Counties

Agri-News Newsletter Dec March 12 (pdf)

NEW! 2010 Farm Custom Rate Guide (.pdf)

Used Oil Filters Banned From Landfills in 2011

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