In the News - January 2008
Homespun advice from a veteran county agent
Coming to grips with farm input/output cycle
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - A couple of years ago I noticed one of our more
aggressive Bermuda hay producers still had a barn full while everyone else had
sold out. A phone call served to enlighten me to the fact that he was well aware
of his input/output cycle.
He noted, "The big jump in nitrogen prices we're looking at for this spring
tells me that my hay is worth more now than it was last fall. I set my price and
if someone wants the hay, that's what I'll take for it. I'm not in this for the
fun!" Within two weeks he got his price and the barn was empty.
A producer with good hay and storage is in a better marketing position than
someone who has to store this increasingly valued commodity outside for long
periods.
This leads to the current dilemma of nitrogen prices that continue to
escalate since its production is tied to oil and gas. The driving force
continues to be the heavy demand for nitrogen fertilizer required to satisfy the
corn acreage that ballooned to an all-time high to meet ethanol production
demands.
The bottom-line is simply that livestock and forage producers have to prepare
to make hard decisions about feed and fertilizer. Nitrogen fertilizer is a
necessary forage production input and serious thought will center on nitrogen
sources, rates and methods of gaining the best possible efficiency.
What do we currently know nitrogen?
- It's more efficient when applied to forage crops at the
beginning of the growth season.
- It's more efficient when applied at lower rates and when
applications can be split over the growing season.
- Producers must compare the price of nitrogen sources by
pounds of actual nitrogen purchased, rather than by the ton, which may
show a 20 cents/lb price spread.
- Nutrients are utilized more efficiently on soils with
adequate pH levels.
Forage producers will continue to hear about the use of legumes to tap into a
free-nitrogen source. Since the outlook of high nitrogen prices may last for
years, legumes should be evaluated for their ability to furnish nitrogen in
long-term forage plans. However, legumes planted this spring will not help
forage tonnage this year!
I continue to note a significant number of hay bales scattered around the
Ozarks and, like the producer noted above, I can't help but wonder if they will
be more valuable next winter? The ability to store and retain hay quality will
have to be considered when trying to answer that question. ‘Til next week!
For more information on forage and hay production, contact your county
extension agent. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A
Division of Agriculture.
January 18, 2008
By: Robert Seay
Benton County Extension Agent
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207
ljames@uaex.edu
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