Alfalfa Can Provide Irrigation Flexibility
Wednesday Jun 2nd, 2021
News Reporter With California Ag Today, I’m Tim Hammerich.
Over the past several years alfalfa production has really declined in California, replaced by other crops, especially tree crops. However, in dry years like this one, it has an advantage of being flexible, says UC Davis agricultural economist Dr. Dan Sumner.
Sumner… “One of the positive things about alfalfa is that you can adjust how much you water it. And it s sort of like mowing your lawn. If you put less water on it, it doesn t grow as fast. So unlike an annual crop, say processing tomatoes, where you re not going to cut back on the water use of the tomatoes, with alfalfa you can, and remember the alfalfa stand will last four years, so you don t want it to die. Let s say you ve got a second year stand of alfalfa. But if you have a bad drought year, you can save that water. And often use it on your own almonds or pistachios or for tha
DENTON (UNT), Texas A University of North Texas College of Science professor has moved researchers across the globe closer to understanding how to make condensed tannins in forage crops such as alfalfa, not only making food more nutritious for animals, but potentially improving food supply and limiting global warming.
Now is the time to return to work and to writing this column.
Some of you know that I was off for three months from my Penn State Extension employment and writing this column after experiencing a cardiac arrest in January.
I am grateful to the Lord for extending my days, and for the thoughts and prayers of many of the readers of this column.
I would like to thank my Penn State Extension colleague Jeff Graybill for taking care of this column in my absence.
Additionally I would like to thank the members of our Extension Field and Forage Crops team who assisted Jeff with article contributions during this time.
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Alfalfa: Compared to the last report Feb. 4: Hay trade remains slow, with Arctic temperatures and heavy snowfall over the trade area has hampered movement. No trades of ground alfalfa yet demand remains moderate to good as most feed yards and dairies seem to be current as of now. Demand remains moderate for farmers and ranchers.
No trades reported.
Grass hay:
Central Oklahoma: Large round bermuda grass $55-$60 per bale. Large round prairie/meadow grass $35 per bale.
Eastern and Western Oklahoma: No trades reported.
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Prices are dollars per ton and FOB unless otherwise noted.
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March 5
Receipts: 6,571; Last Reported 3,630; Last Year 4,252
Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were to lightly tested on a Current FOB Basis last week; however few trades of steers and heifers 3.00-5.00 lower. Demand moderate. Rainfall is in the forecast for the weekend, continuing to leave pastures in muddy conditions.