For Richard Martin, raising hay is about as easy as falling off a tractor seat
For many producers, it takes a lifetime to figure out what niche they will fill in the vast world of forage production.

Although there are strong opinions about environmental impact and supply of fossil fuels, we know that sometime in the future we’ll have to rely on alternative sources of energy to sustain our nation’s economy and way of life.

I recall a safety poster from many years back. It showed a large building in flames and a fellow standing nearby, surrounded by all the firefighting apparatus in the world.

This year’s unusually wet spring and early summer has led many farmers in some areas to store hay that’s wetter than normal, increasing the danger of barn fires.

In areas of excessive rainfall, many newly seeded alfalfa fields may show poor growth in wet or poorly drained fields which may be due to several diseases.

With so many choices available today, how can you decide which forage inoculants, if any, are right for your operation?

In its simplest form, a killing freeze is when temperatures get cold enough to kill all the top growth on the alfalfa plant.

If you have been trying to get a grip on your hay costs, you likely have realized that one of the largest costs is tied to fertilization.

Q. What is your background in the forage industry? A. I grew up on a dairy farm in central Minnesota.

The letters below are in regards to the August 11, 2009 issue of Progressive Forage Grower