Fall is a good time to consider evaluating existing alfalfa stands to estimate what stand conditions might be present next spring. Assessing stands in the fall helps to identify potentially weakened stands that will become more prone to winter injury.

The 2010 contest has concluded. Click here to see the winners! As Editor Lynn Olsen discussed her recent editorial, the fall season brings harvest, a change in the weather and the setting of goals for the next year.

Ever sit down and list those things that could have made you a million bucks if only - - - ? Think of some of the statements made on t-shirts, for example. Early on in our marriage, my wife actually wore a sweatshirt I got for her that had lettered on the front, “Eat your heart out. I’m married!” My son has a t-shirt that says, “VOTE FOR PEDRO.” He has no idea who Pedro is or what he was trying to get elected to, but the t-shirt was cheap. The one I have never seen that I think would sell well would read, “SMASHES SPIDERS BAREFOOT.” One of my antics that my wife wishes I would grow out of is, when meeting someone with a shirt or jacket that has the logo, “B.U.M.” on it, is to ask them why their mother named them “Bum?” Which brings to mind the boy who came home after a week at Boy Scout camp and was a little upset with his mother. She had dutifully attached or written his name to all of his clothing except his undershorts. Seems that some of the boys had been calling him “Fruit of the Loom,” which was the only name on his shorts, all week.

Thought about the hoses connected to your farm equipment? If not, you should, a Purdue University specialist advises.

Unless farmers want to chance reduced yields, they should probably stick with inoculating their clover seed themselves, according to a Texas AgriLife Research forage scientist. "Or they should realize that they'll need to plant the coated seed at a higher rate per acre to get the same yields," said Dr. Gerald Evers, AgriLife Research forage management expert.

Recently, a producer posted a question on the Dairy-L listserv regarding partially frosted corn for silage. Progressive Forage Grower asked Bill Mahanna at Pioneer, who responded to the producer, to provide more information on the subject.

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