The USDA crop progress report released May 23, 2011 shows 79 percent of the corn acres planted in the top 18 states versus 92 percent in 2010, well behind the 2006-2010 average of 87 percent. With wet fields and delays in planting, only 45 percent of the corn has emerged versus 69 percent in 2010.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has revised its popular standard for agricultural machinery management data.

The revised standard, ASAE D497.7, Agricultural Machinery Management Data, simplifies fuel consumption equations. This standard is used in conjunction with ASAE EP496.3, Agricultural Machinery Management; to report typical tractor values for tractor performance, implement power requirements, repair and maintenance costs, depreciation, fuel and oil use, reliability for field operation, probable working days, and timeliness coefficients as measure by experiment, modeling or survey.

Alfalfa is one of the most widely adapted and productive crops available to growers. The crop provides high protein, energy and mineral values for livestock.

The level of alfalfa winterkill affects forage quality because of increased grassy and broadleaf weed pressure. In general, grasses such as quackgrass and bromegrass will reduce the quality of the harvested forage while broadleaf weeds have less effect.

Severe winter cold coupled with little or no snow cover can result in poor hay and pasture stands in spring. Plants may be killed or weakened, leaving barren areas in the field or thinning of the stand, depending on the severity of winter injury.

Heaving is problem in some alfalfa stands each year in the Midwest. Heaving occurs on heavy soils that have high moisture contents. Repeated freezing and thawing causes soil expansion and contraction that pushes the tap-rooted plants (and fence posts) out of the soil.

Rick Hanshew
Bakersfield, California
Southwest Territory Manager
Reinke Manufacturing