If 2008 wasn’t an interesting year for the forage industry I don’t know what would be.

When rain occurs in windrowed alfalfa fields, problems often develop. Sometimes referred to as “windrow disease,” these problems can be noted by stripes in the field where alfalfa windrows remained so long that some smothering occurred underneath the hay.

Have you looked at the commodity futures markets lately? If you’re cringing right now, it’s most likely because you’ve seen corn futures projected to climb higher than $5 per bushel and soybeans on the march to record highs, too. Because these prices aren’t expected to drop anytime soon, dairy producers continue to find ways to lower costs, sometimes by substituting cheaper feedstuffs with a lower nutrient value. But one feedstuff producers can’t cut corners with is high-quality alfalfa for the nutrition, health and productivity it provides. For growers, high-quality, high-yielding alfalfa can mean additional profits in the bank.

Ronald Scott Thaemert, age 58, was called home on Monday, Feb. 25, 2008, due to a longtime heart condition while at his home in Bellevue.

Some alfalfa fields have had a rough time. If drought does not stress the crop enough, the winter ice or freezing temperatures certainly could.

Alfalfa is a high-quality, valuable forage crop that can be successfully produced on most well-drained soils.

I have attended several hay conferences and conventions early this year and the leading question to many conversations has been, “What is happening with crop production acres this year?”

When you stop and look at agricultural opportunities over the past 30 years, it is hard to find a time that producers have had so many positive opportunities.

Plant density and yield of any stand of alfalfa will eventually decline, but rate of decline will be influenced by multiple factors including harvest or grazing management, irrigation practices, precipitation, soil fertility, soil type, weeds, insects, diseases and, in some instances, variety of alfalfa.

On September 28th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a memorandum concerning the transportation of baled hay and straw.