Emergency Forage Trial Central Sands Area Adams County 2005 & 2006 & 2007 Keith Vander Velde, UW Extension Marquette County Craig Saxe, UW Extension Juneau

Emergency Forage Trial

Central Sands AreaAdams County

2005 & 2006 & 2007Keith Vander Velde, UW Extension Marquette County

Craig Saxe, UW Extension Juneau County\

Ken Barnett, UW Extension Forage Specialist

Emergency Forage Trials

• Goals: What Works in Sandy Soils– Evaluate Crops Used for Summer Forage– Look at Ease of Establishment– Compare forage ability to Control Weeds– Measure Crude Protein, Net Energy and Milk

Per Acre– Compare differences in forage dry down



Emergency Forage TrialsForages Planted:

1. Sesqui Oat

2. Hybrid Pearl Millet

3. Japanese Millet

4. German Millet

5. Italian Rye Grass

6. Milo/Soybean Mix

7. Derry Soybeans

8. BMR Forage Sorghum

9. Forage Corn

10. Piper Sudan Grass

11. Grazing Composite Corn

(Multi-tillering corn that can be cut and new tillers will take over)


Rain Fall Limited in 2005 Rain Fall Very Limited in 2006

June 4- 0.2 inch June 3-.0.30 inch

June 5- 0.6 inch June 13-0.20 inch

July 4 – 0.7 inch July 5-0.35 inch

July 21-25- 6.0 inches July18-0.60 inch

July 28-1.20 inch

Aug 4- 1.50 inchesTotal Rainfall, 7.5 inches 4.5 inches

Emergency Forage Plots

• Sesqui Oats:– Seed Cost -$5/bushel

– Seeding Rate-75 lbs/acre

– Seed Cost per acre-$10

– Yield-1.4 tons (50% foxtail)

– Plant height-14 inches at heading

– Crude Protein = 12.3%

– Milk per ton=3425 lbs

– Milk per acre=4,633 lbs

Sesqui Oats


• Hybrid Pearl Millet:– Seed Cost -$35 per 50 lbs– Seeding Rate-25 lbs/acre– Seed Cost per acre-$18– Yield-4.8 ton per acre– Plant height-34 inches at

heading– Crude Protein = 10.4%– Milk per ton=3293 lbs– Milk per acre=15,690 lbs


• Japanese Millet:– Seed Cost -$25 per 50 lbs– Seeding Rate-30 lbs/acre– Seed Cost per acre-$15– Yield-2.7 ton per acre– Plant height-32 inches at

heading– Crude Protein = 14.2%– Milk per ton=3,132 lbs– Milk per acre=8,527 lbs

Pearl Millet

Japanese Millet


• German Millet:– Seed Cost -$35 per 50 lbs– Seeding Rate-20 lbs/acre– Seed Cost per acre-$14– Yield-5.4 ton per acre– Plant height-35 inches at


Japanese Millet

German Millet

Emergency Forage Plots• Italian Rye Grass:

– Seed Cost -$49 per 50 lbs



– Yield-2.3 ton per acre(75% foxtail)

– Plant height-35 inches at heading-foxtail

– Crude Protein = 10.7%

– Milk per ton=3,167 lbs


Italian Rye Grass

Emergency Forage Plots• Milo/Soybean Mix:




– Yield-3.4 ton per acre

– Plant height-33 inches at heading

– Crude Protein = 12%

– Milk per ton=3,034 lbs


Emergency Forage Plots• Derry Soybean-Forage type: R-5




– Yield-few soybean, mostly foxtail did not compete with foxtail with no chemical control


• BMR Forage Sorghum:– Seed Cost -$26 per 50 lbs– Seeding Rate-30 lbs/acre– Seed Cost per acre-$15.60– Yield-4.8 ton per acre– Plant height-42 inches at


BMR Forage Sorghum


• Forage Fodder Corn:– Seed Cost -$45 per 50 lbs– Seeding Rate-20 lbs/acre– Seed Cost per acre-$18– Yield-6.1 ton per acre– Plant height-40 inches at



• Piper Sudan Grass:– Seed Cost -$45 per 50 lbs– Seeding Rate-30 lbs/acre– Seed Cost per acre-$27– Yield-6.8 ton per acre– Plant height-45 inches at


Piper Sudan Grass


• UW Grazing Corn:– Seed Cost ?– Seeding Rate-25,000 seeds/acre– Seed Cost per acre ?– Yield-4.8 ton per acre– Plant height-48 inches at


Species Tn/acre

Piper Sudan 6.8

Corn (110 day RM) 6.1

German Millet 5.4

UW Grazing Composite 4.8

BMR Sorghum-sudan 4.8

Hybrid Pearl Millet 4.8

Milo/Soybean Mix 3.4

Japanese Millet 2.7

Italian Rye Grass 2.3

Oats 1.4

Forage Soybeans(R5) 0XXX

XXX

XXX

(Planted June 2, Cut Aug 6)

Species Milk/tnOats 3,425UW Grazing Composite 3,389Hybrid Pearl Millet 3,293Corn (110 day RM) 3,273Piper Sudan 3,227BMR Sorghum-sudan 3,203Italian Rye Grass 3,167 Japanese Millet 3,132Milo/Soybean Mix 3,034German Millet 2,822Forage Soybeans(R5) 0XXX

XXX

XXX

(Planted June 2, Cut Aug 6)

What is the best forage for late planting?(Dan Undersander)

After analyzing all the data, our recommendation is that corn for silage is the best crop for emergency planting at any date and location in Wisconsin where silage can be made. It was generally the highest yielding crop and was among the highest crop in forage quality. Sorghum-sudangrasses would be recommended for hay in southwestern Wisconsin and where above average temperatures are expected.

What is the best forage for late planting?From Our Trial

After analyzing all the data, our recommendation is that corn for silage is the best crop for emergency planting at any date and location in Wisconsin where silage can be made. It was generally the highest yielding crop and was among the highest crop in forage quality followed closely by sorghum-sudan grass. However, if interested in baling for hay Hybrid Pearl Millet deserves a closer look. It is low in prussic acid and safe for horses, cattle and sheep .


Using the Data• Taking it to the farm• Looking at Lower Inputs• Focus on Annuals• Safe for Horses• Regrowth after harvest

Summer Annuals in Combination

• Trip to Rodale Institute– Using hairy vetch and rye

• Vetch provides 90-120 lbs of N

• Rye provides support for upright growth

– Seed in fall-mid September– Harvest as hay-late May

Annual Forage Production

• Seeding Rate/Acre– 100 lbs rye

– 20 lbs hairy vetch

– Seeding date-Sept 20th

– Photo-Oct 31st


• Rye/Vetch Harvest– June 10th

– Yield-1.8 tons/acre

– RFQ-124

– CP %-11.8


• Rye/Vetch Harvest– June 10th

– Yield-1.8 tons/acre

– RFQ-124

– CP %-11.8


• Seed-Hybrid Pearl Millet

--June 11th

--20 lbs per acre• Harvest-August


•Hybrid Pearl Millet

--June 11th

--20 lbs per acre•Harvest-August

–Rainfall- June-0.4 inch

July – 5.6 inches


•Hybrid Pearl Millet–Yield-3.6 tons/acre–CP-12.8 %–RFQ-124

NE equal to corn silage

Cattle prefer it to alfalfa/orchard grass hay


Documents

Emergency Forage Trial Central Sands Area Adams County 2005 & 2006 & 2007 Keith Vander Velde, UW Extension Marquette County Craig Saxe, UW Extension Juneau