Handbook

New Holland Haymaker’s Handbook 2011ed. NH36145160 • SG • 2117.5

New

Holland H

aymaker’s H

andbook Third Edition

$14.95

Haymaker’sHaymaker’sNEW HOLLAND

NEW HOLLAND

First Edition Copyright ©1975 Sperry New HollandNew Holland, Pennsylvania

Second Edition Copyright © 1987 New Holland, Inc.New Holland, Pennsylvania

Michael A. Balas, New Holland Marketing Communications Dept., Editor

Dr. John E. Baylor, Professor Emeritus of Agronomy Extension, Penn State University, Contributing Editor

Third Edition (Renewed) Copyright ©2011, CNH America LLCNew Holland, Pennsylvania

Warren H. Erb, New Holland MarketingTraining Dept. Retiree, Co-Editor

Jordan Milewski, Hay & Forage Marketing,New Holland Agriculture, Co-Editor

Kenneth E. Griswold, Ph.D., Dairy Exten-sion Educator, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Contributing Editor

Paul H. Craig, Dauphin County, PA, Cooperative Extension, Contributing Editor

Toby Buckley, Art Director

Haymaker’s Handbook

PAUL H. CRAIGhas been employed by Penn State University for 30 years, having worked in Washington,Monroe and Dauphin Counties of Pennsylvania.He works as part of a regional agronomy teamwith program emphasis on forage crop produc-tion, harvest and storage management. He received his BS in Agronomy from Penn StateUniversity in 1979 and his MS in Agronomy,also from Penn State, in 1987. He is a memberof the Pennsylvania Forage and GrasslandCouncil and the National Association of CountyAgricultural Agents. He is a Certified Crop Advisor.

KENNETH E. GRISWOLD, Ph.D. is a Dairy Extension Educator with Penn State Cooperative Extension (PSCE) in LancasterCounty, Pennsylvania. He is responsible for developing educational programs focused on increasing dairy profitability through improvement of production management areasincluding nutrition, forage utilization, herd management and records analysis. Raised on a 100-cow dairy in central New York State, he received his B.S. in animal science from Cornell University. After working in the dairyfeed industry, he completed a M.S. in ruminantnutrition at West Virginia University and a Ph.D.in rumen microbiology at the University of Illinois. Following postdoctoral research in dairynutrition at Ohio State University, Ken servedfive years at Southern Illinois University as anassistant professor of dairy management. Ken hasbeen an author on over 50 articles in scientificand lay publications.

Dr. JOHN E. BAYLORis Professor Emeritus of Agronomy at thePennsylvania State University. He retired in1983 after 26 years as Extension Forage Spe-cialist. He emphasized forge production andquality and conducted many innovative pro-grams including a statewide Alfalfa GrowersProgram, in-depth forage workshops for pro-ducers and agri-industry personnel, and manyeducational and competitive hay and hay cropsilage shows. He has been a member of theAmerican Society of Agronomy (ASA) andCrop Science Society of America (CSSA) for over 50 years and is a Fellow of both organizations. He is also a long time memberof the American Forage & Grassland Council(AFGC) having served on its board and aspresident. He also served as Secretary-Treasurer of AFGC from 1970 until 1987 andwas editor of the council's official voice - "For-age and Grassland Progress" from 1972 until itwas discontinued in 1984. Internationally hewas Chairman of the Governing Board for theXIV International Grassland Congress held atthe University of Kentucky in June 1981, andserved on the International Grassland CongressContinuing Committee. He was co-founder of the Forage and Grassland Foundation andserved as its president. He was also co-founderof the Pennsylvania Forage and GrasslandCouncil in 1960 and served as its first presi-dent. He has received a number of awards including AFGC's Medallion and PresidentialCitation and its Distinguished GrasslanderAward, along with the ASA Agronomic Exten-sion Education Award and the PennsylvaniaAgricultural Advisory Council DistinguishedService Award.

Baylor authored several books including the 50year histories of AFGC (1994), PFGC (2010),and the Atlantic Seedsmen's Association(2002). He was also contributing editor toNew Holland's Haymaker's Handbooks pub-lished in 1975 and 1987.

Table of Contents

Introduction1 Hay Is Big Business

Growing2 Planning Your Hay Program 3 Match Crop to Soil4 Lime – A Must for Quality Hay 5 Fundamentals of Forage Fertilization 6 Quality Seed, Proven Varieties, and Mixtures 7 Get Stands Off to a Good Start 8 Facts on Irrigating Hay Crops 9 Forage Management to Maintain Stands

10 Insects, Diseases and Weeds Can Spell Trouble

Harvesting11 The Advantages of Cutting Hay Early 12 Minimizing Hay Loss 13 A Look at Hay Harvesting Equipment 14 Mapping Out Haying Systems

Packaging15 Large Round Bales for Hay & Silage

15A Bale Silage16 Considering Grazing Systems

16A Hay Crop Silage

Feeding17 Hay as a Livestock Feed 18 Hay and Forage Feeding Fundamentals – Dairy 19 Hay and Dairy Herd Health 20 Hay Feeding Fundamentals – Beef, Sheep and Horses

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Throughout its 115 year history, New Holland has always pursued a goal of finding innovative ways to simplifyfarmers’ labors, making their lives less fatiguing, more pleasurable and more productive. From its freeze-proof enginesof the early days to the world’s first auto-matic pickup baler of the early ‘40's to thefirst Haybine® mower-conditioner in the‘60's to the first Twin Rotor® combine andbeyond, New Holland has reached its goalmany times over.

With the addition of balers and forage harvesters to the New Holland product linebegan a focus on hay and forage produc-tion. Since then, New Holland has culti-vated a passionate interest in the crops,their regional production methods, and the machines designed to handle them.Through a complete knowledge of thesecrops, methods and producers, the com-pany has excelled in creating, manufactur-ing and servicing the machines needed fortheir harvest.

Early on, New Holland adopted severalslogans to tie the company closely to hay and forage production in a way thatwent far beyond designing and buildingmachines.

Slogans like “First in Grassland Farming,”“Eat More Meat, Drink More Milk for aHealthy Agriculture,” and “Hay in a Day”became synonymous with the name New Holland and established the firm as a leader in the field.

At the same time, the company becamedeeply involved with college and univer-sity agricultural departments and was very active in The American Forage andGrassland Council. Convinced that thepursuit of quality hay and forage produc-tion as it related to equipment was an im-portant part of its mission, New Hollandpublished a booklet in 1975 entitled Haymaker’s Handbook, a small, abbrevi-ated “how-to” guide book drawing to-gether relevant university research, farmerknow-how and company expertise to helpboth novices and well established farmsunderstand the latest techniques and toimprove upon hay and forage production.This booklet was so popular that it was revised and re-printed in 1987. Since then,it has successfully guided hundreds of forward-thinking producers around theworld.

Although time has passed, many of the original messages contained within theearly editions of Haymaker’s Handbookremain valid despite the many landmarkindustry developments that have occurred.Today’s renaissance in quality and focuson improved varieties and yields havedriven this third edition of the popularhandbook. Modern hay and forage cropsare distinguished as valuable farm com-modities and indispensable livestock feedstuffs. In reading this latest edition, a new generation of producers may discover the knowledge of prior genera-tions and heed today’s advanced produc-tion methods, learning to balance farmtradition with modern practices.

Preface

It’s no secret that if you

want top forage yields you

must start with good

stands.

If asked why your seeding

failed, you may say, “poor

quality seed,” “dry soil,”

or perhaps “too many

weeds.” All of which

point to the fact that

successful seedling estab-

lishment of small seeded

hay crops is governed by

many factors – quality

seed, proper seedbed, ade-

quate lime and fertilizer,

seeding at the right time,

the best crop sequence,

good seeding techniques,

and satisfactory control of

troublesome weeds and

insects.

Moisture, Temperature, and LightOther factors are important, too.

Forage seeds require moisture, oxygen

and some warmth to germinate and

grow. The seeds are small and must

be planted close to the soil surface.

One-quarter to three-eighths-inch

planting depths are optimum under

most conditions.

Too much or too little water may harm

the seeds and seedlings. In wet soils,

oxygen may be lacking while tempera-

tures may be too cool for germination

and seedling growth. Then, too, some

seeds can absorb water and start to

CHAPTER 7

54

germinate in soils too dry for survival

of small seedlings.

Light, both intensity and day length,

has a big influence on the early devel-

opment of forage plants. Reduced light

intensities, due either to excessive

cloudiness or competition from crops

or weeds, may be responsible for many

seeding failures of both legumes and

grasses.

Greenhouse studies at Penn State

University show how important light

is. Under controlled conditions, top

growth of bird’s-foot trefoil was

reduced about 90% by reduced light

GrowingGet Stands Off to a Good Start

Successful seedling establishment of small seeded hay cropsis governed by many factors – quality seed, proper seedbed,adequate lime and fertilizer, seeding at the right time, thebest crop sequence, good seeding techniques, and satisfac-tory control of troublesome weeds and insects.

The Effects of Various Crop Sequences on Alfalfa Yields andStand Count after 6 Years (Illinois data)

FIGURE 7-1

Alfalfa Yield Plant Per Cropping Sequence Tons DM/Acre Square Foot

Corn - alfalfa 3.8 4.6

Corn - soybeans - alfalfa 3.5 3.8

Alfalfa 1.9 2.0

Sources: University of Illinois

Se

intensities due to shading. Root growthwas affected more severely than topgrowth.

Plants growing together may shade one another to almost the same degree.Under the dense stand of an oats crop, for example, light levels may bereduced by 95% or more. Such levelsmay be too low for the seedling to survive.

Some forage seedlings are more shadetolerant than others. But three words,“legumes like light,” pretty well tellthe story, regardless of species or variety.

We talk a lot about competition, butother factors may be working, too, oneof which is called allelopathy. Al-lelopathy is any direct or indirectharmful effect by one plant or anotherthrough the production of chemicalcompounds that escape into the envi-ronment. A very important point con-cerning allelopathy or autotoxicity isthat its effect depends on a chemicalbeing added to the environment, thusseparating it from the competition ef-fects noted earlier.

While not all researchers agree, there isplenty of evidence to suggest that alfalfa yields and stand densities are

greater when alfalfa is rotated with soybeans, corn, or grasses, compared to growing alfalfa after alfalfa. This issupported by the research shown in Figure 7-1.

The University of Illinois concludesthat there is a problem when alfalfa isseeded directly back into an old alfalfastand, especially if the old stand isaround 50% or more alfalfa.

How Many Plants per Acre?Plant populations and hay yields usuallydecline as stands get older, especiallywith legumes. So what makes a produc-tive forage stand? That may depend onwhere you farm, the crop you grow, andthe age of stand. For example, in SouthDakota, specialists consider 300,000legume plants per acre (7 plants persquare foot) as nearly ideal under mostconditions in that area. A field with300,000 plants per acre would produceas much hay in a drought year as a fieldwith 150,000 plants, they report, butwould yield more in a favorable season.

In North Dakota studies, alfalfa hayyields in the establishment year in-creased with increasing plant density, upto a point, but by the second productionyear, yields began to level out. Workersin that state concluded that under theirgrowing conditions, near maximum

55

alfalfa yields can be produced withseeding rates that establish ten evenlydistributed plants per square foot bythe fall of the seeding year. Most researchers suggest a decline in alfalfastand density has little direct effect onforage quality.

Minnesota authorities point out thatjust one pound of alfalfa seed per acreequals five seeds per square foot. Soweight pounds of alfalfa and six poundsof bromegrass and you have 58 plantsper square foot – if every seed germi-nated.

Everything considered, a good rule ofthumb rule for legumes is about500,000 strong seedlings per acre, ortwelve plants per square foot. Some-what more grass seedlings per squarefoot, especially for bunch grasses, maybe desirable.

But you’ll generally need to sow moreseeds per acre to assure a good stand.It’s not unusual for legume populationsto drop to only five to ten plants persquare foot within a short time afterseeding. And, as plants reach full size,natural competition thins them outeven more.

Thus, don’t skimp on seed. But don’tbe extravagant either. Check on seed-ing rate recommendations with localauthorities and be sure you’re plantingthe right amount of seed to end up withhigh producing stands.

Remember, too, that seeding rate isrelated to seeding method. With preci-sion seeding techniques and no-tillseedings, for example, rates can safelybe reduced by 15%-20% compared tobroadcasting.

56

The Approximate Seeds Per Pound of Several Forage Crop SpeciesTogether with the Theoretical Number of Seeds Per Square Footat Various Rates

FIGURE 7-2

ApproximateCrop Seeds/Pound 1 lb. 2 lb. 5 lb. 10 lb.

Alfalfa 221,000 5 10 26 51

Bluegrass, Kentucky 2,000,000 46 92 230 460

Brome, Smooth 137,000 3 6 16 31

Clover, Ladino 754,000 17 35 87 173

Clover, Red 293,000 7 13 34 67

Crown vetch 120,000 3 6 14 27

Fescue, Tall 246,000 6 11 28 56

Orchard grass 468,000 11 21 54 107

Redtop 5,605,000 129 257 644 1287

Reed Canary grass 660,000 15 30 61 152

Ryegrass 280,000 6 13 32 64

Sudangrass 55,000 1 3 7 13

Timothy 1,260,000 29 58 145 289

Trefoil, Bird’s-foot 414,000 10 19 48 95

Seeds/Square Foot at Seeding rate per acre of

Se

57

But, regardless of your intended seedrate or seeding technique, remember tocalibrate your seeder before going intothe field. Intended seeding rates and/orseeding depths are often quite differentfrom what is actually done because theequipment is not properly adjusted orcalibrated.

When to SeedIn some areas, it’s possible to make asuccessful seeding almost any month ofthe growing season.

In general, seedings made prior to prolonged cool and moist weather aremore successful than those made whenit’s hot and dry.

During the winter and early springmonths, soil moisture has built up andspring moisture is generally good. Evap-oration is less during the spring and soilmoisture is retained longer during the establishment period.

To take advantage of the “ideal” condi-tions at this season of the year, includingbetter moisture and less competitionfrom weeds, spring seedings of mostspecies should be made as early as a

proper seedbed can be prepared. Seed alfalfa in early April without a compan-ion crop and harvest your first hay cropin about 70 days. Exceptions to this“early as possible” rule are bird’s-foottrefoil and crown vetch, which shouldnot be seeded until soil temperaturesreach the upper 50’s.

Seeding in the late summer is also popular in some areas, and is consid-ered especially ideal for many cool- season grasses because of cool nights,adequate rainfall, and warm soil. Ingeneral, grasses sown in the late sum-mer or early fall root more deeply because the slower top growth is conducive to better root formation.However, some grass species, such asorchard grass, are relatively nonhardy inthe seedling stage, while others, such asbromegrass and reed canary grass lackseedling vigor. Thus, these species mustbe seeded relatively early in the seasonto assure good winter survival. Successis most often achieved where at least 8to 10 weeks of good growing weatherprecede winter dormancy.

A

The Percent Seedling Emergence of Several Forage Crops When Seeded at 4 Depths.

FIGURE 7-3

Seedling Depth in inches

Crop 1/2 1 1 1/2 2

Alfalfa 64 53 45 19

Clover, Alsike 53 49 9 4

Clover, Ladino 47 28 2 0

Clover, Red 56 62 22 14

Bluegrass, Kentucky 43 27 4 0

Bromegrass 78 69 51 24

Timothy 89 81 39 12

Redtop 64 33 2 0

58

A fine, firm seedbed improves chances of a suc-cessful forage stand. If the seedbed is too loose,tender legume and grass roots dry out and maydie.

or harrowing, will aid in firming thesoil in the seeding zone. Cultipackingbefore seeding is additional assuranceof a firm seedbed.

But whatever plan you follow, aseedbed firm enough for a man to walkacross without sinking more than aquarter inch into the soil is a good ruleto follow.

Inoculate LegumesRutgers University scientists pointedout many years ago that every acre is“covered” with 35,000 tons of free ni-trogen in the atmosphere. Out of thisvast nitrogen supply, only a tiny portionis taken by legumes. However, this nitrogen can be an important factor incutting the amount of commercial nitrogen needed for the following crop.But legumes salvage nitrogen only if efficient legume bacteria (rhizobia) arepresent. And as pointed out by the lateDr. O. N. Allen, rhizobiologist at theUniversity of Wisconsin, “Only 25% ofall rhizobia found naturally in the soilare highly beneficial.”

Legumes and bacteria establish a work-ing relationship called symbiosis. Theplant furnishes sugar, energy, and nod-ules formed by bacteria. The bacteriause energy to change free nitrogen fromthe air into a form used by the plants.Not all soils contain nitrogen-fixingbacteria of either the right kind for aspecific crop or in sufficient quantity.Rhizobia content of soils varies accord-ing to geographical area, cropping history, and the soil itself. That’s whyit’s important to inoculate legume seedsand with the proper strain of bacteria.

When and Why of InoculationUnder favorable conditions and a

Depth of SeedingHay legume and grass seeds are smalland can easily be placed too deeply.The optimum depth for small forageseeds is one-quarter to three-eighthsinch on heavy soils and one-half tothree-quarters inch on light soils. Thesefacts have been confirmed by researchthroughout the U.S. One look at Figure7-3 will tell you how seedlings of several crops emerged when planted at different depths.

The Ideal SeedbedFirm, fine, and mellow on the surface isone way to describe the ideal forageseedbed.

If the seedbed is not firm, tiny legumeand grass roots will grow into air pock-ets between soil particles and die. Thatfirm, fine, and mellow seedbed is alsoessential to permit uniform, shallowcoverage of seed.

For the prepared seedbed, early plow-ing, followed by an occasional disking

59

continuous legume cropping history, the right kind and adequate amount ofbacteria may be present in the soil horizon. However, in cases of low pH orlow fertility, drought, high soil tempera-ture, or persistent rains, the number ofbacteria may be greatly diminished.Under such conditions, and especiallywhen planting legumes for the first timeon new land, or if four or five yearshave elapsed since the previous legumecrop, seed definitely should be inocu-lated. A good rule of thumb is “when indoubt, inoculate.”

Inoculation adds a fresh culture of ef-fective rhizobia strains to seed and soil.Thus, rhizobia can begin working as theseed germinates and the plant startsgrowing. Since protein content inlegumes is directly related to nitrogencontent, effective inoculation is a majorkey to improving yield and quality.

Benefits of InoculationResearch shows the more effectivestrains of legume bacteria can increaseyield or protein content of legumes asmuch as 20%, on the average, over natural legume bacteria in the soil.

Without legume bacteria in the soil,legumes can’t take nitrogen from the air.So inoculation is essential to givelegumes the chance they need to reachfull potential.

The amount of nitrogen legumes can fixvaries widely, depending on many fac-tors. Of these factors, the five most im-portant are: (1) type of legume, (2) howwell seeds are inoculated and effective-ness of inoculating bacteria, (3) soiltype and fertility level, (4) soil pH, and(5) climatic conditions.

When conditions are favorable, astand of alfalfa may fix nearly 200pounds of nitrogen per acre. On theother hand, annual legumes such assoybeans will fix about 40 to 60pounds.

Pre-inoculationSeed can be hand inoculated with afresh culture of the proper strain ofbacteria just prior to sowing. How-ever, much of the alfalfa and cloverseed currently marketed is alreadypre-inoculated with the properstrain. Newer pre-inoculated tech-niques, such as the clay-based Dor-mal process, have proven highlyeffective and have extended theshelf life over conventional humus-based pre-inoculants. Nevertheless,pre-inoculated seed carried overfrom spring for summer or fallseedlings should normally bereinoculated prior to seeding.

Seed TreatmentsOther newer seed treatments arealso available to help get new seed-ings off to a good start. Studies inseveral states have shown that treat-ing seed of several species with thesystemic fungicide metalaxyl, mar-keted under the trade name Apron,provides good protection againstpresent strains of the pythium andphytophthora seed and root-rot organisms. Treated seed lots frequently resulted in initial stands20% to 40% better than untreatedcontrols. Based on current informa-tion, Apron can be used successfullywith both clay-based and humus-based pre-inoculants if directions

60

are followed carefully.

Lime coating of legume seeds has alsobeen accepted in some states as an aid to better stands. Newer lime coatingprocesses seem to work well with bothpre-inoculated and Apron treated seed.

Seeding ToolsGood hay-crop stands can be obtained byusing a variety of techniques. Some aremore successful than others, depending onlocal soil and climatic conditions.

Seeding equipment commonly used forgrasses and legumes on a preparedseedbed include:

(1) Cultipacker Seeder. This machineworks well for seeding legumes or small-seeded grasses on areas free of cropresidue. Light-weight seeds – smoothbromegrass or wheatgrass – may not bewell covered and smaller seeds may notbe covered with the cultipacker seeder onareas having heavy crop residues.

(2) Press Drill. A drill which has presswheels following the seed tubes is best onfields with crop residue. A press drill alsoshows excellent results on plowed or

clean, fallowed land if a uniformshallow seeding is made. They warnthat lightweight grass seeds may“bridge over” in the drill box and notfeed down the spouts.

(3) Grain Drill. On plowed or clean,fallowed land, a grain drill can beused without press wheels. Pack thefield after seeding, but remember thatpacking can lead to erosion, undersome conditions. “Bridging over” isalso a problem.

(4) Broadcast Seeder. A broadcastercan be used for seeding foragelegumes on plowed or clean fallowedland if seed is harrowed in, or goneover with a corrugated roller. Insome areas, early spring broadcastingwithout covering is the acceptedmethod for seeding red clover in fall-sown wheat.

Fluid or suspension seeding is a rela-tively new, but very effective, customway of broadcasting seed uniformlyover large acreages in a short time.However, cultipacking before andafter seeding is a must with this typeof seeding. Authorities generallyagree that if seeding occurs immedi-ately after the inoculated seeds areadded to the suspension, there’s noinjury to the rhizobia.

No-Till Seedings Gaining FavorIn many areas, seeding alfalfa orother legumes the no-till way eitherin small grain or corn stubble, or insod, has gained momentum in recentyears.

Several requirements for successfulno-till establishment include:

(1) Competition from other plants

Band Seeding Most Reliable

DISC

SOIL SURFACE FERTILIZER

WHEEL PACKER

SEED TUBE

FERTILIZERPLACEMENT

SEEDPLACEMENT PACKING

61

must be eliminated.

(2) Heavy thatch and plant growth tallenough to shade the soil surface mustbe removed.

(3) Protect the seedlings from insects,especially when seeding in sod.

(4) Soil fertility must be medium tohigh with pH about 6.5.

(5) Seed at the proper time.

(6) Use proper, well maintained equipment.

Seeding Forages with a Companion CropSmall grain companion crops areamong the oldest methods of gettingweed-free forage the seeding year.However, recent research shows smallgrain crops compete with youngseedlings for light, moisture, and nu-trients.

Where oats or other spring grains areused as a companion crop, all forageexperts advise using a variety that isshort, early maturing, stiff-strawed,and non-lodging. Then reduce its seed-ing rate by one-half. Lodging resist-ance is of greatest importance. Manyseedings are thinned or lost whenlodged grain forms a tight canopy overthe legume, sealing out light. Barley isespecially susceptible to lodging andis not usually recommended as a com-panion crop. For best results whereoats is used, remove as green chop,silage, or hay, just as the heads emergefrom the boot. After harvesting oats,close clipping of stubble can markedlyimprove the legume seeding. Carefulmanagement after the oat crop is re-moved is also important. Red clover

can be improved more than alfalfa byclipping. Trash should be removedfrom fields after clipping. Delayingclipping until late August is benefi-cial only if you have good rainfalland soil moisture.

Weeds develop quickly in unclippedfields. Heavy weed growth almost always reduces vigor and density ofnew legume stands, as well as reduc-ing hay yields the following spring.

Ohio tests indicate stands usually arebetter when alfalfa is seeded in oatsinstead of in wheat. But for fall seeding, wheat is better than barleyor rye. Wheat is sometimes superiorto oats as a companion crop for redclover.

Eliminate That CompanionCropRecently many hay growers throughout the country have turnedto spring seedings without a graincrop, especially with legumes. Except where weeds have been a serious problem, this practice hasmeant from 4 to 5 or more tons theseeding year.

Researchers in Illinois, Michigan,Iowa, and Ontario found proper herbicides applied when alfalfa is afew inches high do a good job ofcontrolling broadleaf weeds. Thisgets legumes off to a good start,eliminates the need for a companioncrop, and gives 4 or more tons of top-quality forage the seeding year.

Forage stands established withoutcompanion crops are usually betterand more productive in following

62

years. When legumes are seededwithout a companion crop, weeds are a problem and some means ofcontrol is necessary.

Good Weed Control CriticalThus, good weed control with herbi-cides at establishment is critical togetting good hay stands.

Herbicides used for hay stand estab-lishment can generally be classifiedas either pre-plant or post-emergencematerials.

EPIC and benefin are pre-plant incorporated herbicides. That is, theyare applied before planting and incor-porated within the soil to a depth of 1 to 2 inches. If used at the properrate and thoroughly mixed with thesoil, these herbicides will controlmost of the annual grasses and many broadleaf weeds found in newlegume seedings. Eptam also does anexcellent job of controlling nutsedge.

Since these herbicides will severelyinjure seedling forage grasses, weedspecialists stress they cannot be usedin mixtures with forage grasses.Where grass-legume mixtures are tobe made, you must rely on a spotemergence application of 2,4-DB for control of the broadleaf weedsbut the grass weeds will be missed.However, for effective control, thesematerials must be applied when theweeds are small and the foragelegumes are in the second to third trifoliate leaf stage.

Weed authorities further emphasizethat forage legumes differ in theirsusceptibility to many of the herbi-

cides mentioned. Alfalfa and bird’s-foot trefoil, for example, are tolerantto treatments of EPIC, benefin, and 2,4-DB, but sweet clover and crownvetch are susceptible.

Before using herbicides on new seedings, be sure to check with local authorities for specific recommendations.

One final word: many new seedingshave been severely damaged fromherbicide residues, particularly tri-azines. Thus, plan your herbicideprogram for all of the crops in the ro-tation, not just the immediate seeding.

Manage Those New SeedingsSeeding year management can be important to the successful establish-ment of a new seeding, too. This includes insect control.

One excellent approach to a success-ful spring seeding is to seed on a prepared seedbed, eliminate the companion crop, control weeds andinsects with chemicals, and removethe first hay crop the seeding yearwhen the legume reaches the late bud to early bloom stage of growth. Normally with this program, three ormore harvests may be made the yearof seeding, depending on the lengthof the growing season.

In many areas of the U.S., potatoleafhoppers can be very destructiveon new spring seedings of alfalfa andother legumes. If leafhopper popula-tions build up, there are several approved insecticides available to effectively control this pest on newseedings. However, daily inspectionsof the fields are necessary to detect

63

its presence.

When weeds are a problem in springseedings made without a companioncrop, wait until the alfalfa is at theproper stage, second trifoliate, andapply post-emerge herbicides for best controls.

Establishing Bermuda GrassBermuda grass and other vegeta-tively propagated species requirespecial attention for establishingstands. When preparing a seedbed,two factors are important: (1) sprigs(portion of stem or root used fortransplanting) should be planted onlyin moist soil, and (2) the seedbedshould be weed-free or weeds con-trolled immediately with herbicidesafter planting.

Planting should be fairly deep to in-sure continued soil moisture, but topsshould be above ground. However,planting too deep may delay emer-gence and seems to increase springdamage by soil microbes.

Fertilizing as soon as stolons appear

will help to hasten developmentand ground cover.More Bermuda grass is propagatedby planting sprigs than by seeding.Farmers generally have better suc-cess with this method. Poor seedinghabits of coastal hybrid forage varieties such as Midland and Teft-44 types make it mandatorythey be established from sprigs.Some farmers maintain on-farmBermuda grass nurseries to insurehaving fresh planting materialavailable.

Bermuda grass specialists say thereare three major reasons for standfailures: (1) planting on areas thathave stands of other grasses, (2)using dried out sprigs, and (3) grazing before grass is established.They suggest planting sprigs on aclean, moist seedbed free of othergrowing grasses. Use fresh sprigswith at least 3 nodes or joints. Plantsprigs the same day they are dug,or better still, the same half day. Ifnot planted almost immediately,

To purchase additional copies of

Haymaker’s Handbook please contact

your local New Holland dealer or visit

www.newholland.com/na/haymakershandbook

Handbook

New Holland Haymaker’s Handbook 2011ed. NH36145160 • SG • 2117.5

New

Holland H

aymaker’s H

andbook Third Edition

$14.95

Haymaker’sHaymaker’sNEW HOLLAND