Page 25 - MWC 4-21-2022s

Time to Assess Forage Legume Stands The Midwest Cattleman · April 21, 2022 · P25

By Dr. Mark Sulc. Professor & Extension Forage Specialist
With the onset of recent plant will have a creamy trogen needs for
warm temperatures, forage white color with little to no first year corn (or
stands are beginning to green discoloration in the crown sorghum grasses)
up. Wet soil conditions and and taproot. These healthy and will even sup-
widely fluctuating tempera- plants will also have numer- ply a significant
tures have presented tough ous shoots that are evenly amount of N to sec-
conditions for forage stands distributed around the crown ond-year corn after
this winter. This is especial- of the plant. alfalfa is terminat-
ly true of taprooted legumes Damaged plants often ed. This too should
like alfalfa and red clover. have fewer stems, and those be considered when
Many forage stands suffered stems often are more numer- deciding whether
significant fall armyworm ous on one side of the crown to keep an old for-
feeding damage late last (i.e., shoot growth is not sym- age legume stand
summer and into the fall, so metrical). Splitting roots and that might not be
those stands should be care- crowns will reveal darker tis- so productive this
fully evaluated this spring as sue than the creamy white year, especially
they green up. It is time to color of healthy plants. The considering the
start walking forage stands color tends towards a tan current high price
to assess their condition so color. There also may be ob- of fertilizers. Per-
decisions and adjustments vious areas of root and crown haps the old alfal-
for the 2022 growing season rot that are dark brown to fa stand will serve
can be planned if necessary. black in color. Streaks of you better as a N supplier demonstrated that alfalfa
Forage stand evaluation brown might be seen running and yield booster for your N credits can supply all the
can be performed when 3 to 4 down the length of the tap- corn (corn after alfalfa usu- nitrogen needs of first year
inches of new shoot growth is root. Generally, these plants ally yields more than corn corn, including first year no-
present. Select random sites green up in the spring of the after soybeans), with the op- till corn following alfalfa. If it
throughout the field and year and might appear pro- portunity to perhaps plant a makes you sleep better, apply
count the plants in a one-foot ductive, but because of their new alfalfa stand where you a little starter or sidedress N
square area. Check at least compromised root system, would have planted the corn.
4 to 5 random sites in each they may not survive the en- Numerous studies have continued on page 31
20- to 25-acre area. Random tire production year, especial-
sampling will give the best ly if we have a hot, dry year,
unbiased overall evaluation or periods of excessive wet-
of the field. ness followed by dry spells.
Plant heaving is always In general, yield poten-
a concern in northeast Ohio tial is significantly reduced Located 45 mi. SE of Kansas City, Mo on 58 Hwy. east at
and wherever heavy clay if more than 30% of the split Modern Kingsville Livestock Auction Center at Kingsville, MO
soils are present with poor roots have brown streaks
drainage. Crops such as al- running down the root and/
falfa and red clover are par- or black areas of root/crown Special Cow & Bull Sale
ticularly susceptible to heav- rot that cover greater than in conjunction with
ing damage. The likelihood 30 to 50% of the root diame-
of heaving is greater in wet, ter. The grower may want to Show-Me-Select Bred Heifers
saturated clay soils with high consider alternative forage
shrink/swell potential that options such as terminating
were exposed to rapid freeze/ the stand after a first cutting Saturday, May 21 • 11:00 am
thaw cycles. Plants can be and planting to silage corn
physically lifted (heaved) out or possibly to a warm season
of the soil, exposing the plant annual forage crop such as Two-Day
crowns to low temperatures sudangrass or sorghum x su-
and/or physical injury from dangrass (BMR varieties are Memorial Weekend Sale
wheel traffic at harvest time. preferred for dairy cattle).
In severe cases, the plant can Interseeding with other for-
be heaved several inches or age species may also be con- May 29-30 • 9:00 am
more out of the soil, breaking sidered to thicken the stand,

the taproot and killing the just don’t try to interseed Tractors - Hay Equipment - Livestock Equipment
plant. alfalfa seed into an existing Antiques - Trucks/Cars - Lawn & Garden
While plant counts are alfalfa stand because of auto-
useful, crown and root tissue toxicity.
should be evaluated for an If the alfalfa stand looks All Consigners & Buyers Welcome
indication of how the plant tough, it might be a blessing Call 816-597-3331 Office
will hold up to stresses in the in disguise. Yield declines Rick, Jeremy or Jared Anstine
coming growing season. Dig as the stand ages, especially
up 5 to 6 plants in each ran- in years 4 and 5 of an alfal- 816-258-3421 • 816-716-9288 • 816-878-5229
dom field location you sam- fa stand. Consider also that Website: www.kingsvillelivestock.com • email: anstineauction@gmail.com
ple and split the crowns and a terminated forage legume
roots lengthwise. A healthy stand can supply all the ni-