Improving Alfalfa Production: On the Plains & Front Range

On The Plains & Front Range

IMPROVING ALFALFA PRODUCTION PRODUCING

MORE HAY

w/LESS WATER

managing

soil SALINITY w/

NEW VARIETIES

GENETIC UNIFORMITY tonnage quality stand longevity

ESTABLISHING ALFALFA IN A

WINDY

ENVIRONMENT

w w w. s h a r p s e e d . c o m

from the Alfalfa Specialists of Sharp Brothers Seed Company & Dairyland Seeds

TED HESSLINK

DENNIS SCHWARTZKOPF

Alfalfa Sales Specialist 620-397-1632 hayfarmerks@yahoo.com

Colorado/Nebraska 970-302-4595 denniss@sccisp.net

Sharp Brothers Seed Company

JEFF SHARROCK

Sharp Brothers Seed Company

Texas/Oklahoma 620-397-8060 jeffsharrock@sharpseed.com

Sharp Brothers Seed Company

DALE CROSS

Sharp Brothers Seed Company

Eastern Kansas 620-397-3709 dkcross49@hotmail.com

VAUGHN SOTHMAN

Sharp Brothers Seed Company

Northwest Kansas 620-397-3745 vsothman@st-tel.net

RYAN BURKE

Sharp Brothers Seed Company

SW Kan., NW Okla., Texas Panhandle 620-623-0055 rburke05@hotmail.com

MORE HAY LESS WATER FULL SEASON VARIETIES USE WATER MORE EFFICIENTLY Full season varieties initiate growth earlier in the spring and continue growth later into the fall than traditional short season varieties. Alfalfa produces the most tonnage with the least water consumption during mild temperatures typical of spring and fall. Full season growth habits must be teamed with winter hardiness and spring frost tolerance to complete a package that produces consistent yield advantages. Mike Velde, Dairyland Seeds alfalfa breeder, explains, “Through selection, breeding and testing in our northern nursery, we have been able to identify semi-dormant (full season) alfalfa strains that exhibit excellent winter survival as well as spring frost tolerance. The combination of these traits is a key strategy in our breeding program. HybriForce2600 is our strongest combination of winter survival and spring frost tolerance in a full season, semi dormant alfalfa.

It is a particularly good fit for the Central and Southern Plains climate.”

NG EARLY SPRI

MID SUMMER

have been able to “We identify semi-dormant (full season) alfalfa strains that exhibit excellent winter survival as well as spring frost tolerance.”

MIKE VELDE

Dairyland Seeds Product Manager/Alfalfa Breeder

LATE FALL

LONG SEASON (FD 6 Alfalfa) SHORT SEASON (FD 4 Alfalfa)

Low Production HIGH WATER USE

High Production LOW WATER USE

WATER USE

Dairyland Seeds test plot following a hard spring frost.

competitor

HybriForce 2600

High Production LOW WATER USE

Spring Frost Tolerance Dairyland Seeds selects for spring frost tolerance during hybrid and varietal alfalfa breeding. Combining early spring growth with spring frost tolerance is the key to capturing the high yield potential accompanying semi dormant (FD 6) varieties.

Dairyland Seeds alfalfa varieties lead the industry in spring frost tolerance, an especially important trait in semi dormant, winter hardy alfalfas such as HybriForce 2600 and Magna 601.

DROUGHT AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY “I’ve observed that the HybriForce hybrids handle drought well. Having

lived in dry country for all of my hay farming career... I evaluate an alfalfa variety’s drought tolerance from two perspectives; heat bloom resistance and fast recovery from severe drought.”

TED HESSLINK

Sharp Brothers Seed Company

1. Heat Bloom Resistance - Better Yield Better Response to Water

“Heat Bloom; plains producers use that phrase to describe the situation when alfalfa blooms prematurely as a result of intense summer heat. If heat bloomed alfalfa does produce new foliage it will be from the crown at or below the soil line of the plant and any tonnage added will be at the expense of the next cutting. From a management stand point, it means that it is time to swath, there is no advantage to delay. Producers with HybriForce alfalfa tell us that these hybrids do not heat bloom as readily as do other varieties. The difference in heat bloom can be as much as 5 days in side by side comparisons. This gives HybriForce alfalfas the ability to accumulate more tonnage per cutting cycle during summer heat. HybriForce has a greater opportunity to add tonnage to that cutting cycle with a late irrigation or rainfall without sacrificing plant health and vigor.”

HybriForce Hybrid Alfalfa time to cut

{

heat bloom resistance

Management Plan: let it grow

Conventional Alfalfa time to cut early heat bloom

Management Plan: cut it now

2. Severe Drought - HybriForce Fast Recovery “Under severe drought conditions, when plant available water is completely depleted, alfalfa will wilt and assume dormancy. When soil moisture is restored following drought, it is critical that the alfalfa crop quickly recover and regrow. Post drought recovery of HybriForce hybrids have also been outstanding.”

HybriForce Hybrid Alfalfa drought breaking rain

FAST RECOVERY

Conventional Alfalfa

SLOW RECOVERY

TESTIMONIAL

drought breaking rain

pucket has acerages of both hybriforce 2600 & 2400

“2013 was a year of spring freezes,

wind storms and drought. The HybriForce-2400 yielded 9.3 tons per acre. A very strong wind storm damaged the first crop. If there was a normal year, the yield should have been 11 tons per acre. During the drought and heat, HybriForce-2400 did not bloom as other varieties indicating heat bloom tolerance.”

DARREL PUCKET

Teakup Farm - Ulysses, Kansas

In most instances, the ideal harvest time is in the early flowering/ regrowth stage. Harvest after that stage may increase tonnage of the cutting at hand, but usually at the expense of the following cutting.

“For every day that harvest is delayed after the ideal stage of growth, your alfalfa crop is probably using 0.25 to 0.35 inches of moisture and you’re not getting anything in return. A week’s delay, whether it is all at once or accumulated across four cuttings, is likely to use about 2” of soil moisture.

2” of soil moisture that could be used to produce an additional ¾ to one ton of alfalfa hay.” says Hesslink. Having spent most of his career managing large irrigated alfalfa farms on the High Plains, Hesslink is aware of the difficulties producers face when managing labor and equipment around the demands of the weather. “You can’t always get the hay swathed when you want to. But you should have a target in your cross hairs and get as close as you can.”

TESTIMONIAL

HARVEST TIMING FOR WATER USE EFFICIENCY

“HybriForce-2600’s first crop yielded 2.8 tons

per acre. My average yield was about 2.2 tons per acre for the first crop. The RFV was 191.

TOM WHITE

Lakin, Kansas

GENETIC UNIFORMITY: THE KEY TO ALFALFA

TONNAGE, FORAGE QUALITY & STAND LONGEVITY “Bees carrying pollen are responsible for alfalfa seed formation. Controlling bee movement and the pollen that bees carry is one of the big challenges to alfalfa breeding and seed production. Imagine grazing a pure bred Angus herd on open range where your neighbor’s Shorthorn bulls can wander through at any time. You are not likely to have a 100% Angus calf crop in that situation. Alfalfa breeding faces similar challenges, not from wandering Shorthorn bulls but from bees carrying pollen from unwanted sources.

For that reason it is difficult to achieve the very high level of genetic uniformity that is characteristic of other major crops that American farmers produce. ” says Mike Velde.” In our breeding program, especially hybrid development, we take extraordinary measures to control pollination—reduce the unpredictable open range scenario— the result being that we put seed in the bag that leads the industry in genetic uniformity.”

Dennis Schwartzkopf with Sharp Brothers

hay “Profitable production this year

and years to come, that is what we are aiming at. Genetic uniformity gets us there.”

DENNIS SCHWARTZKOPF

Sharp Brothers Seed Company

summarizes. “ A genetically uniform alfalfa variety produces a crop with a uniform growth rate and uniform response to the growing environment. With that foundation, the majority of the millions of alfalfa plants in the field are swather ready at the same time-- that stage of growth were tonnage, forage quality, regrowth vigor and stand longevity are all close to optimum. Profitable hay production this year and years to come, that is what we are aiming at. Genetic uniformity gets us there.”

HybriForce Hybrid Alfalfa - Uniformity

3

HybriForce,

with 3 parent lines similar to 3 way cross corn.

Conventional Alfalfa - Diversity Conventional

Number of Parent Lines* Pioneer 55V59 Pioneer 54QR04 Pioneer 55Q 27 WL 440HQ WL 454HQRR

96 84 100 135 63

*North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference, Description of Alfalfa Cultivars and Germplasms

ESTABLISHING ALFALFA IN A WINDY ENVIRONMENT Successful plantings of alfalfa require shallow seed placement into firm smooth seed beds. In many respects the characteristics of an ideal alfalfa seed bed are the same field conditions that are at high risk for wind damage during the early stages of establishment.

Desiccation, abrasion by moving soil particles and possibly even static electricity (photo A) can, injury, kill or delay development of alfalfa during germination through early development. Alfalfa producers in the

A.

Hair Root Pruning

W

N

E

Plains region, where wind is extremely common, should implement the best compromise strategy to counteract this risk against the considerations of seed placement, seed to soil contact and moisture/sunlight competition between nurse crops and seedling alfalfa. Sharp Brother’s Ted Hesslink makes the following suggestions to assist growers develop the most effective plan for their situation.

C. Oat Nurse Crop

S

B. Wind Damage • Plant no till into small grain stubble when possible.

In addition to preventing erosion, standing dead residue shades the soil and helps maintain seedbed moisture. Unfortunately harvest traffic during the • Clean tilled alfalfa seed beds should employ a nurse crop whenever wind damage is likely. Oats are often preceding crop will frequently leave the field surface the preferred choice for a nurse crop (photo C) too rough for alfalfa production and tillage may be when planting alfalfa. Seeding rates for oat nurse necessary. crops generally range from 3 to 5 lbs per acre.

• When planting alfalfa in the spring: strongly consider planting a small grain crop such as wheat • “Relay” nurse crops, planted prior to alfalfa seeding, the previous fall. The wheat can the terminated with are an effective method of shortening the time glyphosate in the spring after which alfalfa can be period during which risk of wind damage is likely. no till seeded into the dead wheat residue providing Fast germination of relay nurse crop seed is best protection for alfalfa seedlings from wind damage. accomplished by planting with a grain drill into moist soil. Alfalfa is generally surface/shallow drilled • Wind damage is best prevented by planting nurse 2 to 10 days after planting the relay nurse crop. The crops and/or alfalfa at a perpendicular to the interval between plantings should be based upon the prevailing wind direction, usually east/ west or NE/ best compromise between wind damage control and SW. Producers who are in the habit of planting timely alfalfa establishment. alfalfa and nurse crops in a circular pattern on center pivot irrigated ground should reconsider • When the nurse crop is likely to persist for a prolonged that practice. Fields planted in a circular pattern period after wind protection is no longer needed, will have areas where the rows run parallel to wind there may be a benefit to terminating the nurse direction and where wind damage is likely to crop in order to eliminate competition for moisture. start (photo B). Damage can quickly spread after Application of a grass killing herbicide such as Select erosion has started. should accomplish this objective.

MANAGING SOIL SALINITY WITH NEW VARIETIES “Salty irrigation water tends to significantly increase soil salinity when irrigating during drought periods. The recent drought has caused higher levels of soil salinity than producers have had to deal with in the past. Sharp Brothers has years of experience advising producers, and providing them with viable options on saline fields,” says Ted Hesslink, Sharp Brothers Seed Co., Healy, Kansas, alfalfa specialist.

“We have been developing varieties with specialized traits and have been able to identify our varieties according to their salt tolerance. (See Chart) As an added bonus, these varieties have outstanding yield potential whether salt is an issue or not.

Farmers have gotten used to accepting some yield drag that accompanies specialized traits.

That is not the case with these varieties. HybriForce 2400, HybriForce2600 and Magna 601 all have salinity tolerance superior to conventional alfalfas.

A new variety, Magnum Salt, is equipped with the highest level of salinity tolerance in the alfalfa seed industry, and has been used to reclaim saline soils that have become unproductive for general agriculture.” says Mike Velde, alfalfa breeder with Dairyland Seeds.

competitor

analysis of carefully collected soil samples. When soil sampling, be aware that salinity levels typically vary across different locations in problem fields. Avoid collecting one composite “average” sample which is representative of the whole field. Managing for a field average can lead to failure in areas that are worse than the average.

Identify the worst high salinity areas so that varietal selection and other management practices can be targeted for those areas.” magnum salt

magnum salt • vigorous growth in salty soils • competes against weeds

SOIL EC RATING as mmho/cm

ADAPTED VARIETIES

2.0

All alfalfa varieties, conventional or improved salinity tolerance

3.0

HybriForce 2600 HybriForce 2400 Magna 601 Magnum Salt

4.0

Magna 601 Magnum Salt

5.0

Magnum Salt

“Salinity problems frequently occur where water tables are high, either permanently or periodically. Alfalfa with a branched root growth pattern is more productive and has superior longevity where water tables are high.

Magnum Salt will produce a branched root growth pattern when exposed to high water table settings. This root growth habit, in combination with unequaled salinity tolerance, gives alfalfa growers a powerful new tool on problem fields,” comments Sharp Brother’s Dennis Schwartzkopf. “Salinity is best evaluated with

Hesslink summarizes the Sharp Brothers approach. “Choose the variety that will deliver the best yield potential in areas of the field where salinity levels are highest. In most cases the entire field should be planted to that same variety, including less saline areas. Avoid planting varieties with different dormancies on the same field unless separate harvest schedules for each variety can be managed, and that is usually not feasible. It is important that harvest is as close to ideal timing as is possible, when the alfalfa has initiated regrowth from the crown.

In addition to maximizing yield and quality, timely harvest keeps the crop vigorous and maximizes water use efficiency, which is especially important when the stress from salinity is present.”

Mike Velde, alfalfa breeder with Dairyland Seeds, has collected data which helps producers pick the best variety for their situation. “Soil salinity can worsen or improve depending on conditions; we try to make the best recommendations possible when advising growers. The key salinity measurement is the soil’s electrical conductivity which is determined by a common soil analysis procedure performed at agricultural laboratories. Electrical conductivity (ECe from saturated paste) is stated as millimhos per centimeter (mmho/cm).”

DAIRYLAND “Maximum SEED ALFALFA productivity on every acre.�

-G ro wt h To l e Fo ra ra nc ge e Yi eld Fo ra ge Q ua lit Ea y rly Se ed Tr lin affi gG cT ro ole wt h ra nc e gh t

Dr ou

Tap

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

HybridForce 2400

4

1.8

30/30

Very Fine

Tap

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

HybriForce 2420 Wet

4

1.8

34/35

Very Fine

Branch

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Magna 601

6

3

25/30

Fine Branch/ Tap

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

Magnum 7

4

1.6

34/35

Fine

Tap

2

2

2

2

1

2

1

Magnum 7 Wet

4

1.6

34/35

Fine

Branch

2

2

2

2

1

2

1

Magnum Salt

4

1.8

28/30 Average Branch

3

3

2

3

2

2

2

MagnaGraze II

3

1.5

34/35 Average

3

3

2

3

2

2

1

Tap

Spring Vigor, Summer Re-Growth, Drought Tolerance, Forage Yield, Forage Quality, Early Seedling Growth,Traffic Tolerance:

W

Fall Dormancy: 1 - Most Dormant 11 - Non Dormant Winter Survival: 1 - Superior

5 - Low

FallDormancy: Varieties with large numerical ratings are less dormant, meaning that spring growth starts earlier and autumn growth continues later than varieties with smaller numerical ratings.

The extended growing season utilized by less dormant,(larger numbered) varieties may produce more hay tonnage with available soil water since alfalfa growth is most efficient during the mild temperatures of spring and fall. Large dormancy numbered alfalfa varieties are typically ready for first cutting earlier in the spring than small dormancy numbered varieties.

As a management strategy, acreages planted to Fall Dormancy 4 varieties can be complemented with other acreages of Fall Dormancy 6 varieties so that ideal scheduling of first cutting can be spread over a longer period of time.

m Su

Very Fine

rin

Sp

28/30

ot Ro

m

er

Re

r Si

2

em St

6

I

HybriForce 2600

int

DR

er

gV igo

ze

Su r

Ty pe

y an c m or Fa ll D

Variety Characteristics at a Glance

viv al

Sharp Brothers Seed Company is proud to provide Dairyland Seed Alfalfa Hybrids and Varieties to Plains producers. Hybrid alfalfas with unparalleled vigor, drought tolerance, water use efficiency, tonnage and forage quality. Industry-leading salt tolerance. Branch root growth capabilities providing superior saturated soil performance. The plant breeders at Dairyland Seed are raising alfalfa to new levels of productivity. Raise your productivity with Dairyland Seed alfalfa on your acreage.

1 - Most Desirable

Winter Survival: Small numerical ratings indicate varieties with better winter hardiness (maximum winter survival with minimum winter injury) than varieties with large numerical ratings. Winter survival ratings of 3.5 and smaller numerical ratings exhibit good adaptability south of Interstate 70 through the Central Plains.

Stem Size: Fine stems contribute to faster dry down and superior forage quality.

DRI: Disease Resistance Index

5 - Less Desirable

Root Type: Tap root growth habits are well adapted for growth in well drained soils with limited ability to persist in soils that are saturated for prolonged time periods.Varieties with the ability to produce branch roots are better able to persist and thrive in saturated soils that are typical in low areas of fields and sites with high water tables. In addition, varieties with branch root growth capabilities are also very productive on well drained soils.

• • • • • •

Highest yielding Semi-DormantAvailable Great fit for the Great Plains Climate Fall Dormancy 6, Winter Survival 2 Spring Frost Tolerance, Excellent Drought Tolerance & Salinity Tolerance Produces top tons of highly palatable, fine stemmed dairy quality forage Very good disease resistance (28/30)

• • • • • •

Highest yielding Fall Dormancy 4 alfalfa available Winter Survival 1.8 Very fine stemmed and highly palatable Salinity Tolerance & Excellent disease resistance (30/30) Best persistence in the industry Excellent under aggressive cutting schedules

• • • • • • • • •

Highest yielding alfalfa available w/the ability to persist in poorly drained soils Fall Dormancy 4, Winter Survival 1.8 Branched root growth capability increases adaptation to fields with low wet areas or areas with a high water table Broadly adapted, w/excellent drought tolerance, Plus persistence in poorly drained sites Awesome disease package with resistance to Aphanomyces root rot race 1 and 2 Large root mass offers incredible persistence and traffic tolerance Hybrid vigor results in fast regrowth Dense, very fine stemmed alfalfa provides excellent forage quality Performs well in both wet and dry years, saturated or well drained soils

hybriforce alfalfa

fine stem

competitor alfalfa

coarse stem

*Gen-2 hybrid alfalfas using msSunstra® Hybrid Alfalfa Technology*

MAGNA601 • • • • •

Winter Hardy Semi-Dormant FD6 Alfalfa Excellent Spring Frost Tolerance & Salinity Tolerance Expresses a bushy dormant type of growth habit Quicker regrowth after cutting than dormant alfalfas Very high forage yield potential with exceptional forage quality

• • • • • •

Highest Yielding FD4 Non-Hybrid Genetics!

Sets the yield bar for the industry in conventionally bred alfalfas Great forage quality potential with a wide harvest window Consistent performance Excellent disease resistance (34/35) Scores very well for winter survival and persistence

• • • •

Sunken Crown Traffic Tolerant Alfalfa!

Fall Dormancy 3, Winter Survival 1.5 Specifically bred for grazing and high traffic situations Excellent disease package (34/35)

MAGNUM7

MAGNAGRAZEII

MAGNUM7 -WET • • • • • • •

New Branch Rooted Genetics!

Fall Dormancy 4, Winter Survival 1.6 Newest high yielding non-hybrid genetics Broadly adapted to well drained & poorly drained soils Very strong expression of the branch rooted trait Excellent forage quality Exceptional disease package (34/35)

• • •

Salt Tolerant Alfalfa!

Fall Dormancy 4, Winter Survival 1.8 Has been successfully used to reclaim productivity of some saline fields Very good forage yield potential Exhibits high level of the branch rooted trait Able to thrive in wet soils

• • •

PROUD PARTNERS with Dairyland Seed

Nitrates

P.O. Box 958 West Bend, WI 53095 800-236-0163 www.dairylandseed.com providing Dairyland Alfalfas Hybrids Alfalfas Salt Tolerance High Water Table Tolerance

www.sharpseed.com Healy, Kansas 1005 South Sycamore Healy, Kansas 67850 800-462-8483 buffalo@sharpseed.com Greeley, Colorado 101 East 4th Street Road Greeley, Colorado 80631 800-421-4234 inforeguest@sharpseed.com

HybridForce 2600 HybridForce 2400 HybridForce 2420 Wet Magnum 7 Magnum 7 Wet Magnum Salt Magna 601

For more information on on our Dairyland Products call 1-800-462-2220