May 21, 2007
HAY
To Cut or Not to Cut?
There
is an ongoing debate about whether or not hay should be cut at the normal calendar date,
given the stress placed on the crop as a result of the cold weather in April. Unfortunately, there is not a clear answer.
For
producers who do not have dairy, the priority is most likely stand longevity. These producers should probably cut the hay a week
or two later than normal. This will allow the
plants to more fully recover before the first cutting is made. Subsequent cuttings will be pushed back on the
calendar, which may pose complications in the fall as we do not want to cut hay between
the first week in September and the last week of October in order to, again, promote stand
longevity.
For
producers whose priority is high quality (dairy) forage, the crop needs to be made on time
because quality declines with time. These
producers will need to take their lumps in terms of stand longevity.
Complicating
the issue is that some fields are experiencing extensive leaf disease injury. Normally the recommendation for those fields would
be to cut early to retain as much of the leafy material as possible. However, because of the stress of April, producers
who are more concerned with stand longevity than with first-cutting hay quality may opt to
not follow the normal recommendation and harvest later instead.
CORN
Nitrogen Losses
With the warm fall and
early winter followed by generally abundant rainfall this early spring, many are asking,
How much of the nitrogen applied last fall was lost? John Sawyer discussed that question on pages 148
149 of the May 14 issue of the Integrated Crop Management Newsletter, which is
posted at http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2007/5-14/nitrogenloss.html.
Use of the late spring soil nitrate test may
help answer the question.
Late Spring Soil
Nitrate Test
We are approaching the
time to be pulling soil samples for the late spring soil nitrate test. Soil samples should
be pulled to a one foot depth when the corn is 6-12 tall. It is best to use a
systematic method rather than a random method to pull the samples. Pull the first sample
in the corn row, the next 1/8 of the distance between rows, the next ¼ the distance
between rows, etc. until you have worked your way across the rows. Do this at least twice
for a total of 16 cores. This way you wont by chance happen to be over or under
representing areas that have higher bands of nitrogen (ie
anhydrous bands, manure bands, starter fertilizer). Soil samples should be sent to a lab
immediately after sampling. Results can help to fine-tune nitrogen management. For more
details see the publication Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendations for Corn in
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
CCA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY
June 21
Earn 5 CCA credits,
including 2 in soil and water management, by attending a special CCA session the morning
of June 21, followed by the annual spring field day at the southeast Iowa Research &
Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville. Watch https://www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/eccrops/meetserc.html
as details emerge.