I am glad I am not a meteorologist. We finally had winter this year, spending the majority of January and February with snow on the ground. It now seems that we are going to bypass spring and jump straight into summer. The 80-degree weather we have had the last couple weeks has accelerated growth of our small grains, hay fields and pastures. There are reports that some parts of southern Ohio could be cutting hay next week and they are seeing wheat begin to head. Being further north, we are still a little behind them, but our turn will be coming up quickly.
To date, the Wayne County area is ahead of schedule on growing degree day accumulation (295 GDD) when compared to our historic average. We are behind the April 2024 GDD accumulation (315 GDD) but things are progressing quickly. There is rye that is closing in on the early boot stage and most of the dandelions in our alfalfa fields have already gone to seed. When we do dry up enough to stay in the fields, there could be a lot of catching up to do.
As we enter into harvesting our small grains for forage, I want to remind everyone that maximizing yield and quality begins with harvest at the proper growth stage. The intersection of yield and quality is generally the early boot stage, with dramatic reductions once heading has occurred. The processes involved in moving the forage to the silo also cause yield and quality losses. Mowing, tedding, and raking can reduce available dry matter by 11-26%, and crude protein by 2.5%. While some loss is unavoidable, large losses in dry matter and quality factors can be limited by chopping at an average dry matter content of 35%. As you know, the current weather will greatly impact the speed that the forage will dry down to the desired moisture. It could be just a few hours or stretch into the next day.
Your nutritionist may be relying on your small grain silage to also provide some effective fiber. So keeping the cut length to about ¾ to one inch is important. The final step is getting it in the silo or bunker. The University of Wisconsin has a great spreadsheet tool to help determine the bulk density of forage in your bunker silo. It is recommended that you pack to achieve a bulk density of at least 44 lbs. of as-fed forage per cubic foot, or 15 lbs. per cubic foot on a dry matter basis.
Get control of field weeds in spring
As I mentioned earlier, I have seen a couple fields where the dandelions have already gone to seed. Weeds germinate throughout the growing season, but spring is the time to initiate control. You do need to determine what the return potential is of making an herbicide application. A thin stand will not fill in once the weeds are removed. If your stand is at least two years old, and 25-30% are weeds, it is questionable if an application would be of benefit. This type of stand would be an ideal candidate to interseed a grass if you need tonnage more than highest quality. If the same stand is 50% or greater weeds, this is a stand that you could also consider interseeding but may be best to transition to another crop.
For established stands that have broken dormancy, you have a few choices for weed control. You should consult each product’s label as they all have limitations on alfalfa and weed height at application, as well as subsequent crop restrictions and harvest intervals. If you have a glyphosate tolerant variety you can use glyphosate, or a tank mix of glyphosate and one of others mentioned below. For grasses in conventional varieties, your best options are Clethodim (Select Max) or Poast. The 2024 Ohio Weed Control Guide also permits a reduced rate of Gramoxone applied between cuttings, but no more than 5 days after harvest. For emerged broadleaf control after alfalfa has broken dormancy you can consider products such as: Butyrac, Prowl H2O, Pursuit, Raptor, Tripzin, and Warrant.
Extension programs on the calendar
We have several programs that we want to keep you aware of as we move through planting season. Our next formal program will be a small ruminant parasite management workshop and FAMACHA certification program on May 16th. The class will be held at the OSU Small Ruminant Center on Fredricksburg Rd from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. As the program title indicates, we will be discussing internal parasite identification and management in sheep and goats. Participants will have an opportunity to collect samples and inspect them under microscope to determine parasite burden. The cost of the program is $40 and will provide you with your FAMACHA certification card and lunch will be provided. Space is limited to the first 20 participants.
The 2025 Small Grains Field Day will be held on the OSU Wooster Campus Schaffter Farm on June 18. There will be presentations on: wheat profitability, fertility, and pest management, as well as a summer weather outlook, and tours of the OSU wheat and barley breeding plots and the USDA ARS Soft Wheat Quality Lab. The program is sponsored by the Ohio Corn and Wheat Board and is free to all attendees.
The Wayne-Ashland Dairy Service Unit will host their annual Dairy Summit and Twilight Tour on July 15th. This year’s host is the Sarah Douglas family at Zido Dairy. The committee is currently recruiting sponsors for the program, and I encourage you to watch the OSU Extension website for updates as more details are confirmed. If you are interested in any of these programs, you can check out the events calendar on our website at wayne.osu.edu. As always, I wish you a safe and prosperous planting season. If you have any questions or would like more information about one of our programs, you can contact me at the OSU Extension office – Wayne County at 330-264-8722.
John Yost is an extension educator IV, Agriculture and Natural Resources, at OSU Extension-Wayne County.
This article was previously published in The Daily Record.