Time Running Out to Get in the 2016 Hay and Forage Directory

The Idaho hay and Forage Growers Association is approaching its deadline for new members of the association to appear in their widely distributed directory of hay growers.  Last year over 3000 directories were distributed.  The deadline to become a member for inclusion in the directory is April 1, and the directory will be published in mid-May.

Besides being listed in the directory, members recieve a weekly electronic update on hay and forage prices around the PNW.  The association also sponsors the annual Idaho Hay and Forage Growers Conference in Burley in late February.

More information is available from Rick Waitley, the executive director at 208-888-0988 or http://www.idahohay.com/

What Is the Best Hay Probe?

What is the best hay probe?  The answer is it depends on type of forage, dryness of forage, and operator.

The best source of information is the National Forage Testing Association web site.
http://foragetesting.org/

The standard probe everything else is compared to is the Penn State Probe.  It is the most versatile, useful in grass, alfalfa, and corn stalk bales. The Oakfield probe is similar.  Either can be operated with a brace or portable electric drill. Caution: when operating with an electric drill, the probe can get very hot and you can brand yourself.  That is also a sign that the sample got too hot and the resulting forage quality test may be biased, usually in higher fiber or heat-damaged protein.  These are single sample probes-they must be emptied after each probe. For dry alfalfa, I like the Star Quality Multi-sampler Probe.  It accumulates multiple samples into a plastic bag.  It is fast, relatively easy to use, and avoids having to keep a generator or battery powered drill working.  All samplers should be voided in the tube with the push rod after every use.

Central Idaho Livestock Programs Begin January 5th

Custer County Extension has planned the follow Livestock Programs
for January and February

· Monday, January 5:  Irrigation Efficiency & Management. Landowner Assistance & Incentive Programs (Challis, 6:30-8:30 pm).

· Thursday, January 8: Calving School (Mackay, 10 am-4 pm) Lunch Served. $10 fee. Please RSVP.

· Friday, January 23: Beef School (Mackay, 11 am-3 pm) Lunch Served. Range, Wolf, Sage-grouse, Agency, Legislative, Proposed Monument Updates, Other Topics. Please RSVP. 

· Monday, January 26: Livestock Minerals, Alfalfa & Fertilizer Topics (Challis, 6:30-8:30 pm). Sponsored by Valley Wide.

· Monday, February 2: Quality Assurance, Crossbreeding, & Genetics Topics. (Challis, 6:30 pm).

· Wednesday, February 11: Pasture Management, Fertilizer Trial Results & Updates (Challis, 6:30-8:30 pm). 

For more information contact Sarah Baker, Custer County Extension Educators Baker, at sdbaker@uidaho.edu or (208) 879-2344.

Your Central Idaho Redbooks should be available at these programs.

What to Do with Moldy Hay

by Glenn Shewmaker, Extension forage specialist (gshew@uidaho.edu); Oliver Neher, Extension Plant Pathologist (oneher@uidaho.edu); Mireille Chahine, Extension Dairy Specialist (mchahine@uidaho.edu); and Benton Glaze, Extension Beef Specialist (bglaze@uidaho.edu); University of Idaho

Weather conditions prior to, during first cutting, and while making hay have been very moist. Many areas have 2 or more inches of above normal precipitation. Much hay has been rained on or left lying in the field for prolonged time periods due to cool and humid conditions which reduced drying rates. The long drying periods with high humidity allowed field growth of mold on the hay. We will try to state some facts and offer some recommendations for hay producers and livestock producers. 

What is the "black dust" that covers my mower or swather?
• The black dust is most likely spores produced by fungal organisms. Spores are how the fungi reproduce and are always present but usually at lower concentration. The black dust on a mower or swather indicates that fungal growth was present prior to cutting.