June 28, 2019
ALFALFA OFFERS LIVESTOCK FEED ADVANTAGES ON PP ACRES
St. Paul, MN – With forage shortages throughout much of the nation, farmers considering crop options for prevented plant acres should look to alfalfa.
According to RMA, farmers have options when planting alfalfa on prevented plant acres. They can plant it as a cover crop and manage it accordingly or they can plant it as a 2020 crop. With the 2020 crop scenario, the farmer has options: don’t insure the alfalfa; insure it under a 2020 forage seeding policy (no 2019 cutting option), or insure it under a 2021 forage production policy.
Alfalfa provides much needed ground cover and many other beneficial attributes that should be considered when deciding what to plant on PP acres. “It’s hard to find a crop that is more beneficial to the soil and environment than alfalfa,” said Craig Sheaffer, University of Minnesota forage agronomist. “In addition to providing the most protein-per-acre, alfalfa reduces soil erosion and improves soil structure, moisture holding capacity, and nutrient content. It also increases beneficial soil biota, suppresses weeds, provides habitat for beneficial predatory insects, facilitates crop pollinators, and provides wildlife habitat.” Sheaffer says alfalfa provides energy savings as well by adding nitrogen to the soil, thereby reducing the need to apply fertilizer.
If farmers plant alfalfa for 2020 production, which can be planted as early as July 1 in some regions, and choose not to insure the crop: there are no planting date or harvest restrictions; and it is considered a first crop, regardless of insurance coverage, for the 2020 crop year. There will be no impact to the 2019 prevented plant payment.
“With the severe shortage of hay, alfalfa is a crop farmers should strongly consider planting,” said Beth Nelson, President of the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance. “Planting alfalfa on prevented plant acres will provide farmers with high-quality forage early next spring which is critical coming off a year of forage shortages.” If a cutting is needed in fall 2019, farmers could consider forgoing the forage seeding insurance.
In some areas of the country, farmers need to apply for a written agreement for a fall-seeded forage seeding policy, and should consult their crop insurance agent to establish the request (due dates vary by region).
For an RMA FAQ on planting alfalfa on prevented plant acres, please visit:
https://www.rma.usda.gov/News-Room/Frequently-Asked-Questions/Prevented-Planting-and-Alfalfa
ALFALFA OFFERS LIVESTOCK FEED ADVANTAGES ON PP ACRES
St. Paul, MN – With forage shortages throughout much of the nation, farmers considering crop options for prevented plant acres should look to alfalfa.
According to RMA, farmers have options when planting alfalfa on prevented plant acres. They can plant it as a cover crop and manage it accordingly or they can plant it as a 2020 crop. With the 2020 crop scenario, the farmer has options: don’t insure the alfalfa; insure it under a 2020 forage seeding policy (no 2019 cutting option), or insure it under a 2021 forage production policy.
Alfalfa provides much needed ground cover and many other beneficial attributes that should be considered when deciding what to plant on PP acres. “It’s hard to find a crop that is more beneficial to the soil and environment than alfalfa,” said Craig Sheaffer, University of Minnesota forage agronomist. “In addition to providing the most protein-per-acre, alfalfa reduces soil erosion and improves soil structure, moisture holding capacity, and nutrient content. It also increases beneficial soil biota, suppresses weeds, provides habitat for beneficial predatory insects, facilitates crop pollinators, and provides wildlife habitat.” Sheaffer says alfalfa provides energy savings as well by adding nitrogen to the soil, thereby reducing the need to apply fertilizer.
If farmers plant alfalfa for 2020 production, which can be planted as early as July 1 in some regions, and choose not to insure the crop: there are no planting date or harvest restrictions; and it is considered a first crop, regardless of insurance coverage, for the 2020 crop year. There will be no impact to the 2019 prevented plant payment.
“With the severe shortage of hay, alfalfa is a crop farmers should strongly consider planting,” said Beth Nelson, President of the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance. “Planting alfalfa on prevented plant acres will provide farmers with high-quality forage early next spring which is critical coming off a year of forage shortages.” If a cutting is needed in fall 2019, farmers could consider forgoing the forage seeding insurance.
In some areas of the country, farmers need to apply for a written agreement for a fall-seeded forage seeding policy, and should consult their crop insurance agent to establish the request (due dates vary by region).
For an RMA FAQ on planting alfalfa on prevented plant acres, please visit:
https://www.rma.usda.gov/News-Room/Frequently-Asked-Questions/Prevented-Planting-and-Alfalfa
News Release: RMA Announces Change to Haying and Grazing Date for Prevented Planting Acres Planted to a Cover Crop
WASHINGTON, June 20, 2019 – Farmers who planted cover crops on prevented plant acres will be permitted to hay, graze or chop those fields earlier than November this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) adjusted the 2019 final haying and grazing date from November 1 to September 1 to help farmers who were prevented from planting because of flooding and excess rainfall this spring.
“We recognize farmers were greatly impacted by some of the unprecedented flooding and excessive rain this spring, and we made this one-year adjustment to help farmers with the tough decisions they are facing this year,” said Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey. “This change will make good stewardship of the land easier to accomplish while also providing an opportunity to ensure quality forage is available for livestock this fall.”
RMA has also determined that silage, haylage and baleage should be treated in the same manner as haying and grazing for this year. Producers can hay, graze or cut cover crops for silage, haylage or baleage on prevented plant acres on or after September 1 and still maintain eligibility for their full 2019 prevented planting indemnity.
“These adjustments have been made for 2019 only,” said RMA Administrator Martin Barbre. “RMA will evaluate the prudence of a permanent adjustment moving forward.”
Other USDA agencies are also assisting producers with delayed or prevented planting. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is extending the deadline to report prevented plant acres in select counties, and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is holding special sign-ups for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program in certain states to help with planting cover crops on impacted lands. Contact your local FSA and NRCS offices to learn more.
More Information, here.
For Questions or comments contact Doug Leman, 317-695-8228 or dougleman@indianadairy.org
WASHINGTON, June 20, 2019 – Farmers who planted cover crops on prevented plant acres will be permitted to hay, graze or chop those fields earlier than November this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) adjusted the 2019 final haying and grazing date from November 1 to September 1 to help farmers who were prevented from planting because of flooding and excess rainfall this spring.
“We recognize farmers were greatly impacted by some of the unprecedented flooding and excessive rain this spring, and we made this one-year adjustment to help farmers with the tough decisions they are facing this year,” said Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey. “This change will make good stewardship of the land easier to accomplish while also providing an opportunity to ensure quality forage is available for livestock this fall.”
RMA has also determined that silage, haylage and baleage should be treated in the same manner as haying and grazing for this year. Producers can hay, graze or cut cover crops for silage, haylage or baleage on prevented plant acres on or after September 1 and still maintain eligibility for their full 2019 prevented planting indemnity.
“These adjustments have been made for 2019 only,” said RMA Administrator Martin Barbre. “RMA will evaluate the prudence of a permanent adjustment moving forward.”
Other USDA agencies are also assisting producers with delayed or prevented planting. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is extending the deadline to report prevented plant acres in select counties, and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is holding special sign-ups for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program in certain states to help with planting cover crops on impacted lands. Contact your local FSA and NRCS offices to learn more.
More Information, here.
For Questions or comments contact Doug Leman, 317-695-8228 or dougleman@indianadairy.org
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Byron-KingFisher® Seeds and Masters Choice are committed to providing HIGHLY DIGESTIBLE FORAGES with HIGH ENERGY continuing to expand their lines of ORGANIC & NON-GMO TREATED SEED bringing you the best seeds from around the world 100% GUARANTEED Byron-King Fisher® premium seeds.
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- WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU THE FARMER WITH A “ONE STOP SHOP” FOR YOUR FORAGE NEEDS.
- HERE IS A LIST OF PRODUCTS WE OFFER.
- CONVENTIONAL, NON-GMO & ORGANIC SEED – ALFALFA-CLOVER-GRASSES-CORN-SOYBEANS-SUMMER ANNUALS-COVER CROPS
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- CONVENTIONAL & ORGANIC FERTILIZERS – FOLIAR AND STARTERS, LIQUID AND DRY
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- SOIL AMENDMENTS
- SOIL & FORAGE TESTS
- HAY PRESERVATIVES, INOCULANTS (LIQUID AND DRY) AND APPLICATORS TO APPLY THESE PRODUCTS – ORGANIC &
- CONVENTIONAL
- FORAGE TESTING EQUIPMENT – HAY, SILAGE & BALAGE – MOISTURE TESTERS, FORAGE SAMPLERS, REFRACTOMETERS
- SOIL TESTING EQUIPMENT – SOIL PROBES, PENETRAMETERS, & SOLVITA SOIL LIFE TEST
- TWINE & PLASTIC – BALER TWINE (110#-550#), NET WRAP(48”-67”),
- STRETCH WRAP PLASTIC (20” & 30”), BLACK & WHITE BUNKER & OXYGEN BARRIER Covers
