Question 1: In your farming operation, how are forages used?
a) As a temporary supplement to rangeland during periods of drought or heavy snow.
b) As an alternative to rangeland on a seasonal basis – livestock graze during the summer and fall, then are in a drylot for the winter and early-spring.
c) As a primary feedstock – my livestock very rarely, if ever, are on pasture.
d) I seldom, if ever, require the use of forages. (If so, please respond to the following for how your neighboring farms operate.)
Question 2: How do you obtain your forages?
) I prefer to produce my own and manage the whole process – planting, harvest, storage, and feeding.
b) I own the land; however, somebody else manages the production of the forages for me.
c) I produce some of the forages which I use; however, my usage is high enough where I occasionally need to buy forages on the open-market.
d) I am entirely dependent on the open-market for the forages I use.
Question 3: What type of forages do you mainly use?
a) Only Alfalfa
b) Alfalfa-Grass mixtures
c) Mostly grasses (prairie hay or “ditch” hay)
d) Some other type of cover-crop (oat-pea mixtures; vetches; etc…)
Question 4: No matter the source of your forages -what is the main concern you have when approach a bale of that particular forage?
a) What is the nutritive quality of this material?
b) How much of this material can I obtain per acre?
c) How well does this material work in a crop rotation?
d) Will this stuff grow in my soil conditions?
Question 5: What best describes the soil conditions you live?
a) My soils are for the most part really fertile and have no problems with drought or salinity.
b) My soils are generally fertile, although they suffer when there is a lack of rainfall.
c) My soils are generally fertile, although I find that salts and pH problems restrict growth.
d) My soils are generally a challenge to grow anything in due to a number of problems. (Please explain what you feel the most challenging problem is to your production operation.)
Question 6: Please provide a short response to this statement: “If I were to call the Extension office the most important thing the Extension Agent I am speaking to can offer is:”
- Help determine nutritive quality of hay
- Help! Forages are a good topic. Davison County has some dairy and lots of beef
- Review at alfalfa and soil type alternatives
- What practices are producing the best quality and quantity of forages
- Expertise on forage quality
- Alfalfa variety hardiness. Resistance to insects and variety nutritive value and yield
Source:igrow.org