By NANCY VORIS
Indiana Correspondent

BEDFORD, Ind. — Indiana’s hay crop has taken three punches, and time will tell if there’s a fight still in the ring.

With Purdue University’s Forage Day set for June 21, Purdue forage expert Keith Johnson expects plenty of questions and concerns on the hay crop outlook. He said there are reasons for concern.

“The first being, that corn acreage in the nation and in the state of Indiana has increased and some of that is from hay fields that were probably needed to be taken out anyway,” Johnson said.
Secondly, the state’s April freeze had an effect on different regions of the state, he said. Alfalfa took a major hit.

“When I took my first cutting, I felt like I was working in a good July crop setting, but I wasn’t,” Johnson said. “I was harvesting a third week of May first cutting, and that typically will be the heaviest yielding crop of the season.”

The final blow came last week as the southeastern half of Indiana officially entered a moderate drought classification, according to USDA’s Drought Monitor of June 12.

One central Indiana farmer who just finished the first cutting of about 500 acres normally has the second cutting waiting on him, but the growth is not there.

“Yields are definitely down,” Johnson said. “The real long-term effect is still six weeks away, but it is fair to say that we need an excellent rest of the season to avoid the issue of high prices.”
Purdue Forage Day is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lawrence County 4-H Clubs and Fair Assoc., located on U.S. Highway 50 one mile west of the junction with State Highway 37 southwest of Bedford. Growers and anyone with an interest in forages are encouraged to attend this free field day.

Mike and Judy Chandler of The Chandler Farm of Bedford are also helping host the field day. The Chandlers raise beef cattle and have recently worked with Purdue extension and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to make improvements to their operation.

Two educational sessions will be offered in the morning. Developing a Grazing Plan will focus on soil resources, grading a pasture, providing water and fencing options.

Best Management Practices for Hay looks at the successful establishment, production and harvest of forages.

“We will look at the issues related to best management practices of hay and silage, which include forage choice, seeding date, fertilization and harvest management,” said Johnson, who will lead the second session.

Lunch will be served from noon to 12:45 p.m. for $8.50 per person.
The lunch program includes a hay and forage outlook by Todd Hubbs, Purdue agricultural economics graduate student, and how to utilize available resources to stretch the forage supply by Brad Shelton, Washington County extension educator.

Following lunch, the Chandlers will answer questions about their operation and demonstrate equipment on a field within walking distance of the fairgrounds.

Attendees are invited to bring one unbroken bale of hay for the Hay Quality Contest.

A sample will be taken from each bale and sent to the laboratory for analysis.

Awards will be given for the best legume hay, the best grass hay and the best mixed hay. Each participant will receive results in the mail.

For more information, visit www.agry.purdue.edu/forageday or call extension in Lawrence County at 812-275-4623.