SPRING PLANTING ALFALFA

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1 February 2011 SPRING PLANTING ALFALFA Mark S. Gregory Producers planning to sow alfalfa this spring make final plans in February. The objective of alfalfa stand establishment is to obtain about 30 vigorously growing seedlings per square foot before it gets too hot. Good planning, along with some "art" and "good farming" practices are critical to reliable stand establishment -- especially in spring. Although the exact steps required for successful stand establishment vary from farm to farm and from year to year, there are 12 Keys included in the Alfalfa Establishment Checklist in O.S.U. Extension Facts No. 2089, available at County Extension Offices. That Fact Sheet also includes several important cost considerations and a discussion of several "Special Circumstances" related to alfalfa stand establishment. Spring-sown alfalfa in Oklahoma is more risky than fall plantings. This is primarily due to more problems with strong drying winds, insects, weeds, and intense rains that tend to crust the soil. Spring planting should be between mid-march and mid-april. This allows seedlings enough time to develop good root systems prior to the onset of high temperatures (above 90F). The use of multiplepest resistant varieties, excellent seedbeds, and an herbicide, are all even more important with spring plantings. Spring sowing is more likely to be successful in the eastern half of the state where rainfall is normally higher. In the west, irrigation improves the probability of successful spring plantings. Normally only one or two cuttings are possible during the first summer for spring-sown alfalfa stands. Even in subsequent years, yields from spring-sown stands tend to be lower than stands established in late summer. It is sometimes advisable to consider sowing an annual forage crop in spring and then harvest it in time to plant alfalfa in late summer. 1

2 Answers to Producers' Questions about Replanting in the Spring, or Thickening up a Thin New Stand Mark S. Gregory 1. Planting in the spring is risky, at best, here in Oklahoma. This is not a "yes"/ "no" question. It is very risky, but there are several things that you can do to minimize the risks. Each year is very different. 2. Irrigation may help a spring-sown stand get going if everything else is in good shape. 3. I would certainly recommend against spring replanting if there is any chance the field is even slightly deficient in any plant nutrient. Collect soil samples, have them analyzed, and apply what is needed before thinking about thickening the stand. 4. Replanting (thickening up) alfalfa stands is risky. Of all the types of thickening, thickening or replanting a new stand is the least risky. It is most difficult to thicken a stand that has been thick and still has old growing plants throughout (as thin as one plant per square foot). Maintain Body Condition Between Calving and the Breeding Season Bob LeValley Body condition score at calving is the single most important trait determining when a cow resumes heat cycles and therefore when she is likely to re-conceive for the next calf crop. However, it is also very important to avoid condition loss between calving and the breeding season to maintain excellent rebreeding performance. Fig. 1. Winter weight and body condition change and rebreeding percentage for cows allowed to maintain or lose condition after calving (Wettemann, et al., 1987 JAS, Suppl. 1:63). 2

3 A two-year Oklahoma State University study (Figure 1) shows the impact of losing body condition in the period from calving to the start of the breeding season. Seventy-five cows in year 1 and seventy cows in year two were randomly allotted to receive either 2 pounds of cottonseed meal from calving (beginning February 11) until mid April or 5 pounds of cottonseed meal daily. All cows had free choice access to grass hay during February and March. Cows were exposed to fertile bulls for 90 days each year starting May 1. Pregnancy rate was determined at 70 days after the breeding season. Cows that were fed to maintain body condition from calving until the beginning of the breeding season averaged 94% pregnant, while those that calved in similar body condition but lost nearly a full condition score were 73% rebred. The body condition that was maintained throughout the winter until calving time must be maintained until rebreeding to accomplish high rebreeding rates. Care of Newly Purchased Bulls Bob LeValley Bull sale season has arrived and often producers have concerns about purchasing a highly fitted bull that has been on a high concentrate ration. A common complaint of producers is the run down condition of young bulls after their first breeding season. Most young bulls will lose weight and condition. Managing the weight and condition loss may extend the bull s usefulness and productivity, especially during the initial breeding season. Often young gain tested bulls are returned to the owner s ranch to be properly conditioned before the sale date. Any rancher who purchases a young, highly conditioned bull should plan to gradually reduce the fleshiness of the bull before the breeding season. To let these bulls down, it is a good practice to start them on a ration that is not too dissimilar to the one they have been consuming, but that is fed at about 60 to 70 percent of their previous intake. The amount of grain can be reduced by about 10 percent per week until the desired level is achieved. At the same time, substitutions should be made in the form of light, bulky feeds such as oats, alfalfa, and other high quality hay. Ideally, this let down should be completed prior to the time the bulls are turned out. Drastic nutritional changes can have an adverse effect on fertility, so it is important that these ration changes occur gradually. If possible, continue feeding the grain mix at about.5-.75% body weight during the 3 breeding season. For a 1200 lb bull, that would mean 6-9 lbs per day. One might assume that having bulls enter the breeding season overly conditioned would be good, since they would have the chance of still being in good condition at the end of the season. A potential problem with that theory is the bulls might be less active, especially during the heat of the summer. Under conditioned or too thin bulls may perform the same, in that their activity may also be limited. The goal of course, is to have the bulls in the right body condition. A good target is to have the bulls in a body condition score 6. This is about the amount of body fat we would like to see on a first calf heifer at calving time. Plan ahead and find out about the prior nutrition program for the bulls you purchase. That way, no sudden, extreme changes in the diet will occur and you can better manage your investment. For additional information on management considerations for bulls, see the Oklahoma Beef Cattle Manual, available at the OSU Extension Center.

4 GIPSA Proposes New Packers and Stockyards Act Rules Shannon Ferrell, Ph.D., Asst. Prof., Ag. Law The Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA), enacted in 1921, regulates much of the activity in livestock and poultry markets. The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), under the authority of USDA, implements the provisions of the PSA. Recently, GIPSA proposed a set of new regulations that, if enacted, could significantly change the way that beef, swine, and poultry production contracts operate. The proposed changes include the following provisions: Now, parties wishing to sue a beef packer, swine contractor, or live poultry dealer under the PSA have to show that the complained-of behavior caused harm to the industry. The new rules effectively remove that requirement. A packer, contractor or dealer would not be allowed to pay different prices to different producers unless the packer, contractor or dealer maintains documentation showing the economic reasons for the payment of different prices. Poultry producers in tournament systems would have to receive the same base pay rate and be grouped with producers using similar facilities and birds. Poultry and swine producers cannot be required to make significant additional investments in their facilities unless their contracts will last long enough to recoup 80% of the investment. Packer-to-packer sales of cattle would be prohibited, and cattle buyers working exclusively for a packer would have to be identified as such. Beef, swine, and poultry producers would have the right to refuse arbitration clauses in production contracts. The public comment period on these proposed rules closed on November 22, 2010, and GIPSA must review all the comments received on these rules before they can announce whether they will enact the rules as proposed or make modifications. Beef, swine, and poultry producers should monitor the development of these rules to stay current with these significant potential changes. The Oklahoma Business Activity Tax: What Is It and Who Does It Apply To? J.C. Hobbs, Assistant Extension Specialist, Agricultural Economics Department Oklahoma recently enacted a business activity tax effective for tax years 2010 through This business activity tax (BAT) applies to all farmers, ranchers, and all other business entities that do business in Oklahoma. The amount of the BAT is $ However, the tax impact on Schedule F and Schedule C and C-EZ filers will be zero. The entities that are subject to only the $25.00 amount include farmers filing a federal schedule F, sole proprietors filing either a federal schedule C or C-EZ limited liability companies, partnerships, and other non-corporate business entities. Other businesses will need to consult their tax advisors to determine the amount of the business activity tax. Farmers that file the Federal Schedule F and sole proprietors that file Federal Schedule C or C-EZ must file the Oklahoma Form 511 BAT along with their individual Form 511 tax return. They will include the amount ($25.00) from the Form 511 BAT on the individual Form 511 and then there is a credit equal to the $25.00 BAT offsetting the tax and resulting in no increase in tax owed. 4

5 For more information on the Oklahoma business activity tax, go to Oklahoma Tax Commission website at and click on Business Activity Tax FAQ. This site contains answers to frequently asked questions concerning this tax. Changes in 2011 and 2012 Federal Estate Tax Law By James JJ Jones Southeast Area Ag Economics Specialist In December congress passed legislation that changed the planned federal estate tax exemptions and added a new feature. If congress would not have made these changes the estate tax exemption would have been $1 million with a maximum tax rate of 55% but because did make some changes that will go into effect for estates settled in 2011 and The new estate tax exemption is now $5 million with a maximum tax rate of 35%. What this means is that an estate will have to have a value of over $5 million before any estate taxes are due. This new tax exemption does not affect probate costs and most estates will have to be probated. One feature added to this new estate tax law is that the surviving spouse can utilize any of the deceased spouse s unused exemption. For example, a husband pass with an estate valued at $3.5 million. The husband has an exemption of $5 million. This leaves $1.5 million that the wife can then use upon her passing. So upon her passing she has her $5 million estate tax exemption plus her husband s unused $1.5 million for a total of $6.5 million exemption. This transfer of unused tax exemption is not automatic. Upon the first spouse s passing the executor of the will must make the election to carryover the unused value of the exemption to the surviving spouse. Also, now a federal estate tax return will have to be filed. In the past when an estate failed to reach the estate tax exemption rate no estate tax return had to be filed, but for the carryover of the unused tax exemption this has to be done now. Another change in the estate tax rules is the gift tax exemption. In the past the gift tax exemption was limited to $1 million. In 2011 and 2012 the gift and estate tax are unified and the limit for gift tax exemption is $5 million. These estate tax changes are valid for estates being settled in 2011 and In 2013 the estate tax exemption will fall back to $1 million dollars and a maximum tax rate of 55%. Of course the U.S. congress can change this in the future. When making yours or your loved ones estate planning decisions one should always talk to an estate planning professional to make sure that all of the necessary plans and actions are done correctly. Cow/Calf Boot Camp Gene Parker Jr. A couple of months ago you may recall an from me to gather interest for a potential programming endeavor called the OSU cow/calf Boot Camp. Many of you responded that you would be interested in participating in a cow/calf camp, and; a few even offered to host such an event if it was held on the western side of the state. It will be producer oriented and will be roughly modeled on the very successful Oklahoma Meat Goat Boot Camp. This will involve hands on and small group sessions on all aspects of cow/calf management for both beginning and experienced producers. This is now scheduled for April 25, 26, and 27, 2011 in Ada, Oklahoma. If it is successful, tentative plans are to move it around the state on a yearly basis. There is a new website that we are now loading info on that you can visit at Some of you may want to attend to serve as proctors or just to observe and answer questions. You don t need to be there all 3 days unless you want to, so look at the agenda on the website and see if there are areas you are interested in helping with. 5

6 If you can t join us we would appreciate you getting the word out to cow producers in your county who might be interested. We would really like to make this a state wide program. I have attached a copy of the flyer created by Brian Freking and Will Cubbage for your use. Student enrollment is limited to the first 50 producers to get signed up. Let me know if you have questions and I will look forward to hearing from you and maybe even seeing you there. 6

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9 Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local governments cooperating. In compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of Executive Order as amended. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. 9