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Drought makes forage establishment steps more critical

Farmers planting forage this year will have to pay more attention to the steps they follow because of past drought conditions, says Dr. Surya Acharya, forage breeder at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Lethbridge Research Centre.

"In forage, there is more money made or lost at seeding than at any other time during the lifespan of the crop," says Acharya. From years of forage establishment research, he has identified six key factors that can help producers get the most from their forage crop. While the steps work under normal growing conditions, stress factors such as drought make them even more important, he says.

1. Right crop, best yield. Picking the right forage species and variety for the specific purpose and local conditions is the easiest way to get a highly productive forage crop, he says. For maximum hay production, pick a species with good yield even if it has a shorter life span. For the best economic return, choose varieties that will yield well for three to four years. For a long-term stand, select for good winter hardiness and disease resistance. Look for local forage yield data for selecting cultivar.
2. Seed preparation. Some forage crop seeds require scarification or inoculation before planting. Forages with very hard seeds, such as alfalfa or cicer milkvetch, have a waxy layer that prevents water absorption. They seeds have to be scarified first. "Otherwise, the seeds can sit in the soil for three years without germinating because the seed coat does not allow water to get into the seed." Inoculate forage legume seed with bacteria for nitrogen fixation.
3. Early seeding. "Research has demonstrated that seeding forage early leads to a better stand," says Acharya. "If seeded early, you can potentially get three tonnes of alfalfa dry matter in the first year. No other crop would give a better return to producers."
4. Seed pure forage stands. Do not plant cereal or canola as a companion or "nurse" crop, says Acharya. Research shows that annual companion crops vigorously compete with the forage crop for valuable nutrients, water and sunlight. "Even after four or five years, the effect of the companion crop shows up in reduced yield," he says. "The increased forage brings in more income by far, than that from the companion crop."
5. Shallow seeding. Because most forages have very small seeds, it's best to plant them at a depth of one half inch, he says. Otherwise, the seeds won't have enough energy to grow through to the soil surface. On irrigated land, it helps to irrigate the seedbed three to four days before seeding. On dryland, direct-seed or harrow the field, then cover and pack the seed bed well. It also helps to pack the seedbed before seeding or to use a seeder with a packer.
6. Mow for weed control. Forage crops should be mowed when seedlings are about 20 to 25 centimetres high (eight to 10 inches), says Acharya. This helps reduce annual weed competition and helps the forage crop quickly cover the ground.

"These six simple steps are field-proven techniques that can help ensure good forage stands and increased productivity," says Acharya.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research Centre has a mandate to promote innovation for growth, maintain security of the food system and protect the health of the environment.

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