Preparing for drought - forage contingencies

1. Preparing for drought - forage contingencies John Dhuyvetter NCREC

2. Forage Situation Stockpile roughage Other sources Stretching supply Reducing need

3. Headlines Japan to accept beef under 30 months Feedlot placements lower than expected Cargill closes Texas plant 2013 cattle prices expected to rise Hay stocks lowest in five decades Drought widens and worsens

4. Expanding central plains drought

5. Forage the most economical feed

6. Variable annual production

7. Hay prices double • Large ND carryover of 2011 record hay crop • Good hay crop over much of state in 2012 with large harvest of CRP • Extreme shortage to south resulting in huge movement on pipe truck back hauls to SD, NE, WY, CO • Prices variable and generally twice what are typical • NDASS survey hay prices • 10/11 alfalfa $71 other $53 • 10/12 alfalfa $141 other $87 • National 2012-2113 $195/t

8. Alfalfa weevil caught us • Very disappointing first cutting • Marginal or no second cutting larvae adult damage

9. Planned carryover • Low cost / low quality • Straw • CRP • slough • Drained site / rowed • Plastic twine/net • Early-opportunity purchases

10. Payback to grazing management principles Grazing readiness 3 leaf, late May Stimulatory light grazing June 1 –July 15 Growing season rest 30-50 days Maintain residual cover stock to take half / leave half 3-4 pasture, twice over benefits • Greater root reserves and development • Greater infiltration and stored moisture • Faster nutrient cycling and greater N status • Reduced soil temps and evaporation • Less impact of droughtwith some banked grazing and greater production

11. June 30, 2006. 2.04” rain to date. 2.3 AUM/acre during 2005 grazing season No use as yet in 2006

12. Additional grazing possibilities • Corn stalks for dry cows • 1-1.5 acre/cow/month • Annual forage • Millet, oat, sudex • Swath graze • Graze Hay land • Damaged/abandoned crops • Post harvest cover crop • Move cows to better region

13. Annuals/emergency forages • Use • Hay or graze • Season • Cool or warm • Input costs • Seed • Fertilizer • Herbicides • Other • Drought tolerance • Establishment • Diversity/complexity • Toxicity

15. CREC Annual Forage Trial

16. Stock conservatively • Stocking rates • Destocking plans • Evaluate forage growth • Target dates • Target animals

17. Early wean to conserve grazing • Consider weaning 120-150 days • Conserve 3-4 lbs/d pasture forage for cows • Maintain cow condition • Excellent calf gains and health • Added costs ?

18. Hardy adaptive cows • Trait optimums • Mature size • Milk • type • Selection/culling • Open/late • Condition • production

19. Waste not …want not • Daily feeding • Limit feeding • Processing • Feeder options

20. Inventory, test, plan

21. Cowbytes ration evaluator

22. Limit Feeding Forage to Cows • Inventory hay • Allocate to remainder of feeding period by limit feeding • Minimum 5-10 lbs • Cost compare available feed alternatives • Balance energy and protein needs with limit fed grain and or byproducts • Use straw or stalks as free choice filler • Provide bunk space

23. Don’t forget • Water • Mineral

24. Slovek Ranch, SD Oct 2011 bought cheap CRP hay Dec 2011 rented some additional pasture Apr 2012 rented more pasture Jun 2012 sorted out old pairs Jul 2012 sold old cows early weaned calves Jul 2012 found hailed winter wheat to buy Jul 2012 limited heifer breeding to 1 cycle Aug 2012 contracted DDGS Aug 2012 shipped cows to better area Sep 2012 placed calves in feedlot early Dec 2012 building partial partial confinement

25. summary Try to bank some low cost feed when opportunity arises Expand forage base with residue and annuals Inventory, test, evaluate, and plan, plan, plan Stock conservatively and be prepared to cull, wean, sell Protect the condition and value of cattle and range