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Show 1 I Millard County Progress Annual Farm Supplement, Friday, April 20, 1979 Page UTAH FARMER FEEDS HOME 3 GROWN SILAGE by Justin Seharff small children who are always clamoring for more of mom's home-madapple pic, the steers at the Robert Call fectlot near Layton, Utah just can't seem to get enough of Call's specially n silage. prepared, home-groThe first Heres his recipe: cutting of alfalfa is packed at the bottom of the silage pit, the second cutting goes on top of the first, then add a layer of corn silage and top it off with the third and final cutting of alfalfa. Call very carefully chops both the alfalfa and corn in the fields. And each layer is firmly packed in the silage pit. "Although the alfalfa and corn are placed in the pit in horizontal layers, the silage is removed in vertical sections to provide the desired mix. Like e xy a from Ranger alfalfa to variety that was bred for Utah growing conditions. Interestingly enough, much of the research and breeding for this variety was accomplished by Ike Kawaguchi, a former student and graduate of Utah State University at Logan. Kawaguchi is currently rated as one of the leading breeders of proprietary alfalfas in the western United States. Call favors WL-30- 9 because "it recovers very quickly, grows tall faster than other varieties, has a deep green color, is leafy all the way down to the ground, possesses considerable hardiness and shows for production. USU Specialists from Logan harvest alfalfa trials These two varieties are greater resistance to pea aphid than other varieties grown in this on Garth Swallows farm in Flowell. New varieties, recommended by the County Extension Service for area." Millard County. are tested each year and WL-31such as WL-30- 9 For many years prior to planting weather turns killed their stand by even if the price drops it's excellent unusually hot he and eventually WL-30Call grew Ranger alfalfa, waters twice before the second for rotation, gives the ground a rest a public variety. "This was a good Calls affection for alfalfa dates and helps improve the soil. And cutting due to his light, sandy soil. steady variety", he reported "but The third cutting is irrigated just back more than 30 years. "Its now with varieties like the first cutting was fairly short. once. really a dual purpose crop, he he concluded, the increased yield And although the second and third "The old timers. Call remem- reports. "When prices are right, potential increases its value as a cuttings were leafier the total bers, "often watered once a week its an excellent cash crop. And cash crop." tonnage dropped. 9S "WL-30Call continued, is a big improvement. The first cutting has fine stems, lots of leaves and produces big tonnage. Its annual More and more growers are planting 9 and proving that its the d yield is at least greater variety that delivers high yields and long stand persistence. It is best than Ranger. adapted for Ranger areas and has commercially proved its performance To establish a new stand Call with top quality, high tonnage hay. 9 has fast recovery and regrowth, plows the ground in the fall. He winter hardiness, and outstanding resistance to Bacterial Wilt, superior seeds 12 to IS pounds of alfalfa per Pea Aphid and Spotted Alfalfa Aphid. It is noted for its exceptional leafiacre in the spring with a nurse crop ness all the way down slender stems and its long stand life. WL-30- 9 gives of barley or wheat planted 120 you these genetic benefits. Plant it this year! pounds per acre. Call broadcasts the alfalfa and lnJL-3Hthen harrows it lightly into the Proven to consistently placement for Lahontan, higher yielding ground. The grain is planted at a 8 has Phytophthora Root Rot resistance. Stem outyield Lahontan. inches. depth of one and one-haNematode tolerance, fast recovery, greater axillary branching, multiple Call harvests the grain crop in insect and disease resistance, and long stand persistence. A proven, outAt the dough stage for silage. standing variety! that time he reported, the alfalfa If you is pretty well established. See your dealer delay threshing the grain the alfalfa yield will fall off. But if you after water the field right harvesting the grain crop you can Idaho Utah Washington cut a fair alfalfa tonnage before winter. Although this crop program does not provide big alfalfa tonnage the first year", Call( pointed out, the grain crop does, provide additional income. Call applies 120 units of nitrogen and 60 to 70 units of phosphate per No other acre as a preplant. fertilizer is required until the following spring when 100 units of phosphate are applied per acre. Weed control at the Call farm is relatively simple. After harvesting the grain crop the first year Call clips the weed growth and the alfalfa then crowds out the remaining weeds. Over the years Call has mowed of the alfalfa when about one-hal- f the crop is in the bud stage. He admits, however, that many farmers in this area now determine the cutting time by the new crown growth." Alah flight, field representative a century old for Germain's, western seed firm, confirmed this Utah and added, "throughout alfalfa growers are tending to mow their alfalfa when the new crown growth attains a height of about one and inches." Call irrigates once before the first cutting and then usually once before the second cutting. If the ate' WL-30- 8, ." WL-309- WL-30- one-thir- WL-30- ALFALFA 8 WL-31- 1 WL-31- lf Germain's i i SEEDS tin Robert Call, Layton alfalfa grower and feedlot operator, evaluates high quality of WL-30- 9 alfalfa which produced six tons of hay per acre last season compared to the local average of only four tons per acre per year. Call does not cover his silage pit because, based on his experience, "the cost of material and labor is greater than the loss of nutrients. For almost a third of a century alfalfa has played a major role in Calls farming operation as well as His yield his feedlot program. records indicate his know how with alfalfa production - six tons per acre per year compared with the local average of only four tons per acre per year. "Selecting the right variety", says Call, "is the key to top yields. Several years ago Call switched -- Th ltk it th national . y - bn one-quart- tmblam of tha Walih. r,:: 8! kj j |