OCR Text |
Show Lehi farmers follow tips, double alfalfa production in one year by Justin Scharff Last season, Tosh and Sok Shiba, of Lehi, Utah, produced eight tons of alfalfa per acre, an extremely impressive record since it is more than double the state average. Of even greater significance, perhaps, is that they produced this yield with a new variety in its first production year. How do they explain their success? "Variety selection, the Shibas claim, is the key to top yields. Last yer they grew five separate varieties to determine the best one for their area. The a top producer was variety with wide adaptability to growing conditions in Utah, Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. The Shibas sell part of their alfalfa to neighboring dairies and horse owners, but most of it is for home consumption. Their alfalfa is an integral part of the feed ration in their commercial feedlot which houses up to 500 WL-30- animals. pressure, the disk is not forced into the ground. It penetrates by its own weight. The alfalfa seed is not planted too deeply, and the barley roots are relatively undisturbed. The grain is harvested in July after which the fields are cleaned to prevent matting over the alfalfa. Both Shibas claim that "the nursecrop protects the alfalfa seedlings from the wind, helps keep out the weeds, and allows us to without irrigate heavily washing out the young alfalfa seedlings. One rule conscientiously followed at the Shiba ranch is alfalfa must not stress for water. The crop is irrigated immediately after harvesting the barley. From one to two irrigations are scheduled between cuttings. Adequate water supplies will support four cuttings per year; otherwise, there are just three. The fertilizer program includes 100 pounds of phosphate per acre applied as a preplant plus additional applications if required. Phosphate remains in the soil for a long time, says To6h, and does not leach out. The Shibas claim they get the best quality hay and best yield from the first cutting. The fields are usually mowed at the early bud" stage. If we harvested at the 10 percent bud stage, says Sok, we would probably be limited to three cuttings. Harvesting starts about May 27th and continues at approximately seven week intervals, with the last cutting around October 10th. The worst insect pests in this area are weevils and aphids. Tosh laments the fact that extremely effective weevil controls that were available 20 years ago are no longer on the market. He does not believe that either insects or plant diseases are on the increase in his area. The sad thing about insect damage, he pointed out, is that it cuts quality as well as yield. We prefer watching the plants for infestation and then spraying rather than spraying in advance. Many times the bugs dont show up. We would rather combat the probleir when were actually faced with it. Is this, then, the Shibas secret of how to grow top quality alfalfa with yields more than double the state average? Not really. "There is no secret, says Tosh. What it boils down to, he concluded, is simply doing everything ight the first time around. A forest fire isa shame. t NBC to run films on endangered American species A unique series of short films on endangered wildlife of North America is running on national television this spring, the Wildlife Management Institute reports. Produced by wildlife cinematographer Dick Borden, the films are aired on NBCs "Grandstand program, in connection with Sunday spor- ting events. Each film covers a distinct species on the endangered list. Starting one is a crime. A 6c Public Service ot This Newspaper The Advertising Council The Times-New- s N'ephi, Utah April 21, 1977 The Shibas alfalfa program is thus they grow it, they sell it, and they feed it. This procedure provides them with an excellent opportunity to evaluate their alfalfa for yield as well as for quality three-pronge- as a feed ration. Our customers are as demanding as we are, says Tosh. It is not normal procedure for the Shibas to send samples of their alfalfa to laboratories for chemical analysis. But their 20 years of experience in growing, selling, and feeding alfalfa qualifies them as experts at evaluating quality by visual inspection. "WL-30says Tosh Shiba, has finer stems and a higher leaf ratio than Ranger. We have been cutting it at a fairly young stage, and the animals have an excellent appetite for it. We think its beautiful alfalfa. The Shibas have also observed that when alfalfa gets wet 9 in the windrow, stays bright and green. Our other varieties bleach on the outside and discolor on the inside. Interestingly enough, both Tosh and Sok anticipate higher yields for this variety in its second year. While stressing the importance of growing area oriented varieties, Sok Shiba emphasizes that cultural practices are equally important. What are the cultural practices at Shiba farms? Their most important farming procedures include a good stand for maximum yield, adequate moisture, proper fertility, timely harvesting and ef9, WL-30- fective insect control. Over the years, Sok and Tosh have learned the importance of a good plant population. Their program specifies planting alfalfa with barley as a nurse crop. The barley is seeded at a rate of pounds per acre as early as possible - usually in March. About the first of April, when the barley is two inches tall, alfalfa is seeded at a rate of twelve pounds per acre. In this area of Utah, planting alfalfa with barley as a nurse crop is an established practice." The Shiba brothers have evolved their own precise method of seeding both crops. We use a double disk with an open drill, To6h- - explained. This model does not tear open . the ground like a single disk and theres less possibility of the barley damaging 0 The way you treat your money after the sale you treat your crop before. First Security can guide you on the best use of your money high interest return for proper length of time that can make the difference between a good year and a bad one. Call us. oX - seedUngs. Sok Shiba pointed out that "by releasing the spring is as important as how b OF UTAH, N.A. MEMBER FDIC i t i i |