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Show Thursday, April 12, 1973 Thursdav. Aoril 12. 1973 Utah Farmers Tell How Alfalfa Yields Successfully Increased bi.'A improvi'men! out ;ill'.ilfus such as Ranker", says Harper, "iiii'v ,ncl established earlier the first season, jjrow faster alter mowing and provide extra lonnaije between irrigations". Junior B. Green of Hast Lay-to-another veteran alfalfa gro-wer, emphasizes planting the newer varieties for top yields. "We've Ranker for many years", said Green, "but it averages only five tons per acre per year. We planted Wl.-.'i(- when it was first intro-duced and it yielded seven tons per acre the first year. With hay selling for around $:H.(X) per ton the extra two tons makes a bin difference. "Local horse owners". Green stated, "buy our entire produc-tion. They demand top quality and that means no weeds. So we work real hard to keep our fields clean. With clean hay you can just about set your own P111-- Continued on next page by Justin Scharff No matter how much vijjnr is bred into an alfalfa variety ' through research its ultimate yield depends largely on what the farmer does - both before and after planting the seed. This is the conclusion of a slate-wid- e survey just com-pleted in Utah by Germain's, Inc., a century old western seed firm. Utah alfalfa growers recog-nized for consistently obtaining high yields in diverse growing areas were polled to learn the key to their success. If any Utah farmer deserves the title, "voice of experience", it's Grant Le Fevre who has been growing alfalfa for almost M vears in Klsinore, just south of Richfield. "For top yields", says Le Fevre, "prepare the seed bed thoroughly. Cultivating the soil exposes the weed seeds and gives them a chance to germi-nate. When they're young it's easy to get rid of them. Later, it's difficult and expensive". Fertilizing, irrigating and choosing the right variety also figure in Le Fevre's program for success. "Varieties that do well in some parts of the state", he claims, "won't prosper here because of our low water table". Alfalfa growing techniques developed by Brigham Young University's Department of Agronomy at Provo should prove interesting to Utah growers. "Irrigation", says Rulon Wistisen, assistant farm direc-tor at the BYU farm, "is the single most important factor in - producing top alfalfa yields in this area because of the rocky terrain of the Bingham Soil Series. "Regrowth starts much faster", says Wistisen, "if we irrigate before harvesting and then mow at the opportune lime. Lack of moisture after harvesting can delay recovery up to two weeks". Testing different varieties is an important project at the BYU farm. Wistisen stresses planting varieties with high yield potential. "Varieties make a big difference", he reports. "The local average here is about four tons per acre per year but with recently intro-duced varieties such as WL-.'i(- we're .anticipating seven ton per acre per year average. "Variety alone won't solve all your problems", Wistisen ad-mits. "Good management is also essential". "Fertilization is the key to top yields", says Neil Harper who has been growing alfalfa for 25 years in the Corinne area. of phosphate reduces our yields", he explained. "Also im-portant is good seed bed prepa-ration". After harvesting grain in July, Harper breaks up the subsoil thoroughly, disks the land and then in August and September plants alfalfa as a single crop. "The newer varieties are a .; JV 1 if ' P; Mii$ ProYO, Marilyn Felt, toasti one of Brigham Young I University's Ielse?) as Rutloopn pWroidstuicseinng (croigwhst)wiathnd a BgilllassWooof dm, ilmk em(wbehrast II of the University's farm management team, observe the I proceedings. I b jr - . WJtL-- i J jiU,?) i. Juan Zentino, Utah State University graduate student I (agronomy) sets marker in place to indicate harvesting area I I at Corn Test Plots conducted at Frank and Faris Fitzgerald I ranch near Draper. I M M1 ' T - I I . ". -- - - - Susan Marshall, an attractive Utah Miss, is quite serious I about offering this cow a handout consisting of nutritious, I I palatable, leafy alfalfa hay grown by Utah farmers. Photo- - I graphed at the Cene S. Carter Dairy near Provo. I .1 WlHtHllfll II llll ". -- '" "1 fll3 ; Bob Spry, hybrid corn specialist (right), points out high I grain content of Funk's silage corn variety to Dr. I I DeVere R. McAllister, Utah State University Extension I Agronomist left) and Ray Davis, Utah field representative 1 for Cermain's, at the Dave Bradford ranch near Spanish I F'k- - I j ). . few Z jkiiIi.yLJ Brigham Young University's Dr. Raymond B. Farns worth I (left) and Bill Wood, farm manager, evaluate fine stems and I extreme Icafiness of WL-- 3 06 alfalfa which produced up to I eight tons of hay per year at the BYU farm. Rulon Wistisen, I assistant farm director observes the proceeding? from the I harvesting rig. I ILl ri f2.J Ray Davis, Utah field representative for Cermain's, Inc., (right) explains working procedure of electronic computer mounted on mobile weigh trailer to Dr. DeVere R. McAllister, Utah State University Extension Agronomist (left) and Dave Bradford, Spanish Fork farmer. Photos, courtesy Grmoin's. Inc., 100 ycor old western seed firm. f I Cook. Today's Army will teach you cooking. You'll learn how to prepare different cuts of meat. Bake breads and pastries. Pre- - pare sauces and soups. And we will pay you while you learn. Starting at $307.20 a month. If you want to learn how to cook at the same place many famous chefs got their educa- - tion, call the number below for immediate information: SFC Curtis W. Spencer Provo I Telephone 374-501- 1 Ext. 7295 After 5 p.m. 74-1891 Today's Army Wants to join you. HBBHHBIssaaHasMsBisHsl TIMPTE OF UTAH, INC. 542 South 2165 West - Salt Lake City, Utah 84104 (WEST ON 5TH SOUTH OFF REDWOOD ROAD) Announcing . . . New Dealership Sales - Parts - Service COMPLETE LINE TIMPTE PRODUCTS Dry Vans - Reefers - Flats - Grain Trailers Dumps - Low Boys See our Stock, Available for Immediate Delivery Service Department open 16 Hours a Day TED BEAKEY - BOB TALBOT - MIKE BURNS V.P. - Gen. Mgr. Sales Service 521-85- 02 Specialists Agricultural Chemistry fc Soil Chemistry & Contaminations American cZ!an Chemical Application I Waters & Gases Salt & Brines jf Geochemical Exploration fc Biochemistry Research Cokes & Coals Laboratories X"0'"" 32 E. 3335 So. S.L.C., Utah 84115 (801) 467-792- 2 Funk's G-llyb- rids are coming through... with top grain and silage yields! FOR GRAIN: 44 FOR SILAGE: Plant Utah's consistent high yield per- - Right at the top of the Utah State Un-iformed This medium-lat- e maturing G- - versify Trials two years running with 34 Hybrid averaged over 162 BuAcre in plus tons per acre in 1971 and over 35 statewide Project 200 Contest and tons per acre in 1972! is a full yielded over 189 BuAcre in University season hybrid with 5 years of excep-Trial- s. It delivers top yields of quality tional popularity as a dependable ton-grai- n. Fast drying, it responds to high nage-make- r. It has high grain content populations and fertility. and takes off fast under cool conditions! See Your Dealer NOW I v!i7 fS;S::. QermAINSAhc. ? ' " - a .aw ei "i". Sine 871 m... J P.O. Box 1985 Fresno. Calif. 93718 (209) 3 tvt , rT7rnfxrvh7KonooononrM mooo SPRING CO-O- P TIRE & BATTERY 1 SALE - From April 1 to June 30 TIRES -- Save 20 OFF on our i Low Fleet Price BATTERIES-- 1 0 OFF Fleet Price Save on These Items Also During our Big 20 OFF Sale April 1 to June 30 REGULAR NOW Rubber-Viny- l Garden Hose 75' x 58" $12.95 $ 6.95 20" 3 h.p. Rotary Mower 69.95 49.95 All Melnor Sprinklers 20 OFF No Pest Strips og 1.19 Black Leaf Lawn & Garden Chemicals 10 OFF WD-4- 0 Lubricant - 3 oz 98 .59 STP Radiator Treatment 2.98 1.19 Package of 12 Large Sponges 2.49 .99 Large Galvanized Garbage Cans .. 3.98 2.49 Gl Metal Gas Cans 7.98 5.98 Low Suds Detergent - 25 Lb 4.98 3.98 Fish Fillet Knives 4.98 2.98 We handle a Full Line of Feeds and Seeds BUNKER'S FEED CENTER DIVISION OF UTAH COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION 500 North 1 600 West - Orem, Utah Phone 225-- 0 1 40 Annual UTAH FARM, RANCH AND GARDEN SUPPLEMENT Our Cover ... focuses on milk, alfalfa hay and corn silage products that represent close to 30 percent of Utah's total farm income. Cash receipts from dairying, the state's second largest agricultural industry, exceed $47 million. Hay, Utah's major crop, accounts for more than half the total acreage of all crops harvested. The value of corn silage, the state's second most valuable crop, is estimated in excess of $12 million annually. Grow Them Greener . . . Soils Specialist Tells How to Get Lawns Off to Good Spring Start By Paul D. Christensen Extension Soils Specialist You can get your lawn off to an early start by applying nitrogen fertilizer. Fertilizer can be spread as soon as the snow melts and the frost is out of the ground. A light applica-tion of ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate will produce results in a few days. The grass will grow rapidly and green up uniformly. There are three basic rules for good lawn care in Utah. First, apply nitrogen fertilizer two or three times during the growing season. Avoid fertiliz-ing in the hot summer period. Second, clip the lawn W2 to 2 inches high. Close-clippin- g weakens the grass. Third, water heavily and less frequently. One inch of water per week in spring and fall and two inches per week in summer is adequate. Fertilizer Needs Nitrogen is the main fertilizer needed by lawns in Utah. You can apply 1 to 2 pounds of available nitrogen per-- 1000 square feet of lawn area in the early spring. Repeat the appli-cation in late spring and again in late summer. The actual'! amount of a given fertilizer to apply depends upon its' content of nitrogen. Here are some examples: Since ammonium nitrate is one-thir- d (34 percent) nitrogen, apply 3 to 6 pounds (1 to 2 pounds N) per 1000 square feet. Spread this in March or early April, in May or early June, in late August. If you prefer, use ammonium sulfate. It is one-fift- h (21 per-cent nitrogen. You can apply 5 fo 10 pounds (1 to 2 pounds N) per 1000 square feet. Likewise, you can use urea which contains almost one-ha- lf (44 percent) nitrogen. Two to 4 pounds per 1000 square feet is adequate. The fertilizer should be sprinkled in immediately after spreading. Lawns contain-ing a lot of clover grow well with little nitrogen fertilizer. Those who like to maintain clover in the lawn should add phosphate once every 2 to 4 years. Five pounds of concen trated superphosphate per 1000 square feet of lawn is sufficient. If clippings are left on the lawn, less fertilizer is needed. Clipping The blades of green grass feed the plant roots. Closely clipped lawns have starved and shallow root systems. Set the lawn' mower to leave V2 to 2 inches of grass. This will pro-mote healthy lawn growth. Watering The daily use of water by lawns is determined by weather conditions. During the summer months, daily use approximates h inch per day. Less water is needed in cool spring and fall periods. On deep fertile soils, apply about two inches of water at one sprinkling. Sprinkle only once per week in summer. In the hottest weather, you may need to sprinkle twice per week. Dur-ing the cool spring and fall periods, one watering every two weeks is adequate. If your soils are shallow and gravelly, you may need to water more often. In this case apply less water at each irrigation. |