Show more mon high grade ur rade alfalfa Is wanted W ted desirable type of legume forage Is always in demand by dairymen arpud Pr pud b by the th united state department of agriculture higi grude grade alfalfa hay could be profitably produced and marketed in much greater quantities than nt at present according to tile the united states department ot of agriculture dealers in all big alfalfa liay hay distributing markets annually receive thousands of orders from dairymen for high grade alfalfa hay bay which they cannot fill because an insufficient quantity of such hay Is produced many dairymen who do not now utilize much alfalfa hay would become buyers if supplies ot of high grade hay buy were available at all times says the department study market demand damandi De mandi L farmers who grow alfalfa for a cash crop tire are urged to study market demands and then make their production and loading practices conform to the market requirements methods of producing baling and loading high grade alfalfa hay for market are discussed in farmers bulletin 1539 F entitled high grade alfalfa nay hay just issued by the department among the causes for low grade alfalfa listed and discussed in the bulletin are thin stands containing weeds and grasses foreign material such as decayed from previous cuttings weather damage over ripeness at time of cutting over drying baling and stacking under cured hay baling during weather conditions which cause loss of leaves and causes up ap bales characteristics of high grade alfalfa hay bay on the other hand are purity a high percentage of leaves clinging foliage green color and pliable stems leafy alfalfa hay bay having one or more of these desirable characters Is the type of legume forage that Is always in demand with the dairy cattle feeders because of its well recognized effect on milk low flow the foundation of the business of producing alfalfa hay for market Is a good pure stand seed of varieties known to have local adaptation free from foul weeds and add sown in sufficient quantity to produce a thick stand Is of greatest importance classifying alfalfa in the official united states hay standards alfalfa hay Is classified according to its purity the class named alfalfa cannot contain over 5 per cent ot of grasses nor over 10 per cent of othe legumes if the grass content Is over 6 5 per cent but not over 20 per cent the class Is designated designate das as alfalfa light grass mixed the grading factors in the united states standards are color and foreign material anyone ot of which may lower I 1 0 w r tile grade of a lot 0 of hay the most important item of all to in loading leading Is to load cora cars with hay of uniform class and grade uniform loads loada sell for better prices than loads and sometimes the difference in price Is substantial loads often sell on the barisof basi tha th 3 lowest grade found in tb tho car lot A copy of the bulletin may be obtained by y writing to the united stat states es de department apartment part ment of agriculture washington D CL |