aving one tractor for spring intelligent farming expensive ... · h aving one tractor for spring...

Having one tractor for spring applications and another for the rest of the year can be an

expensive proposition. Not with the Challenger 1000 Series.

These high-horsepower, fixed-frame tractors are built to also handle the work of an articulated tractor. With 396 to 517 horsepower, and with a weight range of 31,204 lbs. to 50,706 lbs., the 1000 Series has the power and maneuverability to handle both grueling tillage work and intricate row crop applications. Unlike any tractor that’s come before it, the flexible and dynamic ballasting options of the 1000 Series enable higher utilization and versatility for year-round applications.

AccuEngineering™ As agribusiness operations grow larger and more complex, farmers have to do more with less, in shorter time frames. Our world-class engineers have developed a series of tractors that not only outpace the competition, but push the boundaries of how a tractor can help you run a more efficient, competitive operation that delivers the best bottom-line margin.

That philosophy is at the core of AccuEngineering™, the smarter, more intuitive and more efficient engineering platform upon which the Challenger 1000 Series is built. Infused throughout the entire tractor, AccuEngineering couples superior engineering and state-of-the-art technology to increase productivity and reduce costs. From the controls in the cab, and AccuDrive™ powertrain, to the AccuTerminal™, ACCU is simply a more intelligent way to engineer a more intelligent tractor.

AccuDrive™ Perhaps the most intelligent feature of the Challenger 1000 Series is a powertrain unlike anything you’ve seen before. Simply put, the AccuDrive™ powertrain maximizes engine power at slow speeds. It allows you to pull the heaviest implements through the toughest conditions, with maximum torque and minimum fuel usage.

Conventional four-wheel drives use a fixed-torque ratio between the front and rear axle. Not these tractors. Our unique Challenger Torque Vectoring enables a variable four-wheel drive, where torque is distributed over two transmission outputs, independently on both axles for tremendous pulling power.

An intelligently controlled four-wheel drive clutch controls the torque so it can be shifted between the axles, according to need, with reduced frictional loss and wear. As speed increases, a clutch completely decouples the front axle drive at 15.5 mph, eliminating drag losses in the drivetrain and further increasing efficiency.

Operator EnvironmentThe multifunction armrest provides easy-to-understand control of everything from engine speed to hydraulic functions to guidance and PTO. Pinpoint implement accuracy has never been easier. This ergonomic design keeps all tasks and functions comfortably within the operator’s reach, reducing time and fatigue. With one hand on the wheel and one hand on the joystick, you’re in total control at all times.

AccuTerminal™The Challenger AccuTerminal™ brings your operation a new level of control, precision and productivity. The intuitive touch-screen terminal lets you manage all tractor settings and adjustments, monitor and control ISOBUS 11783-compatible implements, and enjoy exact tracking with the Auto-Guide™ guidance system. The fully automated, 36-section AgControl™

precisely manages variable application to avoid overlapping. With TaskDoc™ Pro, you can move data wirelessly, in near-real-time.

The Challenger 1000 Series is a highly sophisticated machine that is as intuitive and simple to operate as a smartphone. Key functions are color-coordinated with the controls that operate them, so learning the layout is a breeze.

AgCommand®

Precision Farming p4

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Two TractorsJust One

Intelligent Farming is Doing the Work of

with

Keep Nitrogen Available to Corn During All Growth Stages. p12

2017 Cotton Acreage Could Leap 25-30% p11

TECHNOLOGY HAY EQUIPMENT

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT AG RESOURCES NEWS

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Product Spotlight 4

Client Spotlight 8

Hay Equipment 9

Parts Specials 10

Ag Resources 11

News 12

Equipment 14

Used Equipment 15

Locations 16 Talk to your local Empire Agriculture rep today to learn more about Intelligent Farming and the Challenger 1000 Series tractor.

LOW-COST MACHINERY

SOLUTIONS FOR THE

PROFESSIONAL PRODUCER

w w w. e m p i re a g . c o m

S U M M E R 2 0 1 7

TIM ROBINSON, AG GENERAL MANAGER

thefrom here

A s we pass the mid-point on another cropping season, the agriculture industry remains full of activity throughout the southwest.

Yuma’s winter produce fields are long turned under, with mostly melons left for harvest across Arizona. Combines are thrashing barley and wheat with grain corn not far behind. Forage choppers are still bringing on green chop, but silage corn is just around the corner. Alfalfa baling is between the fourth and fifth harvest, and intertwined with straw baling behind combines. Cotton fields are growing and our tree and vine crops have set new fruits for the fall. Cattle feeders are seeing a welcome uptick in market pricing, but the dairy feeders are still facing supply and demand issues holding their returns below cost of production.

Here at Empire, we’re experiencing a surge in harvest tool sales and service related to a strengthening in the forage markets. While 3-tie baler sales started the year slow, recent interest levels have increased. Our fleet of windrowers and 3x4 balers are now running at full tilt with the onslaught of summer temperatures topping 100 degrees.

AGCO is not standing still regardless of the current economic issues faced in commodity production. They remain the leading innovator in farm machinery and are currently introducing a series of new machines designed to help us all produce more for less.

With the rising demand for a baled hay package to meet export needs, AGCO is in the early stages of introducing a new Kansas-built Hesston UHD (ultra-high density) 3x4 baler to the western region. Alongside the baler, they are also announcing the new Hesston windrower and header 9900 series.

Even more exciting news from AGCO is the introduction of the most advanced farm tractor on earth! In July, Empire will have three new Challenger 1000 Series tractors running in the fields around Yuma. These tractors have a conventional AWD configuration and are designed to operate as 380-500 horsepower workhorses.

We are currently preparing for upcoming field trials and lining up places to show off these new machines. Stay in touch with our team to find out where we will be demonstrating first-hand the features and benefits at a field near you.

In today’s agricultural economic environment, we believe most professional producers would say their machines “would last one more year,” regardless of condition. We often see pricing pressures on crops also create pricing pressures on farm machines, often classed as input costs.

However, machinery is a tool used extensively to control the costs of inputs like labor, fuel, repairs, as well as the efficient distribution of seeds, fertilizers and herbicides across a farm field. Therefore, older machinery can lead to higher costs of production when the useful lifecycle has passed.

Current economic conditions offer one of the best opportunities in the farming cycle to upgrade to a new or used machine. Deals are most likely made when corn is under $4, rather than bumping at $8. If you have a machine that is out-of-date, high-hour, running rough, in need of an overhaul, or otherwise behind the technology curve, we can help source a new or used upgrade.

In this issue, you’ll find a variety of harvest tools for sale from Empire’s extensive rental fleet and carryover stock. The inventory ranges from late-model, to new and low-hour machines at great prices. If you’re ready to upgrade but can’t find what you need, we can perform a worldwide search and help you evaluate all your options.

As always, we encourage everyone to work safe this summer, remain as prosperous as possible during this cycle, and to visit us about any opportunity to help you control your machinery costs.

In closing, a quote from the golfing great Mr. Arnold Palmer: “The road to success is always under construction.”

THATCHER2574 W. US 70

SAFFORD

70

191

NOW OPEN! We've moved to our new location in Thatcher, located 12

minutes northwest of the original Safford store. This new

full-service location features parts, service, sales, and rental.

Empire is proud to support agriculture and construction

growth throughout Graham and Greenlee Counties.

Dear AGCO friends and colleagues, it is with great sadness that I share the news of Robert J. “Bob” Ratliff’s passing on Thursday, April 20, 2017 in the comfort of his home in Johns Creek, Georgia. Bob was a founder and former president, chairman

and CEO of AGCO. Bob Ratliff was 85 years old. With a vision to provide solutions for the needs of the farm industry worldwide, Bob guided

the growth of AGCO from a small North American farm equipment business into one of the world’s largest manufacturers of agricultural equipment. Through his entrepreneurial spirit, Bob led the management team during the formation of AGCO and then through a total of 21 acquisitions. AGCO grew in sales from $200 million in 1990 to over $5.4 billion in 2005 before his retirement as Chairman in 2006.

Under Bob’s leadership, the company blended various business practices and cultures. He created an atmosphere that motivated employees to achieve a mutually desirable goal – the vision of brands operating under the leadership of AGCO. His hands-on leadership style extended to company dealers. Recognizing their strategic importance, Mr. Ratliff institutionalized the practice of soliciting feedback from dealers, and made known the fact that senior management was only a phone call away.

During his time with AGCO, Bob touched the lives of many AGCO employees still with us today while forming personal relationships with a multitude of dealers in both North America and abroad. He will be remembered as a great visionary and respected industry leader. Our thoughts are with his wife, Gini, and their entire family.

Donations to memorialize Robert J. Ratliff may be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation, The American Heart Association or The National Park Trust.

With Deepest Sympathy, Robert Crain AGCO Senior Vice President & General Manager of the Americas

EMPIRE AGRICULTURE | SUMMER 2017 3

ACRES FROM OUR TEAM

EMPIRE AGRICULTURE | SUMMER 20172

ACRESVIEW FROM HERE

1835 S. Macdonald, Suite 101 | Mesa, AZ 85210 CONTACT US602-437-0410 | sitechsw.com

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MACHINE HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE MONITORING:

› Machine service interval monitoring: system notifies fleet manager and/or dealer when services will be due ahead of time, allowing you to plan for down time instead of react to issues

› Simple reporting for machine and operating efficiency information: view the status of a machine over a specified period of time indicating excessive idling, transport time, etc.

› Remote machine operation monitoring (Advanced subscription only): ability to see near real-time machine performance data on a virtual dashboard, ensuring all machines are running at peak efficiency

› Remote machine status monitoring: see what the machines are doing and be notified when user-specified events (e.g. fuel level low, machine speed above limit, machine enters/exits geofence, etc.), helping to prevent costly failures

› Dealer support: turn-by-turn directions through the mobile app to your machine location for faster in-field repairs

› Service record for machines: AgCommand can store a record of when services were done on a machine, as well as any other repair information. This can be exported as a simple report showing a complete service and maintenance history for the machine.

OPERATION AND EFFICIENCY MONITORING:

› Know what machine has been where: map display of what a machine was doing in a field and when provides better record keeping and easy analysis of operations

› Machine location monitoring and geo fence alerts: monitor fleet movements and get instant notifications when machines are entering/leaving specific areas of the farm

› Machine theft recovery: machine position information helps you find missing machines

AgCommand®

Precision Farming

AgCommand® offers management of individual assets and complete fleet management with machine performance reports, wireless communication, a web based application for easy access to data, and theft recovery.

With AgCommand®, you gain a higher level of understanding about the efficiency, performance and logistics of your entire operation from a computer or mobile device — putting fleet and asset information at your fingertips and enabling you to make big-picture decisions about your operation. The AgCommand® mobile app enables total fleet and asset management from anywhere with an Internet connection. The AgCommand® mobile app enables total fleet and asset management from anywhere with an Internet connection.

AGCO Power Engine and RoGator drive package give you more power to the ground than ever before

With +/- 1 psi, get the most accurate application and coverage in the entire industry

Engineered and designed to move quickly and easily among a wide variety of conditions

Theonly6-postcabspecificallydesignedforapplication and driver comfort

RoGator® is a registered trademark of AGCO Corporation.

When it comes to crop production, you want a machine that won’t let you down.That’s exactly what you get with a professionally equipped, commercial-grade RoGator — solid, dependable performance, the epitome of perfection…field by field, season by season.

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ACRES PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT


ACRESPRODUCT SPOTLIGHT


ACRESACRES

CAT 926M AG HANDLER AGRICULTURAL ARRANGEMENT NOW WITH OPTIMIZED Z-BAR LINKAGE

The Cat 926M Ag Handler sets a new standard for productivity, fuel efficiency and comfort. A high torque, low speed C7.1 ACERT™ engine works in concert with an intelligent hystat power train to deliver fuel efficiency as standard. A power boost in Range 1 for silage work maximizes productivity, while a boost in Range 4 gets you to the farm or field faster. Extremely low sound levels, large spacious cab and intuitive controls keep you working comfortably all day and even all night! Experience the new industry benchmark.

The Caterpillar patented optimized Z-bar linkage combines the digging efficiency of a traditional Z-bar with integrated tool carrier capabilities for great performance and versatility:

› Lift higher and reach farther with the High Lift linkage: allowing for higher truck loading capabilities, charging feed hoppers and greater reach capabilities

› Perfect Parallelism functionality available in Fork Mode gives truly predictable performance while high tilt forces throughout the working range help you safely and confidently handle loads with precise control.

› Visibility to bucket corners and fork tips at ground level remain excellent while sight lines at maximum lift are improved with a Generation II lift arm design.

› Allowing for higher truck loading capabilities, charging feed hoppers, greater reach capabilities, etc. without having to go with larger loader

› Equipped with fusion quick coupler for easy exchange with multiple attachments

› 3rd valve hydraulics to operate hay squeeze, roll out buckets, ejection buckets, etc.

› Medium debris environment package – including cyclone pre-cleaner and hydraulic reversing fan

› Heavy counter weight to accommodate light material bucket size up to 5.1 yards*

› Rear view camera

› Equipped with Product Link™ – through VisionLink® monitor idle time, fuel consumption, operator induced fault codes, etc.

926M AG HANDLER FEATURES

Keep moving with top-quality rental machines and power equipment from Empire Rental. Our fleet of Cat® machines and other trusted brands are low-hour, well maintained and ready to go when you are.

Daily, weekly or monthly terms available. 1-800-RENT-CAT | www.empirecat.com/rental

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Bought my MF135, and it's still working hard today.

Years later, my son bought a compact tractor for his first piece of land.

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Tough. Versatile. Dependable. We put our tractors through countless tests. But none are more important than the test of time. Visit Empire today.

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CASA GRANDE, AZ 8901 W Highway 287520-374-3500

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*depending on material weight


PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

When asked what influenced him most while growing up longtime Wellton farmer Jerry

Cullison quickly answers that it was FFA.It’s a favor he’s been paying forward

for 60-some years, whether it’s the $1 million endowment fund he established for future agriculture teachers, his tireless service with the Arizona Agricultural Education / FFA Foundation or his writing a check each year so every freshman in FFA at Antelope High School can have the official blue corduroy jacket — something he’s done for more than 25 years.

“I’ve been in this business a long time and I’ve never met anyone with more passion for FFA and agriculture than Jerry,” Dennis Fiscus, operations manager for the Arizona FFA Foundation, said of Cullison. “Jerry is the heart of the foundation.”

In a show of appreciation for his service, Cullison was selected as the first recipient of the Blue & Gold Award, a new honor unveiled at the foundation’s inaugural Blue & Gold Gala on Jan. 28 in Phoenix.

“It’s appropriate that Jerry be the first recipient,” Heather Rayner, foundation vice president and chair of the gala, said of Cullison. “He exemplifies the ultimate FFA supporter.”

No other person has come close to giving as much money to support agriculture education in Arizona, Rayner added.

“It’s nice to be recognized while I’m still alive,” said Cullison. “It’s a brand new award … guess I’m fortunate to be the first one. I put in a lot of hours but if you enjoy what you’re doing, it’s not work.”

He went on to reminisce about his own experiences in FFA as a youth. Cullison has the distinction of having served as a National FFA Officer — he was the vice president of the National FFA Organization in 1957-58.

“Guess I interviewed better than the others,” he offered as explanation for how he was selected for the

sought-after position. An honor graduate of high school in Phoenix, where he was raised, he was attending the University of Arizona at the time.

For a year of his life, Cullison and other National FFA officers lived out of a suitcase as they traveled by bus and train around the country to meet with CEOs and other executives of major corporations that were sponsors of FFA.

The trip also included a visit to the White House, the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations Security Council Chambers. Among the mementoes on the wall of his office is a photograph of him and his fellow officers taken with then Vice President Richard Nixon.

“It was a wonderful experience … an educational process you couldn’t buy,” Cullison said of that year. “It made me much more aware of what was going on in the world.”

In a report on his year as an officer,

Cullison wrote: “To each of you Future Farmers, I would like to say that never have I been more proud than when I wore the blue jacket of our organization. The friends I have made in the FFA are the treasures I shall keep though life. Even though I shall discard my jacket, I will always be interested in your activities and extend a helping hand if and when it is ever needed.”

That’s a pledge he has kept. In addition to his monetary support for FFA, he has also generously given his time throughout the years.

Fiscus related that Cullison had been a member of the original board for the Arizona FFA Foundation, which had become inactive. When Fiscus, state FFA advisor at the time, and other leaders determined the foundation should be revitalized, the efforts started with a phone call to Cullison asking for his help.

“He helped resurrect the board, made phone calls and served as president in the early years,” Fiscus said of Cullison. “He was very instrumental in making the foundation viable. And he’s still highly involved. He’s been on the board

since day one in 1995 and I’ve known him to miss only two meetings in 22 years. Yet he has the farthest to travel and he’s always the first one to arrive.”

Mike Jonjuria, Antelope High School agriculture teacher, credits Cullison with being an inspiration for him. “Jerry passed on his passion to me about FFA,” Jonjuria said.

He holds up Cullison to his FFA students as a model of what a person can do. “Definitely, Antelope FFA is much stronger because of him. That goes back years before me. This award is well deserved. Jerry is a friend of FFA.”

Cullison’s generosity extends to the community as well. Cullison has been heavily involved in the annual Tractor Rodeo to support the Yuma Regional Medical Foundation since 1979, was a member of the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation and served as the local president for two years in the 1960s, sat on the Yuma Regional Medical Foundation board for nearly 40 years and served as president in 1983-85, and was active in Yuma Navy League and Yuma UA Alumni Club, serving as president for both organizations. In addition, his family, through Cullison Farms gave $1 million to the Yuma Regional Medical Center Heart Center (where he and his wife both later had heart bypass surgery) and two years ago bought a new ambulance for Tri-Valley Ambulance.

“This is home,” Cullison said with a shrug as explanation for his involvement. “It has very good people and it was a good place to raise a family (that includes his son and two daughters, his wife Lynne’s son and daughter and their daughter).

Cullison moved to Wellton in 1959 to farm some land his parents owned. “We started with 480 acres and grew cotton and alfalfa,” Cullison said. “We expanded fast and ended up farming 3,000 acres we owned or rented. All I ever wanted to be was a farmer.”

He acknowledged he’s slowing down now and most of the land is leased out. But his son Greg and daughter Kim remain active in Cullison Farms and two grandsons, Chad and Travis, are carrying on the family’s farming

legacy. In addition, daughter Kim was in FFA and grandson Chad served as an Arizona FFA state officer.

Cullison credits his passion for agriculture education to his father, Joseph Ralph "J.R." Cullison, one of the most highly recognized agricultural education leaders in the state of Arizona.

The elder Cullison grew up on a farm in Illinois. After graduating from college, he taught vocational agriculture first in Illinois, then in Tolleson, Ariz. He also was assistant professor of agricultural education at the University of Arizona from 1938 to 1946. He then moved to Phoenix to join the Arizona Department of Education, where he served in various capacities, among them state supervisor of agricultural education, a position that also made him the state FFA advisor, and state director of vocational education. In addition, he was active in multiple community and state affairs.

To continue his father’s legacy, Cullison established the endowment fund that provides scholarships to University of Arizona students who choose to become agriculture teachers. It also provides funding support for their student teaching.

“We have seen the results of that program,” said Fiscus.

Added Jonjuria: “I’ve noticed since it took effect that the quality and quantity of kids going into agriculture teaching has improved. This will be a real boost to the FFA program around the state.”

"And that will have a long-lasting impact on the students who go through the program," said Rayner. “They learn leadership skills, skills of agriculture and love of agriculture. That love of agriculture they’ll never let go of even if they don’t go into an agriculture career. We need these people out there being agriculture’s advocates.”

Jerry Cullison: 2017 Blue & Gold Award RecipientArizona Agricultural Education/FFA FoundationArticle written by Joyce Lobeck · Photo Courtesy AZ FFA Foundationwww.azffafoundation.org

“I’ve been in this business a long time and I’ve never met anyone with more passion for FFA and

agriculture than Jerry. Jerry is the heart of the foundation.”

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T H E N E W Triple Windrow Attachment continues Hesston by Massey Ferguson’s tradition of quality hay innovation, giving you the versatility for single, double or triple windrows. Save time and get the flexibility to meet your needs by combining windrows at the time of cutting, eliminating the need for additional merger or rake operations. Not only do you save fuel, time and manpower, but you reduce equipment wear and tear and eliminate passes across the field, which minimizes compaction and crop damage. Contact Empire today to schedule a demo.

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Unmatched versatility. With a single attachment.

©2016 AGCO Corporation. Massey Ferguson is a worldwide brand of AGCO Corporation. Hesston is a brand of AGCO. AGCO, Massey Ferguson and Hesston are trademarks of AGCO. All rights reserved. HS16P018CR

For more information about the Blue and Gold Award, please visit www.BlueAndGoldGala.org or call the Arizona FFA Foundation office

at (602) 705-9211.Buckeye, AZ Casa Grande, AZ Thatcher, AZ Yuma, AZ Blythe, CA Imperial, CA623-925-3020 520-374-3500 928-387-8700 928-317-7800 760-921-9500 760-355-2443



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California and Arizona are poised for respectable increases in cotton acreage in 2017, putting the U.S. on track for a total of 11 million acres of the

fiber crop.Drought conditions and cotton prices seem to have

improved, giving growers at least in California the confidence to boost plantings.

Preliminary estimates from California and Arizona suggest acreage increases in the neighborhood of 25-30 percent for Arizona and upwards of 20 percent in California.

Roger Isom, president of the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association, says preliminary

planting estimates of 256,000 total acres are being bolstered by surface water allocations much higher than last year, though growers were not told how much surface water to expect until late March, a full month later than previous years and beyond the date they typically make planting decisions.

California cotton plantings for 2017 could include 186,000 acres of Pima and 70,000 acres of Upland varieties, Isom says. Reports from the various seed companies suggest some cotton seed is sold out or in short supply in California. If this holds, this will be a 22 percent increase for Pima acreage and 6 percent boost in Upland acreage.

Arizona last year reported over 129,000 total acres of cotton, according to Leighton Liesner, director, Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council. California produced nearly 219,000 total acres of cotton in the same period.

If projections hold, Leisner says total cotton acreage in Arizona could climb to between 160,000-170,000 acres. He expects that extra-long staple Pima varieties could account for a little over 13,000 acres of that — unchanged from last year.

Could Leap 25-30 Percent

2017 California, Arizona Cotton Acreage

Author: Todd Fitchette, Associate Editor, Western Farm PressWesternFarmPress.com · March 29, 2017

This year, Arizona could plant more than 150,000 total cotton acres as California might push past 250,000 acres.

E132853E132855 E132852E132854

All prices and availability subject to change.

CALL 1-877-769-1150

©2017 AGCO Corporation, 4205 River Green Parkway, Duluth, GA 30096


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COTTON – USED EQUIPMENT

If your plan is to help farmers harvest a bumper corn crop this fall, one of the best things you can do is to keep corn well-fed during the growing season,

advises Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist. He says one of the best ways to accomplish that is to feed the crop adequate nitrogen along the way as part of an overall Systems Approach to management.

"You want to keep enough nitrogen available during all corn growth stages so crop growth never slows down," Ferrie notes.

He says nitrogen works in corn like gasoline in a vehicle, fueling crop growth from emergence through maturity. A lack of nitrogen at any point along the way can cause the crop to sputter or stall.

"Corn that’s nitrogen deficient at the beginning of the growing season gives up yield potential," Ferrie says. "Nitrogen-deficient corn in the late reproductive stages costs actual yield."

Iowa State University Extension research indicates the maximum nitrogen uptake in corn occurs in periods of maximum growth, roughly in the V9 to V18 growth stages.

MANAGEMENT PUZZLE Figuring out how much nitrogen the corn crop needs, what type it needs and when it needs the nutrient differs from farm to farm and year to year. A set of agronomic practices that Ferrie calls the Systems Approach is designed to help you help farmers minimize risks and capitalize on the opportunity for high corn yields in any given season.

While the Systems Approach comprises several factors, it is based on one guiding principle: Every management practice you use is intrinsically linked and ultimately impacts yield.

The first consideration when addressing nitrogen use is the farm environment. Ferrie says this includes weather conditions as well as the farmer’s tillage practices and crop rotation.

The environment sets the stage for nitrogen timing. The timing, in turn, sets the stage for placement—where you place the nitrogen to make sure it reaches the corn.

A crop with all the benefits of alfalfa should be in a good position to compete well with other crops. But alfalfa has been losing ground to row crops

in the U.S., with U.S. acreage down about 20 percent during the past two decades. What would be needed to restore alfalfa to its former production acreage across the U.S. ag landscape? What would it take to make alfalfa great again?

There are both ag policy and crop productivity reasons driving the acreage downtrend. The ag policy reasons have to do mainly with two things. First, federal crop subsidies over the years, including current federally subsidized crop insurance programs, disadvantaged alfalfa relative to other major U.S. crops. Secondly, the Renewable Fuels Standard set in motion by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 gave corn a strong boost, indirectly displacing alfalfa production.

AN ALFALFA MILESTONEJanuary 1, 2017, marked the kickoff of the U.S. Alfalfa Farmer Research Initiative, aka the Alfalfa Checkoff Program. Funds for the initiative are collected through participating seed companies on a voluntary basis by brand, at the rate of $1 per bag of alfalfa seed. You can learn more about the initiative at www.alfalfa.org. Alfalfa Checkoff funds will be used to support public research into alfalfa and alfalfa forage systems. Many brands including some big seed companies are MIA (missing in action) on this initiative. The following are some needed focal points for research.

AGRONOMIC MANAGEMENTThis research area has been dialed down or eliminated at many of our land-grant universities. Applied agronomic research is the very area of research the Alfalfa Checkoff could benefit most quickly, and in turn provide the quickest payoff to benefit farmers who grow the crop. If you believe there is a research topic your land-grant university should be working on, make it known to your state’s extension forage specialist – if your state has one.

HARVEST SYSTEM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTThis is an area of continuous improvement throughout our lifetimes. Farm equipment has entered the digital age, yet the physical harvest, handling and storage

of alfalfa forage still have plenty of improvement potential. Most of the improvements have been through equipment manufacturers, but some of the research to understand key areas of needed improvement has come from the public sector.

DEVELOP NEW FEED USES FOR ALFALFAWe think of alfalfa as a forage for ruminants because of its fiber content, but what if all that efficient protein production could be more concentrated for monogastric feed formulation? Would the fiber fraction be more digestible after protein extraction? What new uses could be developed by separating leaves from stems? How much could you feed of each component? Would it change ration formulation and supplementation by animal species? Could animal performance be enhanced or more efficient? These aren’t new questions, but perhaps the answers are somewhere out in the future if there were public research in this area.

IMPROVE DIGESTIBLE DRY MATTER YIELD OF ALFALFAThe most impactful production issue affecting overall utilization and importance of alfalfa as a crop will increasingly become its digestible dry matter yield deficit versus corn silage. Corn silage continues on a trend toward higher inclusion rates in dairy rations while alfalfa has been trending down. In general, the rate of alfalfa digestion is faster than grasses of analogous maturity, but alfalfa’s extent of ruminant digestion is less. The genetically modified, lower lignin trait marks a milestone on the digestibility side of the equation, but the yield side of the equation must be addressed too. The long-term success of alfalfa as a crop in the U.S. will hinge on keeping up with the productivity of other crops, both in the field and in the feed trough.

IMPROVE ALFALFA-BREEDING METHODSLong-term viability of alfalfa as a crop in the U.S. will require a step change from current breeding methods, to catch up and keep up with the rate of yield gains in corn. Alfalfa could benefit from the application of breeding methods used in other crops, but alfalfa has a complicated tetraploid genome with some

roadblocks that need to be worked out. Basic research projects to unlock the alfalfa genome’s productivity potential are needed to increase the rate of yield gain.

WHO WILL INVEST TO UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF THE ALFALFA GENOME?Research collaborations will be needed to maintain alfalfa as a significant and vibrant part of U.S. agriculture. Both public and private projects should seek to improve overall yield of digestible dry matter, protein yield and quality, resistance to significant disease and pests and maintaining or increasing forage quality. Basic research is needed to obtain breakthroughs, as well as the steady gains of applied research if we intend to keep alfalfa competitive with other crops.

Many alfalfa seed brands aren’t participating in the U.S. Alfalfa Farmer Research Initiative. In fact, two of the largest national brands are notably absent. We won’t name the brands here. They may think alfalfa is not significant, since alfalfa is a perennial crop with about 2.5 million acres seeded each year in the U.S., versus corn and soybeans with 170-plus million acres collectively. You know how much they want your corn seed, soybean seed and ag chem business, so your opinion about alfalfa has more clout than you might think. Whether you purchase alfalfa seed of a national, regional or local brand, the Alfalfa Checkoff is ultimately funded by you as an alfalfa farmer, but only through seed brands that participate.

Is alfalfa important to you? Do you believe alfalfa is important to the overall health of U.S. agriculture? Is the brand you choose making a contribution? If the brand you choose failed to step up and participate, ask why and consider a brand that does. If you really want to prove your point, move some of your other business too. It’s important to the future of alfalfa.

Placement then sets the stage for the nitrogen source.

"For instance, applications of ammonia last fall might have been the easiest and most economical nitrogen source, but it may not fit certain scenarios that we want to address, such as helping us manage the carbon penalty," Ferrie notes.

He tells farmers to always think through how each piece of a crop’s management puzzle fits together, especially if they decide to make a change in any area.

"Say a corn grower decides to change his crop rotation or add a cover mix; he doesn’t realize that this one change creates a chain reaction that affects how he needs to manage nitrogen throughout the season," Ferrie says. "When the farmer makes one change, try to think about how many possible things that will affect."

Along with that advice, here are six additional nuggets of information Ferrie provides as you finalize farmers' nitrogen program in corn this season.1. Assess the environment for every field; that is

crucial in building a nitrogen program. Know the field's risk of nitrogen loss from leaching, denitrification and/or volatility.

2. Pick the right nitrogen sources, timing and placement. Doing those three things is much more important than trying to pick the right rate.

3. Assess the carbon penalty potential based on the amount and type of carbon left from the previous crop. Don’t forget to assess a carbon penalty for grass cover crops.

4. Consider that split applications and nitrogen inhibitors might be part of the balance of the nitrogen plan.

5. If corn greens up right after a sidedress application, it is telling you that the crop was waiting for the nitrogen and it was giving up yield potential during the process.

6. Season-long scouting is the only way to get a handle on nitrogen needs and management. Knowing when fields run short is more important than knowing how much you ran short. As Ferrie emphasizes, "Scout, scout, scout and then make or adjust your plan."

Keep Nitrogen Available to Corn During All Growth Stages.

Making Alfalfa Great Again

Here's Why…

Author: Rhonda Brooks, Editor-in-Chief for AgProAgPro – Farm Journal Media · Agprofessional.com · April 14, 2017

Progressive ForageMarch 1, 2017 - Issue 3

Author: Robin Newell, Vice President of North America sales with S&W Seed Company.


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