Cutting height impacts alfalfa harvest

ALBANY -- The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has posted a new resource for alfalfa growers online at www.nnyagdev.org.

This report is published by The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy on "The effect of cutting height on the yield and quality of alfalfa in northern New York." The eight-page report provides details on the results of an evaluation of an alfalfa crop and an alfalfa-grass mix cut at the currently recommended height of two inches compared to a four-inch height that has been commonly used on farms. The trial took place at the Miner Institute.

Results of the Milk 2000 model used to evaluate the yield and quality of the alfalfa/grass that was hand-harvested in the northern New York research trial showed the two-inch cutting height resulted in more milk per acre at each cutting. Thomas says while the forage harvested at the four-inch height is slightly higher in quality, the higher yield per acre for the two-inch cutting height will result in more milk per acre.

Alfalfa cutting height project leader and Miner Institute Vice President of Agricultural Programs Everett D. Thomas says, "Clearly, mowing closer to the ground will yield more forage. Quality is the issue. It appears that the decision on alfalfa/grass cutting height should be made based on field conditions, the needs for forage, and the grass species planted."

FSA accepting emergency loan applications

GREENWICH -- Franklin, Clinton and Essex counties have been declared eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA), formerly Farmers Home Administration, disaster emergency loan assistance effective May 3 due to damages and losses caused by severe storms and inland and coastal flooding which occurred April 14 through April 18.

Family farmers who have suffered physical losses and/or the losses of at least 30 percent of their production due to the severe storms and inland and coastal flooding may be eligible for FSA loans. Proceeds from crop insurance and any FSA programs are taken into account when determining eligibility for production losses. Losses must be supported with documented records. Under the FSA Emergency Loan Programs farmers may be eligible for production loss loans of up to 100 percent of their actual losses, or the operating loan amount needed to continue in business, or a maximum principal balance outstanding of $500,000, whichever is less. Farmers must be unable to obtain credit from private commercial lenders. The interest rate on emergency loans is 3.75 percent.

Application for loans under this emergency designation will be accepted until Jan. 3, 2008. The FSA office is located at 2530 State Route 40, Greenwich, N.Y. 12834, or call 692-9940, ext. 2.

New York milk production totals announced

ALBANY -- Total milk production in New York during 2006, at 12.0 billion pounds, was down slightly from 2005, according to Stephen Ropel, director of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York Field office.

The annual average number of milk cows, at 638,000 head, was down 2 percent from the previous year. Annual output per cow averaged 18,879 pounds, up one percent from 2005.

Cash receipts from the sale of New York milk during 2006 totaled $1.61 billion, down 16 percent from the previous year. The $13.40 per hundredweight received for all milk sold by New York farmers was down $2.50, or 16 percent, from the $15.90 received in 2005. Marketing totals include whole milk and producer-separated cream sold to plants and dealers as well as milk sold directly to consumers.

New York dairymen used 32 million pounds of milk on their farms during 2006, down 24 percent from the previous year. About 94 percent of the milk used on farms was fed back to calves. The value of all milk produced, including milk fed back to calves, totaled $1.61 billion, down 16 percent from 2005.

National milk production increased 2.8 percent in 2006 to 182 billion pounds. The annual output per cow, at 19,951 pounds, was 386 pounds above 2005. The average number of milk cows during 2006, at 9.11 million head, was 69,000 head more than 2005. Cash receipts from marketed milk during 2006, at $23.4 billion, were 12.3 percent lower than 2005. Producer returns nationwide averaged $12.97 per hundredweight, 14.6 percent below the 2005 average.