Hay-making study results released

CORNELL -- Research by Cornell University researchers and its Cornell Cooperative Extension educators, working with funds from the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) and the New York Farm Viability Institute Inc. suggests farmers can use wide-swath mowing to shorten the drying time and increase the quality of their forage.

Wide-swath mowing spreads the cut forage out to 90 percent or more of the cut width, creating up to three times more sun exposure compared to narrow windrows.

Wide-swathing research pioneer Thomas F. Kilcer of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County says, "There is a potential gain of 300-pounds worth of milk production in every ton of dry matter fed as wide-swathed silage. The traditional harvest system of narrow swath mowing (windrowing) works counterproductive to making optimum haylage in a timely manner." The faster drying of the forage positively impacts carbohydrate levels, sugar content and fiber digestibility in the forage, increasing the value of the forage for dairy cows and supporting the potential for increased milk production. The research shows conditioning is needed to make the silage.

New York State Forage Specialist Dr. Jerry H. Cherney, says, "No differences were detected in the drying rates between conditioned and unconditioned wide swaths. Eliminating conditioning from the haymaking process reduces power output and lowers fuel costs."

To learn more, go online to the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program website at www.nnyagdev.org.

$2 million awarded to dairy farms

ALBANY -- Sen. Betty Little, (R,C,I-Queensbury, said that more than $2 million has been awarded to dairy producers in the North Country through the Dairy Assistance Program established in this year's state budget.

Little, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, advocated for the program to help dairy farmers, many of whom are struggling due to high fuel and feed costs while milk prices have remained at a 25-year-record low.

The $30 million in funding provides direct and immediate financial relief to New York's beleaguered dairy industry.

The program pays eligible farmers the difference between target prices established by the Agriculture Commissioner and the combined Northeast Federal Order Statistical Uniform Price, plus the amount of the Milk Income Loss Contract X payment rate on a per-hundredweight basis.

Little said the following payments are being made in the 45th District: Clinton County, $741,401.11 awarded to 123 dairy producers; Essex County, $102,833.11 to 16 dairy producers; Franklin County, $612,154.74 to 130 dairy producers; Hamilton County, $16,800 to one dairy producer; and, Washington County, $1,087,623.59 to 164 producers.

Applications are still being accepted for eligible dairy farms.

Interested applicants should contact the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets by visiting their Web site at http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us or calling 1 (800) 554-4501.