Forage Yield Goal Question

[A6gal]

I'm getting ready to send in a couple of soil samples for analysis. One of the questions on the form is Yield Goal. I don't have a clue how to answer this question.

Can anyone give me an idea of what a realistic yield goal might be for a 40 acre field of fertilized coastal bermuda which will be both grazed and possibly baled if we get a little more rain this year than in 2005.

 

[bigbull338]

id say a 4 ton to ac yeld.b/c the higher up you go the more fertalize youll have to put out.just my thoughts.b/c the more you make.the more it depletes your soil.

 

[Ranchcop]

One way to help with the depletion of the soil, is a rotational program that I started a few years ago.
Take 25% of your hay pasture and fence it off with electric fence for a year. Let the livestock graze on it for that year. Every time you cut hay from the rest of the pasture mow the grazed section also and let it lye. Every time you fertilize the hay pasture, apply to grazing section also. Each year rotate the 25% to a new area, so every 4 years each section gets a rest.
Results, Of course the first year you will have a reduction in yield, but the following years you will get more production off of 75% of the pasture then you are now getting from 100%.
Hope this makes since.
Brad

 

[Dave]

Look at the soil survey for your area. There should be a potential yield listed for your soil and a variety of crops. match it up with what you have.
Dave

 

[A6gal]

Thanks for all the input. Bigbull, you hit the nail on the head. I talked with the local ag extension guy and he suggested between 3 - 5 tons per acre. I do plan to try rotational grazing this year if I can get to cross fencing. I'm currently having my outer perimeter fences re-strung and my hired help is slower than molasses in winter. They've taken over 3 weeks to restring about 400 yards of fence. Of course that has included clearing some brush but the corner posts and braces are already in place and they've only had to replace about 25 t posts. I'd fire them but it's almost impossible to find anyone who is reliable and willing to do that kind of work even for good wages.

 

[TheLazyM]

id say a 4 ton to ac yeld.b/c the higher up you go the more fertalize youll have to put out.just my thoughts.b/c the more you make.the more it depletes your soil.

bigbull this is per cut right? maybe 3 cuts a year?
why i ask is because that sounds pretty right for around here. 2 -2 1\2 bales per acre. the bales i get go around 2000- 2200. i dont cut hay i buy it. i dont let my grass get over 5" before i bushhog. its alot of work but i dont have weed problems neither.

 

[bigbull338]

no thats about 1.5 tons an ac.more than 300lbs fert pre ac.$60 an ac fert.more than 300lbs ac an your wasting money.right now for every ton of fert you buy.you could buy almost 3 tons of alalfa at $150 a ton.so figure the cost.lime cost $90 an ac spread.litter $90 an ac spread.do the figures an see what you can afford.