It is getting pretty dry in Butler County, Ohio, especially for this time of year. The week of April 29 it misted several days, but for the whole week the accumulation, unofficially it was only about .2 inches. And, it has not rained at all during the week of May 6.

The dry weather has had its benefits, as well as its detriments. Corn planting is nearly complete. May 11 is the date, research has shown, when you start to lose potential yield from date of planting.
By May 20, you may have lost as much as 15 bushel per acre in potential yield.The forage grasses in our hay and pasture fields have had a rather difficult time this spring. The cold snap the first week in April stopped their growth for awhile. It even turned some of the fields brown, or a tinge of yellow.

We have suggested alfalfa producers wait a week or two for harvest, beyond normal, to allow the alfalfa to recover some root reserve.

Normal harvest, if weather permits, would begin in Butler County May 15-20. With the grass as short as it is, and heading out, it is going to be a difficult balancing act in mixed hay fields. We would suggest you allow the alfalfa the extra time to recover, even if it means giving up a little hay quality in the grass. We are concerned the alfalfa stand will be weakened if you cut when the grass is ready.

The wheat crop has very short straw this year. Both hay and straw may be at a premium next winter, but who knows, it may rain.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Steve Bartels may write to him in care of this publication.

This farm news was published in the May 16, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.