Laserfiche WebLink
with approximately 5 percent alfalfa. The field yielded 1,024 bales on the first cutting with an <br />average bale weight of 86 lb /bale. The production for this field was 88,064 pounds (1024 bales <br />X 86 lb/bale) or 4,403 lb/acre (2.2 tons /acre). The second field on the southern part of the <br />property is 11 acres in size. The field is primarily grass and forbs with about 5 percent alfalfa. <br />The field yielded 517 bales on the first cutting with an average bale weight of 84 lb/bale. The <br />production for this field was 43,428 pounds (517 bales X 84 lb/bale) or 3,948 lb/acre (1.97 <br />tons /acre). <br />Morgan plans a second cutting of alfalfa. Neither Johnson or Morgan plan a second cutting of <br />their grass hay and neither property owner remember previous years yields as both indicated <br />"they get what they get and stack it up ". <br />Composition of the irrigated pasture hayland type is highly variable from field to field. Fields <br />generally in good condition are dominated by orchard grass, smooth brome, alfalfa and clover. <br />Areas that have poor drainage are dominated with rushes and sedges. Areas in less than good <br />conditions are dominated with Kentucky bluegrass and various weeds. <br />Morgan, Johnson and Benson all thought that they could achieve an annual production <br />potential of 3+ tons /acre in two cuttings as was asserted by operators in 1987 and reiterated in <br />1999. Since Johnson was the only person to both irrigate and harvest, his two first cutting <br />fields of 2.2 and 1.97 tons /acre are within the 1987 assumptions of area operators. These <br />figures are higher than those shown in table 2.04.10 -8 which indicates an average 1932 <br />Ibs /acre (.97 tons /acre) in 1987. Variation in yield in 1999 was directly related to the degree of <br />management and climatic variability. The Alfafa field which was intensively managed produced <br />the highest yields (8523 Ibs /acre) while the least managed field that had been invaded by <br />prarie dogs had the lowest yield (1140 Ibs /acre). <br />A dominant factor contributing to production values in 1999 is the climatic trend for 1998 -1999. <br />1999 is thus far proving to be an excellent year for herbage production. The 1998 -1999 winter <br />was warm and mild (table 2.04.10 -2) and the precipitation for spring and summer has been <br />high (Table 2.04.10 -1). Precipitation is running 177 percent of normal for the San Miguel Basin <br />(NRCS, NOAA). This trend has had the effect of elevating production levels. <br />(Revised October 2009) 2.04.10-70 <br />