News

Numerous hay challenges in Missouri

Hay challenges abound for Missouri producers. With the near constant rain, MU Extension forage specialist Craig Roberts tells Brownfield Ag News, “By the time our hay was cut this year it was too mature, so there’s some mature hay put up. There’s some hay that will be put up that will be moldy. Also, we have some hay that was really not put up as hay, it was put up as baleage.” Roberts says that hay is wilted and wrapped in plastic at 60% moisture, “And that can be good for forages. But for our tall fescue, unless it’s a novel endophyte, our tall fescue is toxic and so ensiled tall fescue is going to continue to be toxic.”

And grasses are starting to show signs of developing ergot bodies – which are toxins that form on the seed heads. Roberts says, “We saw some calves die from eating this a few years back, down in the southwest part of the state. So, you just clip and make sure that the ergot falls to the ground.”

Roberts says all prime grasses could be toxic this year, including cereal rye, ryegrass and brome and cattle who eat ergots will show signs similar to fescue toxicosis.