Harvesting Soybeans As A Forage

Aug 27, 2014

Some producers may be thinking of harvesting soybeans for forage rather than a grain crop. While we seldom think about using beans as forage, certain circumstances may make it more advantageous for us to harvest soybeans as a forage. Soybeans may make an excellent forage if harvested properly. As with most legumes, they will be high in protein and low in fiber.

The optimum time to harvest soybeans for silage is when seeds completely fill the pods and the lower leaves of the plant are just beginning to yellow. A mower-conditioner is recommended, so that leaves and stems dry at a similar rate and leaf loss is reduced. Ideal moisture is 65-70% for tube or bunker silos, and 60-65% for upright silos.

One of the biggest cautions that need to be exercised when considering harvesting soybeans for forage is the herbicide program used. Few herbicides are cleared for use on soybeans harvested for use as forage. Remember that it is illegal to harvest soybeans for forage if it is not listed on the herbicide label.

Source:psu.edu

Video: Cheapest States to Buy Farmland in America

The United States has more than 895 million acres of farmland, which includes all rural land tied to farming operations, from highly fertile Midwest cornfields to vast grazing ranges in the West, as well as the undeveloped rural land, which is often sold as ranches, homesteads, or uncultivated lots. Nowadays investing in rural land is very lucrative even billionaires like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Warren Buffett have bought up thousands of acres of farmland across America. In contrast to investors, agricultural companies, and business moguls, some buy farmland for their own requisites, like starting a small farmstead, creating a cottage, and becoming self-resilient. In this video we have ranked the top cheapest states to buy farmland according to the per-acre land value, which is accumulated from the United States Department of Agriculture. The USDA’s per-acre land values come from an annual survey, which is cross-checked with actual sales data, appraisals, and market trends to ensure accuracy. So here are The top Cheapest States to Buy Farmland.