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Wisconsin Forage Council
The Wisconsin Forage Council has merged with Forage
Councils in
Midwest
Forage Association
Ph: (651) 484-3888 Fax: (651) 638-0756
E-mail: midwestforage@comcast.net
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Introduction
The Wisconsin Forage Council is a nonprofit organization of forage producers, educators and industry with the following mission and vision:
Vision The Wisconsin Forage Council will be a strong, visible force representing the forage industry. The Wisconsin Forage Council will be a leader in the latest educational techniques and resources. It will be the leader in stimulating and implementing applied research.
The Wisconsin Forage Council will be viewed as a viable representative of forage producers and suppliers and be a clearing house of the latest information. The combinations of educators, producers and industry are strongly linked and recognized as working closely together in both education and political arenas.
Membership will include a majority of forage producers and they will look to the forage council for developing and disseminating information. The organization will provide profitable information to producers. Finally, the organization will be recognized as a leader in change.
- To research and promote profitable forages, linking producers, educators and industry.
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PRESIDENT Tom Braun (02-04) (920) 754-4076 |
VICE
PRESIDENT David Fischer (02-04) (608) 224-3700 |
EXEC
SECRETARY/TREASURER Dan Undersander Department of Agronomy (608) 263-5070 (work) (608) 836-1392 (home) (608) 265-3437 (fax) |
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Doug Bastian – Treasurer (02-04) Olds Seed Solutions (608) 249-9291 |
Joe Tiry (01-03) 715-644-2538 |
Randy W. Brunn (03-05)) (715) 443-3351 (home) |
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Stuart Sorenson (02-04) O & S Harvesting 715-758-7990 or 715-758-7991 1-888-758-2467 |
Richard Vine (01-03) (715) 743-3956 |
Mike Fischer (03-05) 1825 Esker Rd Hatley WI 54440 (715) 446-3658 |
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Jerry Clark – Secretary (01-03) (715) 726-7950 |
Randy Welch (01-03) (608) 206-3859 |
Tina Struyk (03-05)
(920) 467-5742 |
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Ron Wiskerchen (03-05) W1036 Hwy N (262) 673-4604 |
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Bob Meyer (01-03) (715) 384-2191 |
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Ex-officio Keith Kelling Soils Department 139A Soils - King Hall UW-Madison (608) 263-2795 |
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Ex-officio Dennis Cosgrove Dept of Plant & Earth Science (715) 425-3345 (phone) (715) 425-3785 (fax) |
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GOALS FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS
1. Develop a comprehensive marketing plan to improve the
visibility of the
Forage Council.
a) Develop a promotional program to inform Deans and Political Representatives about the Forage Council.
b) Consider organized events for promotions ‑ Dairy Expo, Beef, Expo, Farm Progress, etc.
c) Network with other organized events.
d) Update/Redo brochure.
e) Develop promotional items.
f) Develop inserts and press releases for farm publications and newspapers.
2. Develop a clearinghouse for information on research,
new technologies and
on‑farm demos.
a) Conduct four demonstrations trials in ten counties each year.
b) Collect and consolidate information from trials by December 31.
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Wisconsin
Forage Council Projects
- Scissors Clip
- 2001 Coordinated Demonstrations
- 2000 Coordinated Demonstrations
- 1999 Coordinated Demonstrations
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Newsletter and Proceedings
Forager
Newsletters
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Proceedings
Can’t find
it…then search newsletters and proceedings
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Future Events
Wisconsin Forage Council Annual Symposium
The Plaza Hotel
Phone: 715-834-3181/800-482-7829
2002 WISCONSIN FORAGE COUNCIL AWARDS
OUTSTANDING FORAGER
For excellence in forage management practices
on a farming operation
DAN KAMPS
Darlington, WI
EDUCATOR
For educational activities encouraging good forage management
and soil and water conservation practices
RANDY KNAPP
Chippewa County
and
MAHLON PETERSON
Eau Claire County
AGRI-BUSINESS
For leadership in activities relating to forage quality analysis in Wisconsin
DOUG BASTIAN
Madison, WI
RESEARCHER
For research in design of forage harvesting equipment
KEVIN SHINNERS
Madison, WI
2001 WISCONSIN FORAGE COUNCIL AWARDS
OUTSTANDING FORAGER
For excellence in forage management practices
on a farming operation
KEN NATZKE
Bonduel, WI
EDUCATOR
For strong educational program in weed management
for forage fields and pastures
DR. JERRY DOLL
Madison, WI
AGRI-BUSINESS
For leadership in activities relating to forage quality analysis in Wisconsin
STEVE PETERSON
Bonduel, WI
RESEARCHER
For research relating to silage management
DR. BRIAN HOLMES
Madison, WI
2000 WISCONSIN FORAGE COUNCIL AWARDS
OUTSTANDING
FORAGER
For excellence in forage management practices
on a farming operation
RICHARD VINE
Granton, WI
EDUCATOR
For educational activities encouraging good forage management,
and soil and water conservation practices
MIKE BALLWEG
Sheboygan, WI
AGRI-BUSINESS
For leadership in activities enhancing forage production
and
use in
BOB BOSOLD
Eau Claire, WI
HONORARY
MEMBER
For recognition of outstanding research and career-long support of
improved forage production practices and Wisconsin Forage Council activities
DR. RICHARD
SMITH
Madison, WI
1999 PACESETTERS
Dodge County
Ron and Mary Wiskerchen
Ron and Mary farm 216 acres and milk 50 Holstein cows. They seed alfalfa on soybean ground as they believe the extra nitrogen helps get alfalfa off to a good start. They seed the alfalfa with oats and Italian ryegrass. The oat ryegrass is harvested as hay, if possible, so they can get two more crops of alfalfa/ryegrass in the seeding year. After the seeding year, they harvest alfalfa when scissors clip and PEAQ dictate. Ron takes three cuttings by September 1st and then a fourth in late fall if extra hay is needed. They have started making some baleage which they feel helped them put up forage without rain damage and helped them raise their yields.
Eau Claire County
Dan & Annette Lindeman & Family
Dan and Annette farm 415 acres near Osseo, WI. They milk 62 cows with a 21,900 lb herd average. They establish the majority of alfalfa by notill, using minimum tillage on the remaining acres. They use manure to supply most of their nutrient needs. Their goal is to harvest 150 RFV alfalfa and put up high quality silage. To achieve this, they participate in the scissors clip program and the corn burn down demonstrations.
Fond du Lac County
John and Linda Diederichs
John and Linda milk 74 cows with a 27,100 herd average. They grow 150 acres of legume on the 280 acre farm. Established stands are harvested either three or four times by September 1st. Production costs are kept low by an unusual machinery sharing agreement with John’s two brothers and another non-related dairy farmer. The four own all machinery equally and help each other during harvest periods.
Green County
Jim and Teresa Schlappi
Jim and Teresa farm 249 acres and milk 135 cows. They purchase premium quality alfalfa seed and seed it with orchardgrass and barley as a cover crop. Jim feels that the alfalfa-orchardgrass mixture is better for erosion control, field dry down, yield and animal health. He takes four cuttings per year, and has four years of hay in the rotation. His yields have been as high as 6.8 tons per acre.
Manitowoc County
Tom and Pam Braun
Tom and Pam farm 4397 acres growing 944 acres of alfalfa and 495 acres of corn silage. They feed this forage to 1310 cows and young stock and 325 Holstein steers. They seed most of the alfalfa notill and grow it in a three-year rotation with corn silage. Tom believes strongly in rotations, feeling that they reduce costs of production. They began using GPS in 1998 and are looking forward to seeing it available for manure application and forage yield.
Outagamie County
Jeff and Cindy Jentz
J-CIN Dairy
Jeff and Cindy farm 362 acres with 200 in alfalfa and 50 in corn silage. They have 186 cattle with 24,000 herd average. Jeff would rather get higher quality forage than high yield. To this end, he fertilizes alfalfa according to soil test recommendations, sprays when insects threaten, and harvests using the scissors clip and PEAQ results. Jeff selects corn hybrids for silage based on high milk per acre and past experience with high yielding varieties. Jeff and Cindy were early adapters of kernel processing.
Outagamie County
Randy and Karen Strey
Randy and Karen farm 1144 acres near Hortonville. They grow corn, sweet corn, peas, soybeans and winter wheat as cash crops. They grow over 200 acres of forage crops believing that high quality haylage is the backbone of a successful dairy enterprise. Alfalfa is seeded notill into wheat stubble and harvested at late bud stage on a three-cut system. Corn silage varieties are selected for digestibility. Legume credits from alfalfa and soybeans are the basis of fertilizer for this crop. Yields consistently exceed 20 tons per acre.
Shawano County
Allard and Tammy Meverden
Allard and Tammy farm 264 acres and milk 55 cows. Alfalfa is seeded with peas and oats which is harvested at the boot stage for heifers and dry cows. Corn silage is custom planted following application and incorporation of 10 tons of manure. Corn silage types used are waxy corn, high oil corn and highly digestible silage. The high oil corn is put in a vertical silo and used for dairy cows. The waxy and highly digestible corn is put into a pile pack, covered and fed to heifers and dry cows. He determines when to chop corn silage based on moisture analysis from samples sent to AgSource Soil and Forage Testing Laboratory.
Sheboygan County
Joseph and Nancy Breunig
Joseph and Nancy farm 500 acres and milk 415 cows with a herd average of
25,673 lb milk in partnership with their son, Mark. They produce high quality
forage for the dairy ration by seeding varieties with good winterhardiness and
HR resistance to both phytophthora root rot and aphanomyces. They feel
the most important part of their ration is alfalfa above 135 RFV. Corn is
planted in 15-inch rows using 99 to 107 day varieties with high digestibility
ratings. They use liquid manure on most corn acres and adjust nitrogen
rates accordingly. Corn silage is chopped and rolled using a 3/4 inch
cut.
Chippewa County
Joe and Diane Tiry
Joe and Diane Tiry farm 253 acres near Stanley Wisconsin. They milk 60 cows and have a herd average of 22,000 lbs. They grow all feed for cattle except some of concentrates. They grow alfalfa and clover depending on soil type. Haylage comprises about 70% of ration, corn silage about 25% and the remaining 5% is grain and other concentrates (for dairy cows). Youngstock receive 90% legume haylage and oat-pea silage and the remainder concentrates. First cutting forage is harvested by scissors clip results.
Clark County
Brad and Pam Wolf
The Wolf’s farm 240 acres near
Fond du Lac County
John and Karen Ruedinger
The Ruedingers farm 740 acres and milk 480 cows near the
town of
Green County
Mike Sulzer
Mike and his partner farm 540 acres, maintain 125 beef cows and raise 100 feeder cattle annually. They grow 250 acres of alfalfa-bromegrass mixtures and 50 acres small grain haylage. They also manage 130 acres of pasture. Hay is made as round bales and stored inside on pallets or outside on pallets and covered with tarps. Permanent pasture is divided into paddocks and rotationally grazed. The pasture is fertilized with manure and interseeded with birdsfoot trefoil.
Manitowoc County
Joseph Holschbach
Joe and Julie Holschbach farm 800 acres and milk 370 cows in partnership. They grow 250 acres of alfalfa and 250 acres of corn silage. The first crop of alfalfa is cut for heifers at 120 RFV. Second and third cutting are taken on 30 to 35 day intervals and harvested for dairy cattle. Fourth cutting is taken is heat units permit. Corn silage is contract harvested. The heard average is 23,126 lbs milk. Cattle are fed a TMR of 10 lbs shelled corn, 17 lbs commodities, 10 lbs haylage, and 17 lbs corn silage. They report that quality haylage and corn silage keep ration costs to $4.50/cwt. The Holschbachs hosted the WFC Summer Expo this past summer.
Jerome and Mona Jaeger
The Jaegers farm near Cleveland milking 170 Holstein cows. They prepare seedbeds for alfalfa using a chisel plow. All alfalfa is direct seeded. A consultant monitors all fields for pests and advises when to spray. Hay is cut so RFV is 155 or greater. Most haylage is stored in ag bags. Corn silage is packed on black top with a loader tractor. Yield is 11 to 14 tons per acre.
Outagamie County
Allen and Jean Timm
Allen and Jean Timm farm 303 acres near Seymour and milk 65 cows. Alfalfa is direct seeded in the spring. It is sprayed for weeds and insects as needed. They harvest on a four cutting system using PEAQ to determine when to cut for 170 RFV. Half of the alfalfa is for haylage stored in upright silo. The other half is harvested for big square bales, stored in sheds. Corn is processed and stored in upright silo. They use all home grown feeds for the herd, purchasing only the mineral mix and some distillers grain. This allows them to feed the dairy cows for $4/hd/day.
Sheboygan County
Brian and Jeanne Goeser
The Groesers make top quality forage a priority on all 620 acres of cropland. Grain is purchased off farm. Alfalfa is harvested 3 times a year based on scissors clip results. New fields are direct seeded and sprayed with Pursuit. Corn for silage is planted on 15 inch rows. They state that “Forage RFV is crucial and dictates the whole feeding program.” High quality forage has been the basis for the feeding program as the dairy has grown from 90 cow to 505 over the last 11 years.
Chippewa Valley Forage Council
Kenneth Risler, Huntsinger Farms, Inc
Ken is a manager of Huntsinger Farms which operates 4,600 acres cropland (of which 1,100 is in alfalfa) and 1,000 acres of pasture. They maintain a herd of 500 beef cows. The plant alfalfa with some bromegrass. Haylage is stored in two bunkers silos and hay is stored as wrapped large round bales under roof. Their permanent pasture is reed canarygrass, alfalfa and bromegrass. They utilize rotational grazing with the beef cow herd moving cows and calves every four day. Cows are rotationally grazed in summer and fed large round bales in winter. Calves are born in March and April and weaned in September, then finished in feedlot with TMR mix of haylage and rolled corn.
Clark County
Dave and Marilyn Mayenschein
Dave
and Marilyn graze 85 Holsteins on 150 of the 310 acres they own south of
Thorp. They switched to grazing and have
seen steady increases in forage yield, quality, and farm profits every
since. They do an excellent job of
monitoring the forage growth on their farm to ensure that cows are always
consuming top-notch forage without going too fast or too slow in the rotation
and running out of feed or letting pasture get ahead of them. They are diversifying in 2001 to begin
contract backgrounding beef steers on grass.
Dave and Marilyn are currently in the process of restructuring their
farm business to allow their son, Mike, to become a full partner.
Fond du Lac County
John and Jeff Pickart
John and Jeff Pickart farm 460
acres and milk 240
Green County
Mega-Care Dairy
Jerry
and Tina Mau farm 240 acres and milk 65 cows near Browntown, WI. They have 157 acres in forage of several
types. Alfalfa is seeded with oats or
barley which is taken as silage. Established
first cutting alfalfa is harvested at 160 to 180 RFV and put in silo with
inoculants. Second and third cuttings
are baled with preservative. Fourth
cutting is chopped into silo and then 20 t/a manure is
spread on fields. Corn silage is contract
chopped into bags. Heifers are grazed on
pasture on back part of farm.
Manitowoc County
Sunnyside Dairy Farms, LLC
Roger,
William and Todd Borgwardt operate 618 acres with 160 in alfalfa, 130 in corn
silage and 17 in oat/peas nurse crop.
They milk 270 cows with a 25986 lb herd average. They manage alfalfa to maximize pounds of
milk per acre. They plant varieties that
mature at different times to maintain higher quality at harvest. They generally seed in the fall or if
conditions do not permit, seed in spring with oat/pea cover crop. They harvest their own haylage into tower
silos, including a new 24 ft x100 ft built in 1999. Fields are kept in production 3 to 4 years based
on stem counts. Corn silage was planted
in 15-inch rows at 36,000 seeds per acre last year and yielded 18-20 tons
rather than 15-18 tons they have previously gotten with 30,000 seeds per acre
and wider row spacing.
Habeck Homestead Farms
Gerald
and Yvonne Habeck farm 600 acres near Maribel, WI. They milk 240 cows with a 25,000 lb herd
average. They plant top of the line
varieties, fertilize according to soil test recommendations and try to get 4
cutting per year. Most of the alfalfa is
harvested as haylage and stored in silos and silo bags. Yields were 7.42 t/a
in 1998 and 6.75 t/a in 1999. Their feed
cost is $3.10 per cow per day for the high milking group. They plan to begin using corn silage in
2001. They use notill on some corn,
winter wheat and soybean acres.
Outagamie County
David McCarthy
David
and Rosanne McCarthy farm 560 acres near Appleton. They milk185 cows and are
expanding to 240. The cows are
fed 2/3 haylage, 1/3 corn silage, and 4 lbs dry hay. They have gradually switched to 100% zone
till corn and notill soybeans and alfalfa.
This gives great erosion control, improves soil texture, and gives
better water absorption. Manure is
applied with notill liquid manure injection spreader. Alfalfa is harvested by scissors clip to obtain
150 to 200 RFV. High quality haylage
keeps ration costs low at $3.89 per cow per day for high production group and
$2.56 per day for low production group.
Shawano County
Charles and Mary Lou Kugel
Charles
and Mary Lou farm 142 acres of cropland and milk 50 cows with a heard average
of 24,919 lb milk. They also raise 60
herd replacements. All alfalfa is direct
seeded with the majority ensiled. They
plant corn silage at 30 –32,000 seeds/acre and have been harvesting 25-30
ton/acre. All feed grown on farm is fed
to dairy. Herd is fed TMR ration
consisting of forage (50% alfalfa, 50% corn silage), baled hay, concentrated, and high moisture corn. Chuck is currently a director of Shawano
County Forage Council and Farm Credit Services of Northeast WI. Mary Lou is President of Shawano County Dairy
Promotions, and a 4-H project leader.
Chippewa Valley Forage Council
Paul and Deb Sedlacek
Paul and Deb farm 244 acres near Cadot, WI with 75 acres in alfalfa, 20 in other hay, 20 in corn silage, 20 in pasture and 15 to 20 in oatlage. They milk 44 cows with a 23,400 lb herd average. They use a 4-year hay, 2-year corn rotation. Fields are moldboard plowed the first year out of alfalfa and chiseled thereafter. Hay yields average around 4.5 t/a. Corn silage is produced using a high oil, waxy corn variety which they feel results in better milk production, milk test and body condition. Corn silage yields have been between 15 and 18 tons/acre. Cows are also rotationally grazed during summer at night on 7 paddocks spending 3 to 4 nights on each paddock.
Dodge County
Mark and Judy F. Hall
Mark and family milk 65 cows and raise 86 heifers. They use a crop consultant who monitors all crops and they act accordingly. They harvest high quality forage, which is used for all animals. Last year, they tried some of the hybrid alfalfa. Dairy cows are fed 2.5 lb dry hay in the morning and a TMR mix of 15 lb haylage, 35 lb corn silage, 16 lb HMSC, 7.3 lb protein mix, 4.3 lb cottonseed and mineral mix. Heifers are fed 121 lbs haylage, 9 lbs corn, 1 lb chopped wheat straw and mineral mix. Wheat straw was added because heifers were becoming over-conditioned. This past year 30 acres of alfalfa were planted no-till after wheat.
Fond du Lac County
Jeff Riedeman
Jeff Riedeman farms 300 acres and milks 35 Holstein cows near Rosendale in Fond du Lac County. He grows and harvests 50 acres of alfalfa and 20 acres of corn silage. Alfalfa is direct seeded and harvested four times per year. Jeff has been a multiple-year participant in the Fond du Lac Co. Forage Council Green Gold Program and has had measured yields of up to 5.3 tons of dry matter per acre. Forage is stored in three upright silos. He also makes a limited number of large round bales each year. Fertilizer applications are based on soil tests and appropriate manure and legume nutrient credits. Although he owns no highly erodable land, a soil conservation plan is maintained on all acres. The dairy herd maintains a rolling herd average of about 22,000M, 3.5%F and 3.0%P. Cows are fed a ration that is 50 percent forage. Along with haylage and corn silage, the ration includes homegrown roasted soybeans, shelled corn and a pelleted protein mix. Jeff has served on the Fond du Lac County Forage Council board of directors during the past six years and served as treasurer the past three years. He and his wife, Nancy, have two children.
Green County
Bruce and Karen Dickman
Bruce and Karen farm near Argyle, WI. They grow approximately 200 acres of forage on their 250 acres of pasture and cropland. They milk 90 cows and raise 100 heifers. They have been seeding leaf hopper resistant alfalfa varieties for the last four years, and have been using oats and peas as a cover crop. The winter dairy ration haylage-HMSC, where the forage is 50% haylage, 30% corn silage, 20% oats and peas. Alfalfa is cut at 160 to 180 using a forage quality stick. Cows are rotated among three different pastures during the summer. Bred heifers are raised on grass over summer with 3 to 5 lbs corn and minerals. The Dickman’s extracurricular activities include running kids to cattle shows in the summer and school activities in the winter.
Marathon County
Larry Myszka
Larry farms 206 acres near Athens. He grows 100 acres of alfalfa that is established by direct seeding and treating with Pursuit to control weeds. Insects are monitored and sprayed with Warrior T if necessary. Leaf hopper resistant varieties have been used. First cutting is taken 30 days after Pursuit is applied. Larry monitors first cutting in the spring with the forage quality stick to harvest high quality forage. Succeeding cuttings are harvested by flower stage. All fields are soil tested and fertilizer applied as needed.
Outagamie County
Larry and Ruth Luedtke
Larry farms 370 acres near Hortonville. He makes high quality hay using scissors clip in the spring and high quality corn silage using silage drydown information. This year Larry wrapped round bales of hay at high moisture to produce silage. He has a conservation plan and manages runoff with filter strips.
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If you have questions or comments about this page email Dan Undersander at djunders@facstaff.wisc.edu.