Winterkill costs area farmers more than $37 million
A 13 county survey by The Country Today finds about 279,500 of 793,000 west central Wisconsin alfalfa acres suffered permanent winterkill. With replacement costs estimated at $135 per acre, farmers face at least $37.7 million in losses, plus higher costs for new seedbeds and supplements due to poorer hay quality. Dandelions surged in fields, alfalfa stands are short, and agents urge farmers to hold hay, seek standing hay, and avoid late fall cuts that hurt root reserves.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wisconsin
Alfalfa Winterkill Hits West Central Wisconsin Farmers
County agents describe dire alfalfa losses in Barron and surrounding counties with estimates of 54 000 acres winterkilled and about 60 percent statewide in many areas. Farmers adapt by sowing emergency crops and planning silage and oatlage to feed dairy herds this winter. Prices rise as landowners charge up to 100 per acre for two cuttings this year.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Barron County
Wisconsin
Chippewa County
Alfalfa Winterkill Shrinks Yields Across Wisconsin Counties
Buffalo County leader cites potential 50 percent alfalfa loss, affecting about 45 000 acres due to winter kill. Across Chippewa, Dunn, Clark, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St Croix, Trempealeau and Jackson counties, farmers report varying levels of damage up to 60 percent, with many shifting to direct seeding, corn silage, and emergency crops to preserve forage and manage rising hay prices.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sommerfeld
Dunn County
Eau Claire County
Possin
Clark County
Worth of an acre of standing hay in Wisconsin
UW Madison agronomist Dwayne Rohweder says a farmer could justify paying up to 150 dollars per acre for three crops of standing hay if the quality is real good. He notes winterkill varies by region and suggests renting land to cover roughly half the hay bale cost per ton. He sees hay potentially at 100 dollars a ton this fall and winter, with shortages across Iowa Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin prompting higher bids. In Dane County some farmers may pay as much as 150 dollars per acre for hay rights, and top quality alfalfa three crops could justify up to 125 dollars per acre this year.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Uw-Madison Agronomist
Dwayne Rohweder
Rohweder
Wisconsin
Dr. Rohweder
Iowa
Minnesota
Dane County
Surrouner
Madison
Also Mentioned on This Page
Winterkill
Eau Claire
America
Willis Erickson
Polk County
Mr. Erickson
Area
St. Croix County
Jerry Brett
Sudan
Don Drost
Buffalo County
Archie Brovold
Brovold
Cal Kraemer
Kraemer
Irv Pessin
Pepin County
Lee Milligan
Dopp
Milligan
Mr. Milligan
Pierce County
Bernie Drewiske
Mr. Dopp
Jackson County
Dave Holcomb
Drewiske
Keith Sommerfeld
Holcomb
Erickson
Rusk County
Roger Flashinski
Rusk
Flashinski
Brett
Trempealeau County
Ausderau
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