Present cattle market circumstances, together with the worth and quick availability of hay, have created a state of affairs the place the rising winter wheat crop could have extra worth for producers for grazing or as a hay crop this spring than to reap it for grain. The present market worth of excellent high quality prairie hay and alfalfa ranges from $180 to $270 per ton. Hay shares are quick. Harvested feed prices at present hay costs vary from $3 to $4 per cow-calf pair each day.
For some producers, the choice to graze out wheat or harvest it as hay could internet extra worth per acre than harvesting it for grain, particularly if grazing would maintain them from buying extra feed at present market costs. That is significantly true if climate circumstances or illness have broken wheat and can scale back anticipated grain yields. One acre of wheat in Might and early June with enough moisture might present one cow-calf pair for 45 days or extra of grazing. At $3.50 per day, this can be a worth of over $150 per acre. Windrowing the wheat at late boot to the early head stage and strip grazing the windrows with cow-calf pairs is an choice that can maximize grazing harvest effectivity and decrease harvesting prices.
After the stress of this winter, cow-calf pairs would particularly profit from this high-quality grazing alternative, particularly if cow physique situation wants to enhance previous to breeding. Wheat pasture additionally gives the chance to get cow-calf pairs out of dry heaps and on to scrub floor which may profit calf well being. In western Nebraska, stocker cattle might be anticipated to realize very properly on wheat throughout Might and early June, starting from 1.5 to 2.5 kilos per head per day. With the present worth of achieve for stocker cattle, this can be a gorgeous choice.
Pasturing wheat additionally will assist to facilitate the delaying of turnout onto pastures or native ranges, permitting these pastures to determine grass progress previous to the beginning of grazing. Delaying grazing will probably be significantly precious this yr as crops had been severely careworn after the tough drought circumstances of 2022. Delaying turnout will permit grass to make the most of out there soil moisture for forage progress. The delayed turnout typically ends in extra whole forage progress that may be utilized later within the grazing season. Early progress will probably be particularly helpful for catching and retaining precipitation that happens. Fencing, water and a sacrifice space to get cattle onto ought to moist circumstances occur throughout grazing are elements that ought to be thought-about when evaluating the potential for grazing wheat. To assist scale back the danger of grass tetany, particularly for lactating cows, a excessive magnesium mineral complement ought to be fed to cattle two to 4 weeks earlier than end up and through grazing.
If cattle grazing just isn’t possible, harvesting wheat as hay is one other different that will internet extra {dollars} per acre than harvesting the crop as grain. Wheat harvested as forage typically yields over two tons of hay per acre. You will need to think about the livestock you intend to feed the hay to earlier than you choose your harvest date. For younger rising cattle, wheat hay ought to be minimize within the boot stage or as quickly as attainable after heading to make sure good protein and vitality content material in addition to palatability. If mature, dry beef cows are the focused customers for the hay, harvest might be delayed somewhat longer to extend yield, however doing so will sacrifice nutritive worth and palatability. Grazing wheat or harvesting it early within the boot stage for hay might additionally open a window of alternative to plant a summer time annual forage into the wheat stubble as a second crop if good moisture circumstances are current.
A partial funds that analyzes each prices and projected revenues related to grazing cattle, windrow grazing, reducing for hay, or harvesting wheat for grain might be useful to producers in evaluating these choices. Grazing or haying choices also needs to be evaluated, contemplating the potential affect that they may have on subsequent crop manufacturing, insurance coverage and potential authorities funds.
