When soils thaw in early spring, we can see how our alfalfa crop fared. You can get a pretty good indication of your alfalfa crop’s health from the road. If your field is still brown and the neighbor’s field is green, check for injury or death.

The best way to diagnose winter injury is by digging four to six inches deep and then examining the plants’ roots. Healthy roots should be firm and white in color with little evidence of root rot. Winter-killed roots will have a gray, water-soaked appearance early.

If your alfalfa stand has suffered winter injury, assess the field’s yield potential by determining the number of stems per square foot:

Yield (tons/acre) = (Stems/ft2 x 0.1) + 0.38

This calculation should only be used as a guideline as many factors determine yield. Factors that influence winter injury and yield in alfalfa stands include:

• Stand age. Older stands are more likely to winterkill than younger ones.
• Variety. Varieties with superior winter-hardiness ratings and a high disease resistance index are less likely to experience winter injury.
• Soil pH. Stands growing on soil with a pH about 6.6 are less likely to experience winter injury.
• Soil Fertility. Stands with high fertility, particularly potassium, are less likely to experience winter injury than those with low fertility.
• Soil moisture. Alfalfa grown on well-drained soils is less prone to winter injury.
• Fall soil moisture status. As dehydration is the primary means of tolerating freezing temperatures, stands that go into winter with low soil moisture are better able to lose moisture and are less likely to winterkill.
• Cutting management. Both harvest frequency and timing of fall cutting affect alfalfa winter hardiness. The shorter the interval between cuttings, the greater the risk of winter injury. Stands where the last cutting was taken between Sept. 1 and Oct. 15 are at greater risk, as plants are unable to replenish root carbohydrate reserves before winter.
• Snow cover. Snow is an excellent insulator. Four inches of snow can result in a 10°F difference in soil temperatures. Stands that were not cut after Sept. 1 or that have at least six inches of stubble retain more snow cover and are less susceptible to winter injury.

While we cannot control what Mother Nature delivers during the winter months, we can take steps to control or reduce alfalfa winter injury. Now is the time to think about getting your alfalfa orders in so you are ready for the seasons ahead.

Contact your local Latham® dealer or call our office at 877-GO-LATHAM (877-465-2842); we’d love to assist you with any questions you may have.

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Sunnyside Farms of Mountain Lake, Minn. was named for the thousands of laying hens that helped diversify the Stoesz family’s farming operation from 1976 through 2002. It also aptly describes the disposition of fourth-generation farmers Jerome and Marilyn Stoesz.

“I was 10 years old when my parents built the first chicken barn for 12,000 hens,” says Jerome, who knew he wanted to farm from the time he was a young boy. “The second barn went up in 1976, and we added more chickens in 1980.”

Jerome became a Latham® dealer in 1989 – and was recently recognized at Latham’s Dealer Kickoff for his 35 loyal years of service!

He credits egg sales for diversifying his family’s farming operation and providing additional income during a key time. By applying chicken manure, they saved significantly on fertilizer costs. They were not overextended in the 1980s when the Farm Crisis hit, so Jerome was able to start farming during a time when many of his peers were seeking off-farm income.

Marilyn used to ride her bike past Jerome’s home, but she did not make that connection until mutual friends introduced the couple. They married in 1984 and raised theirthree children on the Stoesz farm that was homesteaded in 1896.

Their beautiful farmhouse was built in 1897 and is framed by many lovely blooms. Flowers are Marilyn’s passion, and she enjoys making floral arrangements for weddings and other events. Her spare time is divided between grandparenting and volunteering at numerous places, including a horse ministry called Ride by Faith.

Today Jerome and Marilyn raise corn and soybeans with their son, Jordan, who is happy to put his training in diesel mechanics to work full time at Sunnyside Farms. Jordan and Jerome spend the winter months in their shop, fixing damaged Rangers and RZRs and then selling them. Jordan’s wife, Emily, works at a local bank and brings homecooked meals to the field during busy seasons.

Jordan, his sister Angela, and her husband, Mike, are all members of the Butterfield Volunteer Fire Department. A third Stoesz sibling, Hannah, passed away in 2017 in an accident.

The Stoesz family enjoys relaxing together at a nearby campground throughout the summer. Three campers are parked side-by-side, making it more convenient for the families to share meals and campfires. Jerome and Marilyn have three granddaughters: Addyson, Makiah and Olivia.

This “grown-up version” of baked beans is reminiscent of cowboy campfire beans. It is a perfect complement to grilled burgers or bratwurst.

Print

Baked Beans Supreme

Ingredients

• 1 28 oz can Bush’s Original Baked Beans
• 2 28 oz cans Bush’s Onion Baked Beans
• 1/2 pounds ground beef browned and drained
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 stick butter
• 1/2 cup Famous Dave’s Rich & Sassy BBQ sauce
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• Dried onion to cover the top
• pinch of garlic powder
• 1/2 pound bacon fried and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 package of polish sausage

Instructions

• Mix all ingredients in a 6-quart crockpot.
• Cook all day on LOW, or on HIGH fr 2.5 – 3 hours.

It’s harvest time in Central Iowa! Aaron is southeast of Des Moines, scouting #FromtheField to determine where to start first.

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How important is planting depth? Aaron shows us first-hand from the field in Central Iowa.

See the difference! On the left is LH 5034 AA after getting no rain for 35 days in super-hot weather. On the right shows the same hybrid after 1.2” of rain. This product has impressive heat and drought resistance in South Dakota! Learn more about our unmatched lineup: https://www.lathamseeds.com/products/?crop=377

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“We told him we would try that,” says Marianne, who farmed with her husband from 1962 until 2019. “Pretty soon every field was planted to Latham seed beans.”

Marianne says raising seed beans worked out well for them. They were able to combine the crop and deliver it directly to the Latham plant, with Marianne herself driving the tractor and wagons. Not having to worry about storage allowed the Paynes to save on seed costs — and their landlords also agreed to raise seed beans.

“We would plant different varieties, so our fields would mature at different times,” she says. “It went well for us.”

Now that they’ve retired and moved to town, Marianne says she misses running the tractors. Not only did she haul their grain, she ran their tillage equipment too. For many years, the Paynes raised cattle and hogs, and had a few sheep early on. Marianne was raised on a farm between Thornton and Alexander; Loran was on a farm three miles away. They went to different country schools and met through friends.

Loren and Marianne Payne, who have five grown children, were honored in 2019 for having served as Latham® seed growers for 51 years. It’s a milestone memory that they, and we, hold fondly.

“Latham Seeds has always been easy to work with,” Marianne says. “I really enjoyed working with each generation. We never worried because we knew we could trust them.”

Take a look across Latham Country! We’re coming to you every week.

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