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Title: RAINFALL EFFECTS ON WILTING FORAGES

Author
item COBLENTZ, WAYNE - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item SCARBROUGH, DEAN - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item TURNER, JOHN - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item JENNINGS, JOHN - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item KELLOGG, D. WAYNE - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item ROSENKRANS, JR., CHARLES - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item DANIEL, TOMMY - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item Sauer, Thomas
item COFFEY, KEN - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item RHEIN, ROBERT - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/9/2003
Publication Date: 7/9/2003
Citation: COBLENTZ, W.K., SCARBROUGH, D.A., TURNER, J.E., JENNINGS, J.A., KELLOGG, D., ROSENKRANS, JR., C.F., DANIEL, T.C., SAUER, T.J., COFFEY, K.C., RHEIN, R.T. RAINFALL EFFECTS ON WILTING FORAGES. University of Arkansas Forage and Hay Day Proceedings. 2003. p. 1-10.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: One of the most common problems faced routinely by hay producers is how to manage hay production schedules around unfavorable weather. In most years, this problem is particularly frustrating throughout the spring and early summer when the probability of rainfall events is higher than later in the growing season. Inevitability, some wilting forage crops are damaged by unexpected rainfall events and what impact this may have on animal performance. While it is impossible to control the weather, a summary of the various factors affecting damage to wilting forage crops by unexpected rainfall events should allow hay producers to improve their evaluation of risk and to make more informed management decisions. There is always a cost associated with delaying harvest because of potential rainfall events, and these costs result in a forage of lower nutritional value that will not be consumed as readily by livestock.