February 1, 2015
TO: Forage Breeders, Dealers, and Researchers
FROM: Dr. John Holman, Cropping Systems Agronomist
SUBJECT: Warm-Season Forage/Biomass Performance Test
We are planning a warm-season annual cultivar test across five Kansas locations this summer.
We are offering both a Silage Test and a Hay Test. A call will be coming out later this year for
our Cool-Season Forage Test. You can enter into this test at any combination of locations (each
individual location and each test will have a separate charge). The locations will be:
southwest (Garden City-Dr. John Holman), south-central (Hutchinson-Dr. Gary Cramer),
southeast (Mound Valley-Dr. Joe Moyer), northcentral (Hays-Dr. Augustine Obour), and
northeast (Scandia-Andrew Esser). The Warm and Cool-Season Forage Tests are newly
reinstated state-wide tests Kansas State University is implementing to meet the needs of growers
and industry. The test results will be summarized and made available similar to our Alfalfa Test
which is available at:
http://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/services/crop-performance-tests/alfalfa/index.html
Forage Tests will include at least one check (such as ‘Atlas’ for the silage test and ‘Rox Orange’
for the hay test). Plots will be 10 x 30 ft, replicated three times. We plan to manage these plots
for optimum production, including best weed control and optimal amounts of fertilizer. All
sorghum seed needs to be Concep®-treated. The Garden City site will be irrigated.
Silage Test:
Half-bloom date, if applicable, will be noted for each plot. Silage test will be harvested latesummer to fall, when ‘Atlas’ reaches 35% dry matter. We plan to harvest two rows with an ensilage
chopper for total fresh weight, and take chopped subsamples of about 1 lb to dry for moisture
determination and lab analyses. Cooperators may request subsamples to be shipped to them. Data
will be reported as forage dry matter yield, forage dry weight, days to half-bloom (if observed),
estimated grain yield (if any), plant population, height, disease rating, lodging, and complete
forage analysis for all replications (CP, NDF, ADF, RFV, TDN, NEmaint, NEgain, NElactation,
MEbeef, and digestible energy).
Hay Test:
Cultivars will be harvested when the earliest entry begins to emerge from the boot. We plan to
harvest a 3 ft wide by 30 ft long plot using a small plot forage harvester for total fresh weight, and
take chopped subsamples of about 1 lb to dry for moisture determination and lab analyses.
Cooperators may request subsamples to be shipped to them. Data will be reported as forage dry
matter yield, plant population, height, disease rating, lodging, and complete forage analysis for all
replications (CP, NDF, ADF, RFV, TDN, NEmaint, NEgain, NElactation, MEbeef, and digestible
energy).
We will need five pounds of seed per entry for each location you enter, and be sure to note the
germination percentage so that we can determine the appropriate amount to seed.
The charge per entry per test per location is $544. If you choose to enter all 5 locations, the
charge will be $2,720 per entry per test (silage or hay). If you choose to enter a variety into both
tests (silage and hay) across all 5 sites, the fee would be $5,440.
Included are an entry form and policy agreement that must be signed by an authorized individual.
Please use a different form for each location, being sure to identify the location and test(s). Use
as many forms as you need for multiple entries. I would like to receive the forms by March 5,
2015 by fax, mail, or email. Fees and seed (shipped prepaid) must be received by March 15,
2015. Checks (payable as below) and seed may be shipped to:
KSU- Southwest Research-Extension Center
Attn.: Dr. John Holman
4500 East Mary Street
Garden City, KS 67846
Thank you for considering entry in our trials. We expect some useful information from them.
Sincerely,
John Holman, PhD
Cropping Systems Agronomist
ENTRY FORM –KS WARM-SEASON ANNUAL HAY AND SILAGE TRIAL
Location: __________________________
From: COMPANY
Type: Hay _____ and Silage______
SUBMITTED BY
ADDRESS
Email
FAX NO.
BRAND
TELEPHONE NO.
ENTRY NAME
Seed Weight
% Pure, Live Seed
1.
2.
3.
4.
The State of Kansas requires an F.E.I.N. number (employer identification no.) to process
any payments including refunds of fees.
F.E.I.N.#
-
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH POLICY AGREEMENT
Permission is hereby given to Kansas State University (KSU) to test varieties and/or hybrids
designated on the attached entry forms in the manner indicated on the test announcement. I
understand that KSU seeks to protect the genetics and intellectual property rights of entrants and
that the seed will not be used for breeding selection, genetic engineering, etc. purposes.
I understand that all results from these tests belong to the University and to the public, and shall
be controlled by the University so as to produce the greatest benefit to the public. Performance
data may be used as follows: 1) Tables may be reproduced in their entirety provided that the source
is referenced and data are not manipulated or reinterpreted; 2) Advertising statements by an
individual company about the performance of its entries may be made as long as they are accurate
about the data as published, with no reference to other companies’ names or cultivars. In both
cases, the following must be included with the reprint or ad citing the appropriate publication
number and title: for example, “See the official Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment
Station and Cooperative Extension Service Report of Progress 1013, or the KSU Southeast
Agricultural Research Center website http://ksre.ksu.edu/SEARC for details”. Endorsement or
recommendation by Kansas State University is not implied.
Entry fees furnished by the sponsor are to be used by the University without an itemized accounting
to provide personnel, equipment, supplies, commodities, travel (including to professional
meetings), and other items needed in connection with the project.
Signed
Name and Title
Address
Date