West Bend, Indiana, USA
October 24, 2013
A hybrid alfalfa variety from Dairyland Seed helped earn Fuchs Kerfeld Dairy, Albany, Minn., the top honor at the 2013 World Forage Analysis Superbowl, an annual contest held in conjunction with World Dairy Expo. Doug and Sandy Kerfeld won the overall Grand Champion title and $3,000 for their HybriForce-2420/Wet hybrid alfalfa haylage entry.
“We’re very happy with this recognition, and even more pleased on the farm with the milk per ton and Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) hybrid alfalfa has provided,” says Doug Kerfeld, whose operation includes 115 acres of the second generation hybrid alfalfa as well as corn, soybeans and 110 milking cows. “In retrospect, I remember the amount of leaves being noticeably high when we harvested the sample in our fourth cutting.”
Results from World Forage grand champion entry—Dairyland Seed’s HybriForce-2420/Wet – compared to the grand champion haylage and second place haylage division entries.
The Kerfelds, Dairyland Seed customers since 2003, plant HybriForce hybrid alfalfa exclusively. Doug says they first realized the advantages of HybriForce through participation in the company’s on-farm alfalfa strip trial testing network: Hybrid Alfalfa Yield (HAY) strip trials.
“Back then, we planted 420/Wet side-by-side against competitive varieties. It was an instant champion, out-yielding the others by nearly 3 percent,” he explains. “With HybriForce varieties, we’ve never looked back.”
A sample entered in the 2008 contest placed sixth. Doug believes their recent adoption of variable rate technologies, which includes soil sampling, liming and fertilizer application every 2.5 acres, has helped with the yield increase. Other management practices include a heavier seeding rate (16.5 pounds/acre), cover crops for weed control, never letting the field get past the tenth bloom and attention to soil drainage and tillage. The Kerfelds cut every 28 to 29 days.
“The high yields and consistent quality of hybrid alfalfa have opened up new markets for us, as we can now sell more hay,” Doug adds. “We’re on track to hit 8.7 dry tons per this year.”
“To see an RFQ of 298 is outstanding, especially at these high yield levels,” says Tim Clark, Dairyland Seed’s forage product manager. “It’s reflective of Doug and Sandy’s attention to detail, which allows them to maximize the genetic yield while optimizing quality.”
Dairyland Seed introduced the world’s first hybrid alfalfa to industry in 2001, a second generation in 2009 and a third generation in July. HybriForce 2420/Wet is part of this elite hybrid alfalfa line—called HybriForce—developed with Dairyland Seed’s patented msSunstra™ technology. Thanks to this technology, the company is able to provide growers with the only widely available hybrid alfalfas in the marketplace, according to Clark.
In the World Forage Analysis Superbowl this year, producers from 17 states submitted 321 forage samples. The winners were announced Oct. 2 at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis.
Dairyland Seed began its seed business in 1907 and has built an established dealer network throughout the Upper Midwest, with international sales in more than 20 countries. The business experienced great success under the leadership of Orville and Marie Strachota, entering the field of plant breeding in 1977. Now part of Dow AgroSciences, the family leadership continues through their son Tom and grandson TJ. Dairyland Seed is headquartered in West Bend, Wis.
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