By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
2020 KSU wheat variety fall forage yield comparison
Stacy Campbell
Stacy Campbell

Fall forage yield is an important aspect of dual-purpose wheat production. In this system, wheat is typically sown earlier than for grain-only production, at higher seeding rates, and with additional nitrogen fertilizer to maximize forage production.

The weather experienced during the fall is crucial in determining the average level of forage yield, with warm and moist weather typically resulting in greater forage yield than cool and dry weather conditions. Management practices that maximize forage yield include early sowing, higher seeding rates, placement of in-furrow phosphorus fertilizer with the seed, and fall nitrogen fertilization.

While the weather is typically the largest factor in determining fall forage production, followed by management, there are also differences among wheat varieties in forage production potential. Thus, every year the K-State Wheat Production Group compares the forage yield of several commonly grown wheat varieties and upcoming lines. This test is usually performed in the South Central Experimental Field near Hutchinson and the forage sampling occurs sometime during December (Table 1).

agri_lgp_campbellcolumntable

There was a significant difference in fall forage yield among the 28 wheat varieties tested in the 2019-2020 experiment (Table 1). Forage yield ranged from 438 to 1,888 pounds of dry matter per acre, with Gallagher, WB4303, Rockstar, WB4269, Paradise, Smith’s Gold, and WB4792 yielding similarly in the top forage group. Likewise, all varieties listed at TAM 205 and below had similar forage yield and did not differ statistically.

While it is common for a large range in forage yields to exist among wheat varieties (for example, in 2018-19 our forage measurements ranged from 1,327 to 2,700 lbs/acre), the large range in forage values experienced in the 2019-20 partially reflect the dry conditions experienced during the fall. Plots were planted on extremely dry soils on Sept. 18, and it was not until the Oct. 1-5 interval that ~0.9 inches of precipitation was received. This resulted in a somewhat uneven stand establishment, which could partially explain these results. Additionally, after Oct. 5, the next rainfall event was not until the Nov. 20-29 interval, when about 0.45 inches were received in total of six smaller events. The dry conditions experienced at planting and during the entire fall, coupled with below-average fall temperatures, did not allow for much forage biomass production and increased the plot-to-plot variability in the measurements.

Another important aspect of dual-purpose wheat production is how long each variety can be grazed in the spring. This is measured as the date for first hollow stem. Wheat varieties can differ by as much as 20-30 days in achieving first hollow stem in the spring. The Wheat Production Group at K-State uses this very same trial to measure first hollow stem during late February and early March, you can keep up with this by subscribing to the KSU Agronomy eUpdate at https://webapp.agron.ksu.edu/agr_social/eu.throck or just type KSU Agronomy eUpdate into your internet browser box. 


Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Cottonwood Extension District. Email him at scampbel@ksu.edu or call the Hays office, 785-628-9430.

Pawnee Valley Community Hospital now offers proven PAD treatment
pvch-set-pad
Sayra Santacruz, respiratory therapist, and Dusty Thacker, director of Cardiopulmonary Services at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, demonstrate supervised exercise therapy for patients with peripheral artery disease.

Anyone who has a diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD) now has access to a “proven, effective treatment” at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH), said Dusty Thacker, director of Cardiopulmonary Services.

The treatment is called supervised exercise therapy (SET) and is specifically tailored to PAD, a condition in which blood vessels to the legs and feet become narrowed or blocked. This is due to a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries that limits blood flow.

“SET is a structured workout program designed to help people improve their physical health under the guidance of a trained professional,” Thacker said. “Sessions are tailored to the person’s needs and focus on improving strength, endurance and mobility.

“The treatment also helps improve circulation, which can reduce or eliminate pain while walking.”

Exercise sessions typically involve a combination of aerobics, strength training and stretching. This includes walking on a treadmill at a moderate pace, with an incline, until the patient begins to feel mild to moderate leg pain.

The patient then rests until the pain subsides before resuming the exercise during up to 36 sessions with a registered respiratory therapist.

“SET is a key treatment approach that focuses on improving blood flow, reducing leg pain and enhancing overall mobility,” Thacker summarized.

Smoking and diabetes are the strongest risk factors for PAD, Thacker noted. Other factors include being over 75; high blood pressure and/or cholesterol; not enough physical activity; stress; diets high in saturated fats; obesity; chronic kidney disease; and family history.

“A few classic symptoms of PAD are pain, burning or cramping in your legs and feet during an activity that improve with rest,” Thacker said.

Others are leg and foot pain at night or while lying down, as well as coldness or numbness in the legs or feet. Additional possibilities are leg weakness or heaviness, slow-healing sores on feet or legs, discolored skin and leg-hair loss.

The therapist offers education about smoking cessation, a heart-healthy diet, weight management, blood pressure control and increasing physical activity.

“We are pleased that we now offer this important exercise therapy,” Thacker commented. “Many of our patients have benefited from our Cardiac Rehab and Pulmonary Rehab services by gaining control of their symptoms, improving their quality of life and reducing the risk of future hospitalizations.

“SET is a similar service. Patients with PAD now have a treatment that can help them manage symptoms and improve overall vascular health.

“We are excited to expand our cardiopulmonary services and incredibly fortunate to partner with HaysMed and the DeBakey Heart Institute. This collaboration connects our Larned community with any necessary advanced services and direct access to cardiologists. It allows us to offer specialized care close to home, significantly enhancing the quality of care and positively impacting our patients’ health and well-being.”


Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, 923 Carroll in Larned, is a 25-bed facility, offering many services not typically available in a smaller facility. Included are 24/7 emergency care; acute, skilled and specialized nursing; surgery; high-tech imaging and laboratory tests; wound care; rehabilitation; and sleep and diagnostic center. PVCH Family Medicine provides the full range of family-medicine services; physician-assisted weight loss; and women’s health services. The hospital’s number is 620-285-3161; the clinic’s number is 620-804-6007.