The Potential for Teff as an Alternative Forage Crop for Irrigated Regions Jay Davison, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Mike Laca, Utah State University Earl Creech, Utah State University Cooperative Extension
Teff Eragrostis tef Originally imported from Ethiopia Annual warm season grass (not cold tolerant) 1.25M seed/pound Used as a grain or forage Hay is palatable and highly digestible Produced primarily for the horse hay market Teff forage testing/production has occurred in approximately 25 states to date Approximately 400 varieties in U.S. & 4000 in Ethiopia
Why Teff? Wow factor Hay quantity/quality Water savings Hay price Short season, summer forage alternative Excellent double/rotation crop
Teff Hay in the News New Teff forage grass being tested in California Western Farm Press -Nov 2010 Summer Annual Teff Makes Great Horse Hay Hay and Forage Grower, Jan 2008 Tracking Teff Hay and Forage Grower, Jan 2009 Teff-Worth a Try Angus Journal, 2008 Teff for Dairies? Hay and Forage Grower, May 2010 Teff- The New Summer Annual Grass Sensation Forage April, 2008
Irrigated Teff Forage Yields in the Western U.S. 1993-2010 Year of Report Location Average Irrigated Yields (tons/acre) 1993 Montana 4.0-6.0 Eckhoff Primary Author 2005 Oregon 3.3 Norberg & Roseberg 2006 Oregon 5.5 Norberg & Roseberg 2007 Oregon 5.0 Norberg & Roseberg 2003-2006 Nevada 1.6-5.0 Davison 2007-2009 California 5.34-8.94 Miller 2009 Nevada 4.5-9.4 Davison 2010 Nevada 2.6-5.4 Laca 2010 Utah 3.0-3.9 Laca
Teff Hay Yields (Ontario and Klamath Fall, Oregon, and Othello Washington) 2006* Harvest Date Klamath Falls, OR (tons/acre) Ontario, OR (tons/acre) Othello, WA (tons/acre) July 2.5 2.9 2.3 September 3.4 2.1 3.8 Total Produced 5.9 5.1 6.1 *Norberg, Roseberg, Charlton, and Shock 2009
Plant Accession Number/Name Teff Biomass Yields 2009 Plant Status (When Harvested) 193508 Lodged 9.4 a 494465 Immature 8.3 ab 347632 Lodged 8.0 abc 494432 Lodged 7.8 abc 193514 Lodged 7.4 abcd 273889 Lodged 7.2 abcd 494479 Upright 7.0 abcd Uk. Brown Upright 6.6 cde 329680 Upright 6.5 cde Dessie Lodged 5.6 cdef 195932 Upright 5.5 cdef 494366 Upright 4.9 def 557457 Lodged 4.8 def Uk. White Upright 4.7 ef 494433 Immature 4.5 f Ave. Biomass Production (tons/acre 100% dry matter)
Nevada & Utah Teff Seeding Rate/Fertility / Cutting Date Study 2010-2011
Tons/ac Teff Forage Yields (Boot Stage) 2010 Yerington, Nevada Kaysville, Utah 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 1 0 0 lb N 25 lb N 50 lb N 2 1 0 Boot Cut I Boot Cut II Total Yield 100 lb N
Tons/ac Tons/ac Teff Forage Yields (Full Seed Head) 2010 Yerington, Nevada Kaysville Utah 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 2 1 0 Headed cut I Headed cut II Total yield 0 lb N 25 lb N 50 lb N 100 lb N 3 2 1 0 Headed Cut II Headed Cut II Total yield
*Miller 2010 Forage Quality of Timothy and Teff Grass Hay Compared* Quality Parameters % Crude Protein Timothy Teff 8-14 9-14 Acid Detergent Fiber 32-36 32-38 Neutral Detergent Fiber 53-59 53-65 Total Digestible Nutrients 57-65 55-64
Average Forage Quality of 4 Teff Brands Grown in Oregon During 2007* Harvest Crude Protein Acid Detergent Fiber Cut 1 (Seed emergence) Cut 2 (Seed emergence) Neutral Detergent Fiber Relative Feed Value 16.3 35 54.7 105.3 13.3 36.5 56.1 100.5 *Roseberg, Charlton, and Shuck. 2007
Teff Forage Percent Protein (100% DM) 2010 Yerington, NV Kaysville UT 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 ab c 0 lb N b bc 25 lb N b bc 50 lb N a a 100 lb N Boot Stage Headed Stage 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 d e 0 lb N c de 25 lb N b de 50 lb N a bc 100 lb N Boot Stage Headed Stage
Teff Irrigation Recommendations Norberg, Roseberg Charlton, and Shock 2009 4-10 /cutting Miller 2010 Minimum 24 /year Davison 24-35 /year
15-Apr 25-Apr 5-May 15-May 25-May 4-Jun 14-Jun 24-Jun 4-Jul 14-Jul 24-Jul 3-Aug 13-Aug 23-Aug 2-Sep 12-Sep 22-Sep 2-Oct 12-Oct Inches Inches of Water Applied at Each Irrigation (48 alfalfa total/season) (30 teff Total/season) 4 3 2 1 0 Inches of Water Alfalfa Inches of Water Teff Application date
$/ton Average Nevada Alfalfa and Teff Prices 2005-2011 300 250 200 150 100 50 Ave Alfalfa Hay Prices $/ton Ave Teff Hay prices $/ton 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Teff Field June 8, 2006
Same Teff Field July 20, 2006
Why Teff? Wow factor = Demand for hay is high and increasing Hay quantity/quality = Yields are adequate & quality meets market demands Water savings = Short production season means less irrigation water required than perennial forages Hay price = Price has steadily increased with demand Short season, summer forage alternative = 50 days to first hay crop Excellent double/rotation crop = See above
Recommended Teff Hay Production Practices Seed at ~ 4-5 lbs/acre into clean, firm, seedbed (< ¼ deep) using a brillion, air seeder, broadcaster, good drill Seed after frost w/soil temps at least 60 F Roll seed following planting Light frequent irrigations after planting (3x) 60 lbs. N/acre at seeding and after each cut Harvest in boot stage with 3-4 stubble Bale windrows as quickly as possible 45-50 days between cuttings in NW. Nevada Currently no labeled pest control labeled 2,4-D/Dicamba registration pending for 2012
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