Soybeans Forage Varieties Are Creating an Impact in Hopkins County
Dr. Mario Villarino
County Extension Agent- Hopkins County
Improved forage varieties of soybeans are getting noticed because their tremendous growth and protein source potential. Protein, probably the most expensive single major component of an animal diet, is usually high in legumes, their silages and hays.
Improved new varieties of forage soybeans bring several characteristics that make it interesting for the forage grower. The two we are evaluating in Hopkins County have genetic characteristics that make weeds easier to control, Mario Villarino, County Extension Agent in Hopkins said.
When referring to soybeans, Shannon Pickering, soybean producer in Hopkins County said: “ The first thing that got me interested in this crop was the possibility of being able to grow my own high protein feed source. Having beef cattle, the simplicity of putting out a bale of our high protein soybean hay with a bale of regular grass hay, and not having to worry about further supplementation will greatly reduce the complexity and expense of feeding cattle through the winter. After two years of researching and talking to numerous individuals that have both grown soybeans for hay, and fed it, we decided to give it a try. So far we are very pleased with what we see. We decided to grow enough to feed and to sell as we feel a locally grown, high value legume hay would have a good market in this area. With high protein, it is a viable substitute for alfalfa and could be put up as hay or silage. The other thing to understand is that these are forage soybeans and have been bred to produce large leaf mass and a bigger plant that will provide more forage than normal soybeans grown for just the beans. With leaves that develop to the size of your hand, this is very good forage with high digestibility values. We hope we find enough people to sell this too and possibly increase our acreage next year. If anyone plans to try some next year, now is the time to be getting your soil fertility and pH right. I will more than happy to discuss our experience with anyone interested”.
Soybeans are primarily grown as a protein and oil-seed crop in the USA. However, soybeans can be utilized as a summer annual forage legume. Soybean plants may be grazed or harvested for use as high-quality hay or as a silage crop. One of the main advantages of soybean forage is the flexibility of harvest dates, since its quality is good over a long period of time. Forage soybeans are fairly digestible (up to 60%) and moderately high in crude protein (17-19%). Utilizing a summer annual crop like forage soybeans can be very risky and expensive. Being an annual crop it will require establishment every year, which includes seed costs, planting costs and land preparation costs, Dr. Vanessa Corriher, Texas AgriLife Extension Forage Specialist in Overton, indicates.
For more detailed information on establishing forage soybeans, harvesting or utilizing forage soybeans please contact Dr. Mario Villarino, Texas AgriLife Extension Agent in Hopkins County by calling 903-885-3443
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