Agriculture > FAQ

Frequently Asked Agriculture Questions:

Question: I have some oat (or barley) hay. Should I get it tested for Nitrates?
Answer: Yes. Grain hays have a good potential of having accumulated nitrates in their stems.

Question: How much does the nitrate test cost?
Answer: There is no charge for the indicative test done at the Extension Office. The only time there is a cost is when a seemingly “hot” sample is sent to a lab for a more accurate “quanitative” testing.

Question: When should I test my grain hay?
Answer: You should test your hay while it is still standing. Once the hay is cut the nitrate level will not change. As the hay matures, the nitrates in the stem decreases, due to slower up take of nitrogen into the plant from the soil ands its assimilation into protein. Hay cut in the afternoon of a sunny day will have lower nitrates than that same hay cut in the morning. Therefore, timing of cutting can affect the nitrate content of hay.

Question: Can I feed hay that has nitrates in it?
Answer: Many times the nitrate level is low enough to feed to livestock. Sometimes it may be necessary to dilute the nitrate level by mixing other hay with the problem grain hay. Feeding grain in a ration will also decrease the risk of nitrate poisoning.

Question: I want to re-seed my irrigated pasture what should I plant?
Answer: The first choice would meadow brome grass. It is very productive under high fertility and adequate moisture as well as being tolerant to grazing.

Second choice would be orchard grass. It is very productive under good conditions but, does not tolerate overgrazing or trampling (a frequent problem in small horse pastures).

Third choice would be smooth brome grass. It is productive yet tolerant to more intense grazing and trampling. It would be first choice for a small pasture used for horses.