Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-06-19
Soy Bean Hay Is
Gaining in Favor
Big Increase Noted in Acre
age and Production
Gain in Yield.
prepared by the United States Department
: - A~riclfltvlre.l

| prepared by the United States department.
of Agricultural
The SOW bean Is getting more at
tention every year as a hay crop, says
the United States Department OF
Agriculture. Just how fast this use
Of the crop is increasing Is shown
by figures on production for the years
1922 and 1928. In nineteen states for
which the figures are available, the
total acreage devoted to soy bean hay
was $4,000 and by 1928 1t had IN
creased to $4,000. Total production
In 1922 was 1000 tons while in the
succeeding year it was 1,155.O0O tons.
Not only was there an increase IN the
total production but in the yield per
acre, the increase being from l.39 to
1.45 tons per acre.
Growth of Crop for Hay.
Alabama was the only state in which
there was a decrease. In the other
eighteen the crop either held its own
or increased. A number OF states IN
the Middle West show the greatest
growth of this crop for hay purposes,
but there are other states IN various
sections where it is an important
feeding factor. In Illinois during the
two years in question the acreage In
creased from 10000 to $4,000; in
Indiana from 10000 to $4,000; in
Missouri from $4,000 to $4,000; in
Iowa from 1000 to 10000; in Ohio
from 10000 to $4,000. and in Wiscon-
sin from 1900 to $4,000. North
Carolina increased it's acreage from
| 81, 900 to 10000; Tennessee from 1885,
300 to 10000; Kentucky produced 3d.
I6cc both years.
That the crop is grown for hay in
the East as well as in the Middle
West and South is shown by figures
for Maryland which increased it's
acreage from 10000 to $4,000; Vir-
ginia which increased from 10000 to
$4,000; West Virginia which grew s.
900 both years; and Delaware which
grew 5000 acres in both seasons.
The figures compiled by the depart
ment for the last two crops seem to
show that slightly better yields Of
soy beans have been obtained in the
eastern states. In 1922 the average
for Maryland was two tons and for
1928 ia tons to the acre. For Della
ware it was 1.75 and Ia for these
years. In Virginia the average was
I.8 for both years and West Virginia
IL. The average for the country for
both years was under III tons, the
lowest yields being In Georgia and
South Carolina.
Soy bean hay, if cut at the right
time. is Of high feeding value and APP
petizing to all kinds Of live stock. 1T
is high in protein and takes the place
of a considerable quantity of high
priced concentrate. Another excellent
feature Of the crop is that it may be
sown in an emergency when some
other hay crop has failed to winter
well. It can be cut any time from
the setting Of the seed until the leaves
begin to turn yellow, but the maxi
mum returns can be made by cutting
it at a time when the pods are we'll
formed. Perhaps a better quality Of
hay will be produced by earlier cut
ting but the yield will not be so great.
Late cutting produces hay too fibr-
Gus to be the beet kind Of feed.
Easy to. Cure Beans.
Those who have made cowpea hay
will fird that it is considerably easier
to cure soy beans. Cutting may be-
] gin IN the morning as soon as the
dew is off and continued the rest of
the day. One of the important things
to remember is that hay should be
raked up after the leaves have be-
come wilted but before they are dry,
otherwise many Of them will break off
and there will be heavy loss of one
| of the most valuable parts Of the
crop. The hay may be left in wind
rows for a day or so, if the weather
is suitable, and then placed in small
cocks or punches. For making good
soy bean hay about 5 or 6 days of
good curing weather is sufficient. This
length of time is necessary because
practically all of the curing is done
| in the cock, which if well constructed
will prevent damage by rain and snow.
When weather conditions are unfavor-
able many farmers use frames on
which to pile the freshly cut hay so
that extra good ventilation is pro-
vided. The frames are usually or
4-sided pyramids made of boards or
poles, 8 to 6 feet long, fastened to-
gether at the top and held at the bot
tom by cross pieces. When such
frames are used it is possible to pile
the hay on them Immediately after it
is cut and produce good quality of
feed.