Alfalfa Seed$3. 80 per pound

Volume Discounts

BMR84 Brown Mid-Rib 84-Day Corn Seed

$58 per bag

BMR Forage Corn Plantat 90;100,000

Swath at 70 Dayssee page 18

Use a grain drill with press wheelsto plant or a corn planter.

Brown Mid-RibForage Corn$39 per bag

$3.80 per pound

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Seed FarmsProducers and Merchants of Quality Alfalfa Seed

FUTURE

(208) 459-7007(800) 657-1060

ALFALFA SEEDWe at Ray Brothers are proud to introduce our friends and customers to our proprietary alfalfa .... FUTURE!

Ray Brothers has successfully raised and pollinated alfalfa seed, along with hay and livestock. We have marketed direct to the farmers and ranchers, often talking to them in the fields as they work the ground. Many of our customers have bought from us every year since we started marketing seed and every year we get feedback from the farmers and ranchers as to the performance of our seed compared to other alfalfa seeds on the market. All of this puts us in a unique position in developing a new variety. For years we have marketed Perry alfalfa developed by University of Nebraska at Lincoln because it was the best all around performer that we could find. However, we wanted a variety that combined the fine stemmed, very palatable, high yielding qualities of the Perry with resistance to Phytophthora root rot and Verticillium Wilt and we wanted an increase in tonnage. Our extensive work with farmers, ranchers, and university agronomists and our knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses across the U.S. of the various varieties of alfalfa on the market enabled us to set the parameters for and helped us choose the proper parentages of the variety that we wanted. In our travels from Iowa to Montana to California, we have noticed that certain varieties of alfalfa really stand out in yields, resistances, palatability, and winterhardiness. These were the strains that we used in the parentage of our variety. We succeeded in doing exactly what we set out to do with FUTURE. We have now been marketing Future for over 12 years to hay producers in 17 states, selling millions of pounds. Future is now probably one of the largest sellers in Eastern Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Washington and Oregon. We have since seen it make 28 percent protein and 260 RFV. We have growers in Montana, Idaho and Wisconsin who are seeing stands last 7 to 10 years and they are not getting this on other varieties. We have been very adamant that we will not line breed our varieties. If you take a cross out too far, you lose your vigor (and or yield). You also loose your longevity. Our plant breeder tells us that with most varieties you only need to breed to an R rating as this is adequate resistance to protect the plant in the field. So try Future or Standout. You will be impressed, I guarantee it. Israel Ray

FUTURE .... “Improving your future and ours” FUTURE, tested as AGI-71, is a fine stemmed, leafy, very palatable variety of alfalfa that is resistant (see Table II) to Bacterial and Fusarium Wilts, Phytophthora Root Rot, Stem Nematode, Verticillium Wilt, Pea Aphid and Spotted Alfalfa Aphid with low resistance to Anthracnose. While it is more winter hardy than Perry, it out produces Perry by an average of 10% and has consistently yielded in the top 13% to 20% of all alfalfas tested nationwide. As a rule, the higher the winterhardiness factor, the finer the stems and this is true with FUTURE. We have also noticed that FUTURE dries down two days sooner than most coarser stemmed alfalfa varieties. With its’ greater hardiness factor and because of the careful selection of its’ parentage, FUTURE is designed for very long stand life to maximize financial return. Our philosophy at Ray Brothers is to give our customers the very best product and service possible.

Ray Brothers has been involved in all aspects of the seed industry for two generations. We are a family-owned farming operation taking pride in offering seed at the most reasonable prices available. We include many years of extensive research and knowledge into “Future”, “Gangbusters” and “STANDout”, which we offer at low prices because we own, produce and market them.This includes the planting, cultivating, watering, pollinating, combining, delivering farm-direct to you the end user.

Above we are harvesting a field of “Gangbusters”and planting a field of “Future”.

Harvesting a field of Future.

2

TABLE IIDisease and Insect resistance chartAlfalfa Variety CharacterizationVariety FD Bw Vw Fw An PRR SAA PA BAA SN RKN

WRANGLER 2 R LR R LR HR HR HR --- --- ---Vernal 2 R --- MR --- --- --- --- --- --- MRSTANDOUT 3 R MR R R R --- R --- --- --- Blazer 3 HR LR R LR MR --- HR --- HR ---FUTURE 3 HR MR MR LR R *MR R --- MR ---DK 120 3 HR --- R LR R --- R --- R ---PERRY 3 R --- R LR MR --- --- --- --- ---Dart 3 HR R HR R HR --- R --- --- ---Arrow 3 HR R HR M HR --- R --- MR ---Apollo Supreme 4 HR R HR HR R --- HR --- --- ---GANGBUSTERS 4 HR R R MR R --- R --- R ---Apollo II 4 R MR R MR HR MR --- --- MR ---

FD = Fall Dormancy Bw = Bacterial wilt Vw = Verticillium wiltFw = Fusarium wilt An = Anthracnose PRR = Phytophthora Root Rot

SAA = Spotted Alfalfa Aphid PA = Pea Aphid BAA = Blue Alfalfa AphidSN = Stem Nematode RKN = Root Knot Nematode

Fall Dormancy Rating 2 = Veral 3 = Ranger 4 = SaranacResistance Rating 0-5% = S 6-14% = LR 15-30% = MR 31-50% = R > 50% = HR

*FUTURE will be retested for SAA to receive an R rating.

Information supplied by Ray Brothers. Information from published material “Alfalfa Varieties”,a copyrighted publication of the certified Alfalfa Seed Council; used by permission .

FUTURE received favorable review from the review board, January 1993.~ Future will be re-submitted for an R rating on SAA.

TABLE IYield TrialsThe following university yield trials took place between the years of 1987 and 1990.

Arlington E. Lansing Mead Wisc. Mich. Neb.Test Years 1987-88 1988-90 1987-89 Tons/Acre % of Vernal % of CheckVariety * ** average

Apollo Supreme 4.26 114-116 113Arrow 4.39 121-120 118Centurion 4.53 112-113 ---Crown 4.38 116-116 109DK135 4.55 119-116 102Dart 4.40 119-119 116Fortress 4.42 --- 111WL320 4.39 112-113 ---FUTURE/AGI-71 4.45 118-115 115Magnum III 4.32 112-116 1045432 --- 118-117 107Renegade 4.54 118-116 114Sure 4.46 116-114 110PERRY --- --- 105DK120 4.45 --- 111Riley --- --- 101Vancor --- --- 108WRANGLER --- --- 107WL316 4.46 --- ---

*1989 Two-year average **1990 Three-year average

Future/AGI-71 Tons/AcreForage yield Mead, NB Dry Matter1987 - 3 cuts 1988-5 cuts 1989-5 cuts 87-89 avg.

3.10 Tons/Acre 8.68 7.93 6.57

TABLE 6.

1992 Irrigated Alfalfa Variety Performance Trial, University of Wyoming (Wyoming

Honor Farm) Riverton, Wyoming.

Yield in Tons/Acre Dry Matter

Brand/ Origin or 1994 1993 2 Yr. % of

Variety Marketer 6-7-94 7-13-94 8-19-94 10-11-94 Total Total Ave. Rnger

DK 122 DeKalb Seeds 2.68 1.80 1.72 1.29 7.49 6.01 6.75 141

Alfaleaf Plains Alfalfa 2.44 1.74 1.66 1.15 6.99 6.10 6.55 137

Zenith Garst Seeds 2.46 1.73 1.67 1.17 7.03 6.03 6.53 136

Venture ABI 2.67 1.88 1.53 1.21 7.29 5.53 6.41 134

Class Union Seed 2.37 1.64 1.70 1.17 6.88 5.84 6.36 133

Excalibur II Union Seed 2.54 1.74 1.78 1.14 7.20 5.28 6.24 130

Benchmark Shissler Seed Co. 2.26 1.78 1.75 1.19 6.98 5.37 6.18 129

FUTURE RAY BROS. SEEDS 2.53 1.79 1.73 1.10 7.15 5.09 6.12 128

ABI 9143 ABI 2.27 1.81 1.58 1.15 6.81 5.42 6.12 128

Crystal Mike Brayton Seed 2.52 1.77 1.58 1.14 7.01 5.05 6.03 126

5454 Pioneer Seeds 2.57 1.63 1.66 1.23 7.09 4.84 5.97 125

5246 Pioneer Seeds 2.52 1.82 1.60 1.25 7.19 4.73 5.96 124

WL322HQ WL Research 2.23 1.62 1.46 1.16 6.47 4.87 5.67 118

OK 49 Okla. St. Univ. 2.13 1.60 1.61 1.03 6.37 4.27 5.32 111

Polyleaf Oasis Seeds 2.11 1.55 1.48 1.26 6.40 3.95 5.18 108

Ranger Public 2.26 1.54 1.57 1.03 6.40 3.18 4.79 100

Average 2.41 1.72 1.63 1.17 6.92 5.10 6.01

3

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITYHERMISTON, OREGON

1997 ALFALFA YIELD TRIALS: Final Summary (three years)Plot Planted 3/7/95

Yield = TONS DRY WEIGHT/ACRE (estimated) • Rank = Placing within the 28 entries

1997 1997 Sum 95 + 96 + 97 Variety Yield Rank T-Yield Rank

Lobo 8.20 7 22.080 1FGMP20 8.30 4 21.605 2Imperial 8.07 10 21.322 3UNI7 8.42 2 21.308 4Archer 8.31 3 21.302 54J10 8.72 1 21.289 6Legacy 8.28 5 21.157 7FUTURE 8.12 9 21.045 8Inovator+z 8.05 11 21.018 9COMBO1-24 8.16 8 20.840 10Crystal 8.16 8 20.840 11GANGBUSTERS 7.88 14 20.774 12Total+Z 7.98 13 20.497 13ICI 631 8.03 12 20.332 14Vernal 7.84 16 20.266 15Extend 7.65 20 20.029 16PGI 3222 7.84 15 19.943 17Wl 252HQ 7.63 23 19.884 19Aspen 7.69 18 19.884 18Rushmore 7.65 21 19.877 20Robust 7.67 19 19.745 21ICI 630 7.50 26 19.726 22Columbo 7.64 22 19.693 23Landmark 7.49 27 19.482 24Wl 322HQ 7.51 25 19.402 25Wl323 7.80 17 19.290 26Pioneer 5364 7.60 24 19.257 27Pioneer 5472 7.17 28 17.965 28

Mean 7.91 20.35 CV 6.24 9.10 LSD = .05 0.26 3.05

1995 YIELD RESULTS FROM THE CORNELL / NYSF & GC ALFALFA VARIETY TRIALSJ.l. Hansen, D.R. Viands, C.L. Morehouse and C. Hunsinger

Department of Plant Breeding and Biometry, Cornell UniversityTable 2. Forage yield in the second production year, and other characteristics of 22 alfalfa varieties marketed in New York State (planted 1993). Statistically significant differences for yield among varieties were observed in Trial A at all 3 locations and in Trial B at Madison and St. Lawrence Co., but not at Tompkins Co. Forage Yield at 12% moisture 1995 in normal type, 1994-95 average in bold Fall Madison St. Lawrence Tompkins Mean OverTRIAL A Dormancy County County County LocationsAchieva 3 92 95 100 103 96 96 96 98Centurian 3 101 100 98 102 102 103 100 102Majestic 3 95 97 99 99 102 103 99 100AS-K94 3 98 99 105 106 101 99 101 101DK 122 2 100 102 107 106 106 106 104 105DK 133 4 101 100 109 107 92 94 101 100Persist 4 108 105 113 109 111 111 111 1088920MF 2 97 98 108 107 98 98 101 101FUTURE 3 86 88 105 106 97 98 96 97Asset 4 97 100 102 104 104 104 101 103Pinnacle (check) 4 98 98 100 101 99 100 99 100Oneida (check) 3 102 102 100 99 101 100 101 100Average yield of Pinnacle andOneida VR checks (T/A) 4.67 4.45 5.65 5.69 4.55 5.23 4.96 5.12

WISCONSINUniversity of Wisconsin - Department of Agronomy

Arlington, Columbia County, Agricultural Research Station

Sown April 1997

RELEASED 1998

VARIETIES TOTAL*

VOYAGER II 4.72

PERSIST 4.51

NOTICE 4.48

645 4.42

GH 767 4.42

631 4.40

TMF MULTI-PLIER II 4.35

AWARD 4.27

WINTERSTAR 4.21

ACE 4.20

NEMESIS 4.19

DK 127 4.19

DK 142 4.18

DK 140 4.16

TMF GENERATION 4.12

EMPIRE 4.08

FUTURE 4.01

SAFEGUARD 4.00

VERNAL 4.00

DK 141 4.00

MULTIMIST 3.99

AMERIGUARD 301 3.97

ONEIDA VR 3.96

CHOICE 3.92

GH 787 3.92

RUSHMORE 3.91

BARALFA 32 IQ 3.89

NG-330 3.88

EVOLUTION 3.85

BEAVER 3.13

MEAN 4.11

5% LSD 0.45

CV (%) 7.7

LSR (%) 28.3

* Variety means are LSMEANS derived from nearest neighbor statistical analysis. Therefore, season or multiple-year totals will not be the arithmetic sum of individual cuts or years, respectively.

4

Places 3rd at Kimberly, IdahoU of I Alfalfa Variety Trial - 2001 Commercial Test, Second Year

Harvest after May 30, 31 • Kimberly, Idaho FIRST CUTTING MAY 30,31 JUNE 1 SECOND CUTTING JUNE 27 THIRD CUTTING JULY 26 FOURTH CUTTING SEPT. 14 KALU-FICK STAGINGENTRY TOTAL FIRST SECOND THIRD FOUTH CRUDE ACID RELATIVE CRUDE ACID RELATIVE CRUDE ACID RELATIVE CRUDE ACID RELATIVE YIELD CUTTING CUTTING CUTTING CUTTING PROTEIN DETERGENT FEED PROTEIN DETERGENT FEED PROTEIN DETERGENT FEED PROTEIN DETERGENT FEED 1ST CUT 2ND CUT TON/ACRE TON/ACRE TON/ACRE TON/ACRE TON/ACRE (%) FIBER (%) VALUE (%) FIBER (%) VALUE (%) FIBER (%) VALUE (%) FIBER (%) VALUE (0-9) (0-9)

Reward 11.3 5.4 1.7 2.1 2.1 20.3 35.2 153 26.0 30.0 180 23.9 30.4 174 21.2 31.4 179 3.3 1.753V08 11.0 5.0 1.7 2.2 2.1 19.9 35.2 154 26.8 29.8 191 23.5 31.4 172 20.0 32.9 172 3.2 1.6Future 11.0 5.3 1.6 2.0 2.2 19.1 36.8 143 26.8 29.5 184 23.4 31.5 174 20.1 33.4 167 3.2 1.5Arapaho 10.9 5.2 1.7 2.0 2.0 20.0 35.7 149 26.5 30.3 178 24.2 30.4 173 21.1 31.3 179 3.1 1.5Rhino 10.9 4.9 1.6 2.0 2.3 19.6 36.3 143 26.5 30.0 183 23.7 31.4 170 20.8 31.6 176 2.9 1.4ABT350 10.8 5.1 1.5 2.1 2.1 19.3 35.9 148 26.9 29.9 178 22.6 32.3 166 20.0 33.0 163 3.0 1.6Affinity+Z 10.8 5.2 1.6 2.0 2.1 20.4 34.9 154 27.3 29.8 183 23.2 32.1 162 20.7 31.5 179 3.0 1.3Magnum V 10.8 5.1 1.7 2.1 2.0 19.2 36.9 143 26.2 30.9 173 22.8 32.4 159 19.7 34.0 165 3.1 1.8Renegade 10.8 5.1 1.6 2.0 2.1 19.3 36.8 143 25.4 32.0 167 23.7 31.3 171 20.4 32.5 171 3.4 1.4Arrowhead 10.7 4.9 1.7 2.0 2.1 21.3 33.4 166 26.7 30.5 177 23.2 31.2 167 20.0 32.9 170 3.1 1.6DS9704HYB 10.7 5.0 1.6 2.0 2.0 19.9 35.9 150 26.2 30.4 176 24.1 30.5 175 20.6 32.4 173 3.3 1.7Standout 10.7 4.8 1.6 2.1 2.2 20.2 35.4 151 25.2 32.6 165 23.4 31.9 165 21.1 32.1 173 3.3 1.8Hybri Force-400 10.6 5.0 1.6 1.9 2.1 19.9 35.2 155 25.2 31.4 177 23.3 31.0 172 20.2 33.7 161 3.3 1.4DS9706HYB 10.6 5.2 1.5 2.0 1.8 19.3 36.2 148 24.1 32.1 164 23.8 31.5 165 20.5 32.3 175 3.1 1.8Rambo 10.6 4.8 1.7 2.0 2.1 31.0 34.8 155 27.6 29.2 191 24.0 30.8 178 22.0 30..3 190 3.1 1.4Rustler II 10.6 4.9 1.5 2.1 2.1 20.4 36.0 152 28.1 28.1 192 24.5 30.2 178 19.9 34.5 156 3.3 1.6Vernal 10.6 5.1 1.5 1.9 2.2 18.9 37.0 142 27.3 29.2 185 24.4 30.2 170 19.9 33.6 160 3.2 1.2Winter Gold 10.6 5.0 1.7 2.0 2.0 21.0 33.8 162 28.2 28.2 197 23.9 30.5 177 20.9 33.8 160 3.3 1.7DS9707HYB 10.5 5.0 1.6 1.9 2.0 20.2 34.8 156 26.2 30.6 176 24.0 31.4 170 19.3 35.2 153 3.7 1.5Forecast3001 10.5 4.8 1.6 2.0 2.0 198.7 35.5 150 26.0 34.5 169 22.9 32.3 160 20.3 31.8 176 3.4 1.5Trophy 10.5 4.7 1.5 2.2 2.1 20.9 33.9 165 27.5 29.1 188 23.6 31.7 167 20.4 33.0 170 3.4 1.4WL325HQ 10.5 4.8 1.7 2.0 1.9 21.0 34.2 158 26.7 30.1 185 23.4 31.6 165 22.5 29.3 200 3.4 1.7CimarronSR 10.4 4.9 1.6 1.9 2.0 20.0 35.4 151 27.2 30.1 180 23.8 31.4 165 20.5 33.6 164 3.6 1.6Innovator+Z 10.4 4.7 1.5 2.0 2.2 21.3 33.9 160 27.4 29.4 180 24.1 30.3 173 20.0 33.7 161 3.0 1.5Plumas 10.4 4.8 1.4 2.0 2.2 20.8 34.5 156 28.3 27.9 196 23.9 30.8 168 20.3 34.5 154 3.3 1.5WL327 10.4 4.9 1.6 2.1 1.9 20.6 34.4 159 27.1 28.5 191 24.6 30.4 169 19.8 34.1 157 3.3 1.7ABT400SCL 10.3 4.8 1.5 1.9 2.0 20.1 35.7 150 25.3 30.7 181 24.3 31.5 164 20.6 33.6 164 3.2 1.5Spur 10.3 4.7 1.6 1.9 2.1 20.3 35.2 152 26.7 29.7 182 24.5 30.6 169 21.3 32.5 171 3.2 1.9Stamina 10.3 4.8 1.5 1.9 2.1 20.3 35.6 150 26.8 29.8 182 23.2 31.7 16 20.1 34.4 158 3.5 1.6DK142 10.2 4.8 1.5 1.9 1.9 19.8 35.7 149 27.3 29.4 185 24.3 30.2 175 20.0 34.2 160 3.5 1.9Forecast1001 10.2 4.7 1.6 2.0 1.8 19.2 35.7 148 26.3 30.6 177 21.6 34.0 153 20.3 33.1 167 3.6 1.8Radiant 10.2 4.6 1.6 2.0 2.0 20.6 34.5 159 26.8 29.7 187 25.0 30.0 175 20.2 33.3 166 3.4 1.7AecherII 10.1 4.7 1.7 2.1 1.7 20.0 35.4 151 26.5 30.5 177 23.2 32.5 158 19.5 34.9 155 3.1 2.1Lobo 10.1 4.5 1.6 2.1 2.0 20.4 34.8 153 26.2 30.3 176 23.1 31.7 167 20.6 33.3 166 3.2 1.9Tango 10.1 4.4 1.7 2.0 1.9 20.6 35.2 152 26.6 29.6 184 22.1 32.8 161 21.4 32.0 175 3.1 2.0WL334RK 10.1 5.0 1.4 2.0 1.7 19.7 36.1 149 27.5 28.8 190 23.8 31.2 168 20.4 32.2 171 3.2 1.6AmeriGraze401+Z 9.9 4.6 1.6 1.9 1.8 20.7 34.5 154 26.7 29.9 182 25.1 30.1 178 20.2 33.5 164 3.1 1.5Cisco 9.9 4.5 1.7 2.0 1.8 20.0 36.0 148 25.6 31.5 171 23.0 31.3 169 21.0 32.5 171 3.2 1.9Rampage 9.9 4.6 1.6 1.9 1.8 20.3 35.3 150 26.3 30.5 176 24.7 30.3 173 20.3 33.1 167 3.4 1.6Multi 5301 9.8 4.7 1.4 1.8 2.0 21.5 33.5 162 28.8 28 190 24.8 30.5 177 20.3 34.4 154 3.6 1.4Ruccus 9.6 4.5 1.7 2.0 1.4 20.4 34.7 157 26.5 30.3 176 23.2 31.6 166 20.9 32.9 166 3.3 1.6Mean 10.5 4.9 1.6 2.0 2.0 20.2 35.3 152 26.7 30.0 181 23.7 31.2 169 20.85 33.0 168 3.3 1.6LSD (.05) 0.7 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.4 1.0 1.5 10 1.3 1.6 12.2 0.8 1.2 9 1.4 2.2 17 0.4 0.4CV % 5.8 6.7 10.3 6.5 17.8 3.6 3 4.6 3.4 3.9 4.9 2.5 2.8 4 4.8 4.8 7.4 7.7 18.6

OBSERVATIONS:Forage variety trials give potential yields. The yields are measured on fresh forage with a moisture percentage of about 75%. Yields are corrected to 100% dry matter but there is very little harvest loss in our trials. Harvest losses for raking, baling, and stacking dry hay can be as much as 20% of the total dry matter production! We also intensely manage the plots to ensure proper irrigation and we don’t have traffic on the plots 5-9 days after cutting. Thus I would expect realistic hay yields about 80 to 90% of these, however, green chop or haylage yields would be closer.

The varieties are listed in rank for the highest total yield of four cuts. The “LSD” statistic given at the bottom of the table for each column tells us that varieties with yield differences less than that value are not significantly different. For example, the total yield LSD value is 0.7 tons/acre. So yields from ‘53V08’ and ‘Future’ (11.0 tons/acre) are not statistically different than total yield for ‘Stamina’ (10.3 tons/acre) or anything in between. There is a whole page full of good varieties!

5

University of Idaho Alfalfa Variety Trials, 2002Kimberly, Idaho Commercial Test, Third Year, By Variety

Harvesting Dates: May 22, June 21, July 24, September 10, 2002

Entry 01-02

2 Year

Ave

2002

Total

Yield

First

Cutting

Second

Cutting

Third

Cutting

Fourth

Cutting

First Cutting May 22

CP ADF RFV

(%) (%) Index

Second Cutting June 21

CP ADF RFV

(%) (%) Index

Third Cutting July 24

CP ADF RFV

(%) (%) Index

Fourth Cutting Sept. 10

CP ADF RFV

(%) (%) Index

Kalu-Fick

Staging

1st Cut 2nd Cut

(0-9) (0-9)---------------(Ton/Acre)---------------

53V08 9.5 7.9 2.8 1.6 1.6 1.9 25.7 24.9 206 26.4 26.2 193 21.9 28.5 176 21.5 29.2 169 2.5 2.0

ABT350 9.4 8.0 2.8 1.5 1.7 2.0 25.0 25.5 200 27.6 25.0 204 19.4 31.4 156 22.3 28.5 174 2.0 1.0

ABT400SCL 9.2 8.0 2.4 1.5 2.0 2.1 24.1 26.3 192 27.4 25.5 200 19.7 32.2 150 20.4 29.8 166 2.1 1.9

Affinity+Z 9.3 7.8 2.7 1.4 1.8 1.9 24.9 25.7 199 26.2 26.4 192 20.8 30..8 158 21.9 28.7 173 2.2 2.0

AmeriGraze401+Z 8.9 7.8 2.6 1.4 2..1 1.7 24.3 26.1 194 27.4 25.1 204 20.5 30.2 163 22.1 28.4 176 2.0 1.9

Arapaho 9.4 7.8 2.9 1.4 1.5 2.0 25.1 25.1 203 26.6 27.7 185 20.8 30.4 162 21.5 29.0 171 2.0 2.0

Archerll 9.1 8.1 2.5 1.5 2.2 1.9 24.8 25.9 196 27.4 25.8 197 19.9 32.1 150 19.9 31.2 156 2.1 1.9

Arrowhead 9.2 7.7 2.6 1.5 1.7 1.9 25.4 24.9 206 26.1 25.9 196 20.1 30.8 159 21.2 29.2 169 1.7 2.0

CimaronSR 9.3 8.2 2.6 1.5 2.1 2.0 25.2 25.2 202 27.9 25.3 202 20.3 31.0 157 21.9 28.7 173 2.0 2.0

Cisco 9.0 8.0 2.4 1.6 2.2 1.8 24.7 25.6 199 26.9 26.0 195 19.1 32.9 145 21.4 28.7 173 2.0 2.1

DK142 8.9 7.5 2.3 1.4 1.8 2.0 25.4 24.9 205 28.1 24.6 209 20.5 30.4 161 21.2 29.0 171 2.1 2.1

DS9704HYB 9.1 7.5 2.4 1.4 1.8 1.9 24.2 26.1 194 26.9 25.9 196 20.7 29.9 165 20.9 29.9 164 1.9 2.1

DS9706HYB 9.3 8.0 2.3 1.7 2.0 2.0 24.0 26.2 194 26.4 25.6 200 20.2 31.2 156 20.5 29.8 166 2.1 2.0

DS9707HYB 9.4 8.2 2.7 1.6 2.1 1.8 25.0 26.6 199 26.2 26.7 189 20.1 31.5 154 21.1 29.3 169 2.2 2.0

Forecast1001 8.7 7.2 2..4 1.4 1.5 1.9 25.0 24.8 206 25.8 26.8 189 20.2 31.0 158 22.0 28.6 174 1.8 1.8

Forecast 3001 9.2 7.9 2.7 1.6 1.7 1.9 25.1 25.1 203 26.1 26.3 193 20.9 30.0 165 21.7 28.8 172 1.8 1.8

Future 9.2 7.4 2.6 1.4 1.3 2.1 25.4 25.6 200 26.5 25.8 197 22.1 28.1 181 21.8 29.1 170 2.0 2.1

Hybri Force-400 9.0 7.3 2.4 1.4 1.8 1.7 25.2 25.0 204 27.2 26.1 194 20.4 20.9 165 22.2 28.5 175 1.8 2.0

Innovator+Z 9.0 7.6 2.7 1.4 1.6 1.9 26.3 24.4 210 26.5 25.4 201 21.1 29.9 166 22.6 28.5 175 2.1 2.1

Lobo 9.3 8.5 2.5 1.8 2.1 2.1 25.9 24.6 209 26.8 26.7 189 19.7 32.2 150 20.1 30.5 160 1.8 2.0

Magnum V 9.1 7.3 2.6 1.5 1.4 1.8 25.2 24.9 205 27.4 25.6 200 20.2 31.1 157 21.0 29.4 168 2.1 1.9

Multi 5301 8.8 7.8 2.4 1.5 2.0 1.9 26.0 24.6 208 28.6 24.6 208 21.0 31.2 156 21.0 30.2 162 1.9 2.0

Plumas 9.2 8.0 2.5 1.4 2.1 2.0 25.5 24.9 207 28.3 25.2 203 20.6 31.3 155 21.1 29.8 165 2.1 2.1

Radiant 9.4 8.5 2.8 1.8 1.8 2.1 24.6 26.2 194 27.4 25.7 198 21.4 30.5 161 20.7 29.8 165 2.1 2.2

Rambo 9.2 7.7 2.9 1.4 1.6 1.8 25.6 25.2 202 26.8 25.7 198 21.5 29.4 170 21.8 29.0 171 2.0 2.0

Rampage 8.9 7.8 2.4 1.5 2.1 1.8 25.4 25.2 202 27.2 25.9 196 20.1 31.5 154 20.2 30.3 162 2.0 1.8

Renagade 9.5 8.2 2.8 1.5 1.7 2.2 25.0 25.8 197 26.5 26.1 195 20.3 30.8 160 22.5 28.7 173 2.1 2.0

Reward 9.7 8.0 2.6 1.6 1.8 2.0 25.1 25.4 200 27.0 26.3 192 20.5 31.1 157 20.9 29.5 168 1.9 1.8

Rhino 9.7 8.4 2.8 1.5 2.1 2.0 25.6 25.2 203 28.2 24.7 208 20.7 30.7 159 21.7 28.7 173 2.1 1.9

Ruccus 8.3 7.0 2.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 24.3 25.3 202 26.5 26.0 195 20.4 30.2 163 20.5 29.4 167 1.8 2.0

Rustler II 9.4 8.1 2.6 1.5 2.0 2.0 24.8 25.8 196 27.2 25.9 196 20.3 30.6 160 21.1 29.8 165 1.8 2.0

Spur 8.8 7.2 2.4 1.3 1.6 1.9 25.7 25.2 202 27.9 24.7 207 20.6 29.7 166 21.4 29.3 168 2.0 1.9

Stamina 9.3 8.2 2.4 1.5 2.1 2.2 25.6 25.0 204 27.0 25.9 196 19.4 32.3 149 21.3 30.0 164 2.1 2.2

Standout 9.5 8.2 2.7 1.6 1.9 2.0 26.1 24.6 208 27.2 25.2 203 20.6 30.5 162 21.4 29.3 168 1.9 2.0

Tango 8.8 7.4 2.2 1.6 1.8 1.8 26.1 24.6 209 26.8 26.1 194 19.5 31.6 154 20.7 30.1 163 2.0 2.8

Trophy 9.2 7.9 2.9 1.5 1.6 1.9 25.4 25.2 202 27.0 25.8 197 21.5 29.5 168 22.2 28.2 177 2.0 1.9

Vernal 9.1 7.5 2.6 1.4 1.5 2.0 25.6 25.0 205 27.6 25.3 202 20.0 31.4 155 21.3 29.1 170 2.1 1.9

Winter Gold 9.3 7.9 2.6 1.5 1.9 1.9 24.9 25.0 205 26.8 25.6 199 20.5 30.8 159 21.6 29.0 171 1.9 1.9

WL325HQ 9.4 8.3 2.8 1.6 2.0 1.9 25.1 26.0 196 27.5 25.5 200 21.1 30.2 162 23.2 27.7 181 1.9 2.0

WL327 9.2 7.9 2.4 1.5 2.0 2.0 24.4 25.3 202 27.0 25.6 198 20.3 30.9 158 22.1 28.1 178 2.0 2.0

WL334RK 8.7 7.2 2.5 1.4 1.4 1.9 25.2 25.0 204 27.1 25.3 202 19.5 31.8 152 20.7 30.0 164 1.9 1.8

Mean 9.1 7.8 2.6 1.5 1.8 1.9 25.2 25.3 202 27.1 25.7 198 20.4 30.5 159 21.4 29.2 169 2.0 2.0

LSD(.05) 0.6 NS 0.4 0.3 0.5 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 1.4 NS 16 1.5 NS NS 0.3 0.4

CV% 8.3 14.1 13.5 14.9 24.9 13.8 4.0 3.7 4.3 4.2 4.8 5.2 4.8 5.2 7.1 4.9 4.3 5.3 10.3 12.9

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2003 Wyoming State Fair Forage Analysis and Visual Appraisal

2003 Crop Year Future Analysis sample taken by county agent from same bale that was sent from State Fair to World’s Forage Superbowl.

Placed 7th in the World Dairy Bowl

Exhibitor - Bill Reed Relative Feed Value 337 Crude Protein (%CP) 24.1 Acid Detergent Fiber (%ADF) 17.6 Neutral Detergent Fiber (%NDF) 20.7 Total Digestible Nutrient (%TDN) 79.9 % Moisture 10.2

CommentsFirst Place in 3rd cut category! This is off-the scale dairy quality hay. Crude protein and relative feed value are at exceptionally high levels. Texture is extremely soft and pliable, best of alfalfa hay exhibits. Leaf capture in the bale is excellent and leaves remain well attached to the stems in the bale flake. Slight olive-tan green is indicative of a mild fermentation in the bale. This exhibit is slightly caramelized which is associated with mild seat (fermentation) which tends to increase palatability. On the other hand, excessively heat stressed hay tends to lead to moldy, dusty hay which reduces palatability.

Allan Schupe - Hamer, Idaho 2005“I have come to rely on the high yields of Ray Brothers Seed. I’ve been averaging 7 1/4 tons/acre here in three cuttings and the extra income has made all the difference.”

7

ALFALFA SURVIVAL We at Ray Brothers have felt for several years that far too much emphasis has been placed on diseases and disease index ratings while not enough emphasis has been placed on fall dormancy and winter survival ratings in regards to the persistence of alfalfa stands. Many breeding programs assumed that high disease ratings would promote winter survival and stand longevity. They were wrong ... DEAD WRONG! Winter survival and high disease resistances do not necessarily go hand in hand. A less winterhardy variety of alfalfa simply won’t survive as well as a more winterhardy variety no matter how many resistances are bred into it. Breeding a Brahma to be resistant to all kinds of diseases won’t get it through a tough winter. You should have used a Hereford or an Angus to start with. The Fall Dormancy rating is a measure of how well the plant takes care of itself and how well it withstands the winters. Fall dormancies and resistances interact and affect winter survival (as can be seen in the following study). An alfalfa variety with a dormancy rating of 4 or higher tend to be more of a Flemish or Peruvian strain where as those with a dormancy rating of 3 or lower tend to be more of the Turkistan / M. falcata / M. varia strains which originated in Turkey, Afghanistan and Russia/Siberia. These varieties not only are more winterhardy but also tend to have finer stems. The following is a portion of a thesis done by Ronald Blake Ipson which supports not only this but also the feelings that we have had for a good many years that Breeding Programs are breeding for resistances more to sell seed than to help the farmers. Over the years in the field we’ve found that the varieties with the longest viable standlifes have not necessarily had high resistances. THIRTY YEARS OF WISCONSIN ALFALFA VARIETY TRIALS, by Ronald Blake Ipson. A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (AGRONOMY) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON 1991. Used by permission. The complete Thesis is available to anyone requesting it. “The assumptions inherent in the variety recommendations made in the past have been that for alfalfa varieties to persist in Wisconsin, they need to have resistance to every major disease, and that higher levels of resistance will result in higher yields. This has led to the present situation, in which most new varieties, in response to market demands, are developed to have a disease resistance index of almost 25. The analyses performed on yield data of varieties across Wisconsin showed that, overall, disease resistance had little or no effect on yield. The correlations of yield with disease resistance ratings were quite low and all decreased over time. With the exception of Phytophthora Root Rot and Aphanomyces Root Rot, alfalfa diseases seldom effect yield in the first or second year, even when conditions are favorable for their growth. No increase in yield is seen by increasing levels of resistance above low-or moderate-resistant. Inclusion of high levels of disease resistance comes at a cost. When those particular diseases are not limiting yield, resistant varieties yield less than susceptible varieties. A true biological relationship with persistence was observed with fall dormancy. While varieties with lower levels of dormancy out-yield more-dormant varieties in young stands, this advantage decreased over time, and reversed. In older stands, more-dormant varieties out-yielded less-dormant varieties. Fall dormancy ratings of 2 or 3 are required to maintain a stand for longer than 3 years. While it has been shown that diseases do affect plants and can cause illness and death, it has also been shown that all factors which affect plants interact. Thus any factor that places more stress on a plant makes it more susceptible to injury by other factors. Newer varieties are expected to be higher yielding because they are the products of more cycles of selection, from improved parental sources. Most of the yield gain in newer varieties has been due to selection of parents that transmit improved yield potential to parental progency.”

WHAT FARMERS SAY ABOUT FUTURE . . . Many Farmers across the country are asking how will FUTURE do in their area. FUTURE was bred for any part of the northern half of the US. It seems to excel almost everywhere - from the high country of Montana, Colorado and Idaho to Wisconsin and New York to the lower valleys of Washington and Oregon. We are doing well in 15 states. Odds are someone in your area has FUTURE. We sell out every year by May even though we plant more every year, so call early.

FUTURE is the best yielding variety we have used. We took approximately 7 tons per acre. Our first cutting went 4 tons. We like how nice and fine stemmed it stays.

—Cliff HickMatchett Farms, Grand Junction, Colorado

FUTURE is as good as any hay we have planted. We arranged 6 1/2 tons per acre. It seemed to outweigh the other loads of hay on the trucks.

—Clifford VerheoffHolly, Colorado

We planted FUTURE on San Lewis Hills Farms. It always tested premium hay. It lasted a very long time and yielded excellent.

—Charly EmerichBlanca, Colorado

We have FUTURE, Apollo and Asgrow varieties. FUTURE yielded 7 1/4 tons which was our best yielder. It also tested 23% protein, which was a couple of points above the other varieties.

—Mike DuttonFort Bent Feeders, LaJunta, Colorado

“The dairymen we sell to prefer FUTURE over other varieties we have had. When FUTURE is available, I only plant FUTURE.”

—Wade AylettHermiston, Oregon

“FUTURE is as fine stemmed of hay as we have had. Real good hay. FUTURE has averaged over 6 tons per acre.”

—Ron TorgersonHamer, Idaho

“We have 240 acres of FUTURE, we are planting 220 more. Our haybroker can sell FUTURE when he can’t sell any other variety.”

—Skip MelvilleHubbard Ranch, Imuaha, Oregon

“We planted 140 acres of FUTURE. Neighbors would stop to comment that it was the largest windrows they had ever seen. Real good hay! We have averaged 6 1/2 tons the last 2 years.”

—Richard BurmesterArimo, Idaho

Ray Brothers Alfalfa Seed is as good as any top name brand alfalfa that I have planted. I’ve got five year stands now from FUTURE alfalfa. FUTURE survived a couple pretty harsh winters, where other alfalfas have winter killed. I like the way it stays fine stemmed throughout the years. Really leafy with fast recovery and excellent tonnage. Just what we need - quality alfalfa for our 120 head dairy herd.

Richard KeeneDairy Farmer; Potosi, Wisconsin

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FUTURE WINS AT FAIRS THROUGHOUT THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST

AT THE EASTERN IDAHO STATE FAIR• Ron Torgerson of Hamer, Idaho won the blue ribbon for 1st crop hay with a RFV of 227.26. Ron also won 1st place in the horse hay category.• Steve Burtenshaw of Terreton, Idaho was second crop blue ribbon winner with a RFV of 185.98. Steve also placed 3rd in the horse hay category.

WADE AYLETT WINS BIG WITH FUTURE• Wade Aylett (Jelwal Inc.) of Hermiston Oregon places both 1st and 4th with Maxi-leaf and Future at the Umatilla County Fair.• Wade also went on to place 3rd at the 1995 Washington Hay King Contest in Pasco, Washington where Future tested 28.16 crude protein, 21.27 acid detergent fiber and with a RFV of 232.• Once again, Wade placed 12th at the 1995 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin with Future in the Commercial hay division.

1995 WASHINGTON ALFALFA KING, Pasco, WashingtonANALYSIS BASED ON 1005 DRY MATTER

NAME VARIETY CUTTING % CRUDE % % TDN RELATIVE ADJUSTED VISUAL ADJUSTED TOTAL STATE MOISTURE PROTEIN% ACID NEUTRAL (1) FEED LAB SCORE SCORE VISUAL ADJSTD PLACE DETERGENT DETERGENT VALUE (3) SCORE SCORE FIBER FIBER LAB SCORE (4)Western Hay Columbo 3rd 12.90 26.98 22.37 27.88 74.74 238 59.75 187 40.00 99.75 1Roberts & Sons Pioneer 5472 3rd 11.03 25.74 19.44 28.68 77.87 239 60.00 179 38.29 98.29 2Jelwal Inc. FUTURE 3rd 11.73 28.16 21.27 28.96 75.92 232 58.24 177 37.86 96.10 3Jerry Christian Pioneer 5472 3rd 9.87 25.15 23.09 29.52 73.97 223 55.98 185 39.57 95.55 4Stacey Eades Columbo 3rd 9.36 24.49 23.52 29.92 73.51 219 54.98 186 39.79 94.77 5Grow Farms Basin 2000 3rd 11.01 25.93 21.80 29.94 75.35 223 55.98 179 38.29 94.27 6Dan Petty Treasure 2nd 11.73 26.20 23.31 32.00 73.74 206 51.72 184 39.36 91.08 7Kevin Gray Treasure 3rd 11.09 25.15 23.26 30.76 73.79 214 53.72 171 36.58 90.30 8Wade Aylett MAXI-LEAF 3rd 14..23 26.33 23.27 33.12 73.78 199 49.96 181 38.72 88.68 9Jay Petty WL 317 1st 9.98 24.76 25.26 32.74 71.65 197 49.46 180 38.50 87.96 10Jason Vogt Vernema 1st 10.95 24.69 25.21 33.02 71.71 195 48.95 180 38.50 87.45 11Krystal Magule Blazer XL 3rd 12.81 25.87 24.67 33.86 72.28 191 47.95 175 37.43 85.38 12Don Key Columbo 3rd 11.90 24.95 25.76 34.80 71.12 184 46.19 182 38.93 85.12 13Marion Walli Fortress 3rd 13.14 20.76 27.62 35.80 69.13 175 43.93 170 36.36 80.29 14Dan Richey Fortress 2nd 9.60 21.61 27.00 36.38 69.79 174 43.68 168 35.94 79.62 15David Schmelzer Sparta 3rd 12.83 24.17 26.60 36.10 70.22 176 44.18 146 31.23 75.41 16Matt Schmelzer Sparta 2nd 10.71 22.92 28.85 41.48 67.82 149 37.41 169 36.15 73.56 17Randy Walli Fortress 3rd 10.88 20.37 29.56 41.68 67.06 147 36.90 159 34.01 70.91 18Tri-R Hay Garst 630 1st 14.58 25.80 36.68 47.66 59.45 118 29.62 149 31.87 61.49 19*Please note on the original listing another variety was listed as #3 by mistake FUTURE was the official third place winner.Total digestible nutrients (TDN) = 4.898 + 89.796 (NEL). Net Energy of Lactation (NEL) = 1.044 - 0.0119 (ADF)2 Relative Feed Value: (RFV) = DDMXDMI over 1.29. Digestible Dry Matter (DDM) = 88.9 - (0.779 x ADF). Dry Matter Intake (DMI) = 120 over NDF3 Actual Lab Score ÷ 239 x 60%.4 Actual visual score ÷ 187 x 40%.

LIST OF THE TOP 20 ENTRIES FOR THE EASTERN IDAHO STATE FAIR.There was a total of 37 Entries

NAME VARIETY CUTTING PLACING PREMIUM TOTAL RFV VISUAL PROTEIN ADF NDF MOISTURE DDM DMITorgenson FUTURE 1 1 200 114.59 227.36 157.0 23.80 24.70 28.50 12.2 69.66 4.21Filipponi ABI 700 1 2 150 95.10 186.26 136.0 23.60 27.50 33.70 10.1 67.48 3.56Smith Pioneer 5472 1 3 100 87.80 167.79 135.3 21.30 30.30 36.20 9.0 65.30 3.31Oppedyk Pioneer 5472 1 4 75 86.78 168.72 127.0 21.00 30.30 36.00 7.7 65.30 3.33Stoneberg 1 5 60 85.91 161.91 137.7 20.20 31.90 36.80 11.8 64.05 3.26Berret 1 6 50 85.78 162.60 135.3 21.30 30.20 37.40 11.1 65.37 3.27Fullmer Northern Hardy 1 7 40 85.68 173.29 109.7 22.50 30.90 34.80 13.9 64.83 3.45BOS N Rup King Rushmore 1 8 30 85.60 162.80 133.7 27.10 27.40 38.60 13.9 67.56 3.21Barzee VNS Variety 1 9 20 78.35 144.61 132.7 21.90 33.30 40.50 12.9 62.96 2.96Mrurdock Dart 1 10 10 73.84 134.03 130.3 25.50 35.70 42.40 14.6 61.09 2.83Stibal 1 0 71.68 133.88 117.7 18.10 35.60 42.50 10.1 61.17 2.82Burtenshjaw FUTURE 2 1 200 99.78 185.98 164.7 23.70 28.40 33.40 14.8 66.78 3.59BOS N Rup King Multiking 2 2 150 98.47 194.92 136.0 25.40 26.70 32.50 10.8 68.10 3.69Stibal 2 3 100 97.02 183.35 154.3 20.70 28.60 33.80 11.9 66.62 3.55Filipponi ABI 700 2 4 75 94.56 177.57 153.0 23.00 28.60 34.90 10.7 66.62 3.44Place Stokers Select 2 5 60 91.91 170.77 153.0 22.80 30.70 35.40 12.5 64.98 3.39Murdock Dart 2 6 50 91.06 173.29 142.0 23.50 30.90 34.80 14.1 64.83 3.45Jackson Germains KL-322-HQ 2 7 40 90.59 166.23 155.7 24.00 32.00 35.80 11.2 63.97 3.35Hillman 2 8 30 89.19 164.63 151.0 19.70 31.20 36.50 8.3 64.60 3.29Stoneberg 2 9 20 88.87 163.39 152.0 22.80 32.50 36.20 10.2 63.58 3.31Scarrow N Rup King Multiking 2 10 10 87.93 158.95 156.7 25.50 27.70 39.40 12.4 67.32 3.05

9

This page brings up some serious questions on plant breeding in the U.S. today and addresses why we don’t agree with most plant breeders.Copied from AG Answers (written November 4, 1997) (See Purdue University Home Page)

Our Plant Breeder Agrees With Volenec and Sent Us This Copy

ALFALFA RESEARCHERRECOGNIZED FOR HIS WORK

Alfalfa breeders need to quit breeding plants for disease resistance and start breeding for plant persistence, says Purdue agronomist Jeff Volenec. “I don’t buy into the party line,” says Volenec, an agronomy research. “Alfalfa breeders need to select for persistence and high yield, rather than disease resistance. They need to move away from conventional notions that result in disease resistance remaining the focus of many alfalfa-breeding programs nationwide.” Farmers long have wished that their alfalfa stands would last six years rather than the usual three or four, Volenec says. If plants were bred directly for persistence, farmers might get those six years. Then they’d spend about half the time and money on replanting that they do now. Only the large, carrot-like roots of alfalfa persist to regenerate a plant at winter’s end and after each spring or summer cutting, so that’s where Volenec has focused his research. He was the first to find that alfalfa plants survive better when they have greater protein reserves in the roots. He also showed that alfalfa shoots grow much better after cutting if the plant has large protein reserves in its roots and high levels of enzymes that break down starches to simple sugars. “Alfalfa operates a lot like most trees, taking protein out of the leaves in autumn and storing it in the roots for the winter.” Volenec says. “They depend on that stored protein to start regrowth in the spring.” Volenec and his co-workers are developing molecular probes that rapidly screen alfalfa plants for protein and enzyme levels. After the probes are perfected, plant breeders will be able to get longer-lasting alfalfa varieties on the market more quickly. Currently, however, most alfalfa breeders haven’t picked up on Volenec’s findings, even though other researchers in the United States and France have confirmed them. They’re still working to improve only pest resistance, believing that persistence will improve when alfalfa better resists pests. Volenec disputes that belief. “I used their own data,” Volenec says, “and showed that with continued breeding for disease resistance, plants didn’t live longer. In fact, in some cases, longevity declined.” This month, Volenec’s research was acknowledged by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which elected him a Fellow.

NOTE: Ray Brothers seed has always been bred with hardiness, longevity and yield being the prime considerations. Many stands of our alfalfa have been in for over 10 years and are still viable. Our 25 years in the field convinced us long ago of the validity of Volenec’s findings.

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STANDout YIELDS We would like to introduce you to our newest variety called “STANDout”. A winter hardy 3 dormancy Alfalfa variety. STANDout has topped numerous tests over multiple locations, guaranteeing performance on your farm. One or two tests don’t mean much! Many high yielding tests over many locations is proof that this variety is a top performer and will yield in the tough as well as the good years. We urge you to check out the yields on STANDout! We’re certain that once you do, you will agree that STANDout is an alfalfa with huge yield potential. Realize that it is almost impossible to top this many trials! No other winter-hardy 3 dormancy alfalfa in recent history has compared to this! In the 1998 Alfalfa Variety trials at Stern’s County (St. Cloud, Minnesota), STANDout placed #2 out of forty-one varieties in the trial, yielding 5.25 tons or 119% of checks. In Lamberton, Minnesota, STANDout placed fifth out of twenty-one varieties with a two year total tonnage of 13.29 tons. In 1998-1999 trials in Chazy, Clinton County, New York, STANDout placed 2nd out of twenty varieties. Two year total tonnage was 12.85 tons. (1998 tonnage 5.94 / 1999 tonnage 6.91) In Cobleskill, Schoharie County, New York, STANDout tied with DK141 for 6th place out of twenty varieties. Two year total tonnage was 10.16 per acre. STANDout is a fine stemmed, winter-hardy alfalfa which will test high in protein and be a long lifed alfalfa. Try STANDout! We guarantee you will be impressed!• Winter Hardy• Fine Stemmed• Fabulous Yields• Excellent Across the Board Resistance* Standout was listed as 4315 Experimental in some trials

Cobleskill, NY Cobleskill, NY Chazy, NY E. Lansing MI Bad Axe, MI Rock Springs, PA Rock Springs, PAVariety 98-99 2-Yr. Total 2-Yr. % Cks. 98-00 3-Yr. % Cks. 97-99 3-Yr. Total 97-99 3-Yr. Total 98-99 2-Yr. Total % Stand 9/17 STANDOUT (4315 Exp.) 10.16 104 113 13.58 14.36 12.44 78.0

AmeriGraze 401 +Z 9.99 103 99 - 14.13 - -Preferred 10.38 107 111 - - 11.72 82.6DK 140 10.31 106 111 13.49 14.76 12.16 78.8620 Garst - - - - - - -645 Garst - - - - - - -WL 232 HQ - - - - - - -WL 324 10.49 108 111 - - - -DK 141 10.16 104 105 13.26 13.71 11.86 80.4Surpass - - - - - - -Stampede 10.37 107 112 - - 12.56 80.0WL 325 HQ 9.64 99 109 - 14.25 - -DK 127 9.70 100 104 12.95 13.84 11.16 79.7DK 124 - - - - - - -5454 - - - 13.53 14.05 - -Avalanche +Z 9.96 102 104 - - - -

St. Cloud, MN St. Cloud, MN Concord, NE Lamberton, MN 1998-1999 Lamberton, MN Relative Yield Lake City, MIVariety 1999 Total 1999% Cks. 98-99 2-Yr. Total 2-Year Total 2-Yr % Checks 98-00 3-Yr. Total

STANDOUT (4315 Exp.) 5.25 119 13.96 13.29 106 7.44AmeriGraze 401 +Z 5.39 122 - - - -Preferred - - - - - -DK 140 5.20 118 13.59 12.53 100 7.10620 Garst 5.07 115 13.49 13.10 104 7.51645 Garst 5.06 114 - 12.61 100 -WL 232 HQ 5.04 114 - - - -WL 324 4.92 112 - - - -DK 141 4.90 111 13.34 13.39 107 7.09Surpass 4.90 111 - - - -Stampede - - - - - -WL 325 HQ 4.78 108 14.22 - - -DK 127 4.78 108 - 12.23 97 6.87DK 124 4.73 107 - - - -5454 4.50 102 13.63 12.04 96 7.12Avalanche +Z - - - - - -

Anthracnose - RBacterial Wilt - RFusarium Wilt - RVerticullum Wilt - MR

Phytophethora Root Rot - RPea Aphid - RAphanomyces Root Rot - MRStem Nematode - We are resubmitting in 2006 for an R

11

FORAGER BRAND

PASTUREALFALFAPREMIUM BLEND

FOR HAY AND GRAZING

The old timers always said that if you have four strains of alfalfa in a blend, and one dies, you will still have a 75% stand. We are doing this to improve the overall survivability of our forager products.

As many of our customers know, we at Ray Brothers Seed have been marketing our FORAGER PASTURE ALFALFA since 1991. FORAGER is just what its’ name implies, a pasture alfalfa. It is an extremely aggressive, extremely hardy alfalfa of the creeping root strain.

The parentage of FORAGER can be traced back to four plants that were brought in from Siberia/Russia at the turn of the century. Part of the parentage of FORAGER is TRAVOIS, a variety developed by Mel Rumbaugh when he was at South Dakota. We would like to give a special thanks to Mel because with out his encouragement and his patience in answering so many questions and his willingness to pass on some of his tremendous knowledge of alfalfas we would not have arrived at FORAGER.

Because we don’t have a large seed development budget we are not able to enter our seeds in a lot of the seed trials like the larger seed companies do. Therefore we must rely on what we and our customers find out about how FORAGER holds up. We have had satisfied customers that have planted FORAGER in environments that ranged from 7-8

in. annual precipitation to marshy creek bottoms and in soils that ranged in ph from 4.5 to 8.5. They have planted in soils ranging from sand and gravel to heavy clay and in shallow soil over rock or hardpan. Why FORAGER will grow and thrive in these varied situations we don’t really know but we suspect that it has to do with the aggressiveness of its’ creeping root system and the fact that the plants that we chose to make FORAGER from were extremely hardy survivor plants. Almost all of our customers plant FORAGER with grasses. Because of its’ creeping root habit we have found that it will co-exist with grasses for a long period of time. Although the oldest stand that we have in a pasture situation was planted in 1988 we feel that under normal conditions FORAGER will probably last for 15 to 20 years under grazing.

FORAGER PASTURE ALFALFA IN PASTURE AND HAY USE FORAGER has been planted with just about every cool season grass in North America and some of the warm season grasses. Occasionally we have a customer who can’t seem to get it to start but the vast majority of our customers tell us that they have had excellent results with it. When planted correctly we have had much better success establishing FORAGER than other varieties of alfalfa. There are only a few grasses that have been able to crowd FORAGER and they are Garrison Creeping foxtail in very wet conditions and bermuda grass in hot conditions. Where we plant FORAGER with grass we have seen an increase in both the production and quality of the grass. Several of our customers have monitored their fields and found that within 10 - 12 months after planting FORAGER with grass that they were able to eliminate nitrogen from their fertilizing. We’ve had customers report as much as 9 ton/acre in 3 1/2 cuttings but we normally expect 6-6 1/2 ton/acre in 3 cuttings. Usually this will give us 10 - 14 inches of regrowth to late fall graze. We have found that spring grazing is very beneficial to FORAGER.

In the recent drought years some of our customers have been using straight Forager for hay production where there is very limited water for irrigation. What they have found has surprised us. Forager puts up a fine stemmed, high quality hay and will produce up to a third more in two cuttings than their other top hay varieties when there is limited moisture. Quite a few of our ranchers have been planting it lately for hay production instead of for grazing.

FORAGER is a hardy survivor that produces better than TRAVOIS and withstands grazing, drought, and competition better than TRAVOIS.

A blend of our best grazing alfalfas.

12

It is an alfalfa that thrives on stress. The plants in plots by themselves that get no grazing and no competition from grass simply do no grow as vigorously or last as long as the plants in a pasture situation.

Cattle and sheep consistently show much better gain in pounds per acre on FORAGER/grass mix than on grass alone and this is with more animal units per acre. Under rigidly controlled rotational grazing on FORAGER/grass mix under irrigation we have been able to double the animal units and show a 35% plus increase in lb/acre. With cutbacks being made in public land grazing allotments by the BLM most stockmen are having to look at revamping their programs to maximize return/acre on their land and FORAGER helps them do just that.

BLOAT INCIDENT There will probably always be a problem with bloat as long as there are cattle and sheep and we don’t in any way claim that FORAGER is a non- bloating alfalfa. We have had some cattle and some sheep that have bloated. However, if you look at the number of sheep and cattle that have been grazing on FORAGER/grass pastures the percentages are remarkably low.

VIGOR AND GROWTH RATE FORAGER shows a very vigorous growth early in the season which allows for a first cutting that is from 1 to 2 weeks earlier than most northern alfalfas. This is important in areas that only get one or two cutting as it allows for a better chance at putting up a good crop and allows more regrowth for fall grazing. FORAGER has shown healthier fields and heavier yields if it is grazed some. We have found that if it is foraged lightly at 8 to 10 weeks after germination that the plant will put more effort into root growth for a while and that the roots will expand up to 300% more than FORAGER plants that are not grazed initially.

PERSISTENCE Although creeping rooted alfalfas are the most persistent alfalfas under grazing some are more persistent than others and FORAGER has proved to be about the best. It will withstand extreme drought, extreme cold, very wet conditions, heavy grazing, and aggressive competition from grass. It has the ability to produce stem buds from laterally speeding roots which send up shoots and produces a plant that can range from 6 in. to 36 in. in diameter. Sometimes shoots will emerge as far as 36 inches from the parent plant and form a second plant.

This characteristic permits a close association between grass and alfalfa, reduces trampling injury, thickens stands and decreases winter loss from soil heaving. The “creeping root” characteristic should not be confused with Rhizomanous or spreading systems which don’t have the ability to stay in under intense competition of grasses or the stress of heavy grazing.

USE IN RANGE AND PASTURE Contrary to other seed companies, we also raise cattle , horses, sheep and hay and have a working knowledge of the problems faced by our customers. Although we selected FORAGER as primarily a pasture alfalfa, we came up with an alfalfa that does quite well as a hay and extremely well in a grass/alfalfa combination. The primary use of FORAGER is long term improvement of pasture and range. Mixed with grass for new seeding or interseeded into existing grass FORAGER will greatly increase the AMU’s of the land. It also allows for a grazing and haying program that increases a ranchers’ land use options.

SEEDING For irrigated pasture or hay FORAGER should be seeded at a rate of 2 to 5 lb./ acre with 6 to 10 lb./acre of grass. This is a rough guide based on our experience across the intermountain west. In some areas more alfalfa is needed and in some areas more grass is needed. For dry land seeding 2 to 5 lbs/ acre of FORAGER with 3 to 6 lbs/ acre of grass is a good average. A lot of the success rate depends more on how good a farming job is done than on how much seed is used. No seed is going to do well if it is buried too deep or is left laying on top of the soil. When interseeding into existing stands of grass it is best to graze or clip the grass as short as possible and then open the ground some by either harrowing or using a heavy double disk drill. When using a drill, 2 to 5 lb/acre of seed should be dropped into the groove behind the disks and then rolled in with presswheels or a roller/packer. If seed is to be put on with a broadcaster then the ground should be harrowed and then at least 5 lb. of seed broadcasted and then reharrowed and rolled. Care should be taken to ensure sufficient moisture and heat are available to guarantee germination. FORAGER can be spring or late summer seeded with good results and can be winter seeded for spring germination after the ambient ground temperature is below 40 degrees F.

* Faceplate This picture was taken in South Dakota of a mature Travois plant and shows the root proliferation potential of Forager Pasture Alfalfa. Picture supplied by Mel Rumbaugh. 13

precipitation and was the highest producing grass in the irrigated plots. Seeding and management of Cache is the same as with any other brome grass.

PADDOCK BROME Paddock Brome is a perennial grass that is as, or more drought tolerant than rebound and produces better tonnage. As with any brome the leaves of Paddock are rather broad and heavy, but we have found that Paddock remains very palatable and with water and heat will continue to produce all summer. We have found that the more water Paddock gets, the more it produces but in a drought year it will still produce forage although not as much. Since brome grasses are sod formers it is a good idea to disk or rip the stands every few years after they start showing signs of becoming sodbound.

SEEDING & MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Paddock Bromegrass is identical to other bromes as far as looks, size, and the way it is planted. It is best to have a prepared seed bed but it can be interseeded into unworked ground with the right drill. Since it is a large seed, many times it will have to be mixed with grain or ricehulls and run through the grain box on the drill. It does not work well to mix it with smaller grass seeds or alfalfa seed and try to run it through the grass or alfalfa boxes on the drill. It is best to maintain about 1/4 inch seeding depth but Paddock will handle depths up to 1/2 inch and better. We have found that if it is seeded in with alfalfa it is best to water right after planting and then again as soon as most of the alfalfa has germinated which is usually in about 5 to 7 days. This keeps the grass seed moist enough to survive. Paddock will take more nitrogen than some other grasses and as such will do much better if planted with alfalfa.

PROFILE ORCHARDGRASS Profile orchardgrass is a new strain of drought tolerant orchardgrass, of which 92% of it’s parentage is Paiute orchardgrass. Selections were taken from plants that survived in extreme cold conditions which produced a plant that is every bit as drought tolerant as the Paiute and is much more winter hardy. We see Profile eventually replacing Paiute.

PAIUTE ORCHARDGRASS Paiute Orchardgrass is a superior strain of orchardgrass developed primarily for semi-arid rangelands with precipitation levels of as little as 11 inches, but also able to perform in a superior manner under traditional orchardgrass uses. This cultivar was released in 1983 by the USDA SCS in conjunction with the Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station and the Utah State Division of Wildlife Resources. It is well adapted on well-drained basic and acidic soils and performs well on a variety of soils from clay to gravelly loam and on shallow to deep soils. Our own experience with Paiute is that once it is established it will hold in as little as 8 inches precipitation and that under irrigation it

PAIUTE ORCHARDGRASSPROFILE ORCHARDGRASS

QUICK DRAW ORCHARDGRASS

JOHNSTONE FESCUETETON FESCUE

KEMAL FESTOLOLIUMFUEGO FESCUE

BOZOISKY - SELECT RUSSIAN WILDRYE

SWIFT RUSSIAN WILDRYEPERENNIAL RYE

RUSH INTERMEDIATE WHEATGRASS

GREENAR INTERMEDIATE WHEATGRASS

SIBERIAN WHEATGRASSCRESTED WHEATGRASSES

PUBESCENT WHEATGRASS

CACHE MEADOW BROMEPADDOCK BROMEGRASS

FLEET BROME GRASSREBOUND BROMEGRASS

GARRISON CREEPING MEADOW FOXTAIL

REED CANARYGRASSKY-EARLY TIMOTHYCLIMAX TIMOTHYRED STEM FORAGE

KOSHIA

To be of greater assistance to our customers, we will custom mix and bag any blend of seed over 100 lbs. that is needed and ship it ready to plant. Any and all expertise that we have is always available by phone and we can and will find varieties of seed that may not be listed or may be specialty, hard-to-find items. Over the years we have devised mixes that work far better than general, all purpose mixes sold by many seed houses. All of our research is done on working farms and ranches (including our own) under the actual conditions, which gives us a definite edge over agronomists and seedhouse managers who spend most of their time in an office or greenhouse. More and more of our customers are finding that our mixes are much better than any that they can get anywhere else.

CACHE MEADOW BROME Cache Meadow Brome is a perennial grass that is very drought tolerant yet produces more tonnage under irrigation than other brome grasses. Field trials in Utah showed that Cache Meadow Brome would out produce intermediate wheat grass at 13 inches of annual

To Order Forager Alfalfaand Grass SeedCall Shawn Lee

(208) 454-3880(208) 250-4414

Forager Brand $3.85 per lb.Grass Prices Call ShawnEqui-Forage Call Shawn

GRASS SEEDS

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will produce a large statured, fine stemmed grass that out yields any other orchardgrass that we have used.

SEEDING & MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS A clean, firm, weed-free seedbed is recommended. Seeding depth should not be more than one half inch. Range seeding should be in the very late fall or very early spring to take maximum advantage of available moisture. On prepared ground, a regular grass or grain drill will work but for range seeding a heavy double-disk drill or range interseeder will be needed. Under irrigated conditions Paiute can be grazed in the spring of the second growing season. However, on dryland the planting should not be grazed until late summer or early fall of the second growing season. This plant responds well to a rotation deferred grazing system.

NEW GENERATION FESCUES Because of the poor palatability, low protein, and toxin problems associated with fescue, many farmers and ranchers have been reluctant to plant them. Plant breeders from around the world have addressed the problems and a whole new generation of fescue have been developed that are highly palatable, very nutritious and endophytic and perloline alkaloid free. We have found in our pasture and hay situations that these fescue produce excellent forage - as good as many of the orchard grasses. Fescues come on later than orchard grass and when the two are combined, it increases the quality forage production time. These fescue are fine stemmed and leafy with an aggressive growth habit and they do well in hot weather although they do need at least 15 inches annual precipitation.

SEEDING & MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS A clean, firm, weed-free seedbed is recommended. Seeding depth should be between 1/4 and 1/2 inch in depth and seeding rate should 12 Ib./acre when seeded by itself and anywhere from 2 Ib./acre to 8 Ib./acre when seeded in a mix. Fescue seed is a fairly fine seed, comparable to orchardgrass seed and can be drilled with a standard grass or grain drill. We have found that it is difficult to maintain an even rate of flow when it is mixed with large grass seed such as Bromegrass. When utilizing a mix involving large and small seed we have found that it is best to either broadcast the mix or separately drill the small variety and then the large variety. This is by far the most preferred method because it sets the seed at the proper depth and the double pass of the press wheels seems to enhance germination. This plant responds well to a rotation-deferred grazing system and works extremely well in a mix of other grasses and legumes.

RUSH INTERMEDIATE WHEATGRASS Rush intermediate wheatgrass is a mildly sod-forming, late maturing wheatgrass release from University of Idaho; Aberdeen. It has heavier forage and is more palatable than other intermediate wheatgrasses and because it is later maturing it makes a good mixture with alfalfa for

hay production. Rush should be harvested for hay when it is in the early seedboot stage. Another advantage to Rush is that it produces green forage late into the fall and early winter which extends grazing time. In a managed grazing system, mixing some crested wheat, grazing alfalfa, and Rush produces a range grazing situation that can be grazed very early, then cut for hay and then grazed again late. Rush can be planted in areas with as low as 12 inches annual precipitation but does very well under irrigation. The stems are strong and resist lodging and the plant is exceedingly hardy under grazing. It also has strong seedling vigor which makes it fairly easy to establish.

SEEDING & MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Rush can be seeded into a prepared seedbed or no-tilled into the range. It should not be buried more than 3/8 - 1/2 inch. in a no-till situation it is best to pull the seed tubes out from between the disks and drop them behind so that the press wheels set the seed into the seed groove. By itself, it should be seeded at 8 lb./acre with 20 lbs. available nitrogen followed by 40 - 60 lbs. available nitrogen annually. When seeded with alfalfa, use 8 lbs. Rush and 4 - 5 lbs. alfalfa with 20 lbs. available nitrogen the first year for best results. For grazing, the grass and alfalfa should be mixed for seeding but for hay production, it can be alternate row seeded with the alfalfa. If Rush is being used for grazing by itself or mixed with alfalfa it should be grazed late spring until lack of water causes it to go dormant and then late into the fall. For a broader spectrum of grazing, Rush should be mixed with an early maturing grass.

BOZOISKY-SELECT RUSSIAN WILDRYE Bozoisky-Select was released by the Federal Forage Research station at Logan, Utah from selections of Russian Wildrye obtained from the Kazakh Grassland Research Institute at Alma ATA in Eastern Russia. It is much more palatable and has better seedling vigor than other older varieties of Russian Wildrye and does very well in areas with as little as 8 inches annual precipitation. University of Wyoming did some harvest tests in an area with 9 inches annual precipitation and recorded 2700 lb. of dry matter per acre from a planting of 6 lb. per acre at 48 inch row spacings. 36 inch to 48 inch row spacings allow the plants to put out a full root system which in turn allows the plant to grow to 4 or 5 feet in height. Bozoisky-Select will grow and tiller out pretty much all year which allows it to be used for year-round forage or for winter forage. If left to grow during the summer months, it will be heavy and tall going into the winter which allows it to stick up above the snow enabling the cattle to find and forage it much easier than if they had to dig for food. However, since it doesn’t have the best seedling vigor, it is best to not let the cattle forage it for 12 to 18 months after seeding. It is also best to have a prepared seed bed and not plant too much in the way of other grasses with it. When planting, seed depth should be anywhere from 1/8

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everything and will lodge if run through a drill. One of several ways to applicate it is to get seed coated with clay (coated seed) and run it through a drill. For uncoated seed it either needs to be mixed with other varieties of grass seed so it will flow through a drill or it will have to be hand broadcast. Some of our customers have had good results hand broadcasting in the winter and feeding over the seed to let the cows pack it into the soil. This is the only way to seed areas that stay too wet in the summer to get out on with a tractor. Generally, not much forage is seen the first year and the cattle should be kept off if possible. By the third year the plant should be fully mature and will start spreading out from both seed and roots into any available space. By the second year Garrison can be hayed or grazed.

NEWHY WHEAT GRASS Newhy is a wheat grass developed from a cross between tall wheatgrass and quack grass. Although it is not the best of forage, it has extremely high alkali tolerance, fairly good drought tolerance and a heavy root system that will stand a lot of traffic. It is used primarily in salty ground where nothing else will do good or in areas that get chopped up and abused such as winter feeding grounds or spring calving ground. It can be seeded in any time during the year but does best it winter or early spring seeded.

BIRDS FOOT TREFOIL There are two types of Birds Foot Trefoil, one for hay and one for grazing. Both will work for either, but the type for hay stands up better. Trefoil is a legume that is non-bloating and does a good job of nitrogen fixating. It is not used nearly enough in the west although farmers in the midwest use it extensively. It doesn’t come on very early in the spring but does stay green later into the summer after the grasses start to burn back. Although it is not terribly drought tolerant, Trefoil will hold through periods of drought after it is established.

YELLOW SWEET CLOVER Yellow Sweet Clover is a very drought tolerant, nitrogen fixating legume that can and should be added to more dryland mixes. It helps on the grass production and will make good hay when put up with grass. When it is young the cows will graze it but as it gets mature they tend to leave it. When young it resembles a broad leafed alfalfa but one has only to chew on a leaf to tell the difference. Whoever named it sweet clover had a warped sense of humor because it has terribly bitter leaves.

KY-EARLY TIMOTHY Ky-Early Timothy is a true multiple-cutting timothy with the greatest tonnages being in May and October. It matures significantly earlier and is leafier than most other varieties. Trials in Kentucky showed it to out produce Climax Timothy by one to two tons in three cuttings depending on the weather. As with other timothy’s, Ky-Early thrives in cooler climates and subirrigated soils.

inch to 1/2 inch and row spacing can be from 24 inches to 48 inches. The wider the row spacing, the taller the plant and the heavier the tonnage usually taken. Winter seeding usually provides the best germination. A seed bed should be put in the fall and then the seed drilled or broadcast on in the winter and then rolled.

RED STEM FORAGE KOSHIA Forage Koshia is an old introduction from Eurasia that has been worked with extensively by researchers from the USDA, Forest Service and the B.L.M. Although it is distantly related to Annual Koshia which farmers and ranchers in the west consider to be almost a noxious weed, it is in fact a perennial, bushy, dryland, year-round forage that will produce palatable feed on as little as 4 to 5 inches annual precipitation. One drawback is that the seed doesn’t hold its’ viability very long so it has to be seeded within about 90 days of when it was harvested. This means that it should be back on the ground by the end of February - Middle of March. It may, however, be broadcast on bare ground or on the snow to start a stand. Since it is as palatable as crested / intermediate wheatgrass and runs anywhere from 8% protein in the winter to 15% protein in the summer, ranchers that have gotten past the word “Koshia” in the name have found that they really like it because they can take waste ground that provides them with 300 lb. to 500 lb. of dry matter per acre per year and produce 1000 lb. to 1500 lb. of dry matter on the same ground with higher protein levels than are currently available. The problem that we have now with forage Koshia is producing enough seed to supply the current market.

GARRISON CREEPING MEADOW FOXTAIL Garrison is a true foxtail and should not be mistaken for foxtail wild barley which is an early annual that every rancher hates. Garrison is primarily a wetland grass or an irrigated grass that in real wet areas puts out a tremendous root system which crowds out weeds and is very beneficial along stream banks and around ponds. After three or four years it will build up enough root system so that cattle won’t tear up the ground thus protecting the raparian areas. In meadows with streams cutting through them, a few pounds of Garrison mixed into the seed mix will allow the Garrison to take where it is wet enough and over a period of years it will crowd the other grasses in the wet areas until a balance is reached. It make a decent hay and is especially beneficial in fields that are prone to spring flooding. Although it is not considered a dry land grass, if there is enough moisture to get it started in the desert it has shown the hardiness to hold in.

SEEDING AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS The seed of Garrison Creeping Foxtail is a small burr with about 500 tiny velcro type hooks. It sticks to

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At Ray Brothers we have been custom mixing pasture and range mixes since the early 1980’s for our customers. Over the years we have come up with certain mixes that work extremely well in similar situations all over the Intermountain West. These are mixes that we have used ourselves and over the last 5-10 years have received such favorable feedback from our customers that we are now offering them as premixed blends under our own brand names.

EQUI-FORAGE is our irrigated pasture / hay mix, simply because we have found that horse owners will pay a premium for it even when the price of dairy hay and stock cow hay is down. That is not to say that it doesn’t make excellent cow hay because it does. Depending on how it is cut, baled and stored it will go anywhere from 15% to 24% protein and from 145 to 230 on relative feed value. Some of our customers in Iowa and Missouri use it for their dairy hay. Equi-forage is a mix of a hardy, high producing orchard grass, one of our new Generation Fescues and our grazing alfalfa with additional grasses such as Perennial Rye, Creeping Meadow Foxtail or Timothy added depending on the circumstances. This mix is for irrigated ground or where the precipitation levels are 18 inches or better annually. It can be planted in all areas that typically don’t get too far below 20 degrees F. below zero in the winters. Equi-forage is tough enough to hold in as excellent pasture but also usually yields as good as straight alfalfa. A real benefit is that one or two cuttings can be taken off of it to supply the winter’s hay and then it can be pastured allowing the animals to act as the harvesting equipment, thereby saving money and labor.

STEPPE-GUARD is our mix for dryland range and / or hay on the high, dry plains of the Intermountain West. It is also used for hay fields where two cuttings are desired but irrigation is severely limited. Annual precipitation can be as low as 10 - 12 inches. Steppe-Guard makes decent stockcow hay but is not diary quality and makes excellent rangeland pastures. It is a mixture of very winterhardy, hay-type crested wheat, a multiple dormancy, very palatable intermediate wheat, very drought tolerant orchard grasses and our grazing alfalfa. A multiple dormancy Meadow Brome can also be added if the annual precipitation levels are above 14 inches. This mixture works extremely well for farmers that want to change irrigated grain fields into fields that they can take one or two cuttings of hay off of and then pasture without turning the irrigation on more than two or three times a year. Because of the difference in seed size Steppe-Guard should be either mixed with grain and drilled or broadcast and rolled or applicated though an air flow fertilizer spreader and rolled. Seed depth should be about 1/4 inch

and firm compaction is desirable for best germination.

WINTER-FAT is a mixture that we use as winter forage in areas with low annual precipitation and less than 2 ft. of snow maximum average in the winter. It’s primary purpose is to allow cattlemen to graze their cattle all winter without, or with a minimum of, supplemental feed. We use a mixture of our grazing alfalfa, a winterhardy crested, a Siberian Wheatgrass, a palatable Russian Wildrye and Forage Koshia. Ideally, the ground is prepared in the late summer or fall but in an open winter it can be worked whenever. The seed is broadcast or drilled in January or February and rolled. Cattle can be run on it the following winter but great care should be used to see to it that the stand is not over grazed. General rule of thumb would be to run about half the number of animals the first winter that would ordinarily be run. In two to three years the stand will be at full production and at that point it will be incredibly hardy but in the first 12 to 18 months many of the plants will be susceptible to kill from overgrazing. The grasses in Winter-Fat tend to be tall, upright growing with root systems that push out laterally and need lots of room. This is why only about 6 to 7 lb. of grass gets planted per acre. Only about 2 lb. to 3 lb. of Koshia and alfalfa are planted to the acre and their roots tend to go down deep. After a mature stand is established, there is a good thick root system in the top foot of the soil that chokes weeds out and hold moisture and there are deep roots that tend to bring moisture up from lower levels. We have found that in the winter, blowing snow is blocked and held by the tall heavy grass which actually raises the moisture count on these fields. Also, when there is a heavy snow, the plants stick up above the snow for the cattle to find and when the sun comes out, the areas around the plants are the first to melt making it easier on all accounts for the cattle to find feed. Theoretically, a rancher should be able to achieve 5000 lb. of dry matter per acre on Winter-Fat at 9 inches annual precipitation. Theory is fine but in actuality we feel that an average of 3000 lb. of dry matter per acre is more realistic. If a rancher is grazing this stand for 4 months during the winter this works out to about one cow per acre and a half on a mature stand. On one field at 10 inches annual precipitation where the rancher achieved an excellent stand he was running one cow per acre but the one cow per 1 1/2 acre is more realistic. Any way that you look at it, though, this is much more profitable than feeding hay all winter or raising grain on the same ground. We have also found that mother cows that are grazing through their third trimester don’t need near as many supplements which further reduces the overhead. Winter-Fat can be used as year-around grazing depending on the ranchers’ needs but the big savings come from being able to winter graze instead of feeding.

GRASS ALFALFA MIXES

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NEW SYNTHETIC BMR84 BROWNMID-RIB 84-DAY CORN SEEDWith the Brown Mid-Rib mutation, expect lower lignin and increased digestibility. When planted in narrow rows (15”, 22” or twin 30”), plant 40 to 60,000 population for yields that will excel over other short-season silage corn (75-85 day) planted at lower population.

$58per bag

WE NOW OFFER BROWN MID-RIB FORAGE CORN

When planted in narrow rows at 90,000 to 100,000 seeds per acre, our extremely • digestible Brown Mid-Rib forage corn can produce up to 7 tons of dry matter in as little as 60 to 80 days

Plant with a 15” corn planter or grain drill with press wheels•

Harvest similar to sorghum-sudan by grazing, • greenchop, haylage or balage

Harvest at or before tassel and expect higher • protein and sugar levels than conventional corn silage

* 50 lb. (90,000 seed) bag. Special promotion price on one or more pallets. Protein levels vary between 12% - 18%.

$39per bag*

Greenleaf grazing corn is a very high quality grass with typical protein at 12% and as high as 18%. The BMR is even higher quality than regular corn, and even of greater importance, can be grazed later (higher yields) with less drop in quality. Grazing corn can be grown after peas, first or even second cut alfalfa, and after small grains where there is sufficient season and moisture available. Another way is to utilize a cool season cereal in the fall and graze it in the fall and spring and then plant corn for warm season production. Corn can produce 7 tons or more dry matter in 75 days or less.

Corn belt hybrids yield the most grain at around a 30,000 population and a leaf area index of about 5. For grazing or machine harvesting we need much higher populations to maximize yield, as high as 90,000 to

100,000 kernels for early greenleaf grazing or machine harvesting.

We think the main reason grass finishing is difficult, is that the cool season grass period is too short. We need a high quality grass to fill in the summer slump period and lead into the fall cool season grass growth.

Because BMR hybrid corn seed is so expensive, its use has been limited to corn silage and grain production. We have solved this issue with our low cost seed production in southern Idaho and Eastern Oregon.

GREENLEAF GRAZINGPrior to discovering the greater milk production of BMR silage, the increase consumption and weight gains were

RAY BROTHERS BROWN MIDRIB FORAGE CORN

To Order Corn Seed Contact Chris Ray

(541) 446-3265ChrisRay@raybrothers.net

or Israel Ray

1-800-657-1060

www.raybrothersseedfarms.com

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noted with BMR. Greenleaf BMR corn is the highest quality annual grass and can yield over 7 DM ton per acre in as little as 75 days. It could be very useful during the summer slump when the cool season grasses are giving out. It can also be planted after peas, cool season grazing crops, or as late as after second cut alfalfa or even cereal grains. In 105 day corn maturity area we have had a good yield seeding as late as August 1.

WINDROWING AND THEN WILTING FOR SILAGEFORAGE CORN can also be planted after peas, cool season grazing crops, or as late as after second cut alfalfa or even winter wheat.

This will be profitable in a double crop scenario with

our reasonable seed cost. Basically it will just replace follow up crops like BMR sorghum-sudan. The advantage to RAY BROTHERS forage corn over BMR sorghum-sudan is the fact that it is a sub tropical plant so it will tolerate the cooler northwest nights and hot days unlike the full tropical BMR sorghum-sudan.

FORAGE CORN will be higher quality and produce more tonnage in a shorter amount of time than BMR sorghum-sudan. RAY BROTHERS forage corn has successfully been grown with 12 to 15 ton silage yields in the high mountain valleys where corn has not traditionally been grown because of late spring or early fall frost. The machinery needed will be a swather and a forage harvester with a pickup or a large square or round baler. We have found drying down to 25-30%

HARVESTING BROWN MID-RIB FORAGE CORN AT

RAY ROBINSON’S FARM AT MOO MOUNTAIN DAIRY

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moister typically takes about as long as to dry alfalfa down to 13%, and applicating Hay preservatives works excellent. We caution baling over 20% moister without Hay preservatives because of mold. Bale wrap works great; because of the low lignin, the stocks are soft and pliable and will not make holes.

Because of the high tonnage a rotary swather will be preferable, but keep in mind that because of the low fiber and green young plants, this will not damage a conventional swather, it will just be slower. One thing that will surprise and impress most people is that our FORAGE CORN planted in the middle of the summer will grow very fast and get just as tall as the same corn planted in the spring. This is due to the higher heat units while the corn is in the early stage. Ears will begin to develop depending on the fall weather but most likely will not dent down and finish properly.

WEED CONTROLIt is important to control weeds in corn. If there will be grass or extra tough weeds coming, it is best to use roundup to burn them down before any tillage and planting happens. After emergence, when corn

is approximately four inches tall and weeds are around one inch, use a spray that is labeled for corn that will control the weeds for your area. We prefer 2-4-d labeled for corn to control broadleaf weeds because it is cheap and effective. We have observed when planting late June or July, that weeds are not much of a problem for our BMR FORAGE CORN because most weeds come in the spring.

HARVESTING BROWN MID-RIB FORAGE

CORN AT RAY ROBINSON’S FARM

AT MOO MOUNTAIN DAIRY

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Dairymen and University researchers are finding that cows fed Brown MidRib (BMR) corn silage produce an additional 5 pounds of milk per day in early to mid lactation. It has no value at the end of lactation (lower production) or for dry cows. In fact, it is something you don’t want to feed to these cows as they can become too fat. This makes it especially ideal for operations where herds are grouped and fed according to lactation stage or production levels. The weight gains make for exciting possibilities in meat and beef production.

BMR also means healthier cows. The high milk production of today’s cow requires a very high energy diet. This has been provided by corn silage plus additional corn grain. The problem with this ration is the rumen wasn’t made to handle this much starch and can result is acidosis and health problems. Conventional corn silage rations are on a knifes edge; that is, as much grain as the rumen can stand for maximum energy and production, yet not so much as to create rumen acidosis.

BMR has less lignin in the non-grain portion of the plant. Lignin is the structural fiber that holds the plant up. Lignin is not only indigestible, but also incrusts some of the cellulose making it unavailable to rumen bacteria. Cellulose, not grain, is what the rumen was designed to handle, hence more energy and better rumen health with BMR. Since BMR is more digestible, cattle will eat more BMR silage. This means more silage or whole plant energy and less corn grain.

Feeding BMR corn silage allows you to take out some of the grain in the ration, that, in turn, lowers ration cost.

A $1 increase per bushel of corn will increase the average dairy cow ration cost between 27 and 34 cents per day. In a 100-cow herd, that is an extra $1,230 net income per month.

Remember that an 85 day early maturity corn has almost the same filling period as later maturities, yet avoids late season moisture and heat stress. This could also be an advantage for silage harvest to create a bigger window for harvest when grown beside a longer day silage corn.

PLANTING RATEUnder high fertility conditions in twin or narrow rows, plant up to 65,000 plants/acre. In 30 inch rows, cut back to 55,000. Because our BMR is early, it is a small plant, hence, the need for a high population. The difference in between early and late corn is the time of planting to silk. The fill period is almost the same. Our higher planting rate simply allows the plant to intercept sunlight earlier and in narrow rows, shade weeds.

PLANTINGUse a grain drill with press wheels to plant or a corn planter.

OVER PLANTING – UNDER PLANTINGBecause of the high cost of our competitors BMR corn seed, under planting is usually the case. In years when plant populations are down due to weather, yield losses can increase significantly.

Our BMR seed is not expensive; therefore, you can afford to slightly over plant. If the year for growing corn is less than optimal, over planting may result

RAY BROTHERS BROWN MIDRIB CORN SEED

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in a slightly lower percentage of grain, but since the non-grain portion is higher quality, it makes less of a difference. However in years where the plant population is down due to weather, over planting can be a big advantage.

BMR YIELDSBMR corn yields less than regular corn, and cattle will also consume more. This would suggest you would need more corn acres. Actually, you may need fewer acres, since with BMR you actually need to feed more silage and less grain for rumen health. Fewer total acres are usually needed since an acre of silage contain almost double the nutrients as an acre of corn grain.

OUR BMR YIELDA hybrid of similar maturity should be expected to out yield an Synthetic variety. However; since our BMR will be seeded at a higher population, it will out yield a hybrid of similar maturity and maybe one even a little later. To our knowledge this is the earliest BMR available on the market today.

LODGINGDue to lower lignin in BMR, lodging is more of a problem. Since our BMR is a smaller plant, it is affected less by wind.

DROUGHTThere are reports that BMR is affected more by drought than conventional corn. Our BMR can escape some of

the late season moisture and heat stress simply because it is early.

FALL SEEDINGIn areas where 105 day or later maturity corn is full season, it will be possible to fall seed alfalfa or other crops, after our BMR. Fall seeding will result in a full alfalfa crop the following year, whereas a spring seeding often results in about a half crop. Weeds are also not a problem in fall seeded alfalfa.

Nitrogen fertilizer is becoming more expensive as energy prices climb. Recent research shows that when good (4 plants or more per square foot) alfalfa stands are taken out, no addition nitrogen is needed the following year for corn and is reduced by half the second year.

OTHER ADVANTAGESEarly maturity can escape some insect problems, such as corn borer, simply by being early.

Early silage maturity may offer some advantage in utilization of labor and equipment by spreading out harvest over a longer period.

WINTER GRAZINGOne of the biggest costs with beef cow herds is putting up hay for winter feed. An advantage to corn is that it is tall enough to stick above snow so the cow can find and go after the rest of the plant.

Reduced Awn Triticale Seed $37 per Hundred Cleaned and Bagged

Serious Discounts on Truckload and Field Run

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SPRING PRICE LIST

Volume Discounts

We Ship UPSwww.raybrothersseedfarms.com

Future Alfalfa $3.80 per lb.

Standout Alfalfa $3.80 per lb.

Brown Mid-Rib Forage Corn $39 per bag

Synthetic BMR 84-Day $58 per bagBrown Mid-Rib Silage Corn

PRSRT STD

U.S. Postage

PAIDBoise, Idaho

Permit No. 679 Seed Farms11140 Chicken Dinner RoadCALDWELL, IDAHO 83607

(208) 459-7007

To Order SeedCall Israel Ray

1-800-657-1060(208) 459-7007

Reduced Awn Triticale Seed $37 per Hundred Cleaned and BaggedSerious Discounts on Truckload and Field Run