2002 FFA CDE

Team Activity
(1000 pts)

Post-mortem of several dead heifers from a dairy operation indicated the animals died from severe liver damage. A contaminate was found in alfalfa hay fed to the animals and was subsequently identified as this plant (See picture). The hay was traced to the first cutting of a new seeding of alfalfa from your field from the previous summer. You are now preparing for the second year of hay production from this field.

Considerations:

1. Mint had been grown as the crop just prior to alfalfa seeding.

2. Crops grown that you grow are mint, alfalfa, potatoes, wheat.

3. Stinger, Basagran, Butyrac, are labeled for use in mint.

Please address the following questions in your presentation:

1. What would be the consideration of each product (Stinger, Basagran, and Butyrac) for addressing this problem?

2. What do you recommend the cattleman do with the remaining hay?

3. How do you manage the problem in the second-year alfalfa field?

4. What can be done to prevent the problem in the future?