Hay From CRP Acres Could Spread Sericea Lespedeza

MANHATTAN, Kan. – With the release of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for emergency haying, the problem of haying acres containing the noxious weed, sericea lespedeza, becomes an issue, said Kansas State University grazing land management specialist Paul Ohlenbusch.

The concern is that hay harvested from CRP fields may contain sericea lespedeza seed and if fed on clean pastures, the practice could spread sericea lespedeza, said Ohlenbusch, who is with K-State Research and Extension.

According to state weed specialist Bill Scott, the Kansas Noxious Weed Law prohibits the sale and feeding of livestock feed containing the seed of noxious weeds, except when fed on the farm where it is grown or if it has been processed to destroy the viability of the seed. Based on the growth cycle of the plant, sericea lespedeza cut before the bud to bloom stage can be fed. It actually makes a good hay. The drying process allows the tannins in the plant to degrade, making it a high quality feed.

Since additional CRP acres were released on Sept. 9, areas with good growing conditions could have sericea lespedeza in the bud to bloom stage, however. Once flowering begins, the sericea lespedeza should be considered to have seed. Forage from those acres should not be hayed. However, if it has already been hayed, the hay should not be sold, given away, or moved off the farm where it was grown. It may be fed on the farm where it was produced.

In determining if CRP hay has sericea lespedeza seed, consider the history of the CRP fields and a visual inspection of the bales to determine if noxious weed seed is present, Ohlenbusch said. It is more difficult to inspect bales, and breaking open a bale should be done if a grower suspects seed may be present.

Like any other inspection, this is not a guarantee that there is no sericea seed present. People feeding the hay should watch the area where the hay was fed for all noxious weeds for several years.

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Story by:
Mary Lou Peter, Communications Specialist