Meet the New U of M Forage Agronomist & Headland Highlights, Forage Edition
Good day, and welcome to the University of Minnesota Extension and CFANS podcast, Minnesota CropCast. I'm Dave Nicolai, University of Minnesota Extension crops educator, along with my co host Doctor. Seth Nave, University of Minnesota Extension soybean specialist. And we're back in the studio today. We have a special guest today, one of our newest faculty members here at the University of Minnesota Department of Agronomy, Beatrice Busutti.
Dave:And Beatrice is our brand new, in this point in time, Extension Forage Agronomist, Extension Sate Specialist has an appointment with Research and also Extension. And we've had a chance to visit with Beatrice. Well for quite some time we were on a committee myself as along with Doctor. Seth Nave here who is my cohost, University of Minnesota soybean specialist. But I think we wanna start off with talking with Beatrice and then we're gonna pull a report in from the field.
Dave:One of my coworkers, Troy Sulzer, Troy operates out of the Duluth office but he covers a lot of Central Minnesota and Northern Minnesota in terms of forage management, alfalfa, etcetera. But I think we're gonna start off with since Beatrice you just started here, believe it was April 13. So you wanna give us a little bit of background about yourself, where you grew up, etcetera, school, And I think you've done some other things here at postdoc before coming here to the University of Minnesota. So give us a little bit of a timeline.
Beatrice:Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Seth. Thank you, Nikolay, for the introduction and as well for inviting me to the this podcast. So my name is Beatriz Bizzuti.
Beatrice:I'm originally from Brazil, and I grew up on a small family farm where my parents and my brother still live nowadays. So as a small farmers, they try have been trying many different activities and but for for the last ten in the last ten years, they have been producing and selling corn silage, and they also have a chicken barn. So it's a big one. It's a chicken bar for third thousand chickens and is a nice system in cooperation with a company that provide all the sources and they provide the barn and the work. So with that, this hands on experience at the farm took me to pursue a bachelor degree in agronomy.
Beatrice:And after that, I never stopped to study anymore, so I pursued on a master in animal science and a PhD in forage systems. So during my PhD, I had two amazing opportunities. One was in Argentina where I had my first contact with alfalfa. So my region in Brazil, we are on a really tropical region, and we didn't we don't grow alfalfa, only on a small portion for a really specific market. And in Argentina, I was I went to North Forage Argentina and where they they really grow alfalfa.
Beatrice:So after that experience, I also came to University of Florida and to do a part of my PhD program working on grass legume systems. So another different system that I I was I was used to work in in Brazil. So after I finished my PhD, I got a position as a research associate. We call it as a postdoc, where I I started to work more intensively on alfalfa systems. So more specifically, we are trying to understand how the management practice that we are applying in the field in in on that case, on that stud, the harvester related traffic and how that is impacting on forage accumulation and persistence and any other factors as soil compaction and what is causing that damage.
Beatrice:Is plant that effect? Is plant damage or soil compaction or or both? So this is our main goal to understand better on on alfalfa systems.
Seth:Well, that's a really cool study. I think that I think you've you're gonna hit the ground running here in Minnesota because I think there's a lot of producers that are really interested in the results from your your trial. I think it's very, very in in innovative and ingenious a very nice study. I think that'll be really good for you as you start your job here.
Dave:So tell us a little bit about your most recent experience over here at the University of Wisconsin, how long you were there, and and more specifically, of the things that you had been working with over in Wisconsin because it is next door to Minnesota after all.
Beatrice:Yeah. So this is the what make me more excited about the position that I am right now is that most of the things that I have learning for the last two years that I I I have been in Wisconsin is applicable to this region. So we have a lot to exchange between on Wisconsin and Minnesota, and that's it's a really exciting thing. So I have been on in Wisconsin since 2024. And, yeah, beside I have been focused on harvest related traffic management on alfalfa systems.
Beatrice:We also and looking more to the plant side, we also did some research on how that is affecting nutrient cycling and biologic biological nitrogen fixation. So is that traffic can be affecting also in the in along the across the time, nitrogen credits for the following cultures, crops, how that can can can be can being affecting the whole system and not on on the harvest point.
Seth:Awesome. So what what have they told you your job is going to be? What do you think you're going to be doing here? Since we we can't ask you about what you've been doing because you've only been here two weeks, and I know you've probably mostly been just getting acquainted with all the university systems. So what what do you see in your your role here, and what what are you most excited to do in your new job here at the University of Minnesota?
Beatrice:So, of course, I came with a lot of ideas, but I think it's really important at this beginning, this start, to understand what are the challenges that the systems here are facing. So this is one of my main objectives, under understand more how the systems here work, what are are are the alfalfa challenges this really the same as Wisconsin or they are similar and they also have their own own specific challenges? So another thing I want to to understand better how to how my experience as a my tropical experience can add to this temperate climate. So we have a lot of annual warm season annuals that can be introduced. And so, yeah, I I think this beginning, I want to explore and understand the challenges first, and then it started to shape my my research and extension program.
Seth:So you're excited to meet some farmers?
Beatrice:Yes. For sure.
Seth:Okay. Good. Well, we're gonna have to get you out on the circuit, and I'm sure that there's some upcoming meetings where you'll be able to be introduced and you can have some some discussions with farmers. But I'm sure there's a lot of farmers out there and some even listening to this that might be excited to have a new forage specialist here on campus. And so I think they should be prepared to come with their questions and be ready to talk with Beatrice about their challenges that they're seeing and some of the questions that they're having about alfalfa and other forage systems.
Dave:So some of the people might be familiar with Craig Schaefer who is a longtime University of Minnesota agronomist in foragers and alfalfa. Every time we change positions a little bit Beatrice is always a tweak in terms of the position description. But the bottom line is you're in that slot where Craig was working on the research and as well as the extension side. So it's similar to some extent but obviously modified as time goes along with that. That little context going from backwards and forwards and so I know you had a chance to visit with Craig and it's a good thing he's still available around and can ask for counsel and advice and that's really helpful especially when you're starting in a new position like this.
Seth:Craig Craig can be a good mentor. I think you should feel free to give him a call. He's and he has opinions.
Dave:And certainly I know that Beatrice we've talked about and I've even talked to our next guest Troy about an opportunity for you to visit with different areas of the state, different producers, different situations with that. So I think we can certainly accommodate schedules with that. And then Seth and I know in the department you've been on several committees to help new faculty and so forth. So what are some expectations and things that the university does in terms of that or that you've been involved with?
Seth:Well, have good mentoring systems here within the Department of Agronomy. So Beatrice will be set up with some faculty that will help her kind of get up and going. A lot of this revolves around, you know, most new faculty are all concerned with, you know, tenure and that process. This is always kind of top of mind for faculty. But these mentoring committees also just help new faculty navigate all the nuances of the bureaucracy and help them just to make sure that they're kind of on the timeline.
Seth:You know, this ten year is kind of a tough process because we ask faculty to take the first four, five, six years that they're here and demonstrate that they've used those really efficiently and that they have a good trajectory for the next thirty five years. So basically, we want to know within the first five years if you're going to be good for the next thirty beyond that. So that's really the challenge for both the candidate or the the new faculty and and the the old faculty like myself when they were evaluating folks. So Beatrice will will have a lot of help around here. And then she also it's it's it's good in extension, as you know, Dave, that we've got both our, you know, departmental, both in Extension and in the college.
Seth:And then we have, you know, our larger Extension family that we work with. And so we've got a couple different phases of our jobs, and Beatrice is the same way. She'll have a research portfolio and a lab and employees and postdocs and graduate students, and then she'll have an extension portion of her appointment too. So how she weaves those together will be up to her, but I'm sure she's going do a great job.
Dave:So Beatrice, do you have anything else that you'd like to add about your background, other interests that you might have here? This is your first time living in Minnesota, I take it. Not too dissimilar because you were probably in the Madison area I'm guessing prior to this. So you know what the Minnesota winters are gonna entail obviously. With that, so anything else that you'd like to mention about yourself or your activities or interests?
Beatrice:Well, I think I still have a lot to learn for The Middle East, but I think I also have a lot to add, especially for my different experience. And one thing that I would like to add is that the the animal science side, sometimes we forgot about the importance that we grow forage to feed animals. So it's important to think about the animal science as well. So this is one thing that I I really want to to that walk together with my forage program. So, understand also how, that, forage systems are aligned aligned with the the animal animal needs that we are addressing that feed for.
Seth:It's it's a bigger system. It's you know, us corn and soybean agronomists have it pretty easy when we when we deal with these very simplistic crops and cyst and rotations, and things get a lot more complicated when we when we deal with with animals included with it. But I'm I'm with you. I talk a lot about soybean quality and composition and growing a soybean crop for the animal at the end. So although those don't tend to be the same person, those commodities get moved around a little bit, it's still some of the same question.
Seth:We have to think about the whole system when we're looking at crops and the animals.
Dave:So one of the things we wanted to do this morning is you know talking a little bit about the whole system is bring in our special guest Troy Sulzer. So Troy if you're out there yet and you can unmute yourself, you can tell us a little bit about where you're located in the state of Minnesota. You've been involved in the hiring process and I know the committee and opportunity to visit with candidates and so forth when Beatrice went through that this past fall and winter. But I really wanted to have you in and talk about what's going on in your neck of the woods and you know everybody wants to know is the ice off the lake, is the snow there, do you see anything greening up, just what is going on in Central And Northern Minnesota right now in forages and in alfalfa that ourselves and Beatrice should watch out for?
Speaker 4:Well, thanks, Dave and Seth. I really appreciate the opportunity. But most importantly, Beatrice, I'm really excited to have you on board. This has been something that, we really, have been interested in having this position filled and, beginning to see opportunities to, connect with you. And although, they gave you, some scary thoughts earlier, we'll help you through that process.
Speaker 4:I promise you. Those two guys are pretty, challenging to deal with sometimes. And so therefore, I'm very excited to, have you on board, and, we'll look forward to, connecting and getting you in touch with, folks out in the countryside, so to speak.
Dave:I should I should
Speaker 4:So Dave asked me to
Dave:I should mention
Speaker 4:Go ahead, Dave.
Dave:Yeah. Mention that Troy is in St. Louis County and also has Carlton County. So go ahead. I'm sorry about that.
Speaker 4:Yeah. Yeah. David asked me I am located up in Northern Minnesota up in St. Louis County. And at this point in time, things are starting to green up.
Speaker 4:But I also have the opportunity to connect with people all over the state, and I've done some check ins in Southeast and Southwest as well as in Central. And as we look at how things are beginning to green up, I have discussed with many folks around the state that, in essence, some of the alfalfa fields look fantastic. There's no problems. The stands came through, with shining colors. In other parts of the state, and it really was mostly Central and West Central where we are seeing some damage.
Speaker 4:And, ultimately, the key is getting out there, digging some roots, and cutting those roots, and seeing what the color is on those roots to see if there's been winter damage. Ultimately, it comes down to things like ice sheeting, how, those fields was there a lot of moisture in the soil in fall? All of those things, impact how, those plants will overwinter and how much freeze thaw action is going on. If we could just have a normal winter, right, and have snow across the state, it would be that insulated blanket that we need to get them to overwinter properly.
Seth:So I'm, you know, I'm a soybean guy. So walk me through this. I'm assuming I'm a dairy farmer in Central Minnesota, and I'm a little bit concerned about, my alfalfa stand. What what do you think I what should I be doing on April 23 here? How concerned should I be, and what do I need to do immediately and then and then longer term?
Speaker 4:Well, it is good practice to get out there with a shovel. Take that shovel out into your, into your alfalfa fields and, start lifting some crowns. A good assessment is going out and lifting anywhere from eight to 15 crowns at different elevations within that field. Don't forget the low and don't forget the high. Both of those areas are at risk specifically.
Speaker 4:And as you lift those crowns, take a knife and, in essence, split that crown in half to make sure that the color is good. And you can actually begin to see the damage in that crown, some browning of that tissue as an indicator of how how that plant may have been impacted. Additionally, in your region, if you were in Central Minnesota, you should be starting to see actual growth coming out of that crown. And you want to evaluate how many stems are actually beginning to grow in that crown. And a good number is somewhere between ten and fifteen depending on the density of that stand.
Speaker 4:And with some research, we have found that you need somewhere in the neighborhood of about 60 to 70 stems per square foot. And that can be from anywhere from five to twelve twelve crowns in that square foot depending on the age of that stand. Smaller crowns will generally produce fewer stems and so you need more plants to come up with that, number of stems.
Seth:So farmers aren't probably gonna make their final decisions today, but if they are concerned, what's their what is their next step? Are they gonna start looking for seed? And then are they gonna try to overseed or rip up this thing? Or what do you think their options are gonna be? And maybe we're getting a little bit ahead of ourselves, but, I wanna try to learn a little bit about this crop as well.
Speaker 4:So, Seth, in relationship to that, there are a couple different approaches. Know, mature alfalfa stands, if you have, die off of those crowns, we can't go back in with alfalfa. We have to, actually plant a different crop because as those crowns decompose, they actually produce an auto toxicity that will, in essence, kill off the small seedlings. So if you were to plant alfalfa back in, you wouldn't establish a decent stand because of that auto toxicity. So we may be thinking about planting a cool season crop of oats.
Speaker 4:Some folks actually go right into that alfalfa stand and drill that oats or triticale or even annual rye grass in there to get more plants established. So those plants will take off and, produce a high quality forage, in combination with the alfalfa plants that continue to grow if you need that forage, early in the year. Another option is to pull, pull a single crop of alfalfa off and then perhaps go in with a late season planting of corn, that would be valuable for corn silage taking advantage of that nitrogen that the roots of the alfalfa will in essence decompose, break down, and provide for that crop as well.
Dave:So Troy, I wanna dive back into this assessment. You mentioned quite a bit earlier about the color once you split that crown. What's a good color that you like to see and what's a bad color so to speak? I mean, in in terms of just just your sense of a of a visualization here of those split crowns.
Speaker 4:Of course, Dave, you would have to go to color based on the fact that I'm a color blind guy. Yeah. Yeah. And so cream color or a pink color is what what is suggested, but that brown or decomposing color would be what you would be concerned about. And, you know, take the time to do that.
Speaker 4:It is a very easy, inexpensive approach to assessing that. And having the ability to make a plan is really key to success as far as you as a as a farmer in this particular case.
Dave:Well, you know, it started to warm up quite a bit here in Southern Minnesota and other areas this last week. Do you think we are far enough along at this point in time if you go out whether you're in Central Or Northern Minnesota to make those assessments or do we need to wait a little bit longer? In other words, are we seeing everything that the potential out of those plants so we don't want to be making our assessment too soon before they've had an opportunity to quote green up? Is there some parameters there that you like to have in terms of that? Obviously, wanna wait too long, but where's that sweet spot in terms of timing?
Speaker 4:Your point is very well taken, Dave, in relationship to this. We haven't really gotten a good rain, warm rain yet this spring. And that really helps those plants, those perennial plants to get up and going. And so I wouldn't be making rash decisions as of yet. Taking the time to let us accumulate some heat and then, get that moisture in there.
Speaker 4:Many parts of the state have been fairly dry as of this spring. Other parts, not so much, but many parts of the state have been dry. In Northern Minnesota, we are seeing some impact on our red clover specifically already. Just no green up yet at all, in the northernmost tier up by the Canadian border where there was no snow early and we got very, very deep frost penetration. And so we we are anticipating that we might be going in with some of these short term crops to provide some feed in that manner.
Dave:So what you're saying is be patient maybe here. Do we get to early May in some of these areas to before you make the final decision, pull the trigger, certainly taking a stand out until you quote have given it a chance. That that's what I hear you saying.
Speaker 4:Yeah. And the other thing about that is the university websites have lots of resources available in regards to assessing what sort of processes you might implement with things like no till to go into those those alfalfa stands and and planting corn perhaps into that stand. All of those are really good options, and and we're we're very pleased to to provide any other expertise that might be needed as well.
Dave:Well, that's certainly and I know what Beatrice University Wisconsin has been a forerunner in this whole situation of providing tools, information in terms of that pictures of websites, you name it, in terms of assessment. You've got some really good historical figures and people in University of Wisconsin that have been really involved with that. So I know and I hope that you are able to obviously access not just that in many University of Minnesota but using that your Wisconsin contacts that will certainly benefit over here as well.
Beatrice:Yes, for sure. And we have a lot of extension tools already ready for access. And as Troy mentioned, University of Minnesota has a lot of extension of materials on websites and as well at University of Wisconsin. And I was just emphasizing one thing, about what Troy said. It's it's a really simple it's count spring scouting alfalfa is really simple and will take only, some maybe some hours, but can make really make a difference and help the producers to make decision.
Beatrice:So take that time out of the field in this early spring to understand how your stand is going.
Dave:All right. Well, great. Well we're closing in on the end of our time Troy and Beatrice. We want to thank both of you. This is very preliminary.
Dave:I can see that we'll have an opportunity to visit again you know because especially a crop like alfalfa, you know multi harvest crop and throughout the year, know a lot of decisions have to be made in quality, feed value, persistence, you name it. We will certainly have you back on as we go through things here and talk about that and get a view from the field as well Troy. So appreciate and thank you again Troy Salzer, Extension, local Extension educator located up in the St. Louis County area. Also has roots in the Carleton County area as well and gets around a lot and sees a lot.
Dave:So thank you Troy for coming in and thank you Breefis for taking the time in to dive in so to speak. Sick your toe in the water here with University of Minnesota and Extension and Plot Roll program. Any last words Seth? Nope. Alright.
Dave:Well, very good. Well, thanks again for both of you and we'll be talking to you in the future. So appreciate this. It's been another edition of University of Minnesota podcast Minnesota CropCast. Thanks for listening.
