Current annual cropping systems in northern Idaho remain susceptible to winter soil erosion. Production of perennial forage crops on erosion-prone lands of northern Idaho offers the potential for greater agricultural sustainability through reduced soil erosion and diversification of the agricultural economy. In spite of this potential, there is little understanding of the technical and economic constraints to increased forage production in northern Idaho. Our objectives are to i) determine the technical feasibility, costs, and product quality impacts of mechanized hay gathering from sloping fields; ii) evaluate and improve a prototype hillside haybale gathering machine for northern Idaho commercial applications; and iii) compare the profitability of perennial haycrop and traditional annual cropping programs on sloping lands of northern Idaho. Research will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of haybale gathering systems under a range of slope and soil conditions typically encountered in commercial-scale haymaking. Economic returns from haymaking systems will be compared with those from traditional annual cereal-edible legume rotation cropping as alternative enterprises for sloping lands of northern Idaho.
Anticipated Results:Results of this feasibility study will be presented within the region to document any opportunities for economic diversification and improved agricultural sustainability. Evaluation of the effectiveness of a prototype hillside haybale gathering machine will indicate the technical and economic feasibility of increased commercial-scale hay production on sloping lands of northern Idaho. Experience with this prototype machine may result in greater suitability of such machines to hillside applications.
