05/17/05 Quick test for nitrate levels in feed pt2

University of Idaho's Ron Thaemert can perform a four minute test on feed that will show if there are high nitrate levels, which can be fatal to animals. Too many nitrates can remove the oxygen in the blood of cattle and sheep. He says forage grown under stress, be it too much rain or drought, freeze or record heat, can have high nitrate levels. THAEMERT "The plant stores those nitrates in the lower portion of the stem anywhere from ground level to six, eight inches up the stem. It stores those nitrates. We cut that crop off and those high nitrates are stored down in the those bottom portions of that stem." Can that field be salvaged so the feed is safe for animals? THAEMERT "In the insuling process if you stir that and let it set out open to the air for 24 hours a large percentage of those nitrates will dissipate after it's gone through the insuling process. Dried hay, dried alfalfa, dried oats, in a bail does not leave. Its stays stored right there in the stem." Thaemert is trying to train other county agents so they can be certified to take the nitrate quick test which simply gives a color change answer within four minutes. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott