TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF MECHANIZED GATHERING OF BALED HAY FROM SLOPING LANDS OF NORTHERN IDAHO

CURRENT ANNUAL CROPPING SYSTEMS IN NORTHERN IDAHO REMAIN SUSCEPTIBLE TO WINTER OIL EROSION. PRODUCTION OF PERENNIA FORAGE CROPS IN EROSION-PRONE LAND OF NORTHERN IDAHO OFFERS THE POTENTIAL FOR GREATER AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH REDUCED SOIL EROSIN 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 PROFITABIITY F 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 CEREAL8EDIBLE LEGUME ROTATION CROPPING AS ALTERNATIVE ENTERPRISES FOR SLOPING LANDS OF NORTHERN IDAHO.