January 28, 2025
• Milk production in the U.S. continued to drop in December, down 0.5% year-over-year to 18.7 billion pounds, according to USDA’s Milk Production report. This was largely driven by a steep production decline (6.8%) in California where dairies there continue to battle avian influenza.
• On the other hand, some of the top milk producing states saw significant gains in December, including Texas (up 7.5%) and Idaho (up 3.5%). The national dairy herd ended the year with a head count of 9.351 million head.
• Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity for 1,000 or more head totaled 11.8 million head on January 1, which was down 1% year-over-year, according to USDA’s Cattle on Feed report. Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.63 million head (down 3%), and marketings of fed cattle totaled 1.74 million head (up 1%).
• Focus on Forage is a free webinar series from the University of Wisconsin-Madison that will cover a variety of forage topics over four weekly episodes. Click here to register or for more information.
• Feeding longer stem forage could help mitigate cold stress in cattle, according to University of Missouri Extension.
January 21, 2025
• The Midwest Forage Association Symposium will be February 17 to 19 in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. Click here to register or for more information.
• Salt-tolerant alfalfa varieties may be a solution for more sustainable irrigation practices.
• See how energy requirements for beef cows go up as temperatures go down.
• Soaking hay can curb dehydration and colic in horses, especially in the winter.
• The solar grazing trend continues to grow with sheep.
January 14, 2025
• In addition to hay production data, USDA released corn yield and production estimates last week, reducing average yields to 179.3 bushels per acre, which was down 3.8 bushels per acre from its most recent projection. This is still the highest corn yield on record; however, the overall crop was pegged lower than record years due to fewer corn-growing acres.
• USDA also cut average soybeans yield and production estimates, slashing its ending stocks projection by 90 million bushels to 380 million bushels. Corn and soybean futures prices spiked after the report was released, but economist expect prices to remain low.
• Do you still have cornstalks to graze?
• Here’s some advice for those who experienced drought last fall.
• Consider seeding warm-season annuals, like crabgrass, to make up for slow forage growth during this year’s summer slump.
January 7, 2025
• Rock River Laboratory Inc., expanded to a new location in Sioux Falls, S.D., taking over AgLab Forages. The new location is now accepting forage samples for analysis. Find more information here.
• The Midwest Forage Association’s Tour de Forage will begin January 21 through 23 at three locations throughout Minnesota. Pre-register here or register on-site.
• ‘Tis the season for frost seeding.
• Here are some January forage tips from the University of Kentucky.
• More tips from our neighbors to the north about managing cattle in cold weather.
