While during any television broadcast of our local Milwaukee Brewers, the pitcher inevitably throws a neck-high fastball over the plate. Often, the batter unloads on such a pitch but misses by a foot

Heifers aren’t usually analyzed for feed efficiency on forage, but a study at Oklahoma State University (OSU) shows high forage efficiency early in life could foreshadow long-term production potenti

Farmers remember the sting of high fertilizer prices in 2022 and the bite that expense took out of their budgets. Fortunately, fertilizer prices have dropped drastically since that steep peak — but

Now that farmers have shifted from harvesting forage and grazing pastures to selling and feeding hay, forage analysis should be critical to marketing and purchasing decisions. But not all sellers and

During this gift-wrapping season, perhaps it’s apropos to discuss our use of bale-wrapping options, specifically those for round bales since plastic twine is used almost exclusively on other bale

Alfalfa’s perennial nature is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it provides high-quality forage cutting after cutting, and its establishment costs can be spread over several years of a produ

The ability of ruminant animals to turn forage fiber into milk and meat is the cornerstone process of livestock production, and it has a direct effect on the sustainability of human food systems. The

While writing this last weekend, the wind was whipping outside my window, and I was surprised it didn’t take some of the siding off the house. To make matters worse, the 30 mph winds — and

As the hay cycle transitions from making to selling, be reminded that most people are honest and well intentioned, but just one nefarious hay buyer can make for a really bad day.KXII, a television sta

If you’re like me, your kitchen has a cupboard designated for leftover containers, which may or may not all have the correct lids. Those containers get some extra use this time of year to prevent

As my wife and I prepare to move to a different house, I find myself carrying a lot of boxes. Many of the boxes are the uniform type that reams of paper are shipped in. Although all the boxes are fill

Bale grazing saves time and labor during the coldest months of the year. Moreover, putting bales out on a pasture in a grid pattern, and using temporary fence to strip graze cattle through the rows, f

Mother Nature dictates how we farm. The problem, of course, is that we can’t predict the fickle nuances of rain events or droughts. As such, we play the odds and hope to roll sevens instead of snake

Slow pasture growth due to drought conditions limits more than forage yield and grazing potential — it can reduce beta carotene levels in plants and raise the risk of vitamin A deficiencies in

Is it beneficial or is it harmful?Could it be both?It’s always been interesting that a few forage species garner a wide range of opinions. People often either love them or hate them for good or not

Generally speaking, wet spring conditions evolved into a dry summer and fall for a large part of the central U.S. While those early rains may have interfered with new alfalfa seedings and the first ha

Overgrazed pastures continue to haunt the livestock industry. In case you didn’t notice, that was a purposeful and obligatory Halloween reference, but one loaded with truth.Overgrazing occurs for

In any debate, there are often two camps that form on either side of the issue and support opposing views of the topic at hand. Then, there are the people who sit on the fence. Over time, that fence g

Photo: Shannon Beck at the University of Missouri Greenley Memorial Research Farm in Novelty, Mo. Shannon Beck at the University of Missouri Greenley Memorial Research Farm in Novelty, Mo.Grazing cove

Best corn silage feeding practices include removing only a day’s worth of material from storage to limit spoilage and ensure animals always receive fresh feed. But in order to maintain this feeding