Hay & Forage Grower is pleased to announce that Amber Friedrichsen has joined its staff as an associate editor

Much of the hay made in the Fescue Belt provides less than the needed quality for many livestock species and classes

From the road, most pastures look pretty good during this time of year

As grass seedheads develop this spring, take time to check for ergot development

Even without scientific scrutiny, our eyes tell us that a perennial forage crop like alfalfa should benefit the soil

Chopping small grains in the spring is one way to bolster silage supplies for the rest of the year, but doing so can invoke a lot of questions and options

As is the case with harvest timing, cutting height makes a difference in terms of yield and persistence. But there are options and distinct differences between alfalfa and grasses

We’ve already heard some reports of frost- and freeze-damaged alfalfa this spring. More will likely come. Although regional, frost or freeze-induced injury to alfalfa seems to occur every year.Frost

Forage stands can tell a story about previous pasture management. Although the story may start at the beginning of the growing season, strategic grazing and timely harvests throughout the summer can d

Don’t be fooled by the white flowers scattered across pastures and sprinkled along fence lines — they could be poison hemlock. This biennial weed grows quickly in the spring and can pack a

When Saudi-owned Fondomonte Arizona LLC began alfalfa production operations in western Arizona about eight years ago, there was a lot of pushback from both farmers and other nonfarm entities. Th

Winter annual small grain harvest sorts itself as being different than any other forage crop harvest. With cutting time typically based on maturity, winter annual crops such as rye, triticale, a

Warmer weather is drawing insects that overwinter out of dormancy, and alfalfa weevils are no exception. Start scouting these insects now to limit the damage they can do to plant leaves before f

Cereal rye, winter triticale, and winter wheat make a good menu for stocker calves and cows on spring pastures. These three species of small cereal grains bring similar forage quality to the tab

A large majority of haymakers still utilize a forage conditioner on their mowers. These units are mostly out of sight, but they shouldn’t be out of mind.Back in my university extension days, we star

Let’s be clear: Alfalfa doesn’t match perennial pasture when it comes to soil carbon storage, but it’s a whole lot better than annual row crops such as corn and soybeans.As the dairy

Forages that were subject to drought conditions last year are like athletes returning from the injured list. Even though these plants are starting to grow and turn green, they require careful ma

In areas where temperatures are hovering around the freezing point, alfalfa heaving may become a prominent issue. This uprooting of plants as a result of repeated freezing and thawing cycles may be an

Although the days of growing oats for horses have morphed into grandfather tales on most farms, the cereal grain remains a valuable and often-used species in the forage toolbox. Whenever fast forage t

Concerns and documented cases of wheat pasture bloat are starting to swell as fields of wheat and small grains green up in the Southern Plains. This disease, also known as frothy bloat, causes excessi