If spring green up isn’t sign enough, an echo ringing off the wall of an empty bunker silo should indicate another forage harvest season is fast approaching

Nitrogen fertilization may be furthest thing from a one-size-fits-all situation. The nutrient required for plant growth and protein synthesis is a critical factor of forage production, but its m

Although forage quality can be objectively defined by the results of a hay test, it sometimes takes on a more subjective connotation influenced by farmer standards for hay appearance, texture, or even

Brown midrib (BMR) corn has been a staple feed on many dairy farms since the mid-1990s. These hybrids generally have a lower lignin content and higher fiber digestibility. Nutritional studies have hel

Raising replacement heifers can be costly for a dairy farm, with feed costs for these animals typically comprising the biggest chunk of that expense. One solution is to let heifers harvest forage them

“Our” word is being horribly abused, and it’s about time that someone brings it to light.After last week, I decided it was time to say something. Please, stay with me, there is a dir

It doesn’t matter what variety of alfalfa you plant. It doesn’t matter how much your seeder cost. It doesn’t matter if you nail the correct planting depth. It doesn’t matter if

Graziers have always been challenged by the spring flush of forage, but most wouldn’t give it up unless there was an assurance of consistent growth throughout the summer, which never happens.The

An agronomist, a beef farmer, and a dairy farmer walk into a bar . . . or in this case, the breakout session at the Midwest Forage Association Symposium. What ensued during the panel discussion last m

With a week of warmer-than-average temperatures displayed on my weather app following a sub-zero cold snap, I’m a little concerned about alfalfa injury and winterkill. This isn’t the first

Unless you’re putting your round bales on a scale, you’re probably guessing bale weight all wrong. The key word here is “guessing,” which spells trouble in terms of feed expenses

Alfalfa seedbeds are typically prepared with tillage and a cultipacker to reduce residue and create a smooth soil surface, but this can leave fields more susceptible to erosion. One alternative is to

With the front half of February in the rearview mirror, pastures will soon start greening up from south to north. Regardless of where you hang your hat, spring-calving cows on lush pastures demand clo

IN YET another innovation for the small square bale commercial hay producer, AGCO Corporation recently announced the release of the Hesston by Massey Ferguson SB.1436DB baler. The baler produces two r

The use of native warm-season grasses such as the bluestems, indiangrass, and switchgrass in pasture systems is on the rise. Establishment of these grasses is often challenging, and failures are often

As the Super Bowl approaches, offensive and defensive coordinators will pour over film in an effort to either score points or prevent points, respectively. Truth be told, farmers should be doing the s

Despite already being one month into the new year, some farmers are still staring down a long road of winter hay feeding. This may not be as daunting where opportunities exist to graze winter pastures

Torrential rains, drought, flooding, and even hurricanes were all felt in pastures and hayfields across the country last year. Although no amount of money can atone for the long-lasting effects of the

One of the great advantages of a pasture-based feeding system is that tillage is rarely or never required. That said, even the best of pastures occasionally need freshened up with an influx of legumes

Controlling feed costs is often the shortest and most meaningful road to beef cow profitability. This often entails an extension of the grazing season to limit supplemental feeds and their associated