In states where livestock graze on tall fescue, grass might not be the only thing on the menu. These cattle also consume fungal endophytes that live between plant cell walls, and sometimes they can be

Corn is frequently sold “on the hoof” to be chopped for silage rather than harvested for grain. This year, there will be a number of drought-stressed acres sold off for chopping

Planting clover in mixed grazing systems has many benefits, such as adding nutritional value to livestock diets, reducing the effects of toxic endophytes in fescue, and fixing nitrogen in the soil

The dog days of summer have a connotation of laziness and lethargy. This is not the case, though, when it comes to bacteria production

Hearing the buzz of flies is annoying to people, and cattle think so, too. But these insects can be more than just a nuisance

No matter how silage is stored, silage leachate can be a concern. It’s high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), low pH, and high reducing potential can threaten the environment

This year, many parts of the country have been stuck at one end of the moisture spectrum or the other. Some areas are parched while others are soggy, and neither condition has been ideal for grazing

When producers harvest alfalfa, they are removing more from the field than just their crop. The cut forage also contains nutrients that a short time earlier were in the soil

As July rounds the home turn for the stretch run, forage plants begin to shift into a different gear. Producers might want to consider doing the same, especially those looking to bolster stored

There’s something about the feeling of a freshly made bed. Livestock can attest to this, too, but their version looks more like a new layer of straw. Even though straw is supposed to keep animals

The Willamette Valley in Oregon is the epicenter for grass seed production

Repairing a pasture is comparable to repairing a home, minus the hammer and nails. There is a spectrum of work that can be done, ranging from rejuvenation to renovation

When forage production is at a standstill because of the summer heat or winter cold, large round bales can be utilized as feed

Large bags or bunkers are required to put silage into storage, but something much smaller is needed to help maintain quality when the feed is taken out. Researchers at the University of Florida a

It’s no secret that alfalfa is a valuable forage. The crop is notorious for its nutritional quality, offering high levels of crude protein and an array of vitamins to many species of animals. Alfalf

Hay is for horses . . . but what kind of hay? While it is a fact that these animals require high-quality forage, there is some discrepancy between what horse owners believe to be true and what is actu

Hot, dry weather conditions are taking a toll on crop fields in the Upper Midwest – not to mention many other parts of the country. In these heat-stricken regions, producers are facing two challenge

With the first day of summer in the rearview mirror, temperatures are only expected to accelerate. Forage production, on the other hand, will likely slow down. This is when summer annuals can take the

Large square balers have come a long way over the past 40 years of their existence. Improvements like larger sizes, better performance on wet hay, and weight and moisture sensors have added prec

Summer weather can ruin our favorite foods – take a melted ice cream cone for instance. Hot, humid air can also ravage the quality of livestock feed, but these consequences can be much more serious