Are you tired of the weather extremes that seem more common with each passing year? Your forage crops could use a break, too.Cool, cloudy weather patterns, such as those we experienced last week acros
Working as an extension agent or crop consultant, you eventually get the question, “When it is too late to plant (fill in the blank) in the spring?”Every state extension service has their “recom
Widespread frost and freeze events have occurred across a broad swath of the middle and upper U.S. in the past week. Some fields had already accumulated significant growth.Frost damage to alfalfa will
Photo: University of MinnesotaWhat horse owners refer to as a pasture often ranges from a primary nutrient-supplying source of forage to nothing more than an exercise lot with a scarcity of grazeable
This is an important time of year for almost all pasture managers. If mistakes are made, they come back to haunt us for the rest of the growing season and perhaps beyond that.Rangelands in the Great P
Looking into your crystal ball to predict future forage grassland productivity is difficult at best. Yet, such a prediction is needed to adequately stock pastures and know when the right time is to mo
Although using a companion crop to establish alfalfa is not as widespread as it used to be, it’s still a common practice in many regions of the U.S. Generally, a small grain such as oats is used
Every year across the country, hay fires cost farmers thousands of dollars in damages to buildings, hay, and equipment. With the right precautions, the risk of loss can be reduced. There are seve
During these days when bad news seems to strike like a tsunami — day after day, wave after wave — there is a bit of positive economic news for crop producers. It comes in the form of lower
As the weather gets warmer and pasture grasses begin to get green, horse owners become eager to start grazing. However, starting too soon can be damaging to the health of your horses and your pastures
Uncovered hay that is stored outside will lose both dry matter and nutrients. How much do these losses amount to? Research conducted by the University of Georgia (UGA) shows that up to 60 pe
The current COVID-19 situation has all but put a halt to every planned in-person group activity, including educational events. As such, innovative distance learning techniques have been used as
As spring approaches with warmer temperatures and grass growth, the risk for grass tetany in cattle accelerates. Grass tetany is a metabolic disorder that occurs when blood magnesium concentrations ar
Hay harvesting is around the corner and with that comes the question of what is the most cost effective and efficient storage option. Baleage involves additional costs, but producers across the countr
Controlling pasture growth is an ongoing struggle in many pasture systems. Yet, it is often a major determinant of livestock performance. The balancing act of offering enough forage quantity to p
Net wrap is widely used as a hay binding material, but it does come with its disadvantages. Unwrapping a bale is time consuming and sometimes frustrating. Labor is a valuable resource so producers are
Botulism is a deadly disease with a direct relationship to certain types of compromised forage fermentation. Historically, it has not been a common occurrence, but with a higher volume of baleage bein
