For any operation that always seems to have too many irons in the fire, buying hay rather than making it might just sound appealing. Bryon Kirwan, Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Although harvest is typically an end point, some producers may choose to head right back to the field with the grain drill in an effort to better meet fall and winter livestock forage needs. When plan

With many auction purchases, there is an assumed risk that you might not entirely know what you’re getting. This certainly is true for buying hay. Sure, you can walk around the truck or wagon and

Unfortunately, most of the country is not blessed with a climate that allows one specific grass to thrive year-round. Adaptive as always, producers are able to get around this by growing both warm- an

Many farmers and ranchers know a thistle when they see one, but identifying the exact species is also an important step toward successful control. While the perennial Canada thistle will overtake a pa

Although many regions have seen their fair share of rain and pasture growth this season, it is never too early to start planning ahead to combat the summer slump.If your operation is in the northern o

Most producers think in terms of their bottom line. While many shy away at the thought of wasteful application rates, the true waste involved for some practices is sometimes overlooked. Such is often

Spring showers are great until they overstay their welcome. With excessive flooding in some areas and daily showers in others, some producers find themselves struggling to get their first cut in

With summer rapidly approaching, it is important to give adequate thought to proper postbaling storage techniques. Hay storage losses can destroy up to 40 percent of the finished product

It’s no secret that late summer droughts bring challenges for maintaining pasture productivity and quality. There is hope, however, in the form of warm-season grasses that can more easily withstand

It matters not where animals are grazed or, in most cases, what they’re grazing — if left on the same slab of ground for too long, severe consequences will ensue. To be sure, overgrazing is

Hay & Forage Grower is pleased to welcome Lauren Peterson as its summer editorial intern for 2017. Peterson, who will enter her senior year at Kansas State University in the fall, brings with her

That text message from a prospective hay buyer may not be what you were anticipating.Last week, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) issued a news release warning about a scam being run against i

Stocks of all hay stored in the United States totaled 24.4 million tons, down from 25.1 million tons in May 2016, according to last week’s USDA Crop Production report. This is the first year-over-ye

Using spring-planted oats for pasture has great potential, but if not grazed correctly, the results may be disappointing.In recent years, oat pastures have become more popular. According to Bruce Ande

Killing an alfalfa stand during the fall is generally easier and yields better results; however, partial winterkill or a change in cropping plans sometimes necessitate the need for a spring farewell t

Lack of snow cover and drastic changes in temperature in parts of the country have turned alfalfa stands from green to brown.In South Dakota, damage has occurred in areas of fields where ice sheets fo

Photo: OMAFRAStockpiling cool- or warm-season grasses is a time-tested method to fill forage gaps in the summer or extend the grazing season into the winter.“Planting corn for stockpiled winter

It can be a challenge to establish native grasses in cultivated pastures, but they offer several benefits, including alternative summer forage, buffer strips to protect streams, and improved wildlife

It’s often the case that when cattle prices fall, producers look for cost-cutting measures. If you’ve got bermudagrass, cast your eyes somewhere other than nitrogen (N) fertilizer.That is the