The importance of supplementing low-quality forages or winter pastures with protein is backed by significant research data and farmer experience. However, protein supplements are often exp
It’s been discussed most of the year and now the time has arrived. The first ever initiative to secure funding for alfalfa research through a checkoff program will begin on January 1
The primary negative impact of seeding grasses with alfalfa is not lower forage quality, but rather variable forage quality, according to Cornell University forage researchers
Many producers plant annual forages during the summer for winter use. However, a decision has to be made on whether to bale the forage or graze it during winter.“Producers interested in grazing the
Winter feeding baled hay is a necessary evil once pastures go dormant. Strategies to feed baled hay are as numerous as the number of forage species being fed. One such alternative is referred to as ba
Winter is the ideal time to prepare for the upcoming grazing season.Performing key activities in the off-season, like summarizing production and grazing records, analyzing last year’s manageme
Mycotoxins are toxic metabolic by-products of fungi. They have haunted the livestock industry for many years.It’s nearly impossible to predict or know for sure that mycotoxin problems exist wi
With pastures entering dormancy and cornstalk grazing underway, it will soon be time to start delivering supplemental feed to the herd. Often, hay is supplied in the form of large round bal
Though corn draws most of the attention in the annual crop silage world, there’s expanding interest in forage sorghum as water resources become scarcer in some U.S. regions.On the Texas High Plains
Figuring out how much fertilizer to use for forage grasses can be challenging. Applying more fertilizer than what is needed wastes money and causes excess runoff.“Fertilizer costs in forage producti
Ryegrass and winter cereal grains are common “go to” forages in the South for overwintering beef herds and keeping dairy cows productive. These same forage options are used in other areas of
When calculating winter-feed needs for cattle, correctly estimating hay or standing forage intake is essential. Forage quality determines the amount of forage consumed
Serving as the foundation for all agricultural endeavors, soil requires our management and protection to maintain functioning ecological systems.“As part of managing for a healthy soil, cover crops
If you’ve got stockpiled pasture forage or a significant amount of growth in a hayfield, swath grazing may be an option worth considering.Accumulated forage is mowed into a swath and left for
Some areas around the U.S. have already experienced several light frosts, raising questions about subsequent forage use. Inquiries about the use of warm-season grasses in the sorghum family
How cows digest forage determines the extent to which they will make milk. As most forage feeders know, forage quality varies from cutting-to-cutting and year-to-year, presenting challenges that
Weather prognosticators at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center expect La Niña to play a role in this winter’s weather. They look for
Here’s a short, fun little video provided by the Oklahoma Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of a camera-equipped cow as it roams through a smorgasbord of forage crops
A total of 373 samples from 24 different states and provinces comprised the field of entries for this year’s World Forage Analysis Superbowl. The highest placing samples were on display at Wor
