Pasture improvement would be simplified if we just had a silver bullet to increase forage growth, improve nutritive value, control pasture weeds and graze longer throughout the year.

Dr. Carl Hoveland, a pioneer in forage livestock research, said: “Beef cattle production in the southeastern U.S. is an inefficient and often unprofitable enterprise.

Failure to control the feed bill can erode ranch profits very quickly, even to the point of bankruptcy. The most economical feed is normally forage standing in the pasture.

The current commercial cow-calf business model is not profitable. Input costs have skyrocketed in the last 20 years, while feeder calf value has not kept pace. Many have given up hope on positive cash flow in the cow business.

What are ecosystem processes? They are the water cycle, the mineral cycle, the energy cycle and secondary plant succession. These four processes exist on all land.

Do you ever go to the pantry or the refrigerator and open it up wondering what you will fix for supper? Or maybe you’re at the store and cannot remember what the heck is in the pantry.