Defining forage quality for your operation sets the benchmark needed for ongoing ration improvement.

Shorter plants with smarter structure may give dairy producers a new tool for quality and resilience.

Corn products produced in 2025 will present challenges to livestock and poultry production. Although the mycotoxin risk varies by region and within region, it is highly recommended for producers to test for mycotoxins from how many mycotoxins are present to which mycotoxins are present. 

When we talk about producing protein, we often think of the percentage shown on the milk paycheque and the kilograms of protein delivered. In practice, however, improving milk protein starts much earlier and in a more concrete place: the rumen.

When silage analyses show atypical acid profiles or pH behavior, the assumption is often that fermentation failed. In most cases, fermentation occurred, but microbial activity was redirected by moisture, substrate availability or oxygen dynamics.

Planning ahead is the key to accurate forage inventories and minimizing costly waste. Universities offer checklists and calculators to guide dairy and cattle producers, while extension specialists and feed company representatives provide practical advice on storage, sampling and shrink calculations.

Late September in Wisconsin brought a corn silage harvest ride-along opportunity during the final day of the Jaguar 1000 Series demo tour. Alan Osterhaus, a territory product specialist, shared his expertise in hay tools and forage harvesters.