Hinz Farms’ nutrient application system has been a work in progress. Year by year, co-owners Mike and Ben Hinz have tried new tools to increase the efficiency of spreading manure to fertilize the next year’s corn crop. This year, they are using an automated system that varies the ground speed of application based on the weight of the manure as it is spread.

In 2005, Kevin Spafford founded Legacy by Design, a succession planning firm dedicated to serving the succession planning needs of farmers, ranchers and agribusiness owners. You may recognize Kevin as the architect of the Farm Journal Legacy Project.

The 2015 growing season presented some challenges to hay making, and now livestock owners need to develop a management plan of how to best use that feed source. Here in Ohio, we had a window of opportunity to make some dry hay the week of May 18 and then possibly again in some parts of the state the week of June 1.

In alfalfa genetics, agronomy meets nutrition. Forage quality can significantly affect the value of the plant for animal nutrition. Crop management, protection from pests and seed genetics are vital for producers who want to maximize both yield and quality.

Tana DennisCalf and Heifer SpecialistProvimi North AmericaMillersville, Pennsylvania