Since its early origins in south-central Asia, alfalfa has spread around the globe and is utilized as a top-quality forage for livestock. The feeding value of the crop has made it the most cultivated forage legume in the world. Despite this distinction, there has always been the desire by alfalfa workers to improve alfalfa’s performance to an even higher level.

The primary agriculture enterprise in the Southern Great Plains (particularly southern Oklahoma and northern Texas) is forage-based beef cattle systems (e.g., cow-calf, stockers). These profitable operations perform well but not without obvious challenges.

Root and plant diseases that affect alfalfa yield and quality are nothing new to farmers. Diseases can be difficult to identify and manage, and it can be hard to understand their impact on plant health.

Alfalfa weevil (scientific name Hypera postica) is one of the most damaging pests of alfalfa grown nationally, and recommendations to manage its damage have remained unchanged for several decades. During the last few years, however, alfalfa producers in the Western region have reported increasing problems managing this pest.

Warmer weather is right around the corner and that means the summer growing season is not far away. The above-average rainfall that many of us have received over the last couple of months has left a lot of pasture damaged and in need of renovation.

What if $14 milk is the new norm? The answer is underwhelming and overwhelming at the same time: Something has to change.

The fear of frothy bloat has stopped many livestock producers from integrating alfalfa, clover or other high-bloat-risk species into their forage systems. Most livestock producers fear seeing one of their animals with a distended left side, struggling to breathe.