I have been dreading writing this article. I was hoping rain might fall, but the forecast is not positive for the next 10 days. It is becoming clear that corn farmers in the southern four tiers of counties in Wisconsin might have to make the best of a bad situation.

Many areas of Pennsylvania are experiencing a severe drought due to the lack of rain since late May. Corn growth has stopped in many areas and in the worst areas corn fields are beginning to dry up. Other grain and forage crops are drought-stressed as well.

Farmers with drought-damaged cornfields could consider harvesting the crop for livestock feed to salvage some of its value and to help livestock producers supplement short forage supplies, says a Purdue Extension forage specialist.

Illinois and other major areas in the Midwest are watching thousands of acres of corn experience severe drought stress. Livestock managers are planning strategies to implement if timely rain does not arrive soon, according to Mike Hutjens, University of Illinois professor emeritus of animal sciences.

Jill Hapner, Ph.D. West Bend, Wisconsin Executive Director GrassWorks, Inc.

Rod Heale Wyoming, New York Territory Development Specialist CRV

The fourth annual Grazing Seminar series will be held Friday, Oct. 5 at World Dairy Expo. Topics will include using automatic milking systems (robotic milkers) in grazing systems and balancing supplementation with high grain costs. A question-and-answer session with grazing experts from around the world will also be held.

A Texas AgriLife Extension Service entomologist at Fort Stockton warns alfalfa producers and those buying the forage to be on the lookout for blister beetles. “Recently, I’ve been seeing a fairly large outbreak of blister beetles in Reeves County,” said Mark Muegge. “The extent of this outbreak is unknown, but alfalfa producers need to keep an eye on it. "The outbreak could lead to statewide implications since alfalfa from west Texas is shipped all over.”

Droughts are an act of Mother Nature and cannot be controlled. However, proper management can help maintain pasture land during a period of drought:

Over the last four years, entomologists from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture have been releasing an army of tiny weevils. The weevils are being enlisted to fight back the advance of an invasive weed that displaces desirable forage in pastures, reduces native plant diversity and increases surface water runoff and stream sediment. Spotted knapweed originated in Eastern Europe, said Tim Kring, professor of entomology.