Decisions. Should I plant low-lignin alfalfa? Can I afford to hire another employee? Can I not afford to hire another employee? Should I buy the neighboring property? Can I justify a new rake? What about a hay barn? Is it time for me to sell out?

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin processing Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) payments for participating dairy farmers on June 4, according to a notice sent to state and county FSA offices on May 31. Payments will be issued directly to producers via electronic deposit; there will be no paper checks, according to Wayne Maloney, in the FSA public affairs office, Washington, D.C.

The USDA will begin accepting disaster assistance program applications on June 4 from agricultural producers who suffered livestock, honeybee, farm-raised fish and other losses due to natural disasters.

Harvest management can have a huge effect on both the yield and quality of harvested forage. Leaves have a relative forage quality of about 550, while stems have a relative forage quality of 70 to 80.

Early season weather forecasts suggest the 2018 summer could be a repeat of 2016, when many alfalfa producers discovered excessively high alfalfa hay nitrates. The question frequently asked is, “How do I prevent this from happening again?”