So, your cows are off their feed – maybe even off their feet. Perhaps you’ve noticed a disruption in your herd’s breeding interval, maybe a few more open than normal compared to previous years. Having ruled out diseases and pathogens, it’s time to consider: Is it something they ate?

Forage growers, like the rest of the farming world, must deal with pests of various descriptions – weeds, bugs, molds, fungi and the occasional virus as well. It reminds me of the “thorns and thistles shall it bring forth …” and “in the sweat of thy face you shall eat …” kind of problem mentioned in Genesis.

Most Progressive Forage readers support Sonny Perdue as the nominee for U.S. Ag Secretary, according to a recent online poll.

Survival skills can be just so much bluster and bluff. Survival history is a completely different beast – heavy on the “beast.”

“Make hay while the sun shines.” This phrase is the hay producer’s version of “carpe diem” or “seize the day,” but without proper preseason maintenance, the opportunity to seize a hay day can be cut short without notice. We want every hay producer to enter the field with confidence, so our team of experts have come together to create a guide for your preseason maintenance needs.

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful little valley called Pleasant Valley. Pristine streams ran down from wooded hillsides. Wild game was abundant. Fish flourished. The peasants tilled their farms and irrigated them with mountain water. The livestock grazed the grassy meadows. It was a contented community, though lacking in material wealth.

We’ve been surveying readers lately – both in print and in person. One of the most intriguing things I’ve learned is that you don’t have much time to read, if you have any time for it at all.

When you are looking to design a new facility, or modify an existing one, it’s not as simple as just picking option A or option B. It’s critical to approach each project with animal management top of mind because any system you choose will affect not only your animals, but the facility layout, work routines and your labor requirements.