February 2020 saw mixed results in overall U.S. sales of tractors and self-propelled combines. The bright spot was four-wheel-drive and 100-plus-horsepower tractors, which showed healthy gains year over year, however, overall tractor and combine sales fell for February, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

You see a patient in a hospital bed on an intravenous drip. All nutrients and energy are fed to the patient through the tubes. The patient doesn’t get up, doesn’t have to move, doesn’t have to buy groceries or fix dinner, much less sit down at a table to fork the food in. Sweet life, right? No effort, all gain? Except that somehow, we know this isn’t ideal – not even close.

Spring always has a way of delivering a mixture of optimism and uncertainty. This year, the impact of all things “coronavirus” is resulting in seaport disruptions and creating volatile waves in trade and financial markets, increasing the level of unpredictability.

While weather is a constant challenge to maintaining forage supply, producers can control other threats to having enough feed.

Farmers and ranchers may apply to enroll grasslands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands sign-up beginning March 16. The sign-up runs through May 15.

With yield monitor technology, silage growers can see the impact of management changes in every field section over time. Unfortunately, even with calibrated equipment and best operator practices, yield maps can look pretty confusing without some post-harvest processing.

Forage sorghum is a drought- and heat-tolerant warm-season grass that can be used for silage on dairy farms. Since it requires a soil temperature of at least 60°F for planting, the recommended planting time for New York is early June, unlike corn, which is usually planted earlier in the spring.