Alfalfa is often referred to as the “queen of forages” due to its relatively good digestibility, high protein and ability to readily fix nitrogen. But there’s a big drawback to the “queen”: Much of her protein is lost during the harvest and ensiling process, and more is lost in the rumen.

The other day, I was happily engaged at keeping the vehicle I was driving where it should be on the road. I was on a two-lane road in Nevada, and I was driving a Freightliner tractor with the good old 550-horse Cat engine. I was pulling triple hay trailers and the usual high, gusty winds west of Tonopah were making it an interesting drive.

Proper mowing techniques are essential for a good harvest. What signifies a good harvest will vary from farm to farm, region to region and crop to crop. This brief review of best cutting methods, adjustments and maintenance will help you get the best value from your mower this year.

As I snaked around the last bend in the rough, washboard road before the wide spot at the base of the hill where I intended to pull over to unload my horse, I glanced in the mirror and noticed the swinging trailer gate. I didn’t take this as a good omen to start my day.

CLAAS, an international manufacturer of self-propelled forage harvesters, has entered into an agreement with Shredlage LLC regarding its Shredlage technology. Shredlage LLC is the developer of a special conditioning process for corn silage.

Farm labor rates released by the USDA National Statistics Service (NASS) for April 2015 resemble the bouncing gas prices across the nation. The cumulative difference from a year ago, however, shows a $.24 per hour increase across the nation.