Editor’s note: At Progressive Forage Grower, one of the comments we frequently hear is, “Where do you get your hay reports? That isn’t what my neighbor just sold his hay for.” We also get questions like, “Is that an on-the-stump price or delivered price?”

So we asked Tess Norvell from USDA Market News to tell us more about how those market prices are collected and compiled.

With 321 entries from 17 states, the 30th annual World Forage Analysis Superbowl was recently held during World Dairy Expo.

A thorough evaluation of a potential grazing property does not stop with forage and fence. You must put equal weight on the business characteristics that come with the land. These factors are not always obvious but greatly impact your daily activities. Make sure to investigate the following categories for each property you consider.

Brandon Fawaz was skeptical. It took Fawaz about eight years to warm up to the idea of using soil moisture sensors on his land. However, as a result of implementing the sensors in his operation in 2010, Fawaz states, “Our entire system has not changed due to the moisture sensors, but our practice has.

“I’ve been waiting 33 years for these boys to have this conversation!” Helen declared as she jumped to her feet. In that moment, I realized a lot about this family’s problems and, not coincidentally, the difficulties most people face in planning for succession.

Most of our perennial pastures are now in cool-season forages. As their name implies, they perform best when the temperatures are moderate and ample moisture is available. Spring and fall are the glory days for these forages.

“Salt of the earth” is the phrase I would use to describe those I meet at farm association, credit and banking meetings. In conversations with farmers and bankers, I am always struck by their sincere desires to try and solve the problem of a declining ethical culture.

The Thanksgiving holiday is almost here. How we look forward to this event has a lot to do with whether we are the dinner guest or the turkey. It’s a time to appreciate what we have rather than commiserate about we wish we had.

The Hundred Years War between England and France has nothing on me and my husband. We’ve fought for at least 35 years about whether something should be stored in the shop or in the garage.