The costs for growing alfalfa, corn, soybeans and wheat in Wisconsin are predicted to be about 14 percent higher in 2013 than in 2012. Fertilizer and pesticide prices are expected to be over 5 percent higher. Seed prices are expected to be higher due to the drought, according to Ken Barnett, University of Wisconsin – Extension educator.

“When deciding how much of an input to apply, producers can maximize their investment in that input by considering its marginal rate of return,” said Barnett.

Reinke Manufacturing Company, Inc., a manufacturer of mechanized irrigation systems, recently honored its top dealerships at the company’s annual convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Reinke dealers throughout the U.S. and Canada joined together for the three-day event, with more than 100 dealers receiving accolades in recognition of their 2011-2012 sales and marketing year success.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Dec. 13 that the USDA's measures to open conservation land to emergency haying and grazing during the 2012 drought freed up a record 2.8 million acres and provided as much as $200 million in forage for producers facing critical feed shortages. Vilsack made the announcement during the national drought forum in Washington, D.C., co-sponsored by numerous federal agencies, governors' associations and academic partners.

At the end of each year, we always enjoy looking back on the most-read articles (based on number of page views). Here is a review of the top 10 online articles from Progressive Forage Grower during 2012. What were your favorites?

The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) calls on ninth- to 12th-grade students to submit an original, 450-word essay or a two-minute video essay about the importance of agriculture. This year's theme is "American Agriculture: Nourishing Opportunities" and the deadline is Feb. 1. The ACA asks teachers and parents to encourage student participation.

Two new versatile alfalfa varieties from DuPont Pioneer, bred to thrive in high-stress environments or high-yielding irrigated production areas, will be available in western states for 2013.  Tested by Pioneer researchers in university trials and on farms, Pioneer brand alfalfa varieties 55Q27 and 55VR05 have been selected for disease resistance, adaptability to different cutting systems, winter weathering abilities, versatility and high-yield potential.

The University of California has announced that it is starting the Alfalfa & Forage News blog, presented by UC Cooperative Extension, to provide information about topics of interest to alfalfa and forage growers and allied industry. There will be a new communication every week or so about topics including forage production, economics, marketing, industry trends and pest management. Each blog post will also be delivered as an email.

Overall U.S. drought conditions have worsened for the second week in a row, reversing a recent easing in dry conditions in some areas and keeping the country mired in its worst drought in decades with no immediate relief expected for key Plains farming states.

The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor report released Nov. 29 shows that 62.7 percent of the land in the lower 48 states was in some form of drought as of Tuesday, Nov. 27, up from 60.1 percent the previous week. The area in extreme or exceptional drought – the two worst classifications – also rose, to 20.12 percent from last week's 19.04 percent.

Laird Manufacturing recently marked the opening of its new, state-of-the-art facility with a celebration attended by nearly 400 customers, vendors and associates.

The demand for the California-based company’s cattle feed products necessitated the expansion to a facility nearly four times the size of its previous location.

When operating at full capacity, the new facility will more than double the current output.