Shorter rotations mean greater profit per acre for the entire farm because of higher alfalfa yield, higher forage quality, reduced pesticide use, greater nitrogen credits and increased corn yields.

To the editor: Forage testing articles in the September 15, 2011, issue of Progressive Forage Grower make many excellent points but include some inaccuracies and exclude some current information I would like to address.

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a vigorous, warm-season perennial grass planted for many purposes including livestock grazing, wildlife cover and as a biofuel crop.

Switchgrass begins growth in late spring and continues through the summer if moisture is available. It grows 3 to 6 feet in small to large sodded clumps that spread slowly from numerous scaly, creeping rhizomes.

What lessons have you learned from your 2011 season? What advice would you give to other silage producers for next year?
As we wrap up the 2011 silage season, we asked our participants to sum up their year and if they will do anything different for the 2012 season.