For most of you, my name is a new addition to Progressive Forage Grower.

“For us, the key to having good silage that keeps is getting our bunkers covered quickly and with good compaction.

The first hay wagon I drove had four rubber tires under it and it was propelled by a VAC model Case tractor. I was three years old. Dad aimed it between the shocks of hay and tied the steering wheel in place with a rope.

How short a pasture should be grazed or cut is one of the key factors in grazing and forage management, and one entirely under your control. How much forage can be grazed or cut affects the quality and quantity, and the persistence of the forage plant.

Multi-species grazing is the practice of using two or more species of livestock together or separately on the same land in a specific growing season.

Sales of standing forage require an estimate of market price and a method of determining yield – whether forage is sold by the bale, ton or acre – as a starting point for negotiations between the buyer and seller.

Corn silage forms the backbone of many winter and year-round feeding programs for dairy cows and heifers. With today’s dairy economic situation of tight to non-existent profit margins, corn silage is an excellent source of energy that can reduce the costs of providing energy (starches) in the dairy cow’s diet while also serving as a digestible fiber source.