Forage Storage
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8 biggest mistakes when leasing farmland

January 31, 2018

Dave Bryden

Leasing land is sometimes a pain. Hence, producers may be inclined to take the path of least resistance. Sometimes that path is just fine, but other times it can lead to more headaches than anticipated.

How much can I borrow?

January 31, 2018

Erica Louder

As farmers accustomed to the straightforward, the world of finance may seem like a neglected water trough.

3 open minutes with Amy Freeburg

January 31, 2018

Lynn Jaynes

Amy Freeburg was elected president of the National Hay Association in September 2017.

The quest for nutritive value

January 31, 2018

Glenn Shewmaker

Since the mid-1800s, there have been efforts to characterize the value of forage and predict its effects on animal production. Joe Burns defined this issue with, “The characteristic of a forage that composes its nutritive value (NVAL) and its consumption and conversion by the animal determines the quality of the nutrient entity and provides an estimate of its forage quality.”

Hay production, stockpiled forage and baleage

January 31, 2018

Vanessa Olson

When pasture production is limited (drought, temperatures, etc.), there are other opportunities to continue to provide forage for livestock. Some of those opportunities could include hay production, stockpiled forage or baleage.

What’s the average daily gain … of your forage?

January 29, 2018

Chad Hale

Average daily gain (ADG) is a widely used benchmark in the beef industry. A high weight at weaning is the sum of about 200 days of growth, with a high rate of growth each day.

Understanding your forage analysis: Value ranges and definitions

January 10, 2018

Lynn Jaynes

Problem: You’re frustrated – you send hay samples to multiple labs and the variability between them is high. What gives? Yes, variability among labs exists; no one denies that. Before we lay blame on the lab, however, let’s make sure you understand the analysis.

Decreasing the variability in hay tests

January 8, 2018

Lynn Jaynes

You say you have Supreme hay and want top dollar for it. The buyers say, “Prove it,” because they aren’t paying a dime more than they have to. And that’s when your expertise at choosing a lab and taking hay samples really affects outcome. If you “do it right,” you can indeed prove its value.

Hiring and keeping the right employees

January 1, 2018

Robert Fears

Employee work ethics can result in either profit or loss for the forage grower, so it is wise to devote ample time to personnel management. You don’t want an inferior employee operating a $50,000 round baler.

Planning next year’s forages

January 1, 2018

Vanessa Olson

It is often overwhelming to know where to begin when it comes to forage production. Do I spray for weeds? Do I replant? Do I graze what forage is already there? How do I get to that perfectly lush, green pasture like my neighbor?