Forage Analysis - Articles

Does forage quality have an equation?

Yield and quality can increase together with good management. By targeting the nutrients that drive TDN, producers can feed more high‑quality forage, strengthen rumen function and capture economic gains.

May 31, 2026

Katie Raver

Defining forage quality for your operation sets the benchmark needed for ongoing ration improvement.

A brief, cautionary rant about soil testing

Agriculture is flooded with disrupters, but not every new tool delivers real progress. Knowing the difference between true innovation and well‑packaged failure helps producers avoid the snakes and keep the grass.

May 15, 2026

Dustin Sawyer

Amid constant promises of reinvention, soil testing remains one of agriculture’s most reliable tools.

Don't stop at RFV and RFQ

RFV and RFQ give a fast way to rank forage lots, but both reduce a complex feed to a single number. A full forage analysis is essential for understanding true feeding value.

May 10, 2026

Katelyn Goldsmith and Jackie McCarville

RFV and RFQ give a fast way to rank forage lots, but both reduce a complex feed to a single number. A full forage analysis is essential for understanding true feeding value.

Don’t overlook potassium needs in forage systems

Potash supports root growth, winter hardiness and disease resistance while regulating water use during drought and activating key growth enzymes. Adequate potassium also improves carbohydrate movement, strengthening regrowth after grazing or cutting.

March 23, 2026

Mike Howell

Potassium is the quiet workhorse of forage nutrition, driving stress tolerance, regrowth and overall stand longevity.

Nitrogen needs for pasture yield and quality

Pastures rely on a steady supply of plant‑available nitrogen to support fast growth and recovery after grazing. Nitrogen enters the system through soil organic matter, legumes, manure recycling and fertilizer. Plants use it to build the molecules that capture sunlight and turn it into forage.

February 17, 2026

Karl Wyant

Understanding how N becomes available – and how plants convert it into usable energy – helps producers get more from every acre.

Positioning 2025 feed for success in 2026

The 2025 growing season featured regional contrasts that shaped forage quality and overall crop performance. Katie Raver highlights what those patterns mean for interpreting 2025 feed and planning rations into 2026.

January 27, 2026

Marian Viney

Producers may not have harvested a perfect crop in 2025, but thoughtful pairing, management and a focus on gut health can still set rations up for success.

Measuring silage packing density is important for high-quality feed

Proper packing is important to high‑quality silage because it removes oxygen and supports the fermentation process that preserves nutrients. Southern Idaho studies show that nearly half of silage piles fail to reach the recommended 14 pounds of dry matter per cubic foot, increasing the risk of spoilage, seepage and dry matter loss.

January 6, 2026

Steven Hines

Packing density can make or break corn silage quality, yet many southern Idaho operations still struggle to hit the minimum standard.

Unwrapping the bale: Look, smell, flake

A forage test will quantify crude protein, fiber fractions, mineral balance, digestibility and sugar levels – essential benchmarks for ration formulation. Smell, texture, flake integrity, dust and the presence of mold or foreign material are equally decisive, and in a competitive hay market, buyers demand forage that tests well and passes a rigorous sensory check.

December 23, 2025

Carmen Willmore

Hay test results provide critical insight into forage quality, but numbers alone don’t capture the full picture.

Four forage parameters to watch after a wet haying season

This year’s wet haying season left many producers with bales that didn’t dry down properly, raising concerns about forage quality and livestock health. As winter feeding plans take shape, understanding four key forage parameters can help producers make informed decisions.

November 6, 2025

Rebecca Kern-Lunbery

After years of drought, Nebraska hay producers faced a new challenge in 2025: too much rain. This high-moisture hay raises new questions about winter feeding strategies.

Touring the USDA Dairy Forage Research Center

September 16, 2025

Marian Viney

The U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center in Madison, Wisconsin, is one of 90 locations of the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

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Does forage quality have an equation?

A brief, cautionary rant about soil testing

Don't stop at RFV and RFQ

Don’t overlook potassium needs in forage systems

Nitrogen needs for pasture yield and quality

Positioning 2025 feed for success in 2026

Measuring silage packing density is important for high-quality feed

Unwrapping the bale: Look, smell, flake

Four forage parameters to watch after a wet haying season

Touring the USDA Dairy Forage Research Center

Teff grass: Where it fits and where it doesn’t

June 1, 2026 Progressive Forage digital magazine

Does forage quality have an equation?

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