Forage Production
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67 cents an acre

October 30, 2020

Eric Young

When it comes to efficiency, it’s tough to beat soil testing. What else can you do for less than a dollar an acre that has such a large potential impact on crop yield, quality and farm profitability?

Do’s and don’ts of feeding forages high in nitrate

October 5, 2020

Rebecca Kern-Lunbery

Acute nitrate toxicity occurs when animals consume high-nitrate forages for a short period of time. Nitrate is converted to nitrite by rumen microbes as an intermediate step in converting the nitrate to microbial protein. Ruminant animals are specifically at risk, as they bring up the feed bolus for chewing and inhale the nitrite.

3 Open Minutes with Dennis Hancock, Ph.D

September 30, 2020

Dennis W. Hancock

The U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center (USDFRC) is a research center of the USDA devoted to the optimization of the use of forages in improving dairy cattle production and sustainability. The center employs 20 research scientists and 40 support staff, and hosts another 40 students, post-docs and visiting scientists.

4 things to keep an eye on when purchasing seed for fall planting

September 4, 2020

Jerry Hall

As we approach the fall cover crop planting season, the industry is starting to see shortages of a few different crops like radishes, hairy vetch and annual clovers due to the record amount of acreage that was planted last year as part of USDA’s prevent plant program.

Soil testing that pays

August 31, 2020

Dustin Sawyer

“You cannot manage what you do not measure.” It’s a phrase that rings true and one that every soil lab knows well. Another common message proclaims: “Soil testing doesn’t cost, it pays!”

The do’s and don’ts of setting up farm trials

August 6, 2020

Brent Jones

Cover crop consultant David Kleinschmidt discusses key factors producers need to consider before setting up a trial and what data to collect.

Decision-making in weird economic times

July 15, 2020

Dustin Sawyer

It can be difficult to make the right decisions when it feels like everything is on the line. Times of uncertainty can impose pressures that cause the decision-making process to malfunction.

Why invest in forage inoculants and preservatives?

June 1, 2020

Ben Jensen and Jon Pretz

We all know feeding cows high-quality forage can translate to increased profitability, thanks to its superior digestibility and encouragement of dry matter intake (DMI).

Prescribed burning improves forage

June 1, 2020

Heather Smith Thomas

Ranchers often use fire to help control or retard invasive species or brushy plants like juniper or cedar, create more forage for livestock or reduce fuel loads to help prevent catastrophic wildfires.

Using liquid manure with emerged corn

June 1, 2020

Glen Arnold

Not many years ago, there were only two people allowed to enter a newly planted Midwest cornfield: One was the person applying the side-dress nitrogen, and the other was the person applying the weed control.