Landowners may choose to replant a pasture for many reasons, including invasive plants, drought impacts, wildlife concerns or changes in the ranch operation. What to plant should always be based on established goals for the property. Do you want to solely manage for livestock forage or does wildlife hunting or viewing add to the value or recreational opportunities on your land?

Essentially everything we do as forage growers is to maximize the conversion of solar energy into digestible energy. We do not use photovoltaic cells. We use photosynthetic cells.

I’m an agricultural economist at a land-grant university. One advantage I have in my work is I also farm; I grass-finish cattle and have partnerships on cow-calf and sheep operations in other locations.

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.

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

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.

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?