Progressive Forage provides on update on drought conditions, prices, exports and more.DC

The family started working with NRCS in 2021 to replace an existing flood irrigation system with two center-pivot sprinkler systems and irrigation pipeline through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

We took the opportunity to study the technology more closely and decide if there was potential for a positive return on investment should we choose to implement it on our farm.

As spring approaches, the planning and decisions that affect feed quality should begin now.

Here’s Progressive Forage’s look at factors impacting hay producers and markets as a new year gets underway.

With hay prices ranging from $95 per ton for Grade 1 (125 to 150 relative feed quality [RFQ]) round bales to $190 per ton for Prime (greater than 151 RFQ) large square bales, hay is a valuable commodity on farms. We already have the labor and expense into producing the hay, but storage and feeding have a great deal to do with how much of harvested hay is actually consumed by animals.

During the winter months when fresh forage on pastures is unavailable to most cow-calf producers, they typically turn to feeding one low-quality forage with a protein supplement. In Nebraska and other states where corn is a commonly grown commodity crop, many producers use grazing cornstalks as their low-quality forage source.