Pervasive cheatgrass has long posed a threat to ranchers and their communities in the intermountain West. Edging out native perennials and taking over entire rangelands, the annual weed compromises forage value for livestock, destabilizes soil, increases risk of wildfire and diminishes wildlife habitat.

Barenbrug USA has appointed James Schneider as the new CEO and President. Starting May 1, Schneider will lead Barenbrug USA to further expand its market share in the U.S. and export markets. Current CEO John Thyssen said, “James Schneider brings a great deal of experience and knowledge to Barenbrug USA.

The Midwest Forage Association’s (MFA) board of directors met recently and distributed a record $21,358 to forage-related research projects through the Midwest Forage Research Program (MFRP), honoring its commitment to devote more funding to research when available.

A multi-disciplinary team of researchers has proposed a model that provides forecasts of crop yields prior to the end of the crop season – and could potentially provide such estimates even before the season starts. For Jerry Hatfield, co-author of the paper and plant physiologist at the USDA – Agricultural Research Services, the purpose of the model is simple.

Droughts can severely limit crop growth, causing yearly losses of around $8 billion in the U.S. But it may be possible to minimize those losses if farmers can synchronize the growth of crops with periods of time when drought is less likely to occur.

Studies at the USDA that examined the long-term sustainability of degraded water reuse have demonstrated that irrigation wastewater can be used to revive non-productive saline and sodic soils in California's San Joaquin Valley.

AgSource offers alfalfa growers in Idaho’s Magic Valley a unique preview: pre-harvest hay analysis. These results assist growers in gauging the optimal time to harvest hay.

Corn herbicides containing isoxaflutole cannot be sold or used in Wisconsin, despite recent misinformation that led agribusinesses and farmers to believe otherwise, say state pesticide authorities.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the recipients of $5.3 million in Conservation Innovation Grants that will help develop approaches and technology that show producers how to adapt to extreme climate changes that cause drought.

Over the last century, CLAAS has evolved from a small manufacturer of straw binders into a global leader of agricultural implement innovations. August Claas founded the company in 1913 in Germany, and was soon joined by his three brothers – Bernhard, Franz Jr. and Theo -- to form the company Gerbuder Claas.