Forage Farm Features
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Building business resilience

December 1, 2020

Laura Wise

It’s not uncommon for purchased feed costs to equal 50% of a dairy farm’s budget. Nearly 20 years ago, Jon Bansen of Double J Jerseys near Monmouth, Oregon, was in the same boat.

It may be too early to conduct an export year in review but, given the roller coaster ride of 2020, exporters should be forgiven for wanting to look forward to a new year and a clean slate. So far, this has been a year of challenges and risks, requiring new skills and methods.

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?

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.

Meeks Farm: Utilizing winter-long grazing

July 31, 2020

The largest expense for most stockman is winter feed or supplements. The more time that cattle can graze without needing hay, the better. Today there are new forage varieties that can fill some gaps in the grazing calendar, enabling cattle to graze for more of the year.

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.

Silage production in central Texas

July 14, 2020

Robert Fears

The word “sustainability” is used often in today’s society, and it has a different definition for different groups. Successful farmers and ranchers practice sustainability in their operations every day.

Alternative range grazing

June 1, 2020

Lydia Kyle

“We’re one family on one ranch, and that’s it.” That statement is the bold proclamation on the Alderspring Ranch website, front and center with their family photo.

Incorporating conservation practices on rented ground

April 30, 2020

Anna Cates and Brian DeVore

Almost all farmers farm some rented ground. This may be a long-term relationship with a relative, a new opportunity or a one-year handshake deal. Implementing conservation practices on that ground requires an agreement between renter and owner, and starting that conversation can be the hardest part.

How to choose a high-quality laboratory

April 30, 2020

Dan Putnam and Glenn Shewmaker

Most forage testing laboratories attempt to provide accurate and repeatable results to their clients. In the long term, their reputation and success depends on accurately predicting the feeding value of the forage.