Harvest Considerations
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Strategies for corn silage success: Focus on management

May 11, 2023

Keith A. Bryan and Kimberley Morrill

As spring progresses to summer, the percentage of haylage and small grains in TMR often increases to stretch corn silage inventories or to dilute corn silage if the quality isn’t as good as we had hoped.

Choosing the correct corn maturity

January 12, 2023

David Sass

20-60-20, do you recognize that ratio? Clue: corn hybrids. Here's some advice for you as you plan your corn crop this year.

Don’t underestimate alfalfa’s potential

High-quality alfalfa, harvested as dry hay or haylage, is a viable option for dairy rations during times of high prices for byproduct protein products.

October 18, 2022

Angie Golombeski

The last couple of years have led to uncertainty in commodity market pricing, and this year has been no different, with commodity prices skyrocketing. This has been especially true for byproduct protein sources, such as soybean and canola meal.

Hay cubes for the back country

October 5, 2022

Heather Smith Thomas

Sometimes the farm focus has to change and bend a little to negotiate marketing curves. But it's better to bend than break.

How much ‘dirt’ is in your forages?

July 8, 2022

Loren Bailey, Gene Gengelbach, and Dan Schauff

Minimizing soil content of forages should be the goal of every forage producer and dairy farm. This is because soil contamination of forages can add to the total ash or mineral content, which dilutes the energy and nutritive value of forages.

Tips for maximizing forage quality from start to finish

March 31, 2022

Matt LeCroy and Jessica Williamson

Delivering the highest-quality hay is a complicated race against time.

Raise your hay standards

March 31, 2022

Andrew L. Skidmore

Spontaneous combustion of hay bales is just about the worst-case scenario for any livestock producer putting up hay. That’s not the only bad outcome when it comes to hay storage.

How to handle hay following a hurricane or flood

September 29, 2021

Jason Banta and Vanessa Olson

Flooded hay

Stretching forages through a drought

September 29, 2021

Rebecca Kern-Lunbery

Drought conditions encompassing the entire western U.S. have producers concerned about declining hay and forage inventories.

Are hay preservative applicators worth it?

September 29, 2021

Heather Smith Thomas

Weather during harvest can be the biggest challenge in putting up high-quality hay. If hay is still a bit wet but a storm is coming and you want to get it baled and stored before the rain, you might consider using inoculants and hay preservatives.