Pests & Weeds
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Managing diseases in forages

March 29, 2017

John Hibma

Both legumes and grasses are susceptible to diseases, pests and pathogens that can destroy the plant or greatly reduce their productivity or the quality of the forage.

What common pests lurk in your native grasses?

March 29, 2017

David McIntosh

Forage growers, like the rest of the farming world, must deal with pests of various descriptions – weeds, bugs, molds, fungi and the occasional virus as well. It reminds me of the “thorns and thistles shall it bring forth …” and “in the sweat of thy face you shall eat …” kind of problem mentioned in Genesis.

New biological tool for managing alfalfa weevil

March 29, 2017

Stefan Jaronski and Tatyana Rand

Alfalfa is a major forage crop in the U.S., and the organic component has been growing to supply organic milk producers. A number of insect pests attack this crop, but the alfalfa weevil is probably the most familiar to growers.

Cover crop ‘carpet’ prevents weeds, protects soil

March 6, 2017

Organic farmers have to make hard choices between protecting soil from erosion and controlling weeds. For example, large-scale organic farming relies heavily on tillage. Tilling breaks up the soil to kill weeds and prepare for planting.

In the South, irrigating hay isn't a common occurrence

Is irrigating hay in the South feasible?

February 28, 2017

Melissa Beck

“Worst Drought in 1,000 Years Predicted for American West” – the headline in a 2015 National Geographic Magazine caught readers’ attention.

Adding IAE to your day

February 28, 2017

Andy Overbay

Ugh! Another article telling me (the manager) about all the things I am doing wrong. Well, not exactly – because as a professional dairy farmer when I was a younger man, I appreciate the fact that farm owners and operators work very hard to provide food and fiber.

Weathering financial challenges

February 28, 2017

Damona Doye and Derrell S. Peel

Cattle producers have experienced an incredible rollercoaster of market prices with historic price increases in 2013 and 2014, followed by an equally unprecedented correction downward in 2015 and 2016.

Uses soda bottle as a funnel and directs the spary into a bucket

Make weed and brush management pay

February 28, 2017

Robert Fears

Weeds and brush ruin harvested forage quality and reduce grazing capacity. The best way to manage unwanted plants in cultivated crops and improved pastures is to prevent them from occurring with a balanced fertilization program and timely applied treatments for insects and disease.

I’m sorry I missed your drought party

February 28, 2017

Troy Bishopp

Word on the street says you gain experience just after you really need it, and you’re supposed to learn from past experiences in an effort to not repeat it. After 32 years in the managed grazing business, I’m not supposed to be surprised anymore.

Making alfalfa great again

February 28, 2017

Robin Newell

A crop with all the benefits of alfalfa should be in a good position to compete well with other crops. But alfalfa has been losing ground to row crops in the U.S., with U.S. acreage down about 20 percent during the past two decades.