Pests & Weeds
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To fence or not to fence?

September 4, 2010

The following is an excerpt from Genevieve Christ's blog, PAfarmgirl. Christ is a Penn State Cooperative Extension agronomist in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and blogs about agricultural issues.

Pricing standing forage

July 22, 2010

Sales of standing forage require an estimate of market price and a method of determining yield – whether forage is sold by the bale, ton or acre – as a starting point for negotiations between the buyer and seller.

Farm marketing plans

May 31, 2010

Whether it is a conscious action or not, we are all engaged in risk management planning. Prepaying for seed and fertilizer, planning crop rotations, farming in multiple locations and signing up for crop/farm insurance are all considered risk management activities.

Manage pests in alfalfa fields

May 4, 2010

Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., cultivation occurs worldwide since it was “discovered” in Iran.

In your own words... What are your biggest forage pests and how do you deal with them?

April 1, 2010

“Weevils and aphids rank among the biggest pests we face on a regular basis.

We spend quite a bit of time monitoring for these problems and then spray when they reach a certain point.

Forging a partnership with a custom harvester

March 2, 2010

In the interest of full-disclosure, I must confess that my family dairy chooses not to utilize the services of a custom harvester; however, my in-laws have been working with a custom harvester for the last six years. Which one is right? I’d argue both, given their specific situations.

Improve the profitability of your forage business

February 5, 2010

Profitable businesses generally have an “edge” of some sort over the competition.Some tend to focus on low cost. Other businesses are known for marketing exceptionally high-quality products that keep people coming back even if they cost a little more.

How to market hay

February 5, 2010

Hay crops in many ways are a unique crop to market. The demand for hay in the winter is very closely tied to the past summer’s production and supporting weather. This alone does not make it much different than most grain crops and their markets. But it is here that the similarities end.

Management concepts for fall forage

September 16, 2009

Forage management strategies are as varied as the farmers who grow the forages. “Despite differing management plans, there are a few key concepts to remember with the advent of fall,” says a University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist.

Hay production economics

June 5, 2009

The last few years have been difficult ones for hay producers. Regardless if someone is producing hay to feed to their own stock or producing it for sale to the public, the economics of hay production have changed drastically in the last several years. As a result, many producers are now taking a long-overdue look at the economics of hay production.