In this political season, it is worth remembering that policies do matter. In the 2004 presidential campaign season, the most frequent discussion was about energy policy. In the years that have followed, the game has changed. A shift occurred in energy policies in the U.S. in several momentous ways, and because fertilizer prices are intimately linked to energy prices, this has had major impacts on fertilizer prices in the 12 years since.

Have you ever wondered which summer annual species and variety is best for your forage system? Often, varieties of forage sorghum, sorghum x sudangrass and pearl millet are chosen based on convenience and affordability, with less emphasis on quality and quantity.

The most important and least appreciated component of most farm operations is the organic matter in the soil. Some folks will read that first sentence, roll their eyes and stop reading.

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. A lot of people refer to the inevitable byproduct of poultry production as the black plague, but if one wants to build soil fertility on the cheap, poultry litter is black gold. The wise would say it has its advantages and its disadvantages, and one would do well to know about each.

Silage makes an excellent feed for ruminant animals. However, feeding silage is much different than feeding hay. Silage, because it is much wetter than hay, is much more susceptible to deterioration.

Some folks call it winter. Some call it drought. Occasionally, it is just bad luck. Regardless of the cause, there are times when the pasture is not growing fast enough to keep up with the demand of the livestock. Whether growth is limited because of cold weather, drought or some other factor, one often needs a way to stretch pasture.

“Alfalfa? In the South?! Will it even grow down here?” That has been the usual response when growing alfalfa in the South is mentioned, but that is starting to change.

On May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Smith-Lever Act into law, establishing the Cooperative Extension Service. In the 100 years that have elapsed, extension agents and educators at the national, state and local level have been leaders in an epic agricultural revolution.