“Each generation has had their unique spin on how to manage the ranch, with different approaches,” Alex Hart says. “We are becoming 21st century agriculturalists, promoting the good work ranchers and land managers do, taking care of the landscape sustainably.”

Many grasses and legumes can be utilized in pastures or hayfields today to improve production, and new varieties are better than some of the traditional forages. When selecting something to plant, look at what might work best in your situation.

Legumes are always beneficial in a pasture because they generally contain more protein and minerals than grasses and add nitrogen to the soil, but some commonly used legumes – alfalfa and some clovers – carry risk for bloat.

Producers who have crops and livestock are finding that annual crops can fill some grazing gaps and help get the soil in better health before replanting a pasture or the next crop.

Everything – soil health, pasture productivity, the symbiotic relationship between grass and cattle – is interrelated. When trying to fit this all together, Riley and Jimmie Kammerer became part of something much bigger. Something good.

Silage can be created from nearly any forage crop, including grasses and legumes, but corn is often used because it is the most energy-dense. Putting up a crop as silage is a way to preserve forage quality through fermentation in an anaerobic environment.

Sell a prolapsed cow, or keep her in the herd? It depends on the type of prolapse.

“No-till is not an end-all-fix-all but it is a good tool. Just like anything else, you need to use all your tools and need to manage on different levels and pay attention to different things.”

“Since going no-till, we have improved our bottom line; we farm for return on investment rather than trying for high yields. It’s easy to farm when trying for highest yields, but you can still lose money …"

Dairying is an all-consuming endeavor; there’s no “halfway” about it. So when the parlor doors close for the last time, retiring dairy producers sometimes find themselves at a loss for activity and drive, or staying connected to an industry they’ve loved.