Dairy farmers aren’t the only people struggling with tougher regulations these days. Just ask your banker or commodities broker. Better yet, allow the topic to come up naturally during a conversation.

Bermudagrass was the star of the show during the 2012 American Forage and Grassland Council’s (AFGC) national tour in northwest Arkansas.

Alfalfa isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when people think of hay production in Arkansas.

Fescue and bermudagrass are the forage crops of choice here.

Want to protect profits from soaring feed costs and plummeting milk prices? A Livestock Gross Margin insurance policy may be just the ticket. LGM-Dairy was created in 2008 by USDA’s Risk Management Agency. Policies are available through authorized crop insurance agents – but don’t dally. The agency began subsidizing premiums in 2010, sparking a huge increase in demand.

Marilyn Calvin has been a strong advocate for pasture-based dairy farming for years, but it was only recently that she took the plunge herself. Better late than never, she figured. The Mt. Vernon, Missouri producer was busy this spring putting up fencing for paddocks that will range from five to 10 acres in size. She also put in 5,200 feet of underground water lines connected to 10 new water stations. A consultant with Dairy Farmers of America helped design the system.

Mitch Baltz used to feed hay more than 100 days every year, just like most Arkansas cattle producers.

Today, he feeds hay less than 50 days a year. Some of the bales in his barn have been there for five years.