double cropping - Page 1

Trend toward alternative forages means adjusting crop nutrition protocols

As the trend toward alternative forages grows, ongoing research and on-farm trials will be essential for refining crop nutrition strategies.

June 6, 2024

Dan Peterson

The emerging trend toward alternative forages means it may be time to adjust crop nutrition protocols. Alfalfa has long been considered the “queen” of forages thanks to its high protein solubility and digestibility balanced with amino acids.

Purchased and home-raised feeds: Where are we losing the most profit for the dairy?

Dairies can benefit from double-cropping strategies that produce more home-raised feed, but crops must be well managed to provide high yield with managed input costs and high-quality forage.

December 4, 2023

Tim Beck and Cassie Yost

Profitable dairy production requires a very efficient conversion of feed to milk. A combination of purchased and home-raised feeds are frequently used to provide the needs of the dairy operation.

Double-crop forages support Sundberg beef genetics operation

January 13, 2023

Martha Hoffman Kerestes

Primarily utilizing A.I., the herd calves in spring and fall, and about 90% of heifer calves are retained as replacements and to be sold as bred heifers and cows.

Establishing alfalfa while growing corn

January 31, 2022

Marisol Berti and Samuel Bibby

The most common crop sequences in the Corn Belt region of the U.S. are continuous corn and corn-soybean. In the last two to three decades, forage-based, more diverse crop rotations have transitioned to less diverse annual crop-based rotations.

Pasture-cropping practice could improve degraded grassland soils

January 7, 2022

Kay Ledbetter

Adopting the ecologically sensitive, low-cost conservation management pasture-cropping practice could help landowners regain the health and resiliency of soils sustaining degradation over the years.

Strategizing for the forage game beyond X’s and O’s

November 1, 2021

Scott Fleming

Farming is a lot like football. The players must be aggressive to score, but we play smart defense. Always setting goals and creating a game plan to meet those goals is a common denominator.

Annual cool-season forages: A viable option for feed and wastewater management

October 1, 2020

Cheryl Mackowiak and Marcelo Wallau

Corn silage is often the main feed source for dairy production systems. However, annual cool-season forages can be a viable option for merging forage production and nutrient management during the “off season.”