Known for its forward-thinking approach, River Ranch Farms LLC has embraced numerous innovations, from a biogas hub and solar fields to the recent development of an automated indoor feed mill. At the forefront is Forever Feed Technologies, a company that dairy producer Jack de Jong helped establish to explore the possibilities of sprouted grain feeding systems.

Many years ago, in a college course on toxic plants, I learned about the popular ornamental houseplant dieffenbachia, also known as “dumb cane.”

You may be asking yourself, “What are hydroponic forages?” The word "hydro" means water and "ponics" comes from the root word meaning work. To put it simply, it means working with water, and in this case, it entails using water and a little bit of light to grow or sprout wheat and barley seeds.

Since dairy producers started milking cows, the search has been ongoing for better, more economic feeds and forages to promote more cost-effective performance while working toward better rumen health, health in general and reproduction.

Hydroponic forages, or forages grown using a specially formulated combination of water and light – no soil required – are not a new technology. Increased pressures to find sources of quality feed through several years of persistent drought, along with the appeal of a land- and water-efficient, environmentally friendly source of high-quality forages has spurred a growing interest in using hydroponic forages in the U.S.