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Silage CSI: Investigating fermentation clues for better silage

Every silage pile reflects the decisions that shaped it, and fermentation reports reveal why a feed performed the way it did. Using a silage CSI lens turns those clues into practical adjustments for the season ahead.

May 21, 2026

Jodie Myers and Deidre Tigue

Last year’s fermentation clues can make this year’s silage more predictable and more productive.

Equipment Hub: Hay ash content – lessons from the coalfields

Veterinary investigation ruled out disease and uncovered severe tooth wear caused by high soil contamination in forage. The findings highlight how environmental conditions can erode animal performance and longevity.

March 12, 2026

Andy Overbay

What looked like a health mystery turned out to be a lesson in how environment shapes livestock longevity.

Positioning 2025 feed for success in 2026

The 2025 growing season featured regional contrasts that shaped forage quality and overall crop performance. Katie Raver highlights what those patterns mean for interpreting 2025 feed and planning rations into 2026.

January 27, 2026

Marian Viney

Producers may not have harvested a perfect crop in 2025, but thoughtful pairing, management and a focus on gut health can still set rations up for success.

Are you baling soil?

Make sure your forage samples don’t contain too much ash content and take steps to ensure your stored forages aren’t contaminated by soil.

November 19, 2024

Rebecca Kern-Lunbery

Most of what we read and talk about when it comes to improving forage quality is increasing protein, decreasing fiber and improving digestibility. However, this season, I have been observing more samples with high ash content bringing down RFQ values in comparison to RFV.

Preparations for bunk stability

To keep your animals healthy, start evaluating your current ration and wet forages and make summer plans now to help forecast feed stability issues before the seasonal heat arrives.

April 19, 2024

Ben Jensen

A total mixed ration (TMR) diet has long been used to consistently offer a high-quality mix to ruminants. It allows farms to incorporate almost any ingredient into the diet consistently, safely removing much of the variation from one mouthful to the next.

South Central: Testing hay and crop residues

August 25, 2022

Jason Banta

Hay testing is always valuable, but it is especially helpful when using crop residues and developing diets to stretch limited hay supplies. Before sending a sample in for analysis, it is always good to visit with a nutritionist to see what labs they recommend and what tests would be most appropriate for the sample being analyzed.

How much ‘dirt’ is in your forages?

July 8, 2022

Loren Bailey, Gene Gengelbach, and Dan Schauff

Minimizing soil content of forages should be the goal of every forage producer and dairy farm. This is because soil contamination of forages can add to the total ash or mineral content, which dilutes the energy and nutritive value of forages.

The dictionary behind forage analysis

By understanding your forage tests and the lingo they use, you can make more educated decisions on how you want to utilize the feed in your operation.

April 30, 2022

Louisa Koch

With spring just around the corner, you may be starting to think about your forage plans for your operation. Whether you are ready to put your cows out on pasture or begin a new harvest of haylage, it’s important to know what you are feeding your animals.