Harvest timing in small grains isn’t just a detail – it’s the difference between profit and loss. New University of Idaho research shows how barley and oats stack up when cut at boot, heading/milk or soft-dough stage.

Swath grazing is an economic management strategy that helps ranchers extend their grazing practices into the spring and winter months. It has been shown that swath grazing can reduce the cost of beef production by over 40%.

“Where’s my El Nino?”
That’s the question many farmers and ranchers have been asking over the past year, and the answer is one many might not want to hear: El Nino is here, but it’s already on its way out the door.

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.

Spring cereal forages are an important part of the total forage program. In the last few years, the industry has seen an increase in the use of these spring annuals.