relative forage quality - Page 1

Relatively speaking, is it RFV or RFQ?

RFV and RFQ were created to help compare forage quality, but decades after RFQ’s introduction, many producers still default to what they know. The two indexes use different equations and assumptions, which is why their numbers don’t always tell the same story.

June 16, 2026

Ralph Pearce

RFQ was designed to fix RFV’s blind spots – so why are producers still split on which number to trust?

Forage tests: Which values are pertinent to your goals?

Forage tests reveal the true nutritional value of hay, haylage or silage – numbers you can’t see in the field.

June 15, 2026

Sawyer Fonnesbeck

Forage tests turn laboratory numbers into harvest decisions by showing which quality values match your goals.

Don't stop at RFV and RFQ

RFV and RFQ give a fast way to rank forage lots, but both reduce a complex feed to a single number. A full forage analysis is essential for understanding true feeding value.

May 10, 2026

Katelyn Goldsmith and Jackie McCarville

RFV and RFQ give a fast way to rank forage lots, but both reduce a complex feed to a single number. A full forage analysis is essential for understanding true feeding value.

Spring small-grain forages: Timing your cut for profit and quality

Across forage barleys and oats, researchers tracked yield, quality, regrowth and economics under irrigation in southern Idaho. The results reveal clear trade-offs: Earlier cuts boost protein and regrowth, while later harvests maximize tonnage and energy.

January 29, 2026

Jacob Bevan, J. Reed Findlay, Janhvi Pandey, Joseph Sagers, and Jared Spackman

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.

Making the most of fiber

Learn various strategies to make the most of dietary fiber to maximize production and health of dairy cows.

February 28, 2025

Tamilee Nennich Adolph

Maximizing fiber digestion is a multifaceted approach that begins with feeding high-quality forages, having excellent feeding management and taking advantage of various feeding technologies available. Utilizing these various approaches will help cows make the most of the fiber they consume.

Midwest/North: Start with a forage test

September 24, 2024

Travis Meteer

For those buying or selling hay, forage testing can play an even bigger role in pricing and purchasing value.

It’s not too early to evaluate hay and forage levels

May 30, 2022

Robin Cox

Hay season will soon be upon us; how will your forage perform? This question is on the mind of growers who raise, feed and sell this precious commodity.

How not to destroy your alfalfa yield and quality this year

May 30, 2022

Carla Hines-Snider

The cost of most everything has skyrocketed this year. Before you start eliminating inputs, make sure to fully assess return on investment potential for your farm or operation. It is easy to pick out which inputs to cut based on purchase cost alone, but be mindful that each input provides some amount of output.

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.