Forage Harvest

Silage CSI: Investigating fermentation clues for better silage

deidre_tigue@diamondv.com — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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

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

jspackman@uidaho.edu — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

The benefits of baleage: A smarter way to harvest hay

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Moisture matters – and so does method. Baleage is changing the game for forage harvest.

Mowing matters: Timeliness tips for maximizing forage yield and quality

jessica.williamson@agcocorp.com — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Mowing isn’t just mechanical – it’s strategic. And timing can make or break your feed value, animal performance and bottom line.

The skinny on what your hay bales really weigh

kallenbachr@missouri.edu — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

There’s only one surefire way to know what hay weighs: Put it on a scale. However, most buyers and sellers don’t have a scale big enough or handy enough to weigh bales.

Mycotoxin risks within the 2024 corn crop

mhawkins@alltech.com — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

Corn silage has a risk from multiple mycotoxins, with type B trichothecenes being the greatest risk. Stored corn grains may be at greater risk due to damaged kernels and a higher percentage of foreign matter.

Protecting silage: Understanding risks from field stressors

jodie_myers@diamondv.com — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

As spring approaches, the planning and decisions that affect feed quality should begin now.

Harnessing the power of crop residue

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

For decades, the agricultural industry has been at the forefront of innovation, continually adapting to meet global demands and environmental challenges.

Invest in quality and tonnage to maximize on-farm forage use

lkrentz@vitaplus.com — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Maximizing homegrown forages is appealing to many dairy producers, especially as they face tough market conditions.

Maximizing corn silage quality: Key decisions for a successful harvest

ashley.knapton@corteva.com — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The growing season has a large impact on our corn silage, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have options to manage the variables.

Building a strong foundation for your feed program begins with high-quality silage

kzm175@psu.edu — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The foundation of most diets fed to dairy and beef cattle includes forages, but making them into high-quality silage that can be fed year-round is a challenge.

Preserving hay quality: Tips for your dairy operation

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Forage quality is a crucial consideration on a dairy, impacting the success and profitability of your operation.

AlfAdvisor: A program to assist with alfalfa harvest management decisions

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 09:59:01 -0400

Timing of alfalfa cutting is a critical management practice to maximize yield potential, quality, and profitability.

The long or short of it: Silage is a good investment

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Silage is a critical feed for livestock, especially ruminants like dairy cattle. This high-quality feed is created by harvesting crops like corn, sorghum, cereals, alfalfa and grass and storing them in a manner that allows them to ferment and maintain their quality.

Don’t leave money in the field

mark.scuffham@claas.com — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

By concentrating on improving bale density, producers can significantly enhance their return on investment.

Ensiling and preparing to feed weather-challenged crops

rschmidt@lallemand.com — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Erratic weather patterns across the U.S. have stressed many silage crops in the field. Some regions and forage crops have experienced prolonged high temperatures and drought.

Key drivers to corn silage yield

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Krull identified several key drivers of corn silage yield and quality, including management, environment and genetics. Poor management will not compensate for poor genetics or adverse weather conditions and vice versa.

Hay, baleage or haylage?

djunders@wisc.edu — Mon, 15 May 2023 15:19:28 -0400

With input costs and cattle value both at high levels, it might be worthwhile to consider some alternatives. Both energy and protein are more valuable than previously, and higher cattle prices indicate the greater value of higher calving percentage and more rapid weight gain.

Lower yields reduce 2022 hay production totals

dave@agproud.com — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 11:37:28 -0400

Hay production recovered in the northern Plains, but Texas took a big hit.

Don’t underestimate alfalfa’s potential

dairyteam@hubbardfeeds.com — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 21:04:44 -0400

The last couple of years have led to uncertainty in commodity market pricing, and this year has been no different, with commodity prices skyrocketing. This has been especially true for byproduct protein sources, such as soybean and canola meal.

Things you shouldn’t find in a bale of hay

gshew@uidaho.edu — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 21:16:45 -0400

I help grow, harvest and feed hay and other forages on our family farm, which is downwind from a small town. If I had a dollar for every plastic grocery bag, beer can, dog food bag, trampoline, shed roof, golf ball and mylar balloon I picked out of a hayfield or bale, it would put me in a higher tax bracket.

How much ‘dirt’ is in your forages?

dan.schauff@agriking.com — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 21:47:32 -0400

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.

More to hay moisture than fire risk

rkern@wardlab.com — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 21:40:56 -0400

When I visit with forage producers about hay moisture in square bales, the top concern is spontaneous combustion and fire risk, followed by mold and mycotoxins and heat damage.

Tips for maximizing forage quality from start to finish

jessica.williamson@agcocorp.com — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 13:00:01 -0400

Delivering the highest-quality hay is a complicated race against time.

Raise your hay standards

askidmore@lallemand.com — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 13:00:01 -0400

Spontaneous combustion of hay bales is just about the worst-case scenario for any livestock producer putting up hay. That’s not the only bad outcome when it comes to hay storage.

Wet hay years and what to watch for

bravomelissa@yahoo.com — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 14:00:01 -0500

Single-statement truisms in the livestock feeding business are a rare occurrence. “If this occurs, then that will occur,” is usually prefaced by a disclaimer, “as long as Mother Nature cooperates.”

How to handle hay following a hurricane or flood

vacorriher@ag.tamu.edu — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 05:00:06 -0400

Flooded hay

Stretching forages through a drought

rkern@wardlab.com — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 04:33:02 -0400

Drought conditions encompassing the entire western U.S. have producers concerned about declining hay and forage inventories.

Are hay preservative applicators worth it?

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 03:44:30 -0400

Weather during harvest can be the biggest challenge in putting up high-quality hay. If hay is still a bit wet but a storm is coming and you want to get it baled and stored before the rain, you might consider using inoculants and hay preservatives.

Adverse weather and hidden danger of moldy feed

bravomelissa@yahoo.com — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 21:21:34 -0400

Over the summer, the western drought and heat wave continue to intensify.