Forage Production

Practical grazing innovations for surviving drought conditions

scottj@uidaho.edu — Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

New forecasting and monitoring tools are helping ranchers stay ahead of forage shortages before they hit.

What short corn can mean for a farm’s forage program

ediepersloot@vitaplus.com — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Shorter plants with smarter structure may give dairy producers a new tool for quality and resilience.

Managing hay as a valuable resource

rkern@wardlab.com — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Last season’s surplus may be the buffer producers need as drought and wildfire pressures intensify.

Watershed wisdom: How forage systems support runoff resilience

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Sediment and nutrient losses decrease when forage systems keep soil covered, and NRCS supports this with targeted conservation planning and practice design.

Wet forecast intensifies seeding decisions

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Spring forage planting in the Upper Midwest may be complicated by freeze-thaw cycles and forecasts for above‑normal precipitation. Even so, timely decisions and attention to field conditions can help growers establish strong stands.

Sorghum-sudan as an alternative summer forage for the Southeast

mwallau@ufl.edu — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Warm‑season annuals are gaining attention in the Southeast as producers look for higher‑quality forages that outperform traditional bahiagrass and bermudagrass.

Pastures need TLC

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

A warm, dry fall followed by sudden near‑record snowfall has left many Midwest pastures at higher risk for winterkill.

Hay considerations for small ruminants

rkern@wardlab.com — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Sheep and goats share ruminant anatomy with cattle, but their smaller rumens and distinct grazing behaviors demand higher-quality, more digestible forage to meet energy needs.

Reviewing realistic rotational grazing

jkubesch@uada.edu — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Rotational stocking improves forage use, but it can't overcome the biological limits of pasture growth. Meeting animal demand requires aligning stocking rates with forage yield.

It's time to consider pasture as a crop

aoverbay@vt.edu — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Pasture is a vital crop for livestock production. Neglecting its management undermines both milk and meat yields.

Benefits of including perennial forages into semiarid cropping systems

mourakohmann@wisc.edu — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Perennial forages improve soil structure, reduce compaction and help leach salts from the root zone. For producers committed to stewardship, perennials are more than cover – they’re a strategy for resilience.

Plan now for improving grazing management in the coming year

scottj@uidaho.edu — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Grazing distribution isn’t just about weather and terrain – it’s also about the cattle and vegetation.

A new perspective from above: Using drones to advance crop production and agricultural extension

gloomis@uidaho.edu — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

From boots on the ground to drones in the sky, extension education is entering a new era.

Paying attention to manure

dustin_sawyer@rockriverlab.com — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

As the crop year winds down and uncertainty looms for 2026, one thing remains clear: Informed farmers make better decisions.

Winter grazing considerations

rkern@wardlab.com — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Winter grazing isn’t just a cost-saver – it’s a smart strategy for livestock health and performance.

Fescue toxicosis: Ways to minimize toxic effects

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Fescue toxicosis is commonly seen in cattle grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue. Despite the risk, tall fescue remains widely used across many regions because of its ease of establishment and long-term persistence.

Forage for camelids

rkern@wardlab.com — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:51 -0400

Llamas and alpacas may graze like cattle, but their nutritional needs tell a different story. With limited gut capacity and constant dry matter intake, these fiber-producing camelids rely on nutrient-dense forage to meet their protein, energy and micronutrient needs.

Fall application of boron can help maximize alfalfa yields

marian@agproud.com — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Crinkled leaves and discolored tops signal boron is missing and forage quality is decreasing. Boosting leaf growth with this micronutrient can mean higher feed value and healthier roots.

No snow, no flow: No grow?

bravomelissa@yahoo.com — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Across the Colorado River Basin, producers face pressure of an ever-dwindling aquifer and deep-rooted decisions as the 2026 river rules are due to expire.

Soil health considerations after harvesting summer silage crops

pacharya@uidaho.edu — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Silage yields are soaring, but what is happening to the soil left behind?

Monitoring and managing soil and pasture health

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Healthy pastures start from the ground up – and that means healthy soils. Explore five foundational soil health principles – plus a practical, producer-first approach to stewardship that’s less about labels and more about long-term success.

Selecting cover crops for grazing

shines@uidaho.edu — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Whether you're aiming to enhance forage yields or build healthier ecosystems, cover crops offer a practical, proven path to unlocking soil’s full potential.

Rangeland wildflowers support livestock and wildlife

raeann.powers@xerces.org — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Rangelands may be known for their grasses, but there’s more to the story.

Partnering with pollinators: Opportunities for dairy farms

ljs@pollinator.org — Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

We need pollinators to sustain our food supply and our ecosystems.

Farmers could sustain higher yields and maintain profitability

melgares@ksu.edu — Mon, 19 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In order to plan how to fulfill the world's increasing need for food, research at Kansas State University is part of an international effort advocating for a new method to evaluate crop output potential and shortfalls.

New pesticide rules aren’t just a farmer’s problem – ranchers, take note

annalisa@buddfalen.com — Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Think pesticide regulations only affect farmers? Think again. Recent changes to the federal pesticide registration process could limit how – and where – ranchers can use pesticides to manage rangeland resources. Whether you use zinc phosphide to manage prairie dog populations or malathion to control grasshopper outbreaks, these new rules may directly affect your ability to manage these pests.

Growing alfalfa seed in the western U.S.

Fri, 09 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Farmers in different western U.S. regions grow different types of alfalfa seeds to meet the needs of those regions and climates.

May 2025 new product rollout

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Check out new products from John Deere, Kubota and more.

Alfalfa: A misunderstood crop in the West’s water crisis

emeccage@foragegenetics.com — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Nationwide, 14.6 million acres are cultivated for alfalfa. Critics argue this is too much for regions with limited water, yet they fail to compare these numbers to other staple crops.

Forage Market Insights: Plenty of questions to ponder

dave@agproud.com — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:05:30 -0400

Progressive Forage provides on update on drought conditions, prices, exports and more.DC