Plant Health

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.

Harnessing the benefits of manure in forage production

mdeharo@uidaho.edu — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The proper management of nutrients is fundamental to effectively use manure and reach the highest cost-benefit.

Fall pasture management considerations

scottj@uidaho.edu — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Leaving sufficient residual plant material (leaves, lower stem bases and crowns) is essential to maximize next year’s production for perennial grasses.

Is this alfalfa stand good enough to keep?

djunders@wisc.edu — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

As an alfalfa stand ages and thins, the primary question becomes: Is this stand good enough to keep? Now is a good time to evaluate stands as more time is allowed for planning crop rotations than when stands are evaluated in the spring and determined to be uneconomic.

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.

The fiber that gels

woody@woodylane.com — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 00:00:45 -0400

Fiber isn’t fiber isn’t fiber. Lots of folks talk about fiber – doctors, teachers, marketers, nutritionists – but there are different types of nutritional fiber, and fiber digestibility partially depends on the species of animal consuming it.

Trend toward alternative forages means adjusting crop nutrition protocols

dan.peterson@agroliquid.com — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The emerging trend toward alternative forages means it may be time to adjust crop nutrition protocols. Alfalfa has long been considered the “queen” of forages thanks to its high protein solubility and digestibility balanced with amino acids.

Cover crop confessions: Mistakes we made and lessons we learned

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 13:10:26 -0400

In the summer of 2021, the first diverse warm-season cover crop Kevin Pierce drilled into what had been a conventionally cropped monoculture of cereal rye on Noble Research Institute’s Red River Ranch was a big success.

The essential bond between honeybees and forage crops

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 11:41:18 -0500

There is a crucial yet often underestimated role of pollinators, particularly honeybees, in forage crop production. While domestic and native colonies face growing challenges, farmers can implement practical strategies to preserve and enhance pollinator populations.

Preview feeds’ future with the power of data

katie_raver@rockriverlab.com — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Opening a new bag of silage often feels like a shot in the dark. We aren’t quite sure what to expect. In some years, we see little changes from previous silage crops, while in others we see larger leaps.

Frost seeding clovers into tall fescue pastures provides multiple ecosystem services

mscastil@ncsu.edu — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Tall fescue-clover pastures have a long history of improving livestock performance in the U.S. transition zone as well as mitigating the effects of fescue toxicosis.

How did the 2023 alfalfa seedings survive the summer?

djunders@wisc.edu — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

One of the things we have learned over the years is that new alfalfa seedings that have good growing conditions yield much better in future years. Said another way – seeding year stress lowers yield potential of alfalfa in future years.

Myth-busting horse hay

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Many forage buyers and sellers equate “horse-quality” hay to forages with the highest nutrient content, especially in comparison to “cow hay.”

Research review: Rotational grazing alters foraging behavior of cattle in ARS study

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

A recent study by a team at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service uses innovative technology to shed light on the practicality and profitability of each grazing system.

Management tips for getting a good alfalfa stand

alfalfadoc@outlook.com — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Which of these five mistakes for fall planting alfalfa have you made?

Alfalfa production tips following a cool, wet spring

alfalfadoc@outlook.com — Wed, 03 May 2023 15:03:57 -0400

The cool spring temperatures that are good for the snowpack, when combined with a wet spring, may present some potential problems for alfalfa stands.

Improve feed efficiency through feed management

rkern@wardlab.com — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 10:50:45 -0500

Diet is a large environmental factor, especially when considering the rumen interface. Implementing a more meticulous feed management system can save money in several ways.

Quantifying N credits of alfalfa in rotation

cassida@msu.edu — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 12:43:46 -0500

In addition to its value as a forage and soil improver, alfalfa is noteworthy as one of the most effective sources of N credits for succeeding crops in rotations.

Managing for 'both/and': Ecosystems and livestock

jfike@vt.edu — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

The recent placement of the monarch butterfly on an endangered species list – compiled by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature – highlights the growing concern about biodiversity loss.

How should I adjust my hay fertilization due to high fertilizer prices?

jfike@vt.edu — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 10:12:48 -0500

Fertilizer prices are hurting farmers in a big way. The price of nitrogen, in particular, has skyrocketed over the past year.

Maintenance in the dormant season

pkeyser@utk.edu — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 16:30:57 -0400

Native warm-season grasses will be fully dormant by late October and do not break dormancy again until late March in the Mid-South.

Cattle and pollinators’ mutually beneficial relationship

tyrell@agproud.com — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 13:19:15 -0400

Everybody and their dog knows pollinators are vital to the overall ecological health of the Earth. But just how important are they to livestock producers in particular? Perhaps just as pivotally, can grazing livestock not only coexist but be a benefit to these insects?

Adding birdsfoot trefoil to the mix

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 22:52:49 -0400

Organic dairy producers must follow many rules that seem to heighten the struggles every dairy faces. One of these regulations requires all organic dairy cattle to spend a minimum of 120 days each year on pasture, which in some areas can be the entire grazing season.

Technology assists with the sixth sense

Mon, 30 May 2022 02:58:42 -0400

Determining optimum timing for harvest – to find the best balance between high yield and high quality – has always been a challenge, especially with alfalfa crops, while factoring in the best timing for weather.

The pasture waltz

woody@woodylane.com — Mon, 31 May 2021 13:00:01 -0400

Do you know how to waltz? Ah yes, you answer. You remember the time when you took a dance lesson and learned the box step.

Soil organic matter as a nitrogen source

qmk2@cornell.edu — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 21:34:02 -0500

Plants need nitrogen to grow and produce high-quality crops. How much will be required is difficult to predict with absolute certainty. What we do know is that the soil in crop fields can be a very important source of nitrogen for crop growth.

In pursuit of improved nitrogen management for corn silage: Tracking field nitrogen balances

qmk2@cornell.edu — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 21:27:15 -0500

There are numerous approaches to manage nitrogen to fertilize crops. Many of the pros and cons were described and summarized in the 2018 Agronomy Journal publication “Strengths and Limitations of Nitrogen Rate Recommendations for Corn and Opportunities for Improvement.”

Planning your next silage season

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 14:00:01 -0500

It always pays to plan ahead for the next crop season. Steven Hines, University of Idaho extension educator for Jerome County, says things a producer needs to think about during winter include maintaining machinery, such as the corn planter.