Hay

Keeping feed value in the stack

sfonnesbeck@uidaho.edu — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Reducing the exposure of hay to the rain, snow and hot sun certainly aids in protecting the visual integrity of the baled forage. However, what does the weather, elements and time do to the nutritional integrity of these same bales?

Innovative alfalfa genetics and management strategies for drought resilience

alfalfadoc@outlook.com — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Drought stress is one of the most significant limiting factors in crop production worldwide, and alfalfa is no exception. Dealing with droughts and water shortages can be challenging. However, there are some new tools available to alfalfa producers to help mitigate yield and profit losses.

‘Moo juice’ helps fuel California dairy’s success

emeccage@foragegenetics.com — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 15:01:55 -0400

As a researcher, I spend all day, every day working alongside people in the forage industry to develop solutions for farmers to overcome the countless challenges facing their operations.

Alfalfa variety development: What can we expect in the future?

alfalfadoc@outlook.com — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 15:24:24 -0400

The good news is that despite the downsizing of proprietary and public alfalfa breeding programs, there is still a lot of genetic improvements being made. This is in part due to the technical advances in plant breeding.

Alfalfa genetics and management techniques that extend stand life

alfalfadoc@outlook.com — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

When a producer plants an alfalfa field, there is an expectation that the field will remain productive for several years. Alfalfa is a perennial crop but there is a limit to its longevity, since all alfalfa fields naturally thin over time.

The advantages of alfalfa: The queen of forages and her court

emeccage@foragegenetics.com — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Alfalfa, often crowned the “queen of forages,” has long reigned supreme in the world of agriculture, commanding respect and admiration from hay producers and dairy farmers alike.

Winter cereals for early spring grazing in an integrated livestock cropping system

kevin.sedivec@ndsu.edu — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Winter cereals provide green, actively growing plants during the fall and early winter periods and are the first to green up in the spring.

Don’t let drought keep cattle performance down

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Drought conditions around the country can be a mixed bag any given year. This year, portions of the Central Plains, West, Southwest and Midwest have dealt with various drought conditions.

Herbicide residuals can reduce alfalfa stand establishment

djunders@wisc.edu — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The most effective weed control programs for summer annual weeds in many crops include herbicides that deliver long-lasting, residual weed control.

The new variety advantage

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Many grasses and legumes can be utilized in pastures or hayfields today to improve production, and new varieties are better than some of the traditional forages. When selecting something to plant, look at what might work best in your situation.

4 reasons to manage weeds in your alfalfa stand

rkern@wardlab.com — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Weedy alfalfa is often a concern when water resources are scarce. The weeds sometimes even seem to outcompete the alfalfa in extremely dry years. Weeds can impact forage quality and contribute to toxicities.

Emerging alfalfa threats and how to beat them in 2024

curtis.rainbolt@basf.com — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to moderate a panel discussion about emerging threats in alfalfa at the Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium in Sparks, Nevada.

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.

The physiology of pasture bloat

rkern@wardlab.com — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Alfalfa is a high-quality forage providing a high concentration of protein as well as energy. However, this is also what makes grazing alfalfa a bloat risk.

Climate change genetics will expand alfalfa’s role

alfalfadoc@outlook.com — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In recent years, the percentage of alfalfa used in dairy rations has been slowly declining as other feedstuffs have become more available or cheaper. However, alfalfa’s recent significant forage quality improvements may help to reverse that trend.

The power of alfalfa: Enhancing dairy nutrition and flexibility

dcweakley@landolakes.com — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In the ever-evolving world of sustainable agriculture, one crop stands tall for its exceptional benefits to both ruminant animals and your farm’s bottom line: alfalfa.

Defining horse-quality hay

kyleejo@uga.edu — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Growing and producing horse-quality hay can be both a rewarding and frustrating experience. On one hand, horse owners are often willing to pay a premium for what they consider “horse-quality” hay, but on the contrary, they can be much more selective as compared to other clientele.

Unlocking the potential of alfalfa

emeccage@foragegenetics.com — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 17:05:47 -0400

With acreage trending down, now is the perfect time to get started in alfalfa and capitalize on the opportunities it offers.

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.

Yield is not yield is not yield

woody@woodylane.com — Mon, 30 May 2022 04:21:32 -0400

Why can’t a forage be like a car? If I want to buy a car, I scan the catalogs, go to car dealers, search the internet and read Consumer Reports.

Manage alfalfa diseases with advanced genetics

rcwelch@landolakes.com — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 14:00:01 -0500

Healthy roots, stems and leaves lead to higher alfalfa yield potential. Aboveground, stems and leaves produce and transport plant energy to make valuable forage.

Getting the most economic benefits of alfalfa

djunders@wisc.edu — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 14:00:01 -0500

Fertilizer prices have gone up tremendously recently. Anhydrous nitrogen is $1,250 to $1,400 per ton as of Dec. 1, 2021, and many dealers are not taking orders for spring, expecting the price to increase even further.

Is baleage the right fit for your operation?

ben.jensen@hubbardfeeds.com — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 21:43:44 -0400

Baleage has become a common term on farms throughout the country, as it is now one of the most popular ways of harvesting and storing feed – but what is baleage?

Around the world and back to the farm

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 14:00:01 -0500

Sean Barchik, third-generation farmer from Cambra, Pennsylvania, took a roundabout trek around the world before coming back to the family farm Grandpa started.

From the oil field to the hayfield

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 13:00:01 -0400

Kale Jackson approaches everything in his life as an engineer, constantly striving to be more efficient, including producing high-quality hay.

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.