Alfalfa hay can be used in rations for pregnant and nonlactating dairy cows without necessarily causing metabolic diseases such as clinical hypocalcemia — also called milk fever. That’s the
Perhaps the weakest link in the entire alfalfa production cycle is getting a healthy, vigorous stand. Subsequent production, forage quality, and persistence hinge on it.During a “Field Crops Virtual
Over the course of the next two months, a large number of hay implements will venture out into fields for their maiden voyage of 2023. Be it grass or alfalfa, first cutting separates itself as a time
Forage nutrient digestion and energy yield is a function of the feed’s nutrient content and subsequent digestion by the animal. Fiber content and digestion has been a major focus in ruminant nutrition,
In a recent survey of horse owners, 48% said alfalfa hay was an excellent source of nutrition while 73% said it was too high in protein or overall nutrients. These results represent conflicting opinions
Why Alfalfa?presented by Emily Meccage, David Weakley, and Matt Minnes,W-L Alfalfas presented this webinar detailing why alfalfa needs to stay in crop rotations
Okay, maybe renaissance is too strong of a word, but in case you haven’t been paying attention, things are happening on the small square bale front.In the same way I’ve been told since middle
Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over. This is far from an original statement, but no truer mantra has ever been spoken.The western U.S. is in all-out battle over water, and it’s being
I’ve recently opted for a diesel truck, primarily to step up the range between fuel stops. It’s got a 33-gallon fuel tank, but the range equation is more than just a larger fuel tank. Both
Before expanding my agricultural canvas as a national magazine editor, I really had little idea how the rest of the nation operated beyond my home Midwest region. Here, we plant, it rains, crops grow
“Alfalfa is a virtuous queen,” began Dennis Hancock while speaking to a packed house at the World Alfalfa Congress last month in San Diego, Calif. “There is a long list of well-known
This past year saw the Southern Plains and western Midwest regions get rocked by drought. These same areas are dense with beef cattle found in both large and small herds.Drought can be devastati
“When I tell people what I do, my explanation usually elicits a lot of confused looks,” said Josh Callen regarding his company’s quest to document Western hay markets in his weekly newsletter
Among the many politically polarizing issues of the day is climate change. A multitude of claims — many unsubstantiated — are made by both the “doom and gloomers” as well as the
As a hay industry, there are still a number of hay sales that occur “by the bale.” Yes, it’s easier, but if the sale is made without factoring in bale weight and moisture, there’s
Interest in integrating livestock and alfalfa production is on the rise in the U.S. as a way to produce food more sustainably. There are significant economic and environmental advantages to grazing, i
The alfalfa acreage in Oklahoma has drastically declined in recent years, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Services (NASS). The total alfalfa harvested area dropped from 310,000 acres
Among the many unique rural landscape features found in the western United States, first-time visitors will witness thousands of scattered haystacks that have seemingly sprung forth from the parched s
Alfalfa is the fourth most widely grown crop nationwide and historically has been one of the most popular forages among livestock producers due to its high yield and quality potential. Alfalfa utiliza
