Alfalfa and other hay exports will increase in California and the West in 2013, said Seth Hoyt, market analyst and author of The Hoyt Report newsletter....More
The drought felt by so many this past year – and tentatively predicted for 2013 – is forcing producers to take a new look at how and what forages are grown and what’s being fed. Here’s how three dairymen, one from Indiana and two from California, are dealing with the challenges handed them....More
North Dakota State University research indicates producers can save up to 25% of their forage inventories by following a dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) feeding strategy....More
Growers in areas particularly hit by drought have a few chores to conduct as they prepare for the 2013 growing season and possibly more dry weather, suggests Dan Undersander, University of Wisconsin Extension forage specialist....More
When it comes to marketing product, hay growers have traditionally been a pretty independent lot. But six hay growers from throughout Manitoba find that pooling resources to address various marketing concerns is worthwhile and then some....More
In drought-stricken areas short on hay, growers may literally face another sting next summer: Imported fire ants spread beyond the current USDA quarantine zone....More
Western hay prices, innovative forage equipment, forage-testing suggestions, spider mites and what it takes to produce quality forage. All those subjects will be discussed in a few short hours on Feb. 12 during Forage Seminars hosted by Mycogen Seeds and Hay & Forage Grower at World Ag Expo, Tulare, CA....More
Four years ago, Tony Garner, Grangeville, ID, decided to restore 360 acres of weed-infested pastureland for a 250-head beef herd. He considered several options, including grazing, mowing and chemical treatments. Eventually, however, he settled on an unconventional method: renting goats....More
Most of the equipment is in place to efficiently harvest and deliver the massive amounts of biomass required by cellulosic ethanol plants, says Matt Darr, Iowa State University ag engineer....More
If baled at less than 30% moisture and properly protected, corn stover destined for cellulosic ethanol production will hold its quality during long-term storage, says Matt Darr, Iowa State University ag engineer....More
Development of a commercial market for Giant King Grass – a prolific, perennial proprietary grass developed in China and owned by the U.S. company Viaspace – is moving closer to reality. Recently, USDA released the grass from quarantine, which means it can be marketed in the U.S. and to neighboring countries....More
Northern beef producers should grow and make field-pea forages a part of their weaned steers’ diets, says Vern Anderson, North Dakota State University animal scientist. Peas are higher in energy and protein than grass hay and can provide faster gains, his recent research shows....More
Alfalfa and pest management as well as tips on handling drought effects, will be among topics presented at the Feb. 5-6 Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference. It will be held at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds, Kearney, NE....More
Increasing profitability will be the focus of the 2013 Winter Forage Conference presenting keynote speaker Jim Gerrish, an expert on forage-livestock systems....More
New ways to improve the feed value of corn silage and corn stover will be detailed at the Jan. 22-23 Midwest Forage Association (MFA), Wisconsin Custom Operators (WCO) and Professional Nutrient Applicators (PNA) Symposium and annual meetings....More
Dairy producers can feed low-starch, high-byproduct diets to late-lactation cows with little loss in milk production, according to a recent collaborative study reported in Cornell and University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension publications....More
“I call it shed-wrap because it’s basically an individual hay shed for every round bale.”
Darron Schoen is describing B-Wrap, a new bale wrap he tested on his Monett, MO, dairy farm the past three growing seasons. Surface layers of B-Wrap bales stay as green as if stored indoors, and the protection lasts longer than with net-wrap, he says....More
Forages stored in bales instead of bunkers are higher in quality, and spoilage losses are much lower, says Lane Blount of Humdinger Equipment,Lubbock, TX....More
An alternative approach to breaking down cellulose and hemicellulose molecules in corn stover biomass could cost less and expand possible end uses beyond cellulosic ethanol, according to new research....More
When planting grass for pastures or hayfields, many farmers decide on the species and then pay little attention to the variety, buying whatever seed is cheapest or available. This is a little like deciding to add a cow to the herd but not caring whether it’s a Holstein or an Angus. Failing to select a high-performing grass variety can be a very expensive mistake....More
Gathering representative hay prices has been difficult due to unusually slow sales activity for this time of year. Supplies are tight and prices high, though they haven’t changed much in most of the country in recent weeks....More
