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Although I write this looking out the window at a white, frozen landscape, it will soon be spring and time to plant crops, including alfalfa. Alfalfa can be challenging to establish due to its small seeds
Farmers must have hope that the tiny seeds they sow will develop into productive plants; hope that new practices will have positive impacts on their land, livestock, and bottom lines; and hope for future
For readers like me with kids in school, spring break season is here. Plans for the week off may have been months in the making, which could include picking out a vacation destination, arranging
Hay buyers are like snowflakes — no two customers are alike. Their preferences revolve around the type of livestock they are feeding, the stage of production those animals are in, and their capacity
Hay exports in 2025 totaled 2.7 million metric tons (MT), according to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). This was down 17% year-over-year, following a relatively flat trend the previous
Silage sorghum is a niche, yet increasingly important, component of the U.S. forage landscape. Unlike grain sorghum grown primarily for grain and export, silage sorghum is grown specifically for biomass
There are select few regions of the United States with ideal conditions for grass seed production, and Oregon’s Willamette Valley is one of them
Bruno Pedreira summed up the impact that Hurricane Helene had on Southeastern forage systems in one word: devastating
The adoption of cover crops offers several benefits to agricultural systems, such as reducing weed pressure, soil nutrient losses, and soil erosion
“Not all rumors are true, but there is probably a shred of truth in each.” That was Matt Makens’s first comment as he took the stage at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s
The hay export market has historically carried a lot of weight for Western producers. Figuratively speaking, that remains true, as hay exports affect Western market prices and contribute to the
Last year marked the third year of the hay market downturn across the country. In the Western states, Josh Callen explained how shifting dynamics throughout the region and overseas have kept hay price
USDA launched its Crop Production Annual Summary yesterday, which contains final numbers for hay production, acreage, and average yields in 2025.According to the report, forage production was relative
Carson Roberts is determined to convince beef producers to stop making hay. In a recent episode of the I-29 Moo University forage webinar series, the state forage specialist with the University of Mis
We are surrounded by autonomous machines, with drones hovering overhead, self-driving cars hitting the road, and even street-smart robots that can deliver your groceries cropping up in major cities
Few sights capture rural life quite like hay bales dotting a golden field beside a red barn. It’s a postcard image of hard work and harvest. But for those who grow, haul, and sell hay, the bales
I have never been a fan of flashy cars or used car salesmen. My first car was a green 2005 Ford Taurus with a huge dent in the passenger door
“Slop” is the 2025 Word of the Year, according to Merriam-Webster. The mainstream media’s definition of slop probably isn’t what comes to farmers’ minds when they hear the
The National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance (NAFA) released the 2026 edition of its popular “Alfalfa Variety Ratings - Winter Survival, Fall Dormancy & Pest Resistant Ratings for Alfalfa Varietie
The colder months ahead require farmers to winterize hay equipment, take inventory of stored forages, and draw up plans to feed livestock. As we wrap up forage production for 2025, it’s a good time
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