Alfalfa is often touted for its high protein content relative to other forages, making it a valuable component of beef and dairy diets. That protein is subject to degradation at several points through

Just like haymaking and grazing rotations are seasonal in nature, so too is the work of an agricultural journalist — especially those of us in the hay and forage business. As farmers enter hayfields

Everyone has their opinions on how to best seed cool-season grasses and legumes for successful establishment. Variables include factors such as planting rate, type of drill or seeder, weed control met

This past winter has been notably colder compared to recent years, but as we approach May, warmer weather and the time for haylage harvest will soon be upon us

According to USDA data, alfalfa hay prices continue to creep lower, with average prices dipping to their lowest point since February 2018

To optimize something is to make the best or most effective use of it. Rather than maximizing one aspect of a resource or minimizing its worst part at the expense of all others, optimization finds the

The U.S. Drought Monitor is starting to light up again as several states show signs of struggling with inadequate soil moisture. As drought conditions develop across the northern tier of the U.S. and

As the story goes, David Mulligan hit a poor drive off the first tee at a Montreal golf course. The errant shot may or may not have been the result of an extremely bumpy ride while travelling to the m

Annual lespedeza is a warm-season legume that has been largely forgotten about in the past half-century

Total U.S. hay exports to major markets in 2024 were virtually unchanged after experiencing a more drastic decline the previous year

Trade-offs already exist between spring seedings and late summer seedings before planting management is added to the mix. The latter time frame often boasts more favorable weather and field conditions

Teffgrass is like the utility player on the baseball roster of forage species. The fast-growing warm-season annual is a good candidate for emergency forage when grazing livestock are short on feed. It

Selling hay in the horse market can be both rewarding and frustrating. Even so, that market is the lifeblood for many commercial hay producers, especially those who make small square bales.“We somet

The National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance (NAFA) announced last month that alfalfa will now be included as a short-term perennial option in the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 328

Almost every phone call home turns into an extensive update of the goings-on at my family’s farm. The latest conversation with my dad about the approaching planting season, for example, landed

Farmers and farm consultants often seek rapid and inexpensive methods to assess the feeding value of forages in the field to make timely harvest or grazing decisions

When hopping into my light duty diesel truck and heading to a meeting, I’m cognizant of the distance to empty

Horses are classified as hindgut fermenters. The main site of digestion and absorption of dietary sugars, starches, fats, and protein is the small intestine

Efficiency — it’s a word we throw around a lot as a reason for making a change. Every time farm prices tank, the rally cry from many different sources is to “become more efficient.”

According to the USDA’s Crop Production Annual Summary released last month, the nation’s forage production appeared to have ended on an overall positive note in 2024