May 31, 2022

• Although it prefers cool climates, the clover root curculio looks to be present in California alfalfa fields.

• The USDA will allow Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants who are in the final year of their CRP contract to request voluntary termination of their CRP contract following the end of the primary nesting season for fiscal year 2022.

• Here’s some tips from the University of Florida on producing and buying hay in 2022.

• Ohio State University Extension offers several decision-making tools for pricing a variety of standing forage crops.

• The Heifer Grazing Compass is a decision tool that is designed to help users predict and understand the cash flow and long-term financial outcomes associated with raising dairy heifers on pasture.

May 24, 2022

• Milk production in the U.S. during April totaled 19.2 billion pounds, down 1% from the previous year, according to USDA’s Milk Production report.

• April was the sixth consecutive month of a year-over-year milk production decline. The nation’s dairy herd totaled 9.4 million head in April, 98,000 head less than a year ago but unchanged from the previous month.

• The USDA recently announced details of its Emergency Relief Program for crop and livestock producers. These are outlined in this press release.

• Penn State Extension offers these recommendations for establishing a grass riparian buffer that has hay production potential.

• Speed hay drying to store higher quality forage.

May 17, 2022

• The Noble Research Institute learned these seven lessons after adding sheep to their ranch.

• A new decision tool from the University of Missouri helps wheat growers find the “sweet spot” for harvesting wheatlage or grain.

• Here are some tips to consider if your alfalfa has winterkilled.

• John Deere announced last week that it has established an allied agreement for the distribution of Grady Twin Pak balers.

• Grazing has little impact on soil structure when grazing cover crops, according to researchers at Kansas State University.

May 10, 2022

• The U.S. exported 251,719 metric tons (MT) of alfalfa hay during March, according to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. This total was down 11% from the previous year; however, the year-to-date volume through March remains 4% ahead of 2021.

• China imported 116,382 MT of U.S. alfalfa hay during March, down 19% from the previous year. Its year-to-date total remains 13% ahead of 2021.

• The University of Nebraska offers some options for dealing with a grass shortage.

• Forage management takes on a different look when fertilizer prices are at record-high levels.

• Kansas State University has had success interseeding sorghum-sudangrass into western wheatgrass pastures.

May 3, 2022

• Be on the lookout for alfalfa weevils.

• Extreme weather is expected to delay pasture turnout in North Dakota.

• Is vetch a friend or a foe to livestock producers?

• Approximately 52% of U.S. alfalfa hay acres are in an area experiencing drought. The same is true for about 40% of all hay acres.

• Farmers continue to increase corn plant density.