July 1, 2025• Iowa State University Extension is hosting a forage field day in Castana, Iowa, on July 31. Topics will include growing summer annuals for silage, baleage, and grazing; interseeding
“Go big or go home” wasn’t the motivation for Mark Van Dam when he established Rising Sun Dairy. Quite the opposite, as the self-proclaimed “micro-dairy” was designed for
It’s not unusual to feed supplemental hay on pastures during the winter or when forage is short during the growing season. In doing so, nutrients in the hay are imported to the pasture and spread
They are small, green, and the bane of alfalfa — potato leafhoppers. Sans an intentional effort to monitor their presence, usually with the use of a sweep net, they often lurk undetected. However,
Below are examples of alfalfa and grass prices being paid FOB barn/stack (except for those noted as delivered, which are indicated by a "d" in the table below) for selected states at the end
Many forages have their trade-offs, whether those be related to growth patterns, harvest management, storage considerations, or feeding precautions. Some examples include the summer slump in cool-seas
Hay fires become cause for concern when forage is baled too wet. Whether hay gets rained on or just doesn’t have enough time to dry down to proper baling moisture, wet bales can make a good harvest
Alfalfa typically hits its peak two or three years after it is established before annual forage yields start to decline. One way to give an aging stand a boost and extend its productive life is to add
We hadn’t seen a consecutive three-month jump in average alfalfa prices since February through April 2023, but that changed with the recent USDA’s Agricultural Prices report that showed another
Below are examples of alfalfa and grass prices being paid FOB barn/stack (except for those noted as delivered, which are indicated by a "d" in the table below) for selected states at the end of
Haylage and silage season push equipment to the limit — rain or shine, soft soil or steep terrain. As you race to chop, haul, and pack high-quality feed, the equipment you rely on must be up t
John Deere launched its new F8 and F9 Series self-propelled forage harvesters, designed and built to elevate forage performance, fuel efficiency, operator comfort, and farm productivity
Hay exports have taken a noticeable hit in recent years and struggle to rebound to desirable levels. So far in 2025, a combination of economic pressures has negatively impacted the volume of hay
Tar spot was hardly a blip on the radar until a decade ago when it first arrived in Indiana and Illinois cornfields. Now, the foliar disease causes major grain losses across the region each year, and
The thought of using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or drone) for pest control was all but a Jetsons-like dream not that many years ago. These days, that dream is more than reality; it’s becoming
Although hay harvest schedules vary by regions, many farmers in the Midwest are likely in the midst of second cutting, if they haven’t completed it already. Timing this next cutting — and every
Below are examples of alfalfa and grass prices being paid FOB barn/stack (except for those noted as delivered, which are indicated by a "d" in the table below) for selected states at the end of th
For the most part, I like things looking good but not necessarily perfect. This mantra applies to my vehicle, my yard, my garage, my desk, and most other publicly viewed assets. Having driven by and w
Each fall, millions of acres of corn and soybeans are tallied for yield. For many years, weigh wagons were used to accomplish this task, but now, on-board field monitors do most of the heavy lifting
