Many do not understand what fall dormancy really is and its value to alfalfa growers. Fall dormancy is the ability of alfalfa to grow tall in the fall. It is measured by determining plant

The beauty and curse of a biological system is that we always play the averages and probabilities because very few things happen 100 percent of the time. For any given question there are

For those in areas of the country where winter actually exists — real snow with drivable lakes — you’ve been looking at brown or white alfalfa fields for several months. All of that is

There are a lot of opinions about applying manure to established alfalfa; okay, maybe there are really just two: yea or nay. We’ll save established alfalfa for another day

Versatility is always a commendable attribute and Texas A&M University’s Russ Jessup is developing a new grass plant that can be used for both forage or as a biofuel

Wheel-line irrigation system. Moisture stress to alfalfa regrowing after a cutting has the greatest impact on yield

Growing forage legumes in the southeastern U.S. can be challenging. The combination of warm weather, high moisture and sandy soils provide a perfect environment for a variety of crop pests and disease

Alfalfa is the most widely used perennial forage in the U.S. due to its high digestibility, its ability to fix nitrogen, and its high protein content

The 2015 hay and haylage crop is in storage and being fed, with many producers asking how their crops stack up, no pun intended. Determining a single crop’s quality can be a tricky task

Though there is no scientific survey that documents the rising popularity of baled silage, an excursion down rural roads tells us that more and more forage is being harvested in this manner

The author is a dairy scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Alfalfa producers will have a couple of new options to consider in the upcoming growing season. Low-lignin alfalfas are being to

Seed availability for alfalfa producers looks to be in pretty good shape for the 2016 growing season; however, like most years, there may be issues for those who wait to order elite varieties that are

Several years of moderate winters have allowed meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) to reach crop-killing proportions in some areas of the West

A strong U.S. dollar and increased competition are two factors that have led to a more difficult hay export situation. Looking back over 2015, forage exporters reflected on a year of frustration

The 2013 to 2015 drought centered on California and Nevada has been termed “Exceptionally Severe” by USDA scientists, and has brought home with a vengeance the importance of water for

January is a month for post-holiday adjustment, football play-offs, W-2 forms, farm meetings and year-end financial analysis. It’s also the month when the National Agricultural Statistics Service

Though snow is not always a welcome occurrence, for alfalfa growers there is nothing that aids winter survival of the crop better than a good blanket of the white stuff. “Alfalfa loves snow,”

Let's be honest . . . if you’re involved in a facet of production agriculture, yield is a big part of your life. On the farm, it’s an economic driver; at the coffee shop, fodder for b

Let's face it, 2016 is not going to be a banner year for high milk and beef prices. As such, the prudent manager won't just blindly cut expenses but rather look for those places where eliminat

Black Friday is but a distant memory, the unwrapping ceremonies are complete, and Santa is back at the North Pole sipping hot chocolate, if not something stronger. The attention this week turns