Cows don’t want to eat moldy feed, and farmers don’t want to feed moldy silage. The solution seems simple enough until all of the other factors of corn silage harvest and storage are added

Most inaccuracies of hay test results can be attributed to the fact that the sample taken was not representative of the hay lot. “Grab samples only represent the quality of about 1 square foot

The U.S. drought monitor is virtually clear across the eastern half of the country thanks to ample rain. What the map doesn’t show are the negative effects excessively wet forecasts have had o

This time of year, we hear a lot about stockpiling forages to extend the grazing season, especially with tall fescue. But there are other forage species that can also be successfully stockpiled. One o

Dealing with annual weeds in pastures and hayfields is grueling enough before prickly plant parts are added to the mix. Stiff hairs, thorns, and spines on stems and leaves not only deter livestock fro

Hay producers, cover your eyes and plug your ears — the following includes 10 reasons to stop making hay.To be sure, the list comes from Carson Roberts, the state forage specialist with Univer

Stockpiling forage is a practical strategy farmers can use to extend their grazing season. The accumulation of late summer growth can provide livestock with high-quality forage into the fall and throu

You can’t always have it all, especially when it comes to forage quality and yield. This trade-off is often debated to determine harvest timing, but it exists in terms of cutting height, too.At the

In 1930, there were nearly 40 million acres of oats harvested for grain in the United States. By contrast, USDA pegged harvested oat acres at about 900,000 in 2024; it’s become the rotary phone of

In a few days, we’ll be flipping the calendar to August. That will mark the beginning of the traditional late-summer alfalfa seeding window. But when does that window close?Recently, I got a phone

Pure stands of cool-season grasses offer unique challenges and rewards. Assuming stands have already been cut once, most grasses close the book on heading for the season and focus on providing leaf-ri

As the summer progresses, so does forage maturity, insect pressure, and the heat index. Thus, the combination of irritating grass seedheads, higher fly populations, and heat-stressed cattle is a recip

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,

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

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

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

As of this writing, a large portion of the United States is trapped under a heat dome. Several days of dangerously high temperatures are forecasted for what the National Weather Service is declaring t