Whether dry conditions deter forage growth or rainfall shortens the harvest window, farmers may have a hay crop that is lower in yield or quality than they anticipated this year

Simple fact: Many farmers pull the trigger too early on drought-challenged corn for silage and either chop the immature plants or disk them under

A dry start to the growing season made for smooth sailing as many hay producers cut forage without worrying their crop would be rained on

The summer slump has likely struck in pastures or hayfields with cool-season forage species

Forage regrowth after a hay harvest tends to be rather uniform considering the cut height was the same across the stand

Although it takes a little time and investment, ammoniating low-quality hay, cornstalks, or straw can help improve its protein content and digestibility

Although it doesn’t necessarily have to rain for one to take a rain check, the figure of speech implies a change of plans

Photo: University of MinnesotaWith a historically dry start to the summer, farmers would probably appreciate any form of rain in their forage stands

Farming is a game of Plan B’s as often Plan A needs to be scrapped because of weather or other uncontrollable events

Potato leafhoppers have maintained a low profile so far this year, but they may soon make their presence known

The second cutting of alfalfa may be underway for some farmers and is fast approaching for others

The positive and negative characteristics of tall fescue are two sides of the same coin

A buzzing fly is a bother, but a biting fly is a bully. Horn flies meet the latter description for many grazing operations, and these prolific pests can have a significant impact on animal health

There are lots of insects that cause alfalfa plant damage and yield loss

Some considerations for storing silage include packing density, excluding oxygen, and applying inoculants. Silage must achieve a specific pH to undergo proper fermentation and maintain forage quality

Water quantity may be top of mind as drought conditions persist across a large part of the country, but water quality issues deserve attention as well

Respiration in plants involves the breakdown of starches and sugars to produce energy and carbon dioxide

Productive acres of grasslands in the Great Plains are shrinking because of woody plant encroachment from species such as eastern redcedar. The problem has existed for many years, but good answers to

After months of negotiations and a couple of missed deadlines, an agreement has finally been reached to reduce water usage in the lower Colorado River Basin, according to Reuters news agency

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is like a business deal between alfalfa and rhizobia bacteria. Alfalfa lets rhizobia live in nodules on its roots and provides the bacteria with nutrients produced during p