It is rarely ideal for grazing livestock to lose body condition — especially not in the midst of winter breeding season. Weight loss is often a result of low energy levels in cattle rations, but
Growth in the grass-finished beef sector has grown exponentially in the past decade. The desire for local foods by more consumers and the pandemic added a giant nudge to the grass-finished growth curv
Some farmers may have lower hay supplies this winter following a dry growing season. Buying hay might seem like a simple solution to fill feed gaps, but the decision to do so can be complex. Whil
In many areas hammered by drought this past summer and fall, purchasing additional hay will be a necessity in the upcoming weeks and months. Hay buyers need to exercise caution when making purchases f
As we flip the calendar from November to December, most harvest equipment is making its way to the machine shed for the season. Without properly winterizing equipment — including inoculant app
The concept of phosphorus and potassium “fixation” is often raised during discussions of potential forage fertilizer strategies. Fixation is thought of in terms of nutrients being bound in
Identifying the cause of an unanticipated crop problem during the growing season can be easy . . . until it’s not. When a second variable such as irrigation is thrown into the agronomic
Most silage and haylage crops from the past growing season now sit packed, covered, and/or wrapped. Perhaps you think it will make good feed because everything was done “right,” or maybe you
Cotton fiber may be the most valuable part of a cotton plant for human use, but cotton stalk residue can be utilized for livestock feed. Grazing cattle on leftover lint, leaves, burrs, and unopened bo
Farmers may be looking for alternative feedstuffs this fall if they are experiencing high hay prices or forage shortages due to drought. Baling soybean residue can be a low-cost solution to thes
In an era where dry weather seems to be the new normal, the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) insurance program is gaining interest and participation. The deadline to purchase PRF insurance fo
Photo: University of FloridaConventional feeding systems involve not only the cost of the feed but also a considerable investment in labor and equipment. To lower these costs, researchers at the Unive
Drought management is an ongoing process that doesn’t have a definite start or end. Drought plans are necessary to prepare before a period of dry weather, and modified grazing techniques are k
Pasture productivity ebbs and flows from year-to-year and even within a growing season. That’s normal.What isn’t normal is when the productivity trendline continues in a downward spiral over
Many forage growers prefer to establish new alfalfa and/or grass seedings in the late summer rather than early spring. Fall conditions are generally ideal for seedling development and forage growth. F
In theory, feeding hay is a sound solution to supplement fall grazing or provide animals with winter feed. Timely harvests can result in high-quality forage, and proper baling and storage preserves nu
Cornstalks feed a lot of U.S. cattle during the fall and winter. Mostly, stalks are grazed, but that isn’t possible for every field or producer, and many areas this year are in short supply of forag
The 18th year of the Southeastern Hay Contest climaxed this morning when a hay producer from Climax, N.C., was named the grand prize winner at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga. After th
Alfalfa and corn silage are a dynamic duo in dairy cattle diets because of their complementary components; however, these forage crops have demonstrated opposite production trendlines
