There’s no question that soil health is key to the sustainability of a grazing operation. What is in question, however, is the actual effect of winter bale grazing on soil health. Simply put, many enthusiasts praise this method for adding nutrients immediately back into the soil through hay litter and manure, making the cost of hay seemingly irrelevant. However, no data has supported the claims that the benefits to soil outweigh the cost of hay at almost any...

(From left) Jessica Jurcek, Kirsten Jurcek, and Weenonah BrattsetFor Kirsten Jurcek, operating a grass-fed and finished beef farm is sustainable not only to her family, but to the land as well. Jurcek runs Brattset Family Farm full time with the help of her mother, Weenonah, and daughter, Jessica. Weenonah bought the 183-acre farm outside of Jefferson, Wis., in 1968 and moved her children to Wisconsin while her husband, Harold, continued to work in Chicago as a firefighter...

When life gives you drought, make corn silage from your stressed grain crop. As dry conditions wear on in the Upper Plains, some producers are considering salvaging their corn cash crop as feed. “I...

Planning is especially vital for fall forage production. While yield may be higher if planted early, dry weather and pest pressure are limiting factors. The contrary is true for late fall planting. University of Arkansas researchers conducted a field trial to compare seven winter-annual forages for fall forage yield with early and late planting dates. Spring oat, winter oat, rye, wheat, triticale, ryegrass, and rape were tested at research centers in both Fayetteville...

Leaving new bales in the field is like leaving dirty dishes in the sink. Sure, it’s convenient at the time, but in both situations after a while they begin to stink. You can end up enabling future unwanted mold growth and, in the case of hay, inhibit desirable forage growth beneath the bale. In most cases, any bales left on the field are potentially damaging the next cutting’s yield. Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska extension forage specialist, cautions...

A cow spends a significant amount of time during any given day chewing on forage particles. The ability to chew down forage particles into a manageable size for digestion is foundational in the utiliz...

While predominantly used for soil and water conservation, cover crops can also be effectively utilized for winter grazing. Aside from extending the grazing season by taking advantage of quality forage...

Dry conditions in the High Plains have livestock producers on high alert for possible livestock nitrate poisoning. Extension specialists at North Dakota State University (NDSU) were quick to offer adv...

Barn fires never happen, until they happen. While racing the rain and harvesting that last cutting may be cause for celebration, hold the applause for a few weeks. Hay that is cut and baled with high moisture is at risk for spontaneous combustion for up to three weeks as the plant cells are still respiring. “When baled at moistures over 20 percent, mesophilic (warm temperature) bacteria release heat, causing temperatures to reach between 130°F and 140°F,” says...

While death and taxes may be certain, another time-tested truth is that weather is never truly predictable. Although climate change remains a heated debate, it is no secret that every growing season comes with greater extremes and subsequent challenges...