We know about toxins in Kentucky 31 tall fescue. We also know that mycotoxins can be an issue in corn silage. Now, University of Florida researchers are finding that some warm-season pastures and hayf
Planting and grazing cover crops after wheat harvest can be a viable way to gain some extra forage for late summer and fall grazing. However, growing conditions, moisture availability, stocking rate
Pricing hay to accurately reflect forage quality is an ongoing challenge, especially because there are no hard and fast standards to justify a going rate. Even more challenging is pricing haylage.Hayl
Sorghum species are prominent in providing extra summer forage for grazing or mechanically harvesting. Typically, we hear about farmers planting either forage sorghum or sorghum-sudangrass. Sudangrass
One of the redeeming values of alfalfa is that it has a deep root system, which allows it to reach subsoil moisture and stay relatively productive when topsoil moisture starts to become limited. But e
Despite their name, stable flies can now be found beyond the barn and in the field. Historically an issue for dairies and feedlots, these pests have emerged as a problem in pasture systems to the detr
I’m usually the one posing questions to farmers, but I recently found myself on the receiving end of such an exchange. The conversation led me to consider one step of the haymaking process that seem
Unless you run a John Deere tractor or root for the Green Bay Packers, yellow and green don’t make the best color combination by most standards. It’s especially an eyesore in pastures and hayfield
As haymakers tackle first cutting and grazing livestock relish in lush pastures, it may seem a bit early to think about seeding summer annuals, let alone harvesting them. But having a plan for these f
Over time, what once was a monoculture of perennial grass may turn into a mixed stand of grasses, legumes, and even some unwanted species. But just because a pasture isn’t what it used to be doesn�
Waiting days for a good-quality hay crop to dry and then have it rained on just as it was getting close to baling moisture can be demoralizing. It’s like losing a baseball game with two outs in the
Horse hay has its own set of standards that are exclusive to equine. Many of these standards fall under the physical attributes of the bale, followed by the nutritive qualities of the forage, but clea
Natural water sources in pastures are only as valuable to a grazing system as the quality of water they contain. In other words, the health and performance of livestock will suffer if animals are subj
Grazing fall corn stalks is a common practice throughout the Midwest and Great Plains. But what if we could improve that brown crop residue with green and growing forage? Interseeding annual fora
It’s that time of year when grass paints the landscape in green and grows like it’s on a designer steroid. As temperatures warm, cool-season grasses are well rested and ready to take advantage
Like any grazing practice, the merits of bale grazing will vary with each individual farm. These merits can be in the form of more grazing days, lower feed costs, and less equipment use, which can tra
“Three findings highlight fescue’s history” detailed the early events that contributed to tall fescue’s infamous reputation as a toxic forage. Although these events paved the path
Photo: University of NebraskaRangeland pastures are difficult enough to keep productive throughout the growing season without the encroachment of woody species. The problem, according to Bethany Johns
Wildfires throw a wrench into grazing plans in regions prone to such disasters. Even though pasture and rangeland fires delay forage regrowth and set back grazing schedules, perennial grasses typicall
Aphids are a bane in alfalfa fields, especially considering the rapid rate of reproduction and range of toxicity among the species. Damage from aphids feeding on plant sap as well as their injection o
