After a winter of snow, mud, feed supplements, and moving bales in subzero weather, opening the gate to spring pastures is a welcome transition for both cattleman and cow.Early spring pasture growth i
As far as U.S. alfalfa hay exports are concerned, China has been the big story. Shipments to that country have risen from 177,000 metric tons (MT) in 2011 to over 1 million MT in 2016.So what country
When the first green grass appears, it can be tempting to turn horses out to graze immediately. However, for the health of the horse and pasture, the grass needs to have time to grow before horses are
If winter annual small grains were not planted last fall for spring forage, opportunities are dwindling to produce additional forage for grazing or hay. One option that remains for quick developing fo
We often hear about the virtues of rotational grazing in theoretical terms based on research. However, there are livestock producers across the U.S. who can vouch for its benefits based on personal ex
Fertilizing cool-season forages and some winter annuals like rye and wheat early in the spring promotes advanced growth and allows hay feeding to end prematurely.According to Dirk Philipp, associate p
Cool-season annual forage crops are grown throughout the South to minimize the amount of stored forage that needs to be fed. To extend the grazing season, small grain cereal grasses such as rye
Bermudagrass is a warm-season perennial. Normally long-lived, the species perpetuates by both underground rhizomes and aboveground stolons. As such, it should be a pretty easy task to both establish a
Black Leg Ranch, McKenzie, N.D., earned the distinction of winning the national 2016 Environmental Stewardship Award. The Doan family, who own and operate the ranch, was selected from a group of regio
Aboveground water systems are an efficient tool for delivering water from reliable sources to pastures.“Recently, there have been some changes in manufacturing and suppliers that are worthy to note
The value of legumes in pastures is well documented, and we’re now moving into the frost-seeding season. Frost seeding is a tried and tested method to introduce or maintain legumes in existing grass
In the South, ryegrass quickly turns from winter grazing savior to competitive Satan for warm-season grasses. That time is quickly approaching, and advanced control planning is in order to get those w
Snow and ice storms are often a part of life for cattle grazing winter pastures in northern states. For their owners, it means making those cattle as comfortable as possible and ensuring adequate nutr
Problems with toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue usually come front and center in the heat of summer when cattle body temperatures rise and blood flow is reduced.Severe cold temperatures can also be
Most cattle tend to graze in valleys and congregate by creeks, leading to overgrazing in riparian areas and letting quality forage on hillsides go to waste.However, some cattle are different, preferri
In last week’s eHay Weekly we took a look at the big picture from USDA’s 2016 Crop Production Annual Summary. From that same report, here’s a list of the top five states as they ranked
Water shortages in the West have prompted farmers and researchers to explore strategies that will cut water usage while at the same time maintaining profitable alfalfa yields. According to Dan Putnam
Some years things just don’ t go according to how they get drawn up in the pasture playbook.That was the case in Arkansas where the fall was not favorable for generating fall and winter pasture grow
Forage sorghum, usually thought of as a Southern crop, has gained traction in the North during recent years. On some dairy farms, it’s being used for both heifer and/or milking cow feed.Forage sorgh
With milk, beef, and hay prices being on the south side of desired for sellers of those commodities in 2016, one tidbit of good news on the input side of the ledger can be found in fertilizer prices.I