Alfalfa hasn’t earned its reputation as a foundational forage resource as a grazing crop. It’s been more so as a conventionally harvested crop. Still, there is no hard and fast rule that states

Even though water is the most important nutrient for livestock, it is often the most limiting. Forage intake will suffer if water intake doesn’t suffice, and animal health and performance hinge on

I remember the day well. I was on a pasture walk about 25 years ago, and the host farmer led us to a pasture that he had clear-seeded kura clover into. The stand was nothing short of awesome. Th

In some regions, cattle may be transitioning from winter annuals to perennial forage, while in others, the grazing season is just beginning. Nevertheless, it’s time to check last-minute items

Making hay for horses is a different beast, figuratively and literally speaking. In addition to high quality and color standards, the tolerance and acceptance of toxic plants in horse hay can vary gre

An invasion of orange cones and an influx of scaffolding are sure signs that construction season is upon us. Those summer crews that sport neon vests while repaving roads and repairing buildings

Springtime is already ticking by, and the window of opportunity to establish cool-season forage is closing. If planting has been delayed because of intermittent rain or inclement weather, it may

For the past nine years, I’ve watched my neighbor mount his riding lawn mower and cut his lawn. As nearly as I can tell, the mowing deck is set as low as it can possibly go; it’s clear that

Wiio’s Law states if communication can fail, it will. This might not mean communication is always destined to fail in every sense of the word, but one way or another, what we say is likely not perce

Grazing winter cereals in the spring can provide high-quality forage and eye-popping animal performance when cattle are strategically moved from paddock to paddock. Winter rye, winter triti

Few things are more discouraging than an unexpected rain that ruins an almost-dry cutting of hay

April showers bring April mud. Even though that’s not how the saying typically goes doesn’t mean it isn’t true

The list of acid concentrations on a forage analysis is like a report card for silage fermentation. Although good grades usually indicate feed is palatable, digestible, and stable, some high scores wi

Grazing success often starts with having a good forage base in place that will thrive, persist, and provide exceptional quality forage. However, once that is accomplished, there is still work to be do

A vigorous alfalfa stand most likely points back to well-timed and carefully executed seeding. In the Midwest, alfalfa seeding dates can fall on either shoulder of the growing season with both times o

Tornado season in the central states is not limited to the spring anymore as severe weather events no longer seem to be exclusive to specific times of year. All it takes is warm, moist air ahead of an

Perennial forages are often praised for their ability to capture atmospheric carbon and sequester it in the soil

All eyes are on the long-term forecast as precipitation and temperature maps point to another impending drought year across much of the U.S

Warmer winter temperatures might welcome an early growing season, but this head start won’t be exclusive to forage

If only there was an app whereby grass growth could be controlled according to the needs of the grazing herd. How great it would be if we could simply dial it down in the spring and crank it up during