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...

For any operation that always seems to have too many irons in the fire, buying hay rather than making it might just sound appealing. Bryon Kirwan, Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state economist, asked the question, “Can you buy hay cheaper than making it?” in a presentation given at the Illinois Forage Expo earlier this month.Kirwan sees many producers baling as a way to control the quality of their feed source and to effectively use acreage...

Although harvest is typically an end point, some producers may choose to head right back to the field with the grain drill in an effort to better meet fall and winter livestock forage needs. When plan...

With many auction purchases, there is an assumed risk that you might not entirely know what you’re getting. This certainly is true for buying hay. Sure, you can walk around the truck or wagon and ma...

Unfortunately, most of the country is not blessed with a climate that allows one specific grass to thrive year-round. Adaptive as always, producers are able to get around this by growing both warm- an...

Many farmers and ranchers know a thistle when they see one, but identifying the exact species is also an important step toward successful control. While the perennial Canada thistle will overtake a pa...

Although many regions have seen their fair share of rain and pasture growth this season, it is never too early to start planning ahead to combat the summer slump.If your operation is in the northern o...

Most producers think in terms of their bottom line. While many shy away at the thought of wasteful application rates, the true waste involved for some practices is sometimes overlooked. Such is often...