Winter cereal grains have taken big strides in the forage world as prominent components of double crop systems. In addition to keeping living roots in the soil and covering the ground during colder mo
Winter cereal seedings from last fall have or will soon be greening the landscape. Their popularity from coast to coast as either a supplemental or foundational forage resource is now unde
Despite alfalfa’s popularity, there are many reasons producers plant and feed alternative forages. Seeding grass species, cover crops, or cocktail mixes may be viable solutions to alfalf
Sorghum and its many variations now appear in fields across the U.S. with virtually no latitude or longitude limitations when hybrids are properly selected. Their ability to tolerate drought, generate
At a recent field day, Brody Stapel explained how their farm is transitioning away from alfalfa by feeding more winter cereals and summer annual forage mixtures.Double Dutch Dairy, near Cedar Grove, Wi
The family of sorghum crops was once considered fodder for those who farmed in more arid regions of the U.S. and really had few other mid-summer forage alternatives.That line of thinking has gone the
Historically, dairy rations have utilized corn silage and alfalfa as the primary forage components. While farms have had a lot of success feeding these forages, the need to grow more digestible fiber per
It’s officially fall. A few in the far North have perhaps already experienced a killing freeze or heavy frost. For most, it’s yet to come.As the hours of sunlight get shorter, I have always
Every year, we see new ideas come down the pike. Time, of course, is the best measure of success for any new idea or technology. If something doesn’t work, its staying power is usually short
Who doesn’t like oats? In 1930, there were nearly 40 million acres of oats harvested for grain in the United States. By contrast, the 2017 Census of Agriculture pegged harvested oat acres at ju
Sorghum-Sudangrass is an important crop worldwide. It has value as a forage resource and is cheaper to grow compared to many other summer annuals such as corn
Anderson is a senior research associate and Xue-Feng Ma is an assistant professor at the Noble Research Institute, Ardmore, Okla.Small grains are often grazed during vegetative stages or harvested as green
Availability of high-quality forages to dairy cattle is essential to maintaining rumen health and animal production. Although corn silage is the predominant forage used to feed dairy cows in the United
Seeding spring oats for a fall harvest is a beautiful thing. It’s rare to hear about a bad experience with the practice. We’re now approaching the optimum time to seed oats for fall forage
With proper chemical application and timing for control of sugarcane aphids, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialists have determined forage sorghum in the Texas High Plains is still a viable option
Winter cereal forage has fully transitioned from a niche crop to that of a crop rotation mainstay on many farms. The fast-growing nature of cereals makes them a perfect double-crop fit with several co
As far as winter annual cereal forages are concerned, rye has ruled the roost for many years as a crop that fits nicely after corn silage harvest in Northern regions
