Michaela King is the 2019 Hay & Forage Grower summer editorial intern. She is from Big Bend, Wis. and is attending the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities pursuing a bachelor's degree in professional journalism and photography.
April 21 2020 Every year across the country, hay fires cost farmers thousands of dollars in damages to buildings, hay, and equipment. With the right precautions, the risk of loss can be reduced. There are seve
April 14 2020 As the weather gets warmer and pasture grasses begin to get green, horse owners become eager to start grazing. However, starting too soon can be damaging to the health of your horses and your pastures
April 7 2020 Uncovered hay that is stored outside will lose both dry matter and nutrients. How much do these losses amount to? Research conducted by the University of Georgia (UGA) shows that up to 60 pe
April 6 2020 sitting in a rocker on a wrap-around porch, I found myself staring out at hilly, green pastures split by a gravel road that runs into a wooded area
March 31 2020 As spring approaches with warmer temperatures and grass growth, the risk for grass tetany in cattle accelerates. Grass tetany is a metabolic disorder that occurs when blood magnesium concentrations ar
March 24 2020 Hay harvesting is around the corner and with that comes the question of what is the most cost effective and efficient storage option. Baleage involves additional costs, but producers across the countr
March 17 2020 Net wrap is widely used as a hay binding material, but it does come with its disadvantages. Unwrapping a bale is time consuming and sometimes frustrating. Labor is a valuable resource so producers are
March 10 2020 There are numerous rules people follow to make grazing decisions. Keith Harmoney, an extension range scientist with Kansas State University, recently expanded on a few of these rules in the March issu
March 3 2020 Even with all of the economic and environmental advantages of producing alfalfa, sometimes winter injury or death can prematurely terminate hardy perennial alfalfa stands. About this time every year
Feb. 25 2020 Photo: Noble Research Institute Cool-season annual grasses are used by producers across the Great Plains, but the forage comes with several downsides. Some of the concerns include delayed plantin
Feb. 18 2020 Double cropping annual forages is a good way to boost profits and provide extra pasture for livestock. However, it takes some planning, timely operations, and adequate rainfall at the right time.Bruce
Feb. 11 2020 Annual ryegrass is typically seen as a high-quality, cool-season forage and is utilized by many livestock producers for winter grazing. However, the annual forage can also become a weed issue in warm-
Feb. 4 2020 The health and body condition of cows during late pregnancy is critical to their overall health and that of their calves. The body condition of a cow during its last trimester also affects subsequent
Jan. 28 2020 Determining the correct stocking rate is one of the most important decisions a livestock producer makes. It needs to be conservative, flexible, and adaptable.A smart stocking rate plan is more than ju
Jan. 21 2020 The less than ideal fall weather led to a poor growing season for fall and winter pastures in some parts of the U.S. That was the case in Arkansas where it was hot and dry in September, and subsequent
Jan. 14 2020 A horse on stall rest or with limited activity for an extended period of time is at risk for excessive weight gain if fed the same diet as when it was healthy and active. When changing a stall-confine
Jan. 7 2020 A wet spring and growing season left limited inventories of average and high-quality hay in many areas.Kevin Gould, a Michigan State University extension beef educator, notes that during the winter of
Dec. 24 2019 There are many opinions on the proper use of small grain (cereal) silages. Some argue its quality should mimic alfalfa to optimize milk production. Others say that regardless of protein and fiber cont
Dec. 17 2019 Improper storage and feeding methods can lead to drastic amounts of forage waste. Reducing losses by just a few percentages has a direct effect on the financial status of a livestock operation.Striving...
