Oct. 9 2025 Have you ever seen a forage analysis report where the concentration of acid detergent fiber (ADF) in a forage sample was similar or even greater than the concentration of neutral detergent fiber (NDF)?...

May 27 2025 Every choice that affects cow nutrition can have far-reaching impacts on both milk production and environmental sustainability

Oct. 9 2024 Barley, oats, rye, triticale, and wheat are cool-season annual grasses that have a starchy endosperm within their caryopses, or grains

May 3 2023 Alfalfa hay can be used in rations for pregnant and nonlactating dairy cows without necessarily causing metabolic diseases such as clinical hypocalcemia — also called milk fever. That’s the...

Nov. 7 2022 Several scientists have contributed enormously to the dairy industry during the past 50 years, and Dave Mertens might be at the top of the list. If you still need convinced of this reasoning, I invite

Aug. 10 2022 Different reasons exist for growing small grain crops on a dairy farm. Winter annual crops capture nitrogen from the manure applied to the soil, protect the soil from erosion

Aug. 19 2021 Reading about small grains for silage in the middle of the summer might seem untimely; however, a post-season evaluation of small grains for silage is always good for adjusting future management

Aug. 21 2020 I get more milk from my silage.” This is a frequent response from farmers when I ask about the effects of drought stress on corn silage quality

Sept. 5 2019 Last June, I had the opportunity to travel to Kenya, Africa. This was my first time in Africa. I traveled mainly from Nairobi to Nakuru

Aug. 31 2018 According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the spring and summer of 2012 will be remembered as one of the nation’s worst agricultural calamities

Feb. 15 2018 Farmers often boost corn plant densities as a means to maximize forage yields or replenish silage stocks

Aug. 31 2017 The decision to purchase forage can be easy when stocks are low and forage availability is scarce. Under this scenario, the decision relies on purchasing whatever is available

Feb. 1 2017 Anionic salts are typically incorporated in feed rations for close-up dry cows

Aug. 31 2016 When talking about interpersonal relationships, we may frequently say, “What I don’t know won’t hurt me.” The flip side of this is saying “Ouch! Knowing that really hurts!”

May 18 2016 Legumes such as hairy vetch can improve the quality of winter annual grasses. Cover crops are planted to enhance health and fertility of soils and to benefit the surrounding environment