Production agriculture has always been and will always be a gamble. Growing forages is no different. Ensuring productive stands next growing season starts this season, as the final cutting date affect...

Providing additional feed is a relatively common practice throughout the summer months to boost gains on unproductive pastures. However, producers trying to “stretch the grass” by feeding suppleme...

While certainly not a blessing, drought isn’t always a total loss. Kris Ringwall, extension beef specialist at North Dakota State University (NDSU), explains that tough times often result in the re-...

If cows were born to eat grass, why are lactating dairy cows rarely fed grass forages? The answer, according to Pat Hoffman, is simply that as modern dairies have advanced in production, they h...

The phrase, “Do it right or not at all,” speaks volumes to many. This sage advice passed down for generations can be applied to numerous situations — including fall forage establishment. Marvin...

As critical drought conditions plague North Dakota, producers in Michigan are stepping in to lend a hand. North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) and the North Dakota State University&nbs...

Soil health experts champion the idea of using cover crops for a variety of reasons. As defined by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), cover crops control erosion, maintain soil health...

There’s no question that soil health is key to the sustainability of a grazing operation. What is in question, however, is the actual effect of winter bale grazing on soil health. Simply put, many enthusiasts praise this method for adding nutrients immediately back into the soil through hay litter and manure, making the cost of hay seemingly irrelevant. However, no data has supported the claims that the benefits to soil outweigh the cost of hay at almost any...

(From left) Jessica Jurcek, Kirsten Jurcek, and Weenonah BrattsetFor Kirsten Jurcek, operating a grass-fed and finished beef farm is sustainable not only to her family, but to the land as well. Jurcek runs Brattset Family Farm full time with the help of her mother, Weenonah, and daughter, Jessica. Weenonah bought the 183-acre farm outside of Jefferson, Wis., in 1968 and moved her children to Wisconsin while her husband, Harold, continued to work in Chicago as a firefighter...

When life gives you drought, make corn silage from your stressed grain crop. As dry conditions wear on in the Upper Plains, some producers are considering salvaging their corn cash crop as feed. “I...