Hay - Articles - Page 4

Hay, baleage or haylage?

There is significant opportunity for economic growth in forage production if we are willing to meet the market.

May 15, 2023

With input costs and cattle value both at high levels, it might be worthwhile to consider some alternatives. Both energy and protein are more valuable than previously, and higher cattle prices indicate the greater value of higher calving percentage and more rapid weight gain.

USDA reduces 2023 milk production outlook, Class III and all-milk prices projected lower

2023-24 milk production forecasts show limited growth.

May 12, 2023

Dave Natzke

Corn and soybean meal price projections are lower, but on-farm hay inventories are down.

Southeast: Making baleage work in cow-calf operations

May 12, 2023

Kim Mullenix

Many producers in the southeast U.S. have made the switch to making baleage or use both hay and baleage as stored forage in their operations during the year.

Across the Fence: Tired attire

Cowboy accessories and spring/summer cleaning

April 26, 2023

Marci Whitehurst

Many of us live in places where the weather may change at the blink of an eye. We may have four layers on in the morning, but by afternoon, we have shed three of them: our “I’m warming up” layer, our “It’s past midmorning” layer and our “Dang, it’s a different climate” layer, which leads to …

Idaho farms project 2023 crop plantings

April 12, 2023

Lynn Jaynes

"I think we’ll see a shift from grains back to corn acres for silage, as water is not as dire as last year."

Bale the ditch and feed it to the cows

March 30, 2023

Travis Meteer

In a graduate-level nutrition class, I had an exchange with a professor that I still remember.

Proper stocking rate as a drought resiliency tool

Once a ranch determines the feed requirements of its cows and the carrying capacity of its land, drought becomes a much more manageable challenge to navigate.

February 24, 2023

Eric Bailey

Drought has affected large swaths of the U.S. in recent years. Do we need to consider drought moving forward when making decisions about carrying capacity on farms and ranches?

CattleFax at NCBA: Feed outlook cautiously optimistic

Lower hay and corn supplies, coupled with a decrease in the U.S. cow herd, should balance out what has been a volatile feed supply chain.

February 20, 2023

Tyrell Marchant

CattleFax Vice President of Research and Risk Management Services Mike Murphy’s message about feed prices and availability for the coming year was cautiously optimistic. Even as the end appears to be in sight for countless farmers and ranchers who have dealt with historic drought conditions across the country the past couple years, the economic effects of that drought remain.

Midwest/North: Haying pastures comes with a cost

February 15, 2023

Travis Meteer

When the weather is right and hayfields are mowed, there will be many farmers looking over the fence at pastures as an opportunity to make more bales. While it is important to get hay reserves built back up on your farm, I would caution producers against baling pastures.