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The sting of sandburs

Sandburs continue to be a challenge for bermudagrass growers in the Southeast, but with proper management, a healthy stand can overcome the burs.

March 9, 2023

Vanessa Olson

We often think of the sandbur species as being a warm-season annual plant. However, many of these are classified as perennials, which can survive from one year to the next.

Improve feed efficiency through feed management

Forage variability can be attributed to a host of factors – including growing conditions, fertilization protocols, cutting heights, cutting times and storage conditions.

March 9, 2023

Rebecca Kern-Lunbery

Diet is a large environmental factor, especially when considering the rumen interface. Implementing a more meticulous feed management system can save money in several ways.

Quantifying N credits of alfalfa in rotation

We do not have a clear understanding of all the factors influencing N availability from rotation crops like alfalfa.

February 7, 2023

Kim Cassida

In addition to its value as a forage and soil improver, alfalfa is noteworthy as one of the most effective sources of N credits for succeeding crops in rotations.

Managing for 'both/and': Ecosystems and livestock

We can make greater inroads to benefiting our ecosystems if we see ourselves both as ecosystem stewards and as livestock, grassland and soil health professionals.

February 7, 2023

John Fike

The recent placement of the monarch butterfly on an endangered species list – compiled by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature – highlights the growing concern about biodiversity loss.

Managing the unknowns for forage safety

Management practices such as spreading out nitrogen applications, irrigation and seed selection for low prussic acid can all reduce risk.

January 30, 2023

Katie Raver

Drought is not often associated with catastrophic damage such as water; however, it can have catastrophic impacts – especially for animal feeding operations.

Four soil test myths to watch for

Soil testing can be complicated, but overcomplicating the results can be confusing and provide you with more information than needed.

December 26, 2022

Daniel Kaiser, Brad Carlson, and Carl Rosen

It’s clear that there's a lot of farmers that consider soil science to be an intimidating or highly technical topic, and it can be. And I think we realize that for most farmers.

Witches’ brew

Ergotism and no-till practices have impacts today similar to 1692.

December 20, 2022

Woody Lane

The year of 1692 was a bad year in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. The previous spring had been warm and rainy, and the main crop of cereal rye had been harvested during the summer and threshed around Thanksgiving.

Elevate your manure management to align with 2023’s input projections

The goal of nutrient management is to adequately supply soils and plants with the nutrients necessary to produce food, forage, fiber and cover while minimizing the transport of nutrients to ground and surface waters.

December 12, 2022

Nikki Wagner

Completing manure analysis at a certified lab might be more important than expected in 2023.

How should I adjust my hay fertilization due to high fertilizer prices?

With rising fertilizer prices, management practices that improve hay fertilization can make a major difference in the end product.

December 12, 2022

John Fike

Fertilizer prices are hurting farmers in a big way. The price of nitrogen, in particular, has skyrocketed over the past year.

Increase the nitrogen in your pastures for increased quality and production

Balancing nitrogen for the benefit of both the cattle and the pasture can yield higher-performing pastures with the right management steps.

December 7, 2022

Kelli Boylen

Nitrogen is necessary for high production, but what if you are looking to increase the production of pasture? Steve Norberg, Ph.D., regional forage specialist at Washington State University has some guidance.