A great challenge in cattle operations is needing forage…fast. In Bermudagrass based systems, the lack of growth between when Bermuda growth slows and cereal rye or ryegrass growth begins is an incredible challenge. A similar issue is found in fescue based systems- fall growth of fescue slows or nearly stops once the day length shortens and…

The best time of day to cut hay is a balancing act between maximizing the nutritional quality and store-ability of the bales. During the day, the plant undergoes the process of photosynthesis, or production of carbohydrates- what we know better as ‘sugars’. However, these sugars are produced at a rate faster than the rate at which…

Mixtures bring yield stability to a forage field as each species and variety has its own strengths and weaknesses.  These factors include: soil adaption, climate adaptation, disease resistance, harvest timing, yield distribution over the seasons, nutrient needs and contributions to soil health, and of course nutrition and fiber for the…

Many people envision their farm becoming a chemical-free or reduced chemical no-till system, but can’t quite figure out what that looks like, including weed suppression, controlling the previous crop, and getting all the inputs in the field.  Spoiler alert – there is no easy answer about how to put continuous no-till without chemicals into…