Latest News From Pasture-Forage

We are nearing the end of the time period to control Musk thistles effectively.

Drought, prolonged cold weather, and the resulting lengthen winter grazing season, all contributed to a slow green-up in the Midwest this year. University of Missouri's Craig Roberts says focus on the second hay cutting.

A good stand of crested wheatgrass has the capacity to meet cows’ and calves’ nutritional requirements.

Two major wildfires account for the majority of damage in Oklahoma, but there are still 19 other active wildfires in the state.

Energy is one of the most critical nutrients for grazing cows particularly at pasture turn out because it coincides with their greater needs to support the young calf.

The latest Drought Monitor shows that drought continues to worsen in the southern High Plains.  Across the continental U.S., 0.55 percent of the country is in D4 (Exceptional) drought. 

We are nearing an ideal time to apply chemical controls for Musk thistles.

Cattle management during drought is about minimizing herd total weight to match the available forage while maintaining calf numbers.

As trampled and pocked up winter feeding areas begin to dry out, consider all the alternatives that will allow these beat up paddocks to recover and become productive again.

Grazing too early in the spring can result in decreased forage production the entire grazing season.

Winter-feeding beef cattle on hay and pasture fields can minimize labor of hauling manure while still distributing fertilizing nutrients.

It is important to seek the best long-term use of cropland that is both economical and sustainable.

Native grass pastures begin producing forage at a time during spring when our cool-season pastures are still productive.

Spring is the time to clean-up the winter feeding sites.

On his west-central Missouri farm, Kyle Grumke and his father Ross employ cover crops on every one of their 550 owned acres

As spring approaches most producers are anxious to get cows out of the lot and make use of early spring grazing.

Winter-feeding beef cattle on hay and pasture fields can minimize labor of hauling manure while still distributing crop nutrients.

Increasingly dry conditions since last fall resulted in much less wheat pasture than normal in Oklahoma. 

The spread of western juniper and invasive grasses are major threats to the health of the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem.

Who decides when drought has lowered pasture production low enough to remove the cattle?

Divided resource planning for grazing lands into long-, medium- and short-term plans.

Southwest Kansas, like many regions in the central plains, are turning into kindling for wildfires.

The Nebraska Sandhills are often viewed as an ecosystem vulnerable to erosion of the sandy soil dunes following the reduction of aboveground vegetation.

Eastern red cedars are taking over the Tallgrass Prairie region of the U.S.

Grazing toxic fescue can hurt a producer's bottom line from poor grazing performance both in terms of weight conversion and reproduction.

Is it too early to worry a drought in the Plains will shrink the national herd? Could cattlemen see another massive drought like they saw in 2011 and 2012 when the national herd was forced to liquidize?

It is interesting to see that under very different conditions and nearly three decades later, we often see similar results from our research on native grass forages.

Forest Service using new tech for post-fire work in Montana

Wildfires have burned wide swaths of the western U.S. the past week forcing evacuations of communities, cattle to move pastures and highway closures.

The ranchers bringing back the iconic beast have a healthy, trendy, profitable meat—and, some say, an answer for global warming.

Already short on hay and forage after a hard winter, ranchers in North and South Dakota are continuing to reduce herds in response to severe drought conditions.

Sage grouse are benefiting from land going into CRP in Washington.

Governors in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico are asking for grazing restrictions to be lifted on CRP acres. 

Drought has led officials to allow emergency haying and grazing on conservation land in four south-central Nebraska counties.

One of the big differences between corn and corn distillers grains is the starch content.

A long-term grazing study shows the advantage of a diversified mix of pasture plant species.

A 1,200 mile drive by an agriculture economist reveals crop and pasture conditions are doing well.

Protein supplementation of low-quality, low protein forages results in a “positive associative effect”.

Using small grains as a dependable forage source will depend on several factors, including production potential, season of production, and winterhardiness. 

Smooth bromegrass is a cool-season introduced grass with an advanced root system that tolerates temperature extremes and drought exceptionally well. 

The spread of multiflora rose in Pennsylvania has caused it to be designated as a noxious weed. Multiflora rose can be controlled but it takes considerable effort.

Tips for controlling thistles, multiflora rose, and other troublesome pasture weeds.

We’ve heard “North Florida can grow forage 365 days a year!” for ages, and that’s true. However, those of us who’ve carried livestock through more than one winter with our own money, or worse, a bank’s money, know that it’s just not that simple. 

Improving the amount of green leaves capturing sunlight begins with proper stocking rates.

When summer turns the heat up, ranchers in the fescue belt need to manage pastures more aggressively. 

After having to throttle down for more than a week due to periods of pounding rainfall and spotty hail, mid-Willamette Valley farmers put combines back to work in area grass seed fields over the weekend.

While everyone should have some hay on hand for emergency feeding, baling pastures may not be the best option.

Current market prices for harvested feed are competitive in many cases with pasture rental rates when compared on a price per ton basis. 

It’s never too early to be focused on the next potential forage stressor – Summer.

The first principle that needs to be understood is forage maturity determines forage quality, explains Rory Lewandowski, Ohio State University Extension.