Forage

We all appreciate legumes and their marvelous ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and release it into the soil. But what happens after the legume plant releases this ammonium and nitrate? I blithely figured that into the soil they went and the grass roots just picked them up. Hardly so! What I considered the “roots” of […]

Regardless of your irrigation status, you’ll find great tips here on improving spring pastures, getting more forage with less nitrogen, adding legumes and preventing and reducing parasite problems.

Troy has some great ideas and experience dealing with pesky knapweed. By the end of the article you might be thinking of it as an excellent forage too!

Recently, I heard a farmer state that mid-summer foliar grass diseases are the most significant problem on on his farm. It’s true, these diseases, that are found everywhere, can reduce forage quality and palatability. Here’s how to recognize some of them, and what to do to reduce the problem.

If you’re dealing with Meadow Foxtail, or any other less-desirable grass species in your hay field, here’s a look at it’s impact on your pastures, and the value of the hay.

Forage radishes are a great cover crop for soybeans and corn where they increase soil nitrogen and improve water retention. They could help pastures too. Here’s what some Vermont dairy farmers found.

How something is tested is just as important as the results. Part of the scientific method is just figuring out if you asked the right questions and tested appropriately. So here we more fully describe what we did, existing conditions, and the farmers’ management.

When cool season perennials take a vacation during July and August, dropping off in quality and yields, summer annuals might pick up the slack for you. Here’s a quick look at some of your options in case you want to get planting right now. We’ll follow up with more in-depth information in future issues.

During his travels around the state in 1931, Dr. E.N. Fergus of University of Kentucky observed a patch of grass that he thought was worthy of further study.  He collected and increased (i.e., several cycles of planting and harvesting) the seeds, and in 1943 released the tall fescue variety known as Kentucky-31.  Interestingly, this variety now […]

There are some questions that have swirled around the ether about planting red clover: are phytoestrogens present and will they cause problems for my animals? Can red clover cause frothy bloat? Why should I plant it? And which varieties? Follow up with Dan Hudson as he addresses these concerns and more, breaking them down one by one.

Sugaring season is here, and that means that it is also time to frost-seed red clover in your pastures and hay fields if you have it in your mind to do it at all. If you are interested in a low-cost method of increasing forage yield and quality in hay fields and pastures, read on….

Sheep and cattle in Vermont were trained to eat this plant, and the cattle at Black Queen Angus enjoy it without any training at all. Could it be on the menu for your livestock?

This plant compares to alfalfa in nutritional value. Here are some ways to use that nutrition to manage this plant in your pastures.

This highly invasive plant is found in almost every state in the U.S. and in Canada. If you’ve found it in your pastures or ranges, here’s some good news about controlling its spread while turning it into a nutritious forage.

We’ve considered these plants pests for so long that it’s hard to change our minds. Here are some reasons why you might like to think of them differently.