Pasture and Forage Minute

Following grain harvest, sorghum residue can provide a valuable source of fall and winter grazing, particularly for cows in mid- to late gestation. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

When planted early, fall-planted cereal rye can provide excellent late-fall grazing, with more grazing again in the spring. But if corn or soybean harvest delays planting until late October or November, is it too late? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Soybean fields are opening up after harvest and cows may be moving in to get them off pasture when other forage options are unavailable. Soybean residue or stubble can occasionally be baled and used in rations. Before we use it however, we need to set expectations. Is soybean residue a quality forage? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Fungal diseases have made noticeable impacts on corn fields in Nebraska this year. As these fields open for grazing following harvest, many are wondering does disease pressure affect how we manage livestock on those acres? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Grazing a small, relatively weed-free portion of pasture hard this fall can reduce grass competition and help legumes such as clover and alfalfa establish next spring, improving forage quality and supplying nitrogen. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

For livestock producers, managing risk often means using more than one tool. Three insurance programs Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF); Annual Forage (AF); and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) can be good options to complement each other to protect both feed supply and livestock value. Shannon Sand, Nebraska Ag Economics Extension Educator.

As fall progresses, temperatures continue to drop and chances of a freeze grow. When frost hits, do you know the impact on forages and how livestock can be kept safe? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Have you ever wondered whether a new product or management practice actually pays on your pasture, hayfield, or forage acres? Consider putting that question to the test through the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network. Matheus Ribeiro, Nebraska Extension Cropping Systems Educator.

Amid ongoing market volatility, some producers may be exploring additional income opportunities, including leasing hunting access. This often raises an important question: Who holds the hunting rights when land is leased? Shannon Sand, Nebraska Ag Economics Extension Educator.

Allowing for alfalfa to winterize before dormancy is a key factor preventing winter kill across a stand. Traditionally, my recommendation has been to time the last cutting for roughly 6 weeks before the first frost. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.