Pasture and Forage Minute

Irrigating alfalfa now through November until the soil freezes can protect plants and improve fall yields. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Irrigation and Cropping Systems Forage Educator.

Timing the last fall alfalfa cutting can be a difficult thing to plan for and varies among growers. A balance between stand health, yield and quality must be maintained. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Silage is a cornerstone feed for livestock across Nebraska. Knowing its value is critical for making sound management decisions whether it be accurate budgeting for your own operation or selling to a buyer. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

There are a couple of leasing options for producers and landowners. Verbal leases are a common form of lease agreement. However, if someone is considering terminating a verbal lease, there are some dates and rules to remember for those with crops vs. pasture verbal lease agreements. Shannon Sand, Nebraska Ag Economics Extension Educator.

Are you thinking about seeding a winter annual cereal grain to have some forage next spring? The possible choices are wheat, rye, or triticale; but which of these small grains should you seed this fall? Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

Pasture and forage are the foundation of many Nebraska livestock operations, but they’re also one of the most vulnerable resources. Drought can quickly reduce forage production, forcing ranchers to buy expensive feed or reduce herd numbers. Shannon Sand, Nebraska Ag Economics Extension Educator.

Silage harvest for fully irrigated full-season corn usually begins 45 days or 800 GDD’s after the tassel/silking growth stage. However, growing conditions and the season length of the plant itself can make predictions based on the calendar fuzzy at best. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Following corn silage harvest, your ground can lay bare for seven to nine months. Instead, let’s plant some crops to grow and cover it until next season. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

Cover crops can provide dual purpose benefits of soil health improvement and livestock forage production. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Irrigation and Cropping Systems Forage Educator.

High value silage depends on maintaining chop quality throughout harvest. Do you know how to reliably monitor your silage quality? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.