Pasture and Forage Minute

With summer annual grasses like sorghum-sudan, pearl millet, and forage sorghum coming into their own, getting good hay put up can be a bit of a challenge, especially when you’re dealing with thick stems and drying delays. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Yucca plants, also called small soapweed, are common weeds in western and central Nebraska rangelands. In some areas, high plant density can significantly reduce grass production; so yucca may need managed to reclaim grazinglands. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Irrigation and Cropping Systems Forage Educator.

What does it cost to rent pasture this year? The 2025 results are out for Nebraska cash rental rates. Shannon Sand, Nebraska Ag Economics Extension Educator.

Rained-on hay can still be a valuable resource; even if rain fell on cut hay windrows has lowered both yield and quality during the drying process. However, losses will vary and will likely be less if the rain occurred soon after cutting and the forage was not re-wetted many times. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Extension Forage Agronomist.

As we move through midsummer, it’s time to evaluate our forage situation. Depending on your location, meadow hay harvest might be starting, you could be on your second cutting of alfalfa, or preparing to cut warm-season annual crops soon. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Make plans now to attend the 2025 Nebraska Grazing Conference in Kearney at the Younes Conference Center on August 5. This year, the conference will be a single day. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

When cattle are on pasture, both forage and water quality are important for healthy animals. Surface water is particularly prone to quality issues, such as blue-green algae, salinity, mineral concentrations, or nitrate. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Despite their name, stable flies can be a significant annoyance and cause economic losses in pastured cattle, not just those confined in feedlots and dairies. With the recent moisture much of Nebraska has received, conditions are favorable for significant stable fly numbers. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

Precipitation and temperature play major roles in pasture productivity, and knowing how to adjust grazing to match current conditions is key. Are you shifting your management to meet pasture conditions? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Summer annual forages such as sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids and pearl millet planted this spring soon could be ready to graze. There are some grazing guidelines to help avoid potential hazards. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.