Pasture and Forage Minute

The 2025 rangeland grasshopper risk map from the USDA indicates there may be increased grasshopper activity in the eastern panhandle and southwestern Nebraska. Keeping an eye on fields this spring and summer can help mitigate economic loss from grasshopper feeding. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

Cereal grain crops, including rye, triticale, and oats can be harvested as forage silage and wheat as wheatlage. Compared to traditional haying, spring silage systems provide earlier forage harvesting with higher moisture content. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Extension Forage Agronomist.

It is close to the ideal time to plant a summer annual grass, maybe to replenish your hay supply or have some extra grazing. Which one will you plant? Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

Spring is busy getting crops in the ground, but if much needed moisture keeps you from the field, take some time to maintain your haying equipment and prevent costly downtime later. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

The time for turn out to our primary summer pastures is coming soon. A couple of important questions are what date to turn out, and which pastures should be first? Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

Ideally, spring alfalfa growth begins with a full soil moisture profile. However, our drier winter and Spring moisture conditions have triggered some earlier irrigation in some Nebraska locations. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Extension Forage Agronomist.

As pastures green up this spring, there may be an opportunity for producers to get some early forage and manage weeds, flash grazing. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

As spring temperatures rise across Nebraska, now’s the time to plan your first alfalfa cutting. Getting that first cut right is more important than many realize—it sets the pace for the entire season. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

There are many producers looking at looking at ways to grow more forage for hay or pasture. Double cropping annual forages on irrigated cropland can be an option. With timely and adequate moisture, this can also be successful dryland as well. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

As the weather continues to warm across Nebraska, it is important to keep an eye on alfalfa fields for signs of Army Cutworm. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.