Pasture and Forage Minute

While dry conditions can result in high nitrates in annuals, drought isn’t the only thing that may cause nitrate issues. Grazing forages that have high nitrates can be successful, but how it is done can mean the difference between life or death. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

Timing the last fall cutting of alfalfa can be difficult. Producers need to balance the value of another harvest against stand health, winter survival and vigor next spring. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

December 1 may seem like a long way off, but it’s just around the corner. Before we know it, it will be time for family to visit, holiday preparations to begin, and producers to make decisions about Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage insurance, commonly called PRF. 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.

August always seems to be a time when certain weeds become quite noticeable in pastures. That is especially true of areas that have had abundant summer rains and in pastures that have relatively thin grass stands, where animals congregate, or if some overgrazing has occurred. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

If grazing is one of your goals for a fall cover or forage crop, planting date matters. Every week we wait now means less growing season and less fall production. While seeding early is best, some species handle later planting dates better than others. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems 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.

In previous years, portions of Nebraska have seen significant numbers of fall armyworm caterpillars feeding on alfalfa, brome regrowth in pastures, and newly seeded small grain crops such as wheat, triticale, and rye. While reports of armyworm damage have not yet been received this year, it is a good idea to keep an eye out for this insect. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

Corn silage success rests on proper harvest, packing, and storage practices. When we need a boost, adding an inoculant at harvest can help improve fermentation and storage, but we need to know what products to use to get the best result. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

When mother nature fails to provide rain, knowing forage water use is important for both dryland and irrigated crops. Forages vary greatly in water-use efficiency (the amount of forage produced for each inch of water used), and knowing ahead of time is important. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.