Pasture and Forage Minute

Yucca plants, also called small soapweed, can be quite common in western and central Nebraska rangelands. They are especially noticeable when flowering in June. In some areas, high plant density can significantly reduce grass production; so yucca may need managed to reclaim grazinglands. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Extension Forage Agronomist.

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. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

Assessing forage stores now, while plants are still growing and hay is being harvested, helps close forage gaps, manage surplus, and ensure quality use later. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Make plans now to attend the 2024 Nebraska Grazing Conference in Kearney at the Younes Conference Center on August 6 and 7. 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.

In Nebraska, there are two species of flies that cause the most economic injury to pasture and rangeland cattle. Selection of an appropriate control method for each will depend on the time of year; the efficacy, cost, convenience of the treatment; and your herd management practices. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water 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.

July traditionally means the beginning of the haying season for Sandhills subirrigated meadows. A key point related to the quality of meadow hay is harvest date. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems 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.

When summer temperature stress increases, how do these higher temperatures potentially impact our pasture and forage plants? Todd Whitney, Nebraska Extension Forage Agronomist.