Forages vary greatly in water-use efficiency defined as pounds of forage produced per inch of water applied. In general, warm-season forage crops are more water-use efficient than cool-season crops. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Irrigation and Cropping Systems Forage Educator.

When it gets hot, alfalfa plants grow more slowly and moisture stress becomes common, even in moist soil. Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Systems Specialist.

Common mullein is an invasive biennial weed that can spread rapidly into pastures. Due to recent mild winters, mullein winter survival has been high. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Irrigation and Cropping Systems Forage Educator.

As we enter a period of hotter and drier weather, grasshoppers will begin to move into crops from field edges. In the coming weeks, be sure to scout your fields to ensure defoliation from grasshopper feeding is kept at a minimum. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

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.