Latest News From Hay

Dry conditions in the West have plagued producers for months. And while some recent relief has come in the form of rain, a new USDA report shows just how dire the hay situation is for many livestock producers.

Hurricane Ida ravaged Louisiana agriculture this fall. The hurricane brought as much as two feet of rain in some areas, as producers grappled with losses and aftermath as those in surrounding states stepped into help.

If pasture, rangeland or forage is important to your farm's success, insurance could be a valuable risk-management tool.

“We just celebrated 10 years as a company,” says CEO Jim Blome. “And we showed that in 15 months we pioneered a regulatory path, launched a product, and took it all the way from the grower to the food company.”

The most important number to review on a forage analysis is the ADF or NDF content of a forage on a dry matter basis, not crude protein.

One of the “normal” elements of this highly abnormal time is the fact that hay-making season soon will commence throughout most of the country.

Letting growers take control of their destiny during challenging economic times

We wanted to know if this range in forage quality was impacting producers milk components. The results from our readers were surprising.

In 2020 farmers stand under the growing pressure from customers, suppliers, and policy-makers. This ever-growing food demand forces the agriculture industry to seek newer ways to improve the production technology.

The longer life of reduced lignin alfalfa could be coming in two ways.

Here are 10 tips to help establish a better alfalfa stand in 2020.

Weather challenges in 2019 led to many questions about the quantity and quality of hay production and supply heading into 2020.

Hay tainted by a toxic beetle is blamed for the deaths of at least 13 horses and illnesses to dozens of others on a Wisconsin ranch.

Looking to 2020, regional supply and demand will continue to be the driving force behind the swing in hay acres and prices.

This week USDA issued clarification on the alfalfa issues farmers are experiencing related to MFP.

A convenient and in-depth virtual course on forage management is being offered by Cornell University.

With winter right around the corner, it’s not too late to be thinking about 2020 alfalfa crops.

“The reality is, bale density, or the hardness of the bale, has a heck of a lot to do with your return on investment.”

If you're going to kill alfalfa in the fall, make sure to plant a cover crop. Best option is to kill alfalfa in the spring.

Freshly baled hay with more than 20% moisture will heat up and actually reduce the energy level of the hay.

AgDay national reporter Betsy Jibben talks with Nate Like, a livestock producer in Hamler, Ohio; Andy Stickel, a producer in Pemberville, Ohio. Feed, Bedding Worries Linger As Crop Conditions Stay Subpar in Ohio

Dilution of fescue pastures by interseeding novel fescue is one way to solve the problem of toxic summer pastures.

Dairy farmers should consider alfalfa as a solution on prevent plant acres.

Most of cattle country has had abundant to excessive moisture this year—as evident from my travels from Oklahoma to Montana.

Producers Worry About Lack Of Feed and Bedding Come Fall AgDay National Reporter Betsy Jibben talks with John Metzger, a dairy farmer from Kimmell, Indiana and Marcelo Oberto, an independent dairy consultant.

Greater net profit is the bottom line for why livestock producers need to know the quality of the forages they are feeding!

Harvesting alfalfa to achieve the right balance of quality and yield depends on cutting the plant at the right stage.

So you want to plant alfalfa into your Bermudagrass this fall. Make sure to check our list before getting started!

As farmers throughout the country experienced record-cold temperatures, blizzards that seemed to last weeks rather than days, and unrelenting wind, many fed more hay than they usually do.

Typically arriving during planting season while tractors race to the fields, it is easy to put scouting for weevil damage on the back burner.

Hopefully, the first round of hay harvest only a few weeks away. Two free “Beef Tips” videos from Purdue Extension could help beef producers maximize the quality and quantity of their forage crops.

Hopefully, the first round of hay harvest only a few weeks away. Two free “Beef Tips” videos from Purdue Extension could help beef producers maximize the quality and quantity of their forage crops.

Weeds can reduce the quantity and the stand life of desirable forage plants in pastures and hayfields.

With the start of spring comes the start of allergy season, but not for some farm kids, researchers say.

A farm aid nonprofit is launching an effort to deliver donated hay to ranchers in flood-stricken Nebraska, resurrecting a program first used nearly two years ago to help cattle producers facing drought conditions.

The excess rain during fall, coupled with having fed hay for the last several months has caused areas in many pastures to be destroyed, with very little grass left. 

No matter how hay is packaged, if you waste it, you lose money.

Shopping for hay should be carefully researched because making the correct purchase can drastically affect your bottom line.

Winter-feeding of the beef cows represents the greatest expense in most beef cow-calf enterprises. 

Declining hay acres and fewer dairy cattle might have an impact on what direction hay prices go.

Estimating forage usage by cows is an important part of the task of calculating winter feed needs. Hay or standing forage intake must be estimated in order to make the calculations.

Don’t get caught by higher hay prices later this winter—be as accurate with your hay needs as you can now while you still have time to adjust your feeding plans.

Don’t get caught by higher hay prices later this winter—be as accurate with your hay needs as you can now while you still have time to adjust your feeding plans.

While some cattlemen have already started weaning spring-calving herds, October and November are prime times for feeder cattle marketing decisions. What is your weaning strategy this year?

While some cattlemen have already started weaning spring-calving herds, October and November are prime times for feeder cattle marketing decisions. What is your weaning strategy this year?

Eating alfalfa, sorghum-sudangrass and sudangrass right after a killing freeze can cause health problems in cattle.

A simple stem counting technique can give you a good idea about your alfalfa stand’s yield potential.

Forage growers in Mississippi are trying to keep insects from making meals out of their hayfields and compromising their stockpiles of winter feed.

The World Forage Analysis Superbowl evaluated 843 entries and presented awards to top finishers at the World Forage Analysis Superbowl Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Mycogen Seeds, at World Dairy Expo.

For some producers, a number of factors came together to create the perfect storm that led to significantly lowered forage quality.