MANAGEMENT

Ranchers often use fire to help control or retard invasive species or brushy plants like juniper or cedar, create more forage for livestock or reduce fuel loads to help prevent catastrophic wildfires.

As we move through 2020, many of you may have seen ads on TV, in print or heard a radio ad seeking plaintiffs for the glyphosate class action litigation. Suits against the manufacturers of glyphosate have resulted in three jury verdicts in favor of the plaintiffs.

We all know feeding cows high-quality forage can translate to increased profitability, thanks to its superior digestibility and encouragement of dry matter intake (DMI).

Most forage testing laboratories attempt to provide accurate and repeatable results to their clients. In the long term, their reputation and success depends on accurately predicting the feeding value of the forage.

Almost all farmers farm some rented ground. This may be a long-term relationship with a relative, a new opportunity or a one-year handshake deal. Implementing conservation practices on that ground requires an agreement between renter and owner, and starting that conversation can be the hardest part.

Working in a commercial agricultural-testing laboratory, I see all different types of feed and forage samples submitted in all kinds of ways. A silage sample might be sent to us in a large vet glove, while a corn grain might come in a coffee can, even when most labs provide sample bags for submission. Which brings me to the first of four common mistakes made when submitting forage samples to a commercial laboratory for testing.