Planting

Grain drill calibration is a critical yet often ignored part of successful forage establishment and pasture renovation. Planting lower seed rates than recommended can result in thin stands susceptible to weed encroachment.

As our ability to analyze forage for more and more specific parts of fiber, protein and fats grows, the metrics we use are often confusing to the many who read the reports. Are they necessary? Which parts are important and for what? Are they for the nutritionist?

Debates about uncoated, light-coated (9 percent) and heavy-coated (34 percent) alfalfa seed are common among seed sellers and farmers.

Corn silage is one of the most commonly fed forages in the U.S. However, it often leaves soil bare between fall harvest and spring planting.

Silage and earlage can be important sources of energy and other nutrients for growing beef cattle and also sources of roughage for finishing cattle.

If you are not familiar with binomial nomenclature (the international language for naming plants), let’s clarify the differences between species, variety and cultivar, which are all terms you will encounter during seed selection.