Grasses and Grazing

The calls I typically get in the fall about forage options have started early this year. With drought persisting through much of the U.S., many producers are already seeing stunted growth in our first and second hay cuttings on dryland.

What are barber’s pole worms? In 1803, a naturalist by the name of Karl Rudolphi penned the scientific name for the parasitic barber’s pole worm, Haemonchus contortus.

Despite the many positive attributes of native grasses, these grasses, like all forages, have their drawbacks.

Pasture health and growth is crucial to raising livestock; every stockman must essentially be a forage producer. Timely rotational grazing and proper stocking rates can optimize production and improve degraded pastureland.

Innovative planting and cropping strategies are helping Pennsylvania dairy producer Ben Peckman weather the storm of high fertilizer and other input costs.

As we head into the middle of summer, taking stock of pasture and forage status for the rest of the growing season is a good practice to implement, especially when faced with dry weather.