Forage Types

Being a forage producer is a pretty straightforward proposition: The goal is to turn the sun’s energy into high-quality forage as efficiently as possible.

Brassicas are cool-season annual forages that can be utilized as pasture during the spring, summer and late fall grazing seasons when cool-season perennial pastures may not be as productive.

I am sitting here at my desk in July contemplating how to write a magazine article that will be interesting and relevant for forage producers nationwide.

“Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is an annual grass that invades pastures and increases fire frequency,” says Dr. Ann Kennedy, a recently retired soil scientist/soil microbiologist from ARS (Agricultural Research Service) USDA at Pullman, Washington.

Will grazing more and feeding less hay always increase profitability? There are many cases where cattle farmers could graze more days profitably.

This summer, some areas have experienced drought weather conditions, causing an impact on the corn silage crop. Under these conditions, yield losses of 40 to 50 percent are possible if high temperatures and limited rainfall coincide with silking and reproductive stages.