My experiences with summer annuals have been very good. They are often underutilized and undermanaged because of a lack of education on best management practices. I want to take a practical management approach with this article to help other farmers improve their experiences with summer annuals.
Read MoreHay Production 101
The following is an upcoming event sponsored by Michigan State University. To learn more about this event, please click here.
Year after year, the market for good hay in Michigan outstrips supply, leading to dependable prices for hay growers willing to put in the effort. Some row crop growers see an opportunity to add a new crop to their operation while animal producers may want to grow their own forage so they have better control over nutritional quality. However, hay is a demanding crop and is not for everyone. As with any other agricultural enterprise, there are many things to learn.
Michigan State University Extension has developed a new online school, Hay Production 101, to help farmers interested in learning how to grow hay. The main objective of our team of MSU Extension specialists and educators is to assist newcomers to the world of hay, but there is value here also for those looking to improve an existing hay operation.
Hay Production 101 is an online course taught as eight sessions using Zoom, every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 7-8:30 p.m., March 2-25, 2021.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions and interact with instructors in each live session. Topics covered will include:
Economics and marketing
What to grow: species, varieties and forage quality
Fertility and soil management
Field establishment and renovation
Pest management: weeds, insects, disease
Harvest management: all the steps from timing the harvest to post-harvest processing and storage
Baleage
The cost of the course is $85. Preregistration is required.
Bale Grazing
by Jeremy Sweeten
Are you wanting to try bale grazing on your farm? Or maybe you’re curious as to what it actually is? What are the benefits and challenges? Click on the video below to check it out.
Frost Seeding Legumes
Frost seeding is certainly one of the least expensive ways to enhance the stand of legumes in your pastures. It is basically the process of broadcasting the legume seed onto the soil surface during the winter dormant months.
Read MoreFeeding Less and Grazing More
Read MoreYour goal each year should be to feed less and graze more. Think about how short you can cut your feeding time frame. If you are feeding hay five months out of the year now, can you reduce that to four, three or less?