Fall Pasture Management

October 28, 2021

Forages going dormant is significant. USDA-NRCS defines stockpiling as 'allowing standing forage to accumulate for grazing at a later period, often for fall and winter grazing after dormancy.' The key word here is dormancy.

Once dormant, they can be grazed with less harm to energy reserves. Forage plants are sensitive to grazing in the fall. That is why I usually promote the use of annuals or crop residue, or ideally the combination of the two in the early fall. It allows the pastures to recuperate and build reserves.

Management 101: Seeding Depth

March 29, 2021

It’s critical that growers do everything possible to achieve the proper planting depth, giving their latest investment an opportunity for success. Here are 5 key reminders to ensure proper seeding depth and maximum germination.

Be on the Lookout for Alfalfa Weevils

March 29, 2021

Indiana has had enough warm, spring days for alfalfa growers to start seeing alfalfa weevil emerging in their fields. So producers should be scouting for the pest now instead of waiting to see obvious damage before doing anything about it, a Purdue Extension entomologist says.

The early season pest is active in both adult and larval forms in the spring, and heavy infestations can be destructive to the alfalfa crop.

Summer Annuals - Part 1 - Fertility Management

February 17, 2021

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.

Hay Production 101

February 10, 2021

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.
Register for Hay Production 101

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