Forage Sorghum

Musk thistle
For pastures with noxious weed thistles like this musk thistle, now is the time for spring herbicide applications, while the plants are still in the short rosette to bolted growth stages prior to flowering. (Photo by Gary Stone)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Selecting Summer Forages, Thistle Control Options

May 9, 2024
Insights on pasture rental rates, selecting summer forage based on needs for your operation, and control options for noxious weed thistles in pastures.

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Cattle grazing pasture under storm clouds
While most areas in Nebraska have received good snowfall or rain this winter, there is always some uncertainty for spring and summer precipitation. So, the key first step in devising a successful spring and summer grazing and forage strategy is to develop or adjust a good drought plan for your operation.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Understanding Fall Dormancy in Alfalfa, Planning Summer Grazing

February 27, 2024
Extension educators share growth impacts of fall dormancy in alfalfa and recommendations for building your spring and summer grazing and forage plans.

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Closeup of combine harvesting soybean
While soybean residue can be grazed, it has much lower crude protein levels than soybeans, so producers using soybean residue as feed should also supplement to meet a dry cow's nutrient requirements..

Pasture and Forage Minute: Prussic Acid Following Freeze, Soybean Residue for Forage

October 12, 2023
Learn more about avoiding prussic acid poisoning in sorghum following a freeze, and why producers should always supplement when feeding soybean residue.

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Sunflower cover crop

Warm-season Species for Soil Health and Forage Purposes

July 27, 2023
Taking advantage of summer heat and abundant sunlight, warm-season cover crops can accumulate impressive amounts of biomass, cover bare ground quickly, suppress weeds, reduce erosion and improve soil health.

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Hailed field
Hail on July 8 took corn down to the stalk in some areas of Nebraska. (Photo by Gary Stone)

Annual Forage Options After Hail

July 14, 2023
Before planting forages in fields where your crop was destroyed by hail, take a moment to review these financial management and cropping system considerations.

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When planted in early July, sorghum-sudangrasses can produce three to four tons by early to mid-September. (Photo by Troy Walz/UNL Beef)

Annual Forage Options for July or August Planting

July 13, 2023
UNL Beef provides information on forage species selection and key management considerations based on desired use.

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Alfalfa windrows
To avoid rain delays on swathing and baling alfalfa hay, producers can lower harvest drying times by using wider windrow swatch and crimper conditioning.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Managing Alfalfa Windows, Grazing Summer Annual Forages and Water Quality

July 10, 2023
Management strategies for curing alfalfa windrows in adverse weather conditions, grazing sudangrass and sorghum-sudan hybrids safely, and water quality issues for livestock on pasture.

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sorghum-sudangrass field
Thick, dense, upper canopy of sorghum-sudangrass field in Lincoln, Nebraska. (CropWatch file photo)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Late Summer Planting and Regrowth Concerns

August 5, 2021
This week, extension educators review some of the concerns with late summer alfalfa planting, toxicity levels in sorghum and sudangrass regrowth, and how leaving hay bales in the fields can affect your yields.

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