Potassium in Forages by Keith Kelling, John Peters, Mike Rankin, and Dan Undersander Introduction The potassium (K) content of harvested forage has become an increasingly important issue in recent years. As most dairy producers already know, a high level of K in forages has been identified as the causative factor for milk fever in […]
Read More...
Getting a Good Forage Stand by Dan Undersander Introduction Some farmers always get a good forage stand and some always fear seeding because of difficulty getting good stands. A good stand is crucial to profitability. If the stand is thin, it will never yield well and will be weedy. Additionally, if the stand is so […]
Read More...
Shrink is a Deceptive Term Brian Holmes, Professor Emeritus, UW-Madison The term shrink is used widely in the feed industry. It frequently is used to refer to the loss of feed during harvest, handling, and storage. Since it refers to the weight before and after a process, the moisture content and moisture content change can […]
Read More...
Estimating the Weight of Forage in a Forage Wagon by Daniel W. Wiersma and Brian J Holmes Introduction Most dairy farmers do not have a drive-over scale available on their farms. Frequently it would be useful to know the weight of forage harvested from a field. Measuring alfalfa or corn silage yield is necessary to adjust […]
Read More...
Making Sure Your Kernel Processor Is Doing Its Job by Kevin J. Shinners and Brian J. Holmes Introduction For cows to digest the starch in corn efficiently, the corn kernels in chopped and processed whole-plant corn must be broken into small particles. Three decades ago it was thought that effective starch utilization occurred if […]
Read More...
FULL REPORT previous HAY MARKET REPORTS
Read More...
Rain Damage to Forage During Hay and Silage Making by Mike Rankin and Daniel Undersander Introduction Rain that occurs between the time forage is cut and harvested causes both yield and quality losses that reduce the value of the crop as an animal feed and a marketable commodity. Weather-induced losses can be caused by: Increased and […]
Read More...
Effect of Wheel Traffic on Alfalfa Yield by Dan Undersander How does wheel traffic cause forage loss? Wheel traffic causes yield reduction in part to both deep soil compaction and surface soil compaction. Another portion of the yield loss is due to cracking or breaking of crowns, which will reduce the shoots produced and […]
Read More...
FULL REPORT previous HAY MARKET REPORTS
Read More...
Assessing Alfalfa Stand Condition in the Spring by Dr. Dan Undersander, University of Wisconsin As alfalfa comes out of dormancy in the spring we should evaluate stands for condition and yield potential. The earlier we make a determination the more possibilities we have for remedial action. This stand assessment should occur in three parts: Are individual […]
Read More...
