FEED & NUTRITION

Two things commonly known about fats are: We can add them to dairy rations to improve the energy in the diet, and too much fat from grains, oilseeds and byproducts such as dried distillers grains (DDGs) can reduce milkfat production.

When the earliest round balers rolled from the assembly line into the field, hay and straw producers learned these shiny machines were the way of the future.

Producers have many forage options that can be looked at as tools in their toolbox. Since every farm has different circumstances, there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” forage option.

When making a several-hundred-thousand-dollar investment with a piece of machinery, we typically do our homework. You can probably share stories of test-driving self-propelled forage harvesters or tractors, prior to investing hundreds of thousands in the machine.

Producing quality hay is important whether you feed your own hay or sell it to others. When producing hay for on-farm use, we do not often consider its value, but it is still important.

“You cannot manage what you do not measure.” It’s a phrase that rings true and one that every soil lab knows well. Another common message proclaims: “Soil testing doesn’t cost, it pays!”