FEED & NUTRITION

Weather patterns in central and northern Wisconsin were especially challenging to alfalfa stands during the winter and spring of 2018-19. Several winter rain events on already-saturated soils, lack of snow cover during the coldest part of winter and ice conditions in much of the Upper Midwest produced difficult conditions for alfalfa survival.

All you need to know about the 2019 forage crop is in the silage pile. Under the plastic on many dairy farms, the current forage supplies may be the outcome of last year’s havoc-filled spring and fall.

The 2019 crop year was a challenging one. Planting and harvesting conditions were tough across most of the country. Hay supplies are tight, and supplies of premium hay are very short.

Just tossing any trace mineral pack into a dairy ration is no longer adequate to support high-producing dairy cows.

The last few winter seasons we’ve experienced have not been easy for grasslands. Winters dotted with ice, followed by a dry summer, often led to the death or significant decrease in forage yields across the country.

Mould and mycotoxin development in corn ears and stalks, and the resulting corn silage, continues to be a major concern for dairy producers. Mycotoxins can result in a range of problems for livestock throughout the year as they are ingested with the feed.