Jessica A. Williamson, Ph.D., Extension Forage Specialist, Penn State Storage losses of uncovered hay can be upwards of 30%! On most livestock operations, the greatest operational cost is stored and harvested feed, so it only makes sense that striving to reduce storage and feeding losses of harvested feeds as much as possible can help improve forage quality, quantity, and overall profitability of an operation. Reducing waste, even by a few percent, can have…

David Dugan, OSU Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Adams County Where and how hay is stored can have a huge impact on the quality and quantity that’s available to be used for feed With the calendar turning to November, and the temperatures dropping below freezing several mornings now, the time to feed hay is near, if not already here. Several have been feeding hay due to the pasture situation following a dry…

Ted Wiseman, and Dean Kreager Extension Educators in Perry and Licking County Much of Ohio’s 2019 first cutting grass hay was beyond optimum maturity when it was harvested. Laboratory analysis indicates little if any first cutting has adequate quality to meet the nutritional needs of bred cows in late gestation or lactation. You may be thinking enough already with the hay quality talk. Many articles have been sent out on this topic starting…

Wet conditions during haying may have reduced the quantity and quality of hay this year. The 2019 growing season has been challenging for farmers and ranchers in the region. It was a bumper year for forage production in many parts of North Dakota, giving ranchers the opportunity to restock depleted forage supplies following the brutal 2018-2019 winter. However, wet conditions created challenges during haying, reducing the quantity and quality of hay. “In addition,…