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Northern Plains Forage Association hosting free meetings during Central Plains Dairy Expo
March 13, 2023
The Northern Plains Forage Association informational meeting is from 2 to 3 p.m. March 29 and 30 during the Central Plains Dairy Expo at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Join SDSU Extension for two days of rye production, usage training
January 30, 2023
South Dakota State University Extension will host two days of Rye Production and Utilization Workshops on Feb. 15-16 in two South Dakota communities.
New Forage Association to Host Kick-Off Meeting in January
January 25, 2023
South Dakota State University Extension is proud to announce that the newly formed Northern Plains Forage Association will hold its first formal meeting this month during the Sioux Falls Farm Show.
South Dakota 4-H Recognizes Volunteers during the 2022 State Fair
October 19, 2022
South Dakota 4-H inducted nine individuals into to the 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame and 4-H Shooting Sports Volunteer Hall of Fame on Sunday, Sept. 4, at the 2022 South Dakota State Fair in Huron, South Dakota.
Determining Hay Prices
Before pricing forages, producers will want to have a good understanding about the cost of growing a ton of hay, alfalfa or straw.
Haying With Wildlife in Mind
Anyone who has spent time cutting hay knows that hayland can be a magnet for wildlife in late spring and early summer. Hay fields are often considered an “ecological trap” for wildlife; that is, they appear to be high quality habitat for nesting or feeding due to tall, dense grass and legumes, but often lead to increased mortality once harvesting is under way.
High-Quality Silage Making & Safe Practices: Both are necessities
Throughout the forage growing season many producers are putting up silage piles. To this point they have been predominately forages such as haylage or small grain silage; however, we will soon be moving into corn silage cutting season.
Stretching Corn Silage Supplies
During the 2002 drought there was a need to stretch corn silage supplies as a result of the drought that affected the U.S. Now we deal with the opposite scenario, where excessive spring rains have not allowed farmers to get to the fields. In both situations livestock producers face challenges.
Distillers’ Grains and Rumen Papillae Growth
Distillers grains are without a doubt one of the most versatile ruminant feedstuffs. Aside from their high concentration of sought-after nutrients (i.e. protein, energy, phosphorus), their impact on the digestibility of other feeds is minimal. In fact, by not interfering with the digestion particularly of structural carbohydrates, they allow for more energy to be obtained from forages.
Ditch Hay: Harvesting, Quality, and Feeding
Using ditch hay to feed cattle is a common practice across the U.S. It provides livestock producers with a source of readily available forage, which can be very useful, particularly during feed shortages.