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Forage

All Forage Content

small group of cattle at hay feeder

Herd Management: Keep or Cull During a Drought?

Drought forces unexpected changes so it’s critical to have a strategy to keep only the “right” females that will benefit the operation.

Herd of black-beef cattle being moved in drought-stressed rangeland.

Trigger Dates: Critical Decisions for Drought Management

Having a drought plan in place ensures that you can overcome the inhibitions surrounding a drought response, the basis of which is figuring out trigger dates.

Group of black cattle near a stock dam that’s drying up under drought conditions.

Drought Planning

A drought plan will be an essential component to your overall grazing plan, as it provides guidance in making decisions during critical times when forage may be lacking.

several plots of alfalfa

Aphanomyces Root Rot of Alfalfa

Fact sheet on Aphanomyces Root Rot of Alfalfa

Oats growing in a no-till field.

Planting Considerations for Oats in South Dakota

South Dakota is a leading oat producer in the United States. Learn some important oat planting tips, including timing, variety selection, seeding rate and fertilizer management.

Alfalfa shoots with top leaves showing yellow patches interspersed with green patches, symptoms for Alfalfa mosaic virus

Alfalfa Mosaic Developing in a Few Alfalfa Fields

In South Dakota, alfalfa fields that were recently scouted were found to be infected with Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) at a very low incidence. AMV is a common virus in alfalfa that can also infect soybeans.

Mixed group of cattle in a winter pasture.

Ready, Set, Manage Hay Differently

Feed is expensive and sometimes hard to find. Pasture prices, harvest expenses, hauling and waste add to the total feed bill. Evaluate your forage situation this winter and make changes that improve your profitability.

Smooth bromegrass growing in an open grassland.

Introduced Grasses and Forbs

While native grasslands contribute greatly to the integrity of the overall grassland community in South Dakota, the use of introduced grasses has proven a popular alternative for some producers.

A man drilling a core sampler into the side of a hay bale.

Forage Sampling Procedures

Proper sampling of forage is essential if we want to obtain an accurate indication of the nutrient composition, dry matter content, or value of any feedstuff.

Oat plants exhibiting crown rust symptoms.

Does Crown Rust in Oats Cause Problems for Livestock?

When wet, cool conditions predominate in the spring, crop producers may have to deal with crown rust in oats. When this crop disease is abundant, questions from livestock producers arise. Could crown rust in oats harm livestock if it’s present on pasture or in hay?