ben beckman

The field is blooming alfalfa. (Adobe Stock-#278624616 │ orestligetka)
Alfalfa, Crops

Scheduling first cutting

Delaying first-cut alfalfa harvest can reduce forage quality and push later cuttings into summer heat stress. Read More

Cows in the stable eat hay. (Photo: Adobe Stock │ #322327093 - Lukas)
Cow Calf, Forage Crops, Hay Range Pasture, Livestock

High quality hay after calving a must

I-29 Moo University
Beef, Cow Calf, Dairy, Iowa, Kansas, Livestock, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ranchland, Seedstock, South Dakota, Stocker

2026 forage webinar series continues Jan. 7

Bales should be removed from the field to avoid damage to existing forage and the hay itself. (U of A System Division of Agriculture courtesy photo by Dirk Philipp)

Forage webinar series continues July 8

Figure 2. Symptoms of alfalfa plants affected by Sclerotinia crown and stem rot. A: Diseased alfalfa stems have a bleached, dry appearance. Infected plants become wilted and eventually collapse in the field due to stem and crown rot, which softens and weakens the stem. B: White arrows represent the wilted plants spotted in the field. Photo courtesy of Maira Duffeck, Oklahoma State University.

Checking on your alfalfa crop pays

Hay bales on Tuesday, Mar 05, 2024, in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)

Understanding a hay test: TDN

Round hay bales

Understanding a hay test

Information gathered from testing hay helps producers plan their supplementation strategy for the cattle cycle.(Courtesy photo.)

High quality hay important after calving

A herd of cattle moves to a new pasture as part of the landowners land management initiative at Caquelin's Ranch. (USDA NRCS Montana)

Pasture and forage production insights for 2025

Alfalfa stand with approximately 12 inches of top growth prior to winter dormancy. The last cut in this stand was performed in early September, and this photo was taken in late October. This stand will be hayed immediately following the first killing frost. Photo by Romulo Lollato, K-State Research and Extension.

Alfalfa as a supplemental protein

Nebraska Extension hosting cover crop grazing conference Nov. 1