Trimble announced the availability of the Trimble® S1100 onboard weighing system offering farmers and ranchers a high-accuracy solution for measuring and weighing hay bales and other livestock feed handled using a tractor, forklift or skid steer. With highly accurate weight measurements available to the operator in the cab, farmers can better control the quantity and cost of hay bales and … Read More
Hay & Forage Expo Comes to Minnesota June 24-25
This year’s Hay & Forage Expo comes to Southeast Minnesota next week. The 29th annual version of the event is set for June 24 and 25 near Cannon Falls, Minnesota, on the Hernke’s Inc. farm. Marc Hernke, one of the host farmers, reports that his first-cut crop of hay looked good, even after coming through an open winter and that … Read More
Forage Analysis Superbowl to Offer $22k in Prizes
Forage producers from across North America will get the chance to showcase their high-quality forages and compete for $22,000 in prizes at this year’s World Dairy Expo. The World Forage Analysis Superbowl will have samples judged on lab and visual analysis, and herd production information when applicable. Participants have the opportunity to compete in seven different categories for over $22,000 … Read More
New Holland Now Offers Plastic Twine
Bridon Cordage, a leading manufacturer of polypropylene plastic twine products, is now the official supplier of New Holland branded plastic twine. Bridon Cordage will provide quality twine products, as well as sales and marketing support to New Holland and its North American dealers. New Holland conducted an extensive review of the manufacturer’s processes, practices, testing and certifications which led them … Read More
Landmark's Forage Forecasting and Conservation Strategies
Margins for dairy producers are expected to stay pretty tight in 2015, so the folks at Landmark Services Cooperative are offering some advice to better forecast forage production and conserving the feed on hand. “One of the biggest areas of improvement that we continually see is that producers do not conduct an animal inventory or a forage usage projection,” says … Read More
Hay & Forage Expo Returns to Southeast Minnesota
The Hay & Forage Expo™ is slated to bring the latest hay and forage tools, technology and suppliers at its 2015 event location near Cannon Falls, Minn., June 24 and 25 on the Hernke’s, Inc. farm. Minnesota is one of the nation’s top five alfalfa producing states along with California, South Dakota, Idaho and Iowa. “This is a great location … Read More
Texas A&M Extension Conduct Sorghum Trials
Agronomists at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service have been conducting research trials on sorghum silage revealing the importance of identifying forage type and variety to optimize quantity and quality. Dr. Jourdan Bell, AgriLife Extension agronomist in Amarillo, said the 2014 trials in Potter County under center pivot irrigation evaluated 90 forage sorghum silage varieties for optimal yield and quality. Bell … Read More
Vermeer Bale Processor Can Boost Efficiency
Iowa-based Vermeer has introduced a new bale processor with limited numbers of the new piece of equipment available this year. The company says its new Final CutTM FPX9000 bale processor lets operators produce an optimal material size for feed mixing purposes, providing increased feed efficiency in cattle. “The Final Cut FPX9000 bale processor is designed to give you more control … Read More
Study Finds Cover Crops Can be Grazed
A new study shows that allowing cattle to graze on cover crops does no damage to the soil. This article from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the Agricultural Research Service study could encourage more producers to put down the crops that help reduce soil erosion, boost organic matter, keep more moisture in soil and sequester carbon in the soil. … Read More
Pennsylvania Dairy Summit Awards $10,000 in Prizes
Winners in the second annual Pennsylvania Dairy Summit Forage Analysis Competition were announced at the 2015 Dairy Summit held in Lancaster, Pa., on February 4 – 5. Entries for the competition, which included six classes of forage analysis, were collected December 1 – 31, 2014, with forage analysis conducted by the Cumberland Valley Analytical Labs in January. A panel of … Read More