Best practices and cutting management will provide growers with an optimum alfalfa crop, says David Miller, director of alfalfa research for Pioneer. With a slow spring green-up, Miller takes a look at the impact of a cold winter on alfalfa as well as alfalfa genetics and management. Growers who tend to harvest late in the fall may be seeing more … Read More
PEAQ and RFQ
The PEAQ (Predictive Equation for Alfalfa Quality) method was developed around the relative feed value (RFV) which looks at the quantity of fiber. Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer, takes a look at determining not just the quantity of fiber but the digestibility of that fiber through RFQ or relative feed quality testing. Mahanna also comments … Read More
Pioneer's Integrated Forage Program
Managing the gaps in today’s agriculture can be an issue, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer. When visiting an operation, several factors come into play before a crop becomes feed. Pioneer can offer expertise to deal with the full continuum – managing the gaps between growing and cutting the feed to packing the silo and … Read More
Pioneer Inoculant Products for Different Crops
Why does Pioneer have so many different silage inoculants? Pioneer microbiologists have focused on bacterial strains unique to each crop. Bacteria have special niches that they fill. Like humans in a room, some like it a little colder or warmer – bacteria works much the same way, designed for a specific environment. Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional services … Read More
Dairy Producer Vice Chairs Beef Board
The Cattlemen’s Beef Board unanimously elected dairywoman Lucinda Williams to serve as vice chairman of the Board for 2008. Williams is a 12th-generation dairy producer and farmer from Hatfield, Mass., who was appointed to the Beef Board by the Secretary of Agriculture in 2004. Find out more about Lucinda by listening to this “Milking Parlor” podcast: [audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?http://zimmcomm.biz/wdd/milking-parlor-29.mp3] To subscribe to … Read More
Looking Forward to World Ag Expo
The World Ag Expo is right around the corner and to learn more about it I interviewed Shelley Kahl, 2008 Chairman. The Expo is “Where the World of Agriculture Means Business.” For many people who will be participating and attending that means the dairy business. I’ve never been to the show and hope to find a way to do so … Read More
Value of Starch in Corn Silage
Along with higher corn prices, the value of corn silage has tracked notably higher. The industry used to reference corn silage values at “a penny a pound” or $20 per ton. However, the higher corn market and costs related to silage harvest have boost corn silage values in upwards of $50 per ton, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global … Read More
Role of Yeast in Unstable Silages
While yeast is a common ingredient in feed rations, including yeast in silage can cause stability issues, particularly when there is significant variability in the corn crop, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional services for Pioneer Hi-Bred. An increasing amount of yeast can impact digestibility and palatability of the silage, but more importantly yeast can “heat up” the … Read More
Corn Silage for Heifers
Does corn silage really need to be that much different for heifers versus cows? According to Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional science for Pioneer Hi-Bred, the answer is yes since high fat deposits in growing heifers can cause havoc and production issues down the line. Hear how producers can potentially manage this problem and their crops to reduce … Read More
Ring Side With Charleston|Orwig
There are only a few select suites ringside at the World Dairy Expo coliseum and one of them is occupied by Charleston|Orwig during the show for meetings and entertaining clients. Since Charleston|Orwig is one of our sponsors for coverage of World Dairy Expo this year, this “Milking Parlor” podcast is with Mike Opperman, account supervisor with C-O. It was through … Read More