Weather Damage
– Jordan Penrose, Ohio State University Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Morgan County This spring, there has been some severe weather across different parts of Ohio. Most farmers are no strangers to springtime thunderstorms, but they can cause problems for…
Be Aware of Frothly Bloat Risk in Spring Pastures
– Dr. Michelle Arnold, DVM-Ruminant Extension Veterinarian (UKVDL) Ruminant animals produce large volumes of gas through the normal fermentation process during forage digestion. This gas is predominantly belched up (eructated) as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract. If something interferes…
Fertilizing Pastures After a Drought: Ensuring Adequate Mineral Intake and Preventing Grass Tetany
– Ted Wiseman, OSU Extension, Perry County (originally published in Farm and Dairy) Beware of lush early growth and tetany. Spring is here, bringing lush pasture growth with April rains and warmer temperatures. Although many of our pastures may have gone into…
Alfalfa Weevil Scouting and GDD
Author(s): Kyle Verhoff, Jason Hartschuh, CCA, Emma Matcham, Aaron Wilson, Kelley Tilmon Despite the chill in the air, overall rising spring temperatures are beginning to bring activity back to our fields. The good news is that we get to scratch that itch and get…
Pasture; the lingering impact of a dry summer, and tough winter
– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist Last fall was dry. While drought conditions didn’t reach severe levels in many areas, it had a significant impact on fall forage growth. When moisture returned, it was tempting for many producers to immediately…
Lucky Clovers
– Christine Gelley, OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County (originally published in Progressive Cattle) For centuries the clover has been symbolic in cultures and religions in areas where clovers thrive. Whether found with leaves of three, four, or more-…
Managing Frost Heave in Alfalfa
Winter’s freeze-thaw cycles can cause frost heaving in alfalfa and other winter crop fields. The colder than usual winter in Ohio this year could increase frost heave risk. This article covers the basics of identifying frost heave and planning for…
New OSU Extension Forage Agronomist
We are excited to introduce the newest Extension state specialist for integrated forage management, Dr. Emma Matcham. Prior to joining the faculty at OSU, Emma was an Assistant Professor of nutrient cycling and agronomy at the University of Florida and…
Frost Seeding Clover: A Recipe for Success
Chris D. Teutsch, S. Ray Smith, and Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky Legumes are an essential part of a strong and healthy grassland ecosystems (Figure 1). They form a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria in which the bacteria fix nitrogen…
Maintaining Forage Stability Amid Instability
Marina Miquilini, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Greene County, OSU Extension When it comes to forage crops, we aim for stable production. But maybe it’s time to start thinking a step ahead. Stability means keeping things running smoothly with only…
