Brad Schick - Former Extension Educator

Leafy spurge
Leafy spurge is an aggressive noxious weed that is difficult to remove once established. For optimum control, early detection and herbicides are recommended. (Photo by Ben Beckman)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Time for Forage Program Analysis, Fertilizing Grasses and Spurge Control

May 25, 2021
The end of May is a good time to assess various pasture and forage needs, such as the status of your annual hay and forage program, potential need for fertilizing warm-season grasses and controlling leafy spurge in its early stages.

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Alfalfa harvest
Photo by Brad Schick

Pasture and Forage Minute: Alfalfa Cutting Prep and Weevil Control

May 19, 2021
With alfalfa fields maturing, it's time to consider first cutting strategies and concerns, including irrigation before harvest and scouting for alfalfa weevil.

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Cattle grazing pasture
If turned out early enough, cattle will successfully graze reed canarygrass, which is very nutritional at a young growth stage (less than 10 inches tall).

Pasture and Forage Minute: Spring Turn-out Strategies, Seedbed Preparation and Grazing Reed Canarygrass

April 27, 2021
In this week's Pasture and Forage Minute, Extension educators discuss the best time and location for spring turn-out and how to encourage cattle to graze reed canarygrass.

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Cattle in pasture
If there are changes to your animal intake or pasture productivity, it can disrupt the balance of your stocking rate. Annual evaluation is necessary to maintain an equitable distribution of animals on your pastures.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Adjusting Stocking Rates, Baleage Equipment and Summer Annual Grass Control

April 15, 2021
Extension Educators Ben Beckman and Brad Schick review the importance of analyzing and adjusting stocking rates, equipment required for proper haylage and baleage, and controlling pesky summer annual grasses.

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Alfalfa plant
Spring is a good time to evaluate alfalfa stands to plan your management strategy.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Assessing Alfalfa and Fertilizer Needs

March 31, 2021
Were your alfalfa yields lower than expected last year? Try Ben Beckman's suggestions on evaluating your stands this spring. Plus, Brad Schick highlights what you need to know before fertilizing your cool-season grass pastures. 

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Oats and ryegrass in field
A spring pasture mix of oats and ryegrass. (Photo by Jerry Volesky)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Improving Forage Quality with Oats, Italian Ryegrass, Grass Mixtures

March 17, 2021
This week, Extension experts Jerry Volesky and Brad Schick discuss ways to supplement a low quality spring pasture and the strategy behind mixing grasses into your alfalfa fields. 

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Cutting hay in field

Pasture and Forage Minute: Deciphering a Hay Test

March 10, 2021
Extension educators Ben Beckman and Brad Schick break down hay testing and what you need to know to keep your forage crops at optimum performance.

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Alfalfa
Alfalfa stand previously interseeded with grass and legumes near Columbus, NE. – Megan Taylor

Evaluating Alfalfa Stands Part II - Renovation Options

August 12, 2020
Typically, alfalfa’s autotoxicity makes planting into established stands impossible. However, in new stands that are less than 12 months old, there is a chance that reseeding alfalfa in areas that are extremely thin or void of alfalfa may see success.

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