Jerry Volesky - Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Specialist

Hay bales on trailer
The average round bale may lose up to one-fourth of its original nutrients during outside storage, but these losses can be reduced to less than 10% or so with the right row orientation and adequate ground surface drainage.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Thinning Alfalfa Stands, Hay Bale Storage and Weed Management

August 25, 2021
Extension educators review options for improving thin alfalfa stands, the most effective storage methods to reduce hay losses and managing late summer pasture weeds.

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Alfalfa plant closeup

Pasture and Forage Minute: Approaches for Low-Producing Alfalfa and Corn Silage Inoculants

August 10, 2021
Extension educators review the reasons for evaluating alfalfa stands in the fall and interseeding grasses in low-producing alfalfa fields, plus how to choose an inoculant for corn silage.

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sorghum-sudangrass field
Thick, dense, upper canopy of sorghum-sudangrass field in Lincoln, Nebraska. (CropWatch file photo)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Late Summer Planting and Regrowth Concerns

August 5, 2021
This week, extension educators review some of the concerns with late summer alfalfa planting, toxicity levels in sorghum and sudangrass regrowth, and how leaving hay bales in the fields can affect your yields.

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Adult differential grasshopper

Pasture and Forage Minute: Grazing in the Dog Days of Summer, Grasshopper Tips and Silage Storage Strategies

July 28, 2021
Extension educators discuss management strategies for heat stressed forage plants and grasshoppers in alfalfa, and getting prepped for corn silage harvest this fall.

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Hail damaged corn
Corn around V10-11 with leaves stripped due to hail damage. (CropWatch file photo)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Making Decisions on Weather-damaged Crops, Summer Grazing Precautions

July 7, 2021
Considerations for selling wheat straw during increased demand, avoiding hazards that accompany grazing summer annual forages, and options for crops that have been severely damaged by wind and hail.

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Corn forage

Pasture and Forage Minute: Grazing Management Strategies for Weather Issues, Wheat Harvest

June 29, 2021
This week, extension educators highlight the importance of adjusting your grazing strategies for weather setbacks and wheat harvest, plus best practices for controlling bluegrass in irrigated alfalfa.

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Pasture grass
Photo by Ben Beckman

Pasture and Forage Minute: Toxic Plants and Grass Hay Timing

June 23, 2021
This week, extension educators review some of the common toxic plants found in Nebraska pastures, what to do when cool-season grasses mature ahead of grazing rotations and how to determine the right time for your grass hay cutting. 

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Weevil damaged alfalfa

Pasture and Forage Minute: Strategies for Alfalfa Weevil, Water Demands and Grass Surpluses

June 8, 2021
With alfalfa weevils remaining in the fields, extension educators share their recommendations for late spring infestation management strategies — plus, the benefits of using excess summer growth for winter grazing. 

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