Jerry Volesky - Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Specialist

New alfalfa regrowth

Pasture and Forage Minute: Scouting Plant Growth for Harvest, Grazing

June 1, 2021
Extension educators discuss their strategies for handling delays in first cutting of alfalfa, timing of grass hay harvest and extending forage supply after a cool spring has limited pasture production.

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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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Hay meadow

Pasture and Forage Minute: Harvesting Small Grains, Fertilizing Hay Meadows and Selecting Summer Annual Grass

May 13, 2021
A review of strategies for harvesting small grains as hay or silage, plus fertilizing summer hay meadows for extra hay next winter and how to select the right summer annual grasses for your operation. 

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Pivot irrigation

Pasture and Forage Minute: Weed Control and Cross Fencing Strategies

May 4, 2021
Extension educators discuss methods for controlling musk thistles in pastures this spring, plus recommendations on herbicides for alfalfa weeds and using electric fence as a cross fencing tool to encourage more uniform grazing.

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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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Pasture grass

Pasture and Forage Minute: Alfalfa Growth and Seeding Concerns, Selecting Herbicides

April 19, 2021
Maximize water usage in your alfalfa fields this year with tried-and-true techniques, such as adding cereals and no-till seeding.

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Cattle grazing pasture

Pasture and Forage Minute: Preventing Grass Tetany, Flash Grazing for Early Weed Control

April 7, 2021
Extension specialists share techniques for preventing grass tetany and controlling weeds in warm-season grass pastures, plus a review on pasture rental rates in 2021.

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Prescribed burn image
When preparing for a prescribed burn, remember that warm-season grasses are best burned from mid-April to early May. (Photo by Troy Walz)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Grazing Small Grains and Prescribed Burning

March 31, 2021
With the onset of April, Extension experts stress the need for preparing and finalizing your forage grazing and prescribed burning plans.

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