Jerry Volesky - Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Specialist

Pasture and Forage Minute: Pasture Rental Rates, Cool-season Grass Fertilizer

March 23, 2022

Extension educators review preliminary results from the Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market survey on pasture rental rates, and tips on fertilizing cool-season grass pastures.

Oat ryegrass mixture — A spring pasture mix of oats and ryegrass. (Photo by Jerry Volesky)

Pasture and Forage Minute: A Look at Alfalfa Traits, Spring Pasture Options

March 7, 2022

Extension educators review their tips on selecting for fall dormancy in alfalfa. Plus — if quality pasture is a concern after this dry winter, consider planting oats and Italian ryegrass.

Cattle eating hay — High nitrate levels in winter forage feed can be mitigated with the right management strategy, such as dilution.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Making a Drought Plan, Monitoring Forage Nitrates

February 23, 2022

Extension educators share their insights on effective grazing and forage plans with respect to potential drought conditions in 2022, and preventing nitrate poisoning from winter feed.

Tractor spreading manure — When done correctly, applying manure ahead of seeding alfalfa fields can result in big cost savings on fertilizer.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Cutting Alfalfa Fertilizer Costs with Manure

February 10, 2022

Save money by getting a jumpstart on your summer annual forage plan. Plus, Nebraska Extension Educator Ben Beckman explains how to prepare alfalfa seed beds with manure to save on fertilizer costs this growing season.

Cornstalks under snow — Cornstalks are a great forage resource for livestock producers in mid-winter provided factors like ice accumulations and cornstalk quality are closely monitored.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Nutrition Concerns for Mid-winter, Calving

January 17, 2022

Cattle Nutrition — The do's and don'ts of grazing cornstalks this winter, plus why it's important to use high quality hay after calving season.

Prescribed burn image — A prescribed burn continues to be the most economical approach to controlling Eastern red cedar trees. (Photo by Troy Walz)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Preparing Alfalfa for Snow, Controlling Eastern Red Cedar Trees

December 13, 2021

Extension educators discuss the importance of snow cover to alfalfa and how to prepare your fields for Mother Nature's insulation, and using prescribed burning to control Eastern red cedar trees in Nebraska.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Hay Feeding Concerns

December 6, 2021

Jerry Volsky explains what happens to cattle when they ingest net wrap and twine from hay bales, and Ben Beckman reviews protein and energy values on hay tests and how to use these values when deciding your hay feed strategy.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Calculating Feed Costs, Safe Alfalfa Grazing

November 16, 2021

Calculating the cost of grazing cornstalks with the UNL Cornstalk Grazing Cow-Q-Lator and preventing bloat in cattle grazing fall alfalfa.