Ben Beckman - Extension Educator

Ben Beckman

faculty

Assoc Exten Educator NE Ext Engagement Zone 5 University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Work

PO Box 368 101 E Centre Hartington NE 68739-0368

Work 402-254-6821

ben.beckman@unl.edu

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Stacked hay bales — Quality hay probes and good sampling techniques are important factors for accurate hay test results and will help producers save money on supplemental feed during the winter.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Winter Grazing Pastures and Hay Testing

November 2, 2023

Extension educators review considerations for managing livestock nutrition during the winter, from grazing pastures to feeding quality hay.

Cattle grazing corn residue — Sorghum stems are a little higher in quality than the corn stem, but care is still needed if cows are forced to graze the lower stems due to the potential of prussic acid toxicity immediately following a frost.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Grazing Grain Sorghum Stover and Corn Residue

October 26, 2023

A review of the pros and cons of grazing sorghum and corn residue, and how to maximize the nutritional benefits of each.

Irrigating alfalfa field during autumn — For irrigated alfalfa, targeted fall irrigation may help the long-term strength of the stand, as well as refill soil profiles that were depleted during the summer.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Grazing and Fall Irrigation of Alfalfa

October 18, 2023

The pros and cons of grazing fall alfalfa, and capturing the benefits of targeted fall alfalfa irrigation after a dry year.

Closeup of combine harvesting soybean — While soybean residue can be grazed, it has much lower crude protein levels than soybeans, so producers using soybean residue as feed should also supplement to meet a dry cow's nutrient requirements..

Pasture and Forage Minute: Prussic Acid Following Freeze, Soybean Residue for Forage

October 12, 2023

Learn more about avoiding prussic acid poisoning in sorghum following a freeze, and why producers should always supplement when feeding soybean residue.

Frozen sorghum-sudangrass — Once a freeze occurs, it takes seven days for prussic acid to dissipate from forage sorghum species like sorghum-sudangrass. The hours immediately after a frost have the highest level of toxic compounds in these plants.

Frosted Sorghum and Prussic Acid

October 6, 2023

A review on how to safely graze forage sorghum species after freezing temperatures.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Lease Agreement Conditions, Grazing Drought-stressed Crop Residue

September 27, 2023

Extension educators review important factors to consider when entering a land lease agreement, overgrazing pastures in preparation for interseeding legumes, and using drought-stressed crop residue as a feed source.

Cheatgrass closeup — Rejuvra™ is a new rangeland herbicide product from Bayer that controls cheatgrass seedlings. It should be applied in early fall before seeds germinate and can provide control up to two years post-application.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Managing Cheatgrass, Last Alfalfa Harvest and Fall Armyworms

September 19, 2023

Management insights on controlling cheatgrass, wild oats and fall armyworms in pastures, and using growing degree days to schedule your final alfalfa harvest.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Understanding Nitrate Scores, Corn Silage Pricing

September 6, 2023

Extension educators review the importance of understanding nitrate and nitrate nitrogen scores in forage test results, how to price corn silage to salvage drought-stressed crops, and selecting winter annual forages.