Daren Redfearn - Extension Forage Crop Residue Specialist

Daren Redfearn

faculty

Professor Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Program Leader Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Work Keim Hall (KEIM) 136

Lincoln NE 68583-0915

Work 402-472-2662 On campus, dial 2-2662

dredfearn2@unl.edu

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icon-academic-capEducation

Ph D, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1995
MS, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1992
BS, Texas Tech University, 1985

icon-business-chartResearch & Grants

Five-year Plan for the Beef Systems Initiative, Internal, August 2017
Enhance Animal Protein Crops/Cattle, Fdn for Food & Agriculture Research, July 2017
Soil Health Initiative, Dept of Agriculture-NRCS, September 2017
Dev Rsrch Ext Skills of Students, Dept of Agriculture-NIFA, March 2016

Faculty Bio

On-farm Research Indicates Importance of Cover Crops for Soil Health in Nebraska

January 20, 2022

UNL researchers share the results of a multi-year USDA-NRCS Soil Health Initiative study, which closely investigated the impact of cover crops on soil health in Nebraska.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Planning 2022 Forages, Alfalfa Fertility

January 12, 2022

Extension educators discuss the importance of analyzing last year's forages to improve production in 2022, and how to maximize your fertilizer investment dollars in alfalfa fields.

Cattle in pasture — University of Nebraska research has determined that when corn residue is grazed at proper stocking rates, there are small, but positive effects on crop production the following year.

Cattle Compaction in Cropland: Fact or Fiction?

August 23, 2021

Grazing corn residue is a low-cost winter feed for cattle and source of additional income with no negative effects on cropland.

Harvested corn field — The Crop Residue Exchange is an interactive, online tool that facilitates connections between livestock producers looking for forage and crop producers with available crop residues or other forage resources.

Crop Residue Exchange Links Growers and Grazers

August 23, 2021

The Crop Residue Exchange continues to connect livestock producers with crop residue and other forage resources.

Assessing Cover Crop Biomass Using Aerial Imagery: Lessons Learned During the UNL-NRCS Soil Health Initiative

October 15, 2020

Using aerial imagery, a non-destructive and easy-to apply method, we are able to gain insight into cover crop biomass production across an entire field, which would not be possible with traditional, boots-on-the-ground biomass sampling.

Using Aerial Imagery to Help Determine the Impact of Cover Crops on Cash Crop Growth and Development

October 15, 2020

Through education and on-farm assessment, Nebraska landowners part of the Soil Health Initiative (SHI) are evaluating the effects of diverse cover crop mixtures on both soil properties and agronomic indicators of soil health.

Market Your Crop Residue Using the Crop Residue Exchange

September 24, 2020

This interactive, online tool helps farmers and cattle producers connect and develop mutually beneficial agreements to use crop residue and forage cover crops for grazing.

Drought stressed soybeans — The importance of estimating soybean yield prior to harvesting as forage is illustrated in this photo of drought-stressed soybean from Washington County, NE. With a closer look at these plants, you can see 10 to 12 pods per stem with 3 seeds per pod on a few of the plants. These soybeans are not stressed enough to consider for hay or silage. Photo courtesy of Aaron Nygren, Nebraska Extension.

Harvesting Soybeans for Hay or Silage

September 1, 2020

The decision to harvest as forage (hay or silage) or grain should be based on economics. However, the decision to not harvest soybeans as grain does need to be made as soon as possible to capture the forage value of drought-stressed soybeans.