Jerry Volesky - Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Specialist

Drought-stressed corn
If considering drought-stressed corn for livestock feed this year, remember to check the labels of any chemicals applied to the corn for grazing, haying or harvesting restrictions.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Managing Volunteer Wheat, Drought-stressed Corn Options

July 27, 2022
Solutions for managing volunteer wheat in cooperation with neighbors, grazing heat-stressed forages and deciding on a course for drought-stressed corn.

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Sorghum-sudangrass
To put up good quality hay from summer annual grasses like sorghum-sudan hybrids, remember this motto: "Cut it early, cut it high. Crimp the stems and they will dry." (CropWatch file photo)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Options for Wet Hay Meadow, Harvesting Summer Annual Forages

July 20, 2022
Nebraska Extension educators share tips and techniques for addressing wet hay meadows and summer annual forages at harvest time, plus info on this year's Nebraska Grazing Conference.

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Grasshopper
With conditions remaining dry this summer, if the grasshopper population in an established field is higher than five hoppers per square yard throughout the field or 15 hoppers per square yard in field margins, insecticides should be considered.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Grasshopper Control, Safe Grazing Guidelines And Blue-green Algae Poisoning

July 13, 2022
Tips for effective control of grasshoppers in alfalfa, prussic acid poisoning from summer annual forages and blue-green algae in livestock water.

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Cattle in thunderstorm
Speeding up grazing during periods of precipitation and slowing down during dry times is a great strategy to use while adjusting for weather conditions.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Forage Options for Post-Harvest Wheat Fields, Grazing Strategies for Inclement Weather

July 7, 2022
Extension educators share insights on forage options for dryland and irrigated wheat fields after harvest, and how to adjust grazing during periods of both wet and dry climate.

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Alfalfa harvest
Proper care and management of first-year alfalfa now could have big impacts on cuttings later this year.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Toxic Plants, Managing First-Year Alfalfa

June 14, 2022
Tips for identifying and managing poisonous plants in cattle and equine grazing pastures, and harvest guidelines for getting the most from first-year alfalfa.

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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: Controlling Leafy Spurge, Timing Grass Hay Harvest

June 1, 2022
Extension educators share tips on determining water needs for cattle, options for controlling leafy spurge, and a grass hay harvest timeline.

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Sorghum-sudangrass
When selecting a summer annual forage to plant, base your choice primarily on whether you plan to use it for pasture, hay or silage. For example, this sorghum-sudangrass would be best used as hay, due to its yield and feed value. (CropWatch file photo)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Cool-season Annuals and Alfalfa Harvest, Selecting Summer Forage

May 24, 2022
The time to harvest cool-season annuals, perennial forages and alfalfa first cutting is quickly approaching. Read these extension tips to get prepared for spring harvest and summer forages.

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Silage making

Pasture and Forage Minute: Small Grain Harvesting for Forage, Management Strategies for Musk Thistle, Pasture Fertilizer

May 18, 2022
Extension educators review the pros and cons of harvesting small grains for forage this year, and share tips on how to control musk thistle and fertilize warm-season grass pastures. 

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