Alfalfa harvest
Photo by Brad Schick

Pasture and Forage Minute: Alfalfa Cutting Prep and Weevil Control

May 19, 2021
With alfalfa fields maturing, it's time to consider first cutting strategies and concerns, including irrigation before harvest and scouting for alfalfa weevil.

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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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Alfalfa weevil larvae
Figure 1. Adult and small- to medium-sized larvae of the alfalfa weevil. (Photo by Julie Peterson)

Scouting Advised for Alfalfa Weevil

April 27, 2023
Alfalfa weevil larvae have emerged in southern Nebraska; scouting for this pest is crucial for alfalfa producers over the next few weeks.

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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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Controlling Summer Annual Grasses in Forages

April 8, 2021
Control of summer annual grasses in pasture or hay fields can be difficult, but with the right planning, it shouldn’t be impossible.

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Alfalfa plant
Spring is a good time to evaluate alfalfa stands to plan your management strategy.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Assessing Alfalfa and Fertilizer Needs

March 31, 2021
Were your alfalfa yields lower than expected last year? Try Ben Beckman's suggestions on evaluating your stands this spring. Plus, Brad Schick highlights what you need to know before fertilizing your cool-season grass pastures. 

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Oats and ryegrass in field
A spring pasture mix of oats and ryegrass. (Photo by Jerry Volesky)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Improving Forage Quality with Oats, Italian Ryegrass, Grass Mixtures

March 17, 2021
This week, Extension experts Jerry Volesky and Brad Schick discuss ways to supplement a low quality spring pasture and the strategy behind mixing grasses into your alfalfa fields. 

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