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Soybean fields are opening up after harvest and cows may be moving in to get them off pasture when other forage options are unavailable. Soybean residue or stubble can occasionally be baled and used in rations. Before we use it however, we need to set expectations. Is soybean residue a quality forage? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Fungal diseases have made noticeable impacts on corn fields in Nebraska this year. As these fields open for grazing following harvest, many are wondering does disease pressure affect how we manage livestock on those acres? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Grazing a small, relatively weed-free portion of pasture hard this fall can reduce grass competition and help legumes such as clover and alfalfa establish next spring, improving forage quality and supplying nitrogen. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

For livestock producers, managing risk often means using more than one tool. Three insurance programs Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF); Annual Forage (AF); and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) can be good options to complement each other to protect both feed supply and livestock value. Shannon Sand, Nebraska Ag Economics Extension Educator.

As fall progresses, temperatures continue to drop and chances of a freeze grow. When frost hits, do you know the impact on forages and how livestock can be kept safe? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Have you ever wondered whether a new product or management practice actually pays on your pasture, hayfield, or forage acres? Consider putting that question to the test through the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network. Matheus Ribeiro, Nebraska Extension Cropping Systems Educator.

Amid ongoing market volatility, some producers may be exploring additional income opportunities, including leasing hunting access. This often raises an important question: Who holds the hunting rights when land is leased? Shannon Sand, Nebraska Ag Economics Extension Educator.

Allowing for alfalfa to winterize before dormancy is a key factor preventing winter kill across a stand. Traditionally, my recommendation has been to time the last cutting for roughly 6 weeks before the first frost. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Pastures and hay meadows provide higher quality feed, are more productive, and require fewer inputs when they have good forage legumes growing in them. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Cheatgrass, sometimes called downy brome, or wild oats, is an annual weedy grass that can be a problem in pastures, particularly in central and western Nebraska. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

With recent rains and cooler weather, cool-season pastures like brome, bluegrass, and fescue could put on some extra growth. That’s good news — but it also raises the question: do we graze it now or save it for later? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Late summer is often when annual grasses like foxtail, sandbur, and barnyardgrass become especially noticeable in pastures. They commonly show up where grass stands are thin, animal traffic is heavy, or overgrazing has left open space. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Did you spray thistles this past spring or summer? If so, it may be worth revisiting those areas. New plants or regrowth may have shown up, and late September through early November can be a good time for thistle control in pastures and hayland. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

As temperatures cool this fall, don’t be too quick to shut irrigation off on alfalfa, especially if the soil profile is dry. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

As we move into fall, many producers may be looking at harvesting forage from summer annuals like sorghum-sudan, forage sorghum or millet. While these crops can provide valuable feed, making dry hay this time of year can be challenging. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.