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Pasture Blogs

cows grazing a cover crop

Cattle and crops create synergy

Synergy describes two separate systems that when combined, yield more than the sum of the individual systems when they are alone. In my experience, farms and ranches that use both crops and livestock to add value to a land investment have synergy.Living in the Midwest, I see plenty of acres...
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cows and calves on pasture

Hidden benefits of rotational grazing beyond soil health

We all want a future where the land continues to be productive and supportive of agriculture. And as cattle producers, you’ve probably heard about using rotational grazing to improve soil health. But adoption remains limited. It’s not because producers don’t want healthy soil, but because...
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Hay in a barn

Should I buy hay or grow my own hay?

The Cattle Connection
While cost is the primary factor, there are several reasons to choose buying hay or growing it.Buy HayLimited land resources to use for hay productionBusy, limited time to devote to hay productionShort on laborMust purchase hay equipment, update old equipmentSet-up to handle by-product/alternative...
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summer annual forages growing in a field

Growing summer annual forages

The Cattle Connection
With poor profitability projections on most row crop budgets, planting summer annual forages and using forage mixes for grazing should be considered on marginal acres. Adding a different crop to the rotation and a more diverse plant population on traditional row crop acres can have cascading...
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black baldy cows grazing

Early spring grazing management tips

The Cattle Connection
Turning cows out on immature forages can have consequences. If forages are overgrazed early, permanent damage to grass stands can lower yields and increase weed pressure.Delaying turn-out until forages have reached eight inches in height is recommended. Even more important is rotating cows through...
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bales of hay

Is it time to bale graze?

The Cattle Connection
Adding nutrients, organic matter, and ground cover to poorly productive lands have some raving about bale grazing. Added fertility and better water holding capacity of soils after bale grazing is often mentioned by early adopters.For sceptics, improved hay inventories and lower hay prices coupled...
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Cattle working facilities

Re-investing profits on the ranch

Are you looking for avenues to re-invest in the ranch this year? First, know that not every year is as profitable as this year and sometimes profitability can be difficult to achieve. Thus, careful thought and allocation of profits is necessary to maintain a sustainable business in the future. Here...
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pasture

More grazing days equals more profit

The Cattle Connection
Record high prices, while certainly a good thing, can leave many cattlemen in a state of awe and somewhat lax on cost control.Common sense and research both tell us cattle are most profitable when they are harvesting their own feed. Allowing cattle to graze into late fall and early winter is...
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