BeefWatch Articles

Switchgrass field, sampling, and stage sorting. Photo credits: Carolina Córdova

February 5, 2025

Nature's Algorithm: Tiller Demography in Perennial Forage Grass, Explained

Carolina Córdova, Assistant Professor and Statewide Soil Health Specialist

Cattle strip grazing a field

October 25, 2024

Getting more out of fall and winter grazing

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist; Erin Laborie, Nebraska Extension Educator

October 16, 2024

Test, don’t guess: Sampling and testing hay

Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Educator

September 27, 2024

Plan Now to Purchase Your Hay Supplies

Randy Saner, Nebraska Extension Educator; T.L. Meyer, Nebraska Extension Educator

Nitrogen nurse tank

April 17, 2024

Don't use tanks that have been used to haul fertilizer for hauling drinking water for cattle

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist

February 28, 2024

Adjusting stocking rates, weed management and fire break recovery after a fire

Nebraska Extension Crops & Livestock teams

January 31, 2024

Determining how much forage a beef cow needs per day

Rick Rasby, Nebraska Extension Specialist

January 29, 2024

Pasture & Forage Minute: Pasture lease considerations

Jerry Volesky, Extension Range and Forage Specialist

January 22, 2024

Pasture & Forage Minute: Reviewing last year and planning for this year

Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator

Hay bales in the road ditch

December 4, 2023

What to know about feeding road ditch hay to cows

Troy Walz, Nebraska Extension Educator

beefwatch graphic

December 1, 2023

Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Insurance summary of sales and performance history

Jay Parsons, Farm and Ranch Management Specialist; John Hewlett, Ranch/Farm Management Specialist - University of Wyoming; Jeff Tranel, Ag and Business Management Specialist - Colorado State University

Feeding meadow hay to cows

November 1, 2023

How to Meet your Cow’s Nutrient Needs when Feeding Hay this Winter

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist

Frost-covered fenceline and plants, with cattle in the background.

October 14, 2023

What to know about grazing frosted forages

Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator

Cattle with virtual fencing collars

October 1, 2023

What do stocker and cow-calf producers think of Virtual Fencing?

Thomas Aquino University of Nebraska-Lincoln Animal Science Graduate Research Associate; Yijie Xiong, Nebraska Extension Specialist, Precision Livestock Management

Cutting silage

October 1, 2023

Pricing Corn Destined for Feeding as Silage, Snaplage, Earlage or Grain

Alfredo DiCostanzo, Nebraska Extension Educator; Shannon Sand, Nebraska Extension Educator

cow on corn residue

October 1, 2023

Understanding Cattle Health Concerns on Cornstalks

Lindsay Waechter-Mead, DVM, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator

Hailed corn plants

September 1, 2023

Making Silage from Late Season Hail Damaged Corn

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist

Cattle grazing windrowed summer annuals

September 1, 2023

Windrow Grazing Annual Forages to Extend the Grazing Season

Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Educator

August 1, 2023

Drought-damaged Smooth Bromegrass Pastures: Assessment and Recovery Considerations

Daren Redfearn, Nebraska Extension Forage and Crop Residue Specialist; Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator

Rye

August 1, 2023

Pros and Cons of Fall-planting Winter and Spring Small Grains

Daren Redfearn, Nebraska Extension Forage and Crop Residue Specialist; Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist; Jerry Volesky, Extension Range and Forage Specialist; Mitch Stephenson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Range Management Specialist

Rained on windrows

August 1, 2023

What are Your Options with Wet Hay?

Hannah (Greenwell) Smith, Nebraska Extension Educator; Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator; Connor Biehler, Nebraska Extension Educator

Cane field

July 19, 2023

Options for Safely Using High-Nitrate Forage: Grazing, Silage and Haying

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist

Summer annual

July 1, 2023

Annual Forage Options for July or August Planting

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist; Daren Redfearn, Nebraska Extension Forage and Crop Residue Specialist

Cows grazing winter wheat

May 1, 2023

El trigo de invierno puede tener más valor como forraje que como grano

Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Educator

Cows grazing wheat

May 1, 2023

Winter Wheat may have more Value as Forage than Taking it to Grain

Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Educator

Packing small grain silage

May 1, 2023

Packing Small Grain Silage When It Is Too Wet Can Be a Costly Mistake

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist; Jenny Rees, Nebraska Extension Educator; Gary Lesoing, Former Nebraska Extension Cropping Systems Educator; Erin Laborie, Nebraska Extension Educator; Todd Whitney, Nebraska Extension Educator; Connor Biehler, Nebraska Extension Educator; Daren Redfearn, Nebraska Extension Forage and Crop Residue Specialist; Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator

several cows grazing cereal grains

April 27, 2023

Aprovechar al máximo el pastoreo de centeno y otros cereales de invierno

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist; Daren Redfearn, Nebraska Extension Forage and Crop Residue Specialist

Calves grazing rye

April 1, 2023

Getting the Most Out of Grazing Cereal Rye and Other Winter-hardy Small Cereals

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist; Daren Redfearn, Nebraska Extension Forage and Crop Residue Specialist

field of oats

March 7, 2023

Forrajes Anuales de Primavera

Jerry Volesky, Extension Range and Forage Specialist; Daren Redfearn, Nebraska Extension Forage and Crop Residue Specialist