Shelby Gruss
Subscribe to RSS FeedIn the past few weeks, I've received several questions from farmers about whether it’s too late or too warm to harvest alfalfa. The general rule of thumb is to allow 5 to 6 weeks (900 Growing Degree Days, or GDD) between the final harvest and a killing frost, or less than 2 weeks (360 GDD)...
Chilly Mornings, Chilly Concerns: Managing Frosted Forages
Why is Frost a Concern?...
About a month ago, we received a flurry of questions on fall armyworms in hayfields and some crop fields in southern Iowa. While inquires tapered off towards the end of August, we’ve started to see another wave of reports about fall armyworms in hayfields this week. This is a reminder to take...
Reports of fall armyworms have started to roll in, particularly in southern Iowa. Many of us may recall the severe fall armyworm pressure we had in 2021. We have no evidence at this point that issues will be as widespread as what we saw in 2021, but it is a good idea to keep an eye out for this...
Many areas in Iowa were impacted by hail this past week. Hailstorms are an unpredictable and formidable adversary for producers, capable of inflicting significant damage on crops, forage, and livestock. The impact of hail can be extensive, from shredded leaves to battered stems and bruised...
Summer annuals are valuable to forage production systems due to their heat and drought tolerance. These high-yielding crops are typically ready for grazing within 40-45 days under optimal conditions, making them ideal for double cropping systems. They provide excellent options for silage,...
As we enter summer, most of our cool-season dominant pastures have headed out, or the grasses have started producing seed heads. The common question of whether to mow the seed heads arises. The decision to mow or not is site-specific. Mowing can remove seed heads, stimulate even grazing, and...
Estimating First Crop Alfalfa Harvest using PEAQ
Alfalfa growth and development is affected by many factors, including temperature, soil moisture, stand age and even cultivar. We have had a warmer and milder winter leading into spring, causing earlier alfalfa green-up and...
Is it Time to Graze Your Pastures?
As spring rolls in, our cool-season pastures start showing signs of life and look more enticing than the muddy feeding areas. But before we let our livestock loose, it's crucial to assess whether pastures are truly ready. While the...
As pastures and hayfields begin to green-up, we need to start thinking about our fertilization program. Forages, just like row crops, need fertilizer to be productive.
We will quickly discuss fertilizer applications for your alfalfa and grass hay, and for your pastures.
In each...
Rainy springs can keep many producers out of the crop fields for days at a time. This provides a great window of opportunity to get out into pastures, take a look at the current weed pressure, and begin implementing management tactics to get weeds under control.
Early spring weed control...
Timing is crucial for spring planting. Planting too early can expose young stands to damaging frost, while planting too late can lead to greater potato leaf hopper and weed pressures. Establishing a vigorous alfalfa stand is pivotal for future production, forage quality, and minimizing weed...
High February temperatures have prompted many alfalfa fields across the state to initiate greening up over the past couple of weeks (Figure 1). However, temperatures then plummeted (9°F) earlier this week, likely resulting in the demise of the new growth. But the more pressing question is...
This winter's erratic weather, swinging from -30°F wind chills to unseasonably warm highs in the 50s, has left many pondering whether to frost-seed or not to frost-seed. As the calendar inches towards mid-February, the dilemma intensifies, with some already contemplating drilling spring oats or...