Forage Foundations

By Dr. Michelle Windle, Vita Plus forage products and dairy technical services specialist “Clostridia” is almost a four-lettered word in today’s silage world.  Clostridia bacteria degrade quality and produce butyric acid in silages.  However, clostridia challenges can be managed with the right knowledge, tools and strategy. Clostridia bugs are present everywhere: in the soil, on

By Stan McGraw, Vita Plus Dodgeville agronomist Fall and spring are the best times to assess alfalfa stands and evaluate the stands for yield potential in the cropping system.  Fall is a great time to decide if alfalfa field needs to be replaced or left for another year. During spring, we try to assess winterkill,

Click here to download Lamb's PowerPoint presentation. With Dan Lamb, Lamb Chops Custom Harvesting Dan Lamb, Lamb Chops Custom Harvesting, Bakersfield, California, gave Vita Plus Custom Harvester attendees the inside scoop on the land he operates in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The San Joaquin Valley is the most fertile land in the U.S.,

Click here to download Colby's PowerPoint presentation. With Chad Colby, AgTechTalk.com Drones have become a popular subject in mass media, but are still new on the minds of custom harvesters and producers. Chad Colby of AgTechTalk.com got down to the nitty-gritty details and regulations at the recent Vita Plus Custom Harvester Meeting. Colby said, according

Click here to download Brandt and Urness' PowerPoint presentation. By Jon Urness, Vita Plus national forage specialist, with Jason Brandt, J&A Forage Services Sometimes custom harvesters need to remind their customers of the value they bring to the table when it comes to producing a supply of quality, consistent forages. As uncomfortable as it may

Click here to download Sipiorski's PowerPoint presentation. By Gary Sipiorski, Vita Plus dairy development manager Machinery values on a custom harvester’s balance sheet have a lot of zeroes.  Due to the field conditions and customer needs, the machinery sees a lot of abuse and many long hours of use, but it has to work when

Click here to download Shinners' PowerPoint presentation. With Dr. Kevin Shinners, University of Wisconsin-Madison Enhancing feed value is a major focus for producers and customer harvesters alike. Dr. Kevin Shinners of the Biological Systems Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison shared his thoughts on new ways to harvest and process forages at the Vita

Click here to download Colby's PowerPoint presentation. With Chad Colby, AgTechTalk.com A hot topic in the industry seems to be drones, also called ships and unmanned aerial systems. Chad Colby of AgTechTalk.com explained the importance of this rapidly changing technology at the Vita Plus Custom Harvester Meeting. “At the end of the day, understanding how

With Barry Visser and Dr. Darin Bremmer, Vita Plus dairy technical service specialists, Dr. Randy Shaver, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Dr. Larry Chase, Cornell University When it comes to forages, custom harvesters and dairy producers always have questions to ask and topics to discuss. In a panel discussion at the recent Vita Plus Custom Harvester

Click here to download Shaver's PowerPoint presentation.  Click here to download Chase's PowerPoint presentation. With Dr. Randy Shaver, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Dr. Larry Chase, Cornell University Shredlage® is becoming popular, yet many questions still surround the logistics of this harvesting strategy. Dr. Randy Shaver, University of Wisconsin-Madison Dairy Science Department, shared results of his

Click here to download Hoffman's PowerPoint presentation. By Pat Hoffman, Vita Plus dairy technical specialist Today’s high-producing dairy cows consume copious amounts of calories to sustain milk production and no forage is better suited to provide calories than corn silage. As discussed at the Vita Plus Custom Harvester Meeting, corn silage is unique in the

Click here to download Urness' PowerPoint presentation. By Jon Urness, Vita Plus national forage specialist Harvest is often a time of high stress on dairies looking to put up high-quality forages and high moisture grains.  The window of opportunity is often ridiculously narrow. Relationships between dairy producers and their custom harvesters can be stretched to

Click here to download Taysom's PowerPoint presentation.  Click here to download Goeser's PowerPoint presentation. With Dave Taysom, Dairyland Laboratories, Inc., and Dr. John Goeser, Rock River Laboratory, Inc. Dairyland Laboratories, Inc. was established in 1958 and currently has four locations, serving more than 20 countries. Dave Taysom, Dairyland Laboratories director, explained the company’s role with

Click here to download Windle's PowerPoint presentation. By Dr. Michelle Windle, Vita Plus forage products and dairy technical service specialist Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was first discovered in the 19th century, with the first industrial applications in the 1950s.  This technology is used today in agriculture, physics, physiology and medicine.  The potential it holds for

By Dr. Michelle Windle, Vita Plus forage products & dairy technical service specialist Fermentation breaks down the starch-binding proteins within the corn kernel.  As a result, high moisture corn (HMC) can feed better than dry corn due to an increase in starch availability in the rumen. However, HMC often spoils quickly upon exposure to air,

By Dr. Michelle Windle, Vita Plus forage products & dairy technical service specialist Most producers are aware that inoculants can help minimize shrink, avoid heating, and improve forage quality, animal health, and performance.  Left untreated, naturally occurring microorganisms on plants in the field drive fermentation.  Inoculants offer a tool to control this fermentation. It’s tempting