A majority of North Dakota has adequate pasture and forage conditions. One expectation is the northwest and north central part of the state, which is dry. Regardless, NDSU Extension rangeland management specialist Kevin Sedivec says the biggest struggle for livestock producers is getting quality hay put up. “Producers lay hay down and it sits there for five to ten days because of the rain. The longer it sits there, the lower the quality becomes.” Sedivec adds one positive for producers was moving up the date to hay and graze cover crops to September 1. ” That opens up the forage opportunities for producers.” Sedivec recommends starting small for producers who are raising forage cover crops for the first time. “A seed mix of four or five different crops will provide a high quality, high tonnage feed come September.
says Sedivec. Listen to the conversation.