According to experts, farmers can thank genetic improvements for a lot of those gains.

WHY IT MATTERS: Manitoba dry bean acres saw a two-decade high in 2025 and a record area of pinto beans planted.

Juan Osorno, a dry bean breeder and geneticist at North Dakota State University, has seen the positive yield effects just south of the international border, even with today’s higher risks and tighter margins.

“In the last 80 years, we pretty much doubled it. We’re producing twice as many beans in the same acre,” he said. “Sixty per cent of those gains can be explained by better varieties.”

That lines up with trends provincial pulse specialist Dennis Lange has seen in Manitoba fields. New bean varieties are ready to harvest sooner and handle all kinds of Manitoba weather, making them easier for local farmers to grow, he said.

“Over the years, we’ve seen those maturities kind of become earlier and more widely adapted to Manitoba,” he noted.

Equally important, breeders were able to push the boundary of those maturity windows without taking big hits on performance. Once the purview of southern Manitoba, dry beans have crept into new regions of the province.

Central Manitoba remains king for dry bean acres, but some farmers are putting them in the ground in the west and northwest. Last year’s data (as reported by Yield Manitoba), showed about 3,900 acres in crop insurance risk zones 6 and 7, regions north of Brandon and along the Yellowhead Highway. In the risk areas around Dauphin, directly north of Riding Mountain National Park, and even further north — north of the Duck Mountains and along the Saskatchewan border — MASC reported a collective 5,300 acres.

There are also yearly efforts to further localize seed choice. Most dry bean growers in Western Canada do rely on U.S. genetics. Local trials from the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers strive to narrow the list of varieties that work best in local fields.

Dry beans standing tall

Modern breeding tools, such as genomic selection and field-based sensors, are speeding up and improving decisions in crop development.

“Now we have technology that allows to No. 1: screen or evaluate more material in our breeding program, and No. 2: be more efficient at the selection process,” Osorno said, noting these advancements bring practical benefits to the farm, offering better-performing bean varieties with improved traits.

One of the most significant changes for farmers has been the shift from traditional, low-growing bean plants to upright varieties.

“Back in 1997, ’98, ’99 … the main way farmers would harvest would be your traditional undercutting and windrowing, and now that’s changed through genetics,” Lange said.

Today’s more upright beans can be harvested with the same combine as farmers used for corn, soybeans or other row crops, Osorno said, resulting in reduced physical labour, lower fuel usage and fewer beans left uncollected in the field.

The change has allowed farmers to better integrate dry beans into more diverse crop rotations, particularly during tight harvest windows.

“It allows them for more flexibility in the timing of the harvest operation,” Osorno said. “So your production costs go down, which means your return on investment also goes up.”

Seed quality to match market demands

Farmers are paying a lot more attention to seed quality these days, thanks to what buyers and the market are asking for, said Lange. Genetics have helped tackle problems like beans darkening in storage, especially for pintos.

“We want varieties that have slow darkening capability, meaning pinto will last longer in the stores,” he said. “All those are through genetic improvements.”

If a farmer’s beans come in looking too dark, they end up getting docked at the elevator, which hits them right in the pocketbook, Osorno said.

Value-added traits mostly untapped

Even with all of the genetic progress, many value-added traits, like better nutrition and quicker-cooking beans, haven’t really caught on as priorities in the industry yet.

“I’ve been talking about those things at every opportunity, every meeting I go to, trying to spread the word, because I think it’s a really good thing,” Osorno said. “I don’t think the industry is taking advantage of that as much as they could.”

Looking ahead, both Osorno and Lange said continued genetic improvement will be key to maintaining dry beans as a competitive crop on the Prairies, particularly as weather variability and market expectations increase.

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In terms of human lives saved, it’s had a greater impact than all innovations produced by medical science put together.

“It’s sort of entertaining,” he said. “It depends on how you put the numbers together but, in truth, half of the world is actually fed by synthetic fertilizer.”

Why it matters: Work in North Dakota could expand soil testing beyond chemistry to include soil biology, helping farmers make better decisions on a field by field basis.

Synthetic fertilizers are an extension of a relationship dating back to the Archean Eon (between 4,000 and 2,500 million years ago) when the first simple microbes learned to crack atmospheric nitrogen and fix it to hydrogen.

This early skill enabled them to manufacture protein and made all life on Earth possible, and mankind created an agricultural revolution when it learned how to fix nitrogen synthetically.

“Now, the problem is that they’re getting really expensive, probably the most expensive input for a lot of farmers,” Geddes said.

There is a host of factors attached to the cost of nitrogen, from environmental demands to world politics and domestic government policies.

There is also the Canadian government’s plan to reduce nitrogen fertilizer emissions as measured in 2020 by 30 per cent by the end of the decade. Farmers are being pushed to find new approaches for nitrogen management, while maintaining enough supply of fixed nitrogen to keep up production.

In the North Dakota research program, legumes and their ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable nutrient through root nodules are the cornerstone of one approach. More specifically, it’s all about the rhizobia bacteria that make fixing nitrogen possible.

Geddes and his lab team are taking a detailed look at legume rhizobia bacteria, in the hope they can learn how to use them more effectively.

“The agronomic outputs from our programs focus on two major questions,” he said. “One is, can we guide farmers on when they can inoculate their fields and when can they expect to see benefits from inoculation? The second is, can we improve on the technology that’s out there? Can we actually maximize the benefits we get from inoculation?”

The problem is that crop inoculants don’t come in a one-size-fits-all package. Each crop demands a specific species of rhizobia and they’re not cross compatible. Soybean, for example, associates with Bradyrhizobium bacteria, compared with chickpeas, which need Mesorhizobium.

The relationships are unique enough that Geddes said each must be studied on its own.

Lingering populations

A commercial inoculant delivers the right rhizobium for the right crop, but since that product is a living organism, how long does a sustainable population last after a crop of soybean? Do farmers need to inoculate again?

“Different people have different responses for different reasons,” Geddes noted. “Some people would say you should always inoculate.”

It is “cheap insurance,” he added, particularly compared to the cost of fertilizer.

Studies done at the Carrington Research Extension Centre in North Dakota’s Red River Valley show that a field inoculation can last up to five years. Another inoculation may not deliver a yield boost because there is already a residual population of rhizobia in the soil.

Environmental factors also have roles.

“Events like drought or flooding are hard for rhizobia and can deplete their populations,” Geddes said. “Soil conditions like acidic pH or salinity are also challenging for establishing symbiosis between the host and symbiont.”

Iron deficiency chlorosis in soybeans also seems to disrupt the symbiosis and may slow nodule growth.

A plant will also avoid burning its own energy to build nodules if it doesn’t need to, such as when soil nitrogen is already high.

A biological test to determine the right bacteria and how much of it is in the field would therefore be helpful to farmers’ planning.

Could the industry move past basic chemical soil testing and take it into the realm of biological analysis? Could it use a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, similar to what is used for COVID-19, that would allow a small genetic sample to be amplified and analyzed?

“We’ve kind of jumped back in and really pushed this technology to develop an assay where we can quantify the number of rhizobia in a given field sample,” Geddes said. “The idea is farmers could send the same soil in for soil tests chemically and we could provide them with information about how many rhizobia are present in their fields.”

The test actually looks for DNA from the target rhizobia and, based on the amount of DNA, population can be deduced.

Geddes is also looking for the break point, or the population needed before more inoculant is a waste of money. Greenhouse tests have shown that plants stopped responding to inoculant applications at around 1,000 rhizobia per gram for soybean.

“We’re now moving towards field trials to get a more accurate sense of what the breakpoints are and where we can expect to see responses from inoculation,” he said.

If the work bears fruit, it could save farmers the cost and trouble of unnecessary inoculation and could make it easier and more predictable to grow legumes.

It will not be a complete replacement for synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, but it could be a valuable tool for producers facing a new landscape on nutrient management.

“I think we have to acknowledge that the use of synthetic nitrogen may be restricted in the future so we may not always be able to rely on having it to maximize our yields going forward,” Geddes said.

“What we’re thinking about is precision agriculture and building on this precision agriculture revolution. The new wave coming forward is incorporating soil biology information into precision agriculture.”

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For many years, no-till farmers have used Aim (carfentrazone) and Sharpen (saflufenacil) either just before or just after planting to control emerged kochia and other annual weeds.

In Manitoba, carfentrazone is the active ingredient in Aim EC, Revenge, InStep and IPCO C-Zone. Saflufenacil is the active ingredient in Heat, Heat Complete, Smoulder and Voraxor.

“Kochia has been difficult to control during the prolonged drought of the past several years,” says Brian Jenks, weed scientist at the NDSU North Central Research Extension Center.

“Kochia thrives in dry conditions, and herbicides can be less effective when plants are drought-stressed. However, the NDSU study showed that recent lack of control is not due solely to drought stress, since plants survived these herbicides with little damage in the greenhouse.”

[RELATED] Grainews: Keep kochia off your farm

The two actives are classified as Group 14 herbicides that control weeds by inhibiting the protoporphyrinogen oxidase enzyme, which leads to disruption of plant cell membranes. Susceptible weeds typically die within a few days.

In the NDSU study, a known susceptible kochia population was easily controlled by carfentrazone and saflufenacil. However, carfentrazone showed little activity on four kochia populations from across western North Dakota. Saflufenacil caused some necrosis on kochia leaves and stunted growth, but most plants survived and had two to eight inches of regrowth two weeks after treatment.

“The potential loss of [these products] as effective herbicides for kochia control is staggering because affected farmers will have limited control options remaining,” says Jenks.

“An extremely important question that still needs to be answered is the effectiveness of other Group 14 herbicides … that are used for residual kochia control.”

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“Conducting a hay inventory now will give producers a good idea of possible deficiencies and allow time to develop the best options for the upcoming feeding season,” says Janna Block, North Dakota State University Extension livestock systems specialist.

The first step is to get an accurate count or measurement of bales harvested. Bales should be grouped by lot, which is defined as similar species harvested from the same field within a 48-hour period.

Use a commercial scale to get a good estimate of bale weight by weighing several loads or multiple individual bales. Once weight is known, determine dry matter content of the bales because moisture affects weight but does not provide nutrients to the animal.

The dry matter of forages can be determined by using a Koster moisture tester or other electronic methods at home or by submitting a sample to a commercial laboratory for analysis. If the dry matter content of bales is unknown, an estimate of 85 to 90 per cent can be used for the initial inventory estimate. However, laboratory analysis is recommended for ration balancing.

The second step is to estimate potential feed needs. A variety of factors influence how much forage a cow will eat every day. Body weight, stage of production and environmental factors will play key roles, in addition to forage quality.

Current numbers and estimated weights for each class of livestock (mature cows, bulls, heifers, yearlings, calves, etc.) to be fed this winter should be written down. An estimate of 2.5 per cent of body weight can be used to determine dry matter forage requirements of each animal per day.

Here is an example:

• 175 mature cows × 1,350 pounds × 0.025 = 5,906 pounds of dry matter per day
• 8 bulls × 1,800 pounds × 0.025 = 360 pounds of dry matter per day
• 26 yearling heifers × 670 pounds × 0.025 = 436 pounds of dry matter per day

This herd would need 6,702 pounds of dry matter per day. If a producer typically feeds for 210 days, a total of 1,407,420 pounds, or 704 tons of hay on a dry matter basis would be needed.

If bales weigh 1,400 pounds apiece and contain 88 per cent dry matter, each bale would supply 1,232 pounds of dry matter (1,400 pounds x 0.88). For the above example, this means about six bales would be required to meet feed needs per day, with a minimum of 1,260 bales required for the feeding period.

These calculations do not include the potential need for extra hay during cold winter weather. Storage and feeding losses should also be included in calculations to ensure that adequate hay supplies are available.

If the forage is stored outside, dry matter losses could be 20 per cent or more. If stored inside, losses will decrease to around seven per cent.

Feeding losses vary depending on the feeding system. When hay is fed in bunks, waste may be as low as three to 14 per cent. If bales are rolled out on the ground, losses due to trampling and overconsumption could be as high as 45 per cent, particularly when cattle are fed for multiple days at one time.

With free choice access to large quantities of forage, intake typically will increase by 15 to 20 per cent beyond what is needed to meet requirements.

If conditions allow, daily feeding helps force cattle to eat hay that might otherwise be wasted. If hay costs $120 per ton and waste could be reduced by 25 per cent by covering the hay and feeding on a daily basis, this would result in savings of more than $30 per ton.

These savings could be used to invest in extra equipment such as feed bunks, a bale processor or feed wagon.

Assuming an overall loss of 15 per cent using the above example, an additional 189 bales would be needed for the feeding period (1,260 bales x 1.15). Including this waste factor helps ensure that forage supplies will be adequate.

“Keep in mind that this estimate of feed needs does not consider differences in forage quality or specific nutrient requirements of cattle,” says Block. “Completing the process described should help identify a potential forage shortage. However, actual amounts of forage (and possibly supplement) to be fed should be determined by utilizing laboratory analysis of forage and developing a balanced ration.”

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“Nitrate is a common form of nitrogen found in the soil, which is taken up by plants and converted to protein through the process of photosynthesis,” says Janna Block, North Dakota State University Extension livestock systems specialist at the Hettinger Research Extension Center.

“Under normal growing conditions, nitrate does not accumulate in the plant. However, when plants encounter stressful growing conditions, photosynthesis is inhibited and the potential for accumulation of nitrates is increased.

“Many producers only associate nitrate toxicity issues with drought,” Block says. “However, drought is not the only environmental factor that can lead to nitrate accumulation. For example, high temperatures combined with adequate moisture can impact plant metabolism and cause nitrate to build up in plants.”

Frost, hail and disease can cause nitrate accumulation due to reduced leaf area, which limits the rate of photosynthesis. The risk of nitrate toxicity also increases when high levels of nitrogen fertilizer have been applied.

Although nitrates typically are not an issue on rangelands, pastures with nitrate-accumulating weeds such as kochia, lamb’s quarters, pigweed, quack grass and thistle also may be a problem. Controlling these weeds in grazing situations is one way to reduce risks, says Block. Nitrate toxicity is most commonly a problem in ruminants, with cattle more susceptible than sheep.

When beef cattle consume increased quantities of nitrate, it overwhelms the ability of rumen microbes to convert nitrate to protein. This results in a buildup of nitrite in the rumen, which is 10 times more toxic than nitrate.

Excess nitrite is absorbed into the bloodstream, which removes the blood’s ability to carry oxygen and causes the animal to suffocate. Cases of lower-level, chronic toxicity also can occur. In those cases, producers may observe weight loss, night blindness and abortions in their cattle.

“Producers should test nitrate-accumulating forages every year prior to haying or grazing,” Block says.

Nitrates in forages can be detected only by chemical analysis. If Manitoba farmers suspect a problem, they can take a representative sample of the feed to their local agricultural representative for a spot test. This will determine if nitrates are present. Feed testing laboratories can determine the level.

Producers should provide a representative sample of at least 20 stems by clipping them to ground level while traveling in a zigzag pattern across the field.

“If nitrates are present in the sample, producers should delay grazing or harvesting for several days and then re-test,” Block says. “Samples also can be submitted to a laboratory for quantitative analysis to further assist with management decisions.”

If planning to graze, it is a good idea to provide a full feeding of hay before turnout and observe cattle frequently for the first several days. Avoid turnout in the morning, when nitrate levels are highest. Sick or thin animals are more susceptible to nitrate issues and should not graze high-risk forages.

In addition, pastures should be stocked lightly enough that animals are not forced to eat the lower portions of stems, where nitrate accumulation is greatest. Providing several pounds of an energy supplement can help rumen bacteria convert nitrate to protein more efficiently.

“When harvesting forages for hay, one suggestion is to raise the cutter bar because the majority of nitrates accumulate in the lower one-third of the stem,” Block says. “Nitrate levels are typically greatest in early growth stages, so delaying harvest and allowing plants to mature can help reduce nitrate levels.

“However, this strategy must be balanced with obtaining desired forage quality and yield. In addition, species such as oats may maintain high nitrate levels up to and through maturity.”

The rapid test is not designed to evaluate nitrate content in harvested forages. The best testing strategy for forages that have already been cut and baled is to use a bale probe to collect core samples and submit them to a lab for analysis. Ideally, 10 per cent of bales or at least 20 core samples per lot of forage should be collected. A lot is defined as hay harvested within 48 hours from the same field.

Nitrate concentrations do not decrease through time in stored forages because photosynthesis is required for conversion of nitrates in the plant. Ensiling can decrease nitrate content through fermentation, but samples still should be submitted for analysis after fermentation has taken place to determine accurate levels.

“Producers need to understand the potential risks of nitrate toxicity and the factors leading to nitrate accumulation in plants,” Block says. “Determining actual levels of nitrate present in grazed and harvested forages is critical to be able to utilize these feedstuffs in a safe manner.”

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“While the recent rains have improved some pasture and late-season grazing conditions, winter feed inventories still remain a challenge for many,” says Zac Carlson, North Dakota State University Extension beef cattle specialist.

“The challenge of reduced winter-feeding inventories can be improved if the fall environment allows for late-season grazing of cover crops, cereal crop regrowth or ungrazed lush meadows,” Carlson says.

While viral and bacterial pneumonia in adult cattle are somewhat rare, NDSU Extension veterinarian Gerald Stokka warns that a sudden change in the composition of forage of mature grazing cattle may result in a condition known as “fog fever,” or bovine pulmonary emphysema.

“Animals diagnosed with fog fever have lung damage due to metabolites produced by the rumen micro flora in response to the rapid change in diet from dry, mature grasses and forages to the higher-moisture, lush growth found in grasses, alfalfa, some meadow forages and even some species of brassica cover crops,” Stokka says. “The change in diet results in metabolites of the naturally occurring amino acid tryptophan.

Stokka explains that L-tryptophan is converted to 3-methylindole in the rumen by rumen micro-organisms. 3-Methylindole is absorbed into the bloodstream and is the source of the pneumo-toxicity (lung damage) after metabolism.

The level of tryptophan in crops is most likely to be high in lush, rapidly growing pastures, particularly, but not exclusively, in the fall.

“This type of pneumonia produces lung damage similar to a condition in feedlot cattle called atypical interstitial pneumonia but is distinctly different from bacterial pneumonia,” Stokka says.

The symptoms of this condition are laboured, open-mouth breathing, extended head and neck, and frothing at the mouth. Body temperatures will be high normal but may be elevated when environmental temperatures are high.

“Attempting to move cattle will exacerbate the need for oxygen from the damaged lungs and while some cattle will survive, there may be long-term damage,” Carlson says.

According to Carlson, an outbreak typically develops within the first two weeks of changing pastures. Pneumonia of this type does not respond to antibiotic therapy but may benefit from antihistamine and/or anti-inflammatory therapy if instituted early enough. However, Stokka warns that the use of some anti-inflammatories, such as corticosteroids, may induce abortion in pregnant cows.

“Monensin (Rumensin) and/or lasalocid (Bovatec) has been shown to prevent tryptophan-induced acute bovine pulmonary edema and emphysema,” Stokka says. “According to published research, these ionophores act by reducing the ruminal conversion of L-tryptophan to 3-methylindole.”

“This fall in particular use caution when changing forage diets in cattle,” Carlson advises. “Ensure that cattle are not hungry when changing to new lush regrowth.”

Feeding hay bales prior to turning cattle into new growth or making the transition gradual by limiting the number of hours cattle can graze new, lush forage will decrease the risk of this condition, according to Carlson.

Feeding Rumensin to beef cows at a rate of 200 mg per head per day will lower the risk, but it must be fed several days ahead of turning animals into new forage. Bovatec is not currently labelled for beef cows in a mineral mix but can be provided via lick block to pasture cattle.

Please consult with your veterinarian about all therapy recommendations and when making rapid changes in the diets of pastured cattle.

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“It is a known fact that weed seeds pass unharmed through the digestive tracts of ruminant animals (cattle, sheep),” says Mary Keena, livestock environmental management specialist based at North Dakota State University’s Carrington Research Extension Center. “This means that whatever weed seeds are in the feed or bedding you’re using are still viable when they exit the animal as manure.

“There is also a line of thought that says there is an extensive weed seed bank in most fields already and applying manure gives them the nutrients they need to grow,” she adds. “Either way, manure does promote plant growth.”

Producers have tools to minimize the amount of viable weed seeds in fresh manure, one of which is composting. Information about composting is available in a self-paced online workshop at the NDSU website and in this YouTube video about composting operations.

Another tool more commonly used is herbicide control. Applying a pre-emergence herbicide will help reduce competition between weeds and newly seeded crops.

But what happens when those herbicides don’t work on specific noxious and troublesome weeds? How do you keep noxious and troublesome weeds at bay when you need to spread manure but know hard-to-control seeds such as Palmer amaranth and waterhemp are present?

“Even in direct competition with a crop, these plants can still produce up to 100,000 seeds in a year,” warns Joe Ikley, NDSU Extension weed specialist.

Due to this extensive seed production, the ability of the weeds to germinate throughout the growing season, and widespread resistance to glyphosate and Group 2 herbicides, herbicide programs for control of severe infestations of waterhemp and Palmer amaranth often will cost two to three times the amount of money spent on a weed control program in fields without these two weeds, he says.

In addition to the added cost of controlling these weeds, weed scientists in the U.S. have documented herbicide resistance in Palmer amaranth to every herbicide mode of action that can be used in row-crop production.

“This is why it is important to scout fields for these two pigweeds before they become established,” Ikley says. “In many cases where the weeds are spread in contaminated manure, the infestation starts with a manageable level of plants and the population can be managed by hand pulling if correctly identified.”

Producers have a few steps they can take to help mitigate and monitor the potential impacts of these weeds. One is to keep records of where they spread manure so they can monitor that field throughout the growing season.

Another step is to clean spreading equipment before moving to a new field.

“This is probably one of the most important and least popular steps you can take,” Keena says. “If you are doing custom work for someone, this is especially important as you do not want to take one client’s issue to the next client.

“Clean the spreader with an air hose for dry manure or a pressure washer for wet manure,” she advises. “This takes time and can be messy but can save years of headaches down the road. Make sure to record where clean­out occurs so you can monitor that spot during the growing season.”

She recommends spreading weed seed-heavy manure on tame grass pastures or grass hayfields because more options are available for herbicide control on them.

“It is never recommended to spread manure on native rangeland,” says Miranda Meehan, NDSU Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. “Adding additional nutrients can benefit invasive grass species such as Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome.”

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“Properly managed cover crops can reduce soil losses from wind and water erosion, reduce nitrogen losses, utilize excessive soil moisture, promote biodiversity, suppress weeds, improve soil structure and improve trafficability of fields,” says Hans Kandel, North Dakota State University Extension agronomist.

In temperate regions of the world, rye is the most frequently grown cover crop, either as a sole crop or as a component of a cover crop mix. Rye, sometime referred to as cereal rye, is a cereal crop. When grown to maturity, the grain is used in breads, crackers and brewing, and as an animal feed.

As a cover crop, rye is particularly useful because it establishes quickly under a wide range of conditions and is a winter annual that has the potential to provide green cover in the fall and the spring prior to the planting of a spring-sown crop. Sometimes, however, a cover crop of rye can reduce the yield of a following cash crop if not properly managed.

“This, along with the fact that growing a rye cover crop is a new practice for most farmers in the region, are reasons why NDSU Extension recently published a comprehensive guide on managing rye as a cover crop,” says Joel Ransom, Extension agronomist emeritus and one of the primary authors of the new publication.

This publication, titled Growing Rye as a Cover Crop (NDSU publication A2010), addresses questions that farmers might have on where to include rye in their cropping system and how to manage it for optimum benefit.

“This is one of the most comprehensive guides on growing rye available,” notes Kandel, one of the publication’s authors.

“The information is particularly useful to farmers as it draws on the results of recent research conducted in the state,” says Greg Endres, NDSU Extension cropping systems specialist and a co-author of the publication.

The rye publication is available online at the NDSU website.

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Ranchers here in North Dakota have reported up to 60 per cent reductions in forage production on pasture, range and hay land due to the drought in 2020, according to North Dakota State University Extension livestock specialists. This decrease in forage production, continued drought and impacts of overgrazing due to loss of forage have resulted in nearly 50 per cent of the state’s pasture and range being in poor or very poor condition.

“In many areas, pasture and rangeland also experienced excess grazing pressure,” says Miranda Meehan, livestock environmental stewardship specialist. “These pastures may need extra time to recover before producers initiate grazing in 2021. Following the 2017 drought, grass development was delayed by as much as two weeks, primarily due to overgrazing and lack of moisture in the fall.”

The 2020 grazing season is very similar to 2017, with stressful conditions occurring on pasture and hay land going into the upcoming winter. Grazing before grass plants reach the appropriate stage of growth for grazing readiness causes up to a 60 per cent reduction in forage production, which can reduce the stocking rate and/or animal performance, Meehan notes.

The pastures stressed by drought and/or overgrazing this fall more than likely will experience a delay in grazing readiness in 2021, irrelevant of the amount of snow received this winter and rainfall received next spring.

Meehan and Kevin Sedivec, NDSU Extension rangeland management specialist, recommend that ranchers plan for a reduction in forage production in 2021.

It may not happen, but having that plan in place will enable them to have adequate forage in any case.

“Ranchers should have a plan in place to reduce their stocking rates if overgrazing occurred this year, especially this fall, and if drought persists in 2021,” Meehan says. “They will need to adjust the length of time they graze and/or the number of animals grazed.

“Make plans to grow more annual forages for hay and/or grazing,” she adds. “Using cover crops and annual forages strategically within your crop system can provide added feed while enhancing soil health.”

Making early adjustments to the stocking rate will prevent overgrazing and reduce the length of time the grass takes to recover from drought, as well as improve the long-term sustainability of livestock operations.

“Overgrazing can have long-term impacts on the entire rangeland plant community, leading to a loss of forage production, changes in plant species composition, soil erosion, weed growth and a reduction in the soil’s ability to hold water,” Sedivec says.

The post Now is the time to plan for 2021 grazing season appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

“Since that time, the ability to accurately analyze forages has greatly improved, as has the ability to use results to improve livestock feed efficiency and performance,” says Janna Block, extension livestock systems specialist at NDSU’s Hettinger Research Extension Center.

“However, this valuable management tool is still underutilized by many livestock producers,” she adds. “Feed costs are by far the largest annual operating cost for most operations. Determination of nutrient content of forages and other feeds through laboratory analysis is the best way to design a nutrition program that meets livestock requirements in a cost-effective and efficient manner.”

The first step in analyzing forages is getting a representative sample. Hay samples should be grouped based on species (alfalfa, grass, etc.), field and harvest date. A “lot” of forage is defined as forage taken from the same field within a 48-hour period.

Inventory the number of bales in each lot and estimate needs for the winter feeding period, considering that the average dry matter hay intake is 2.5 per cent of cow body weight. Voluntary intake will increase with decreasing temperatures. In colder environments, producers may need to calculate forage needs based on 3.5 per cent to four per cent of cow body weight. Other factors that influence intake include cow size, body condition and forage quality.

In some cases, extremely low-quality forage will limit intake due to reductions in digestibility and passage rate. Determining nutrient concentration through laboratory analysis is the best way to avoid this type of issue and ensure that nutrient needs of livestock are met in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

When sampling hay, collect random samples from 10 per cent of bales (or no less than 20 samples) in each lot using a hay probe. A large number of commercially available hay probes are available for $100 to $150. Select a probe that can attach to a cordless drill and is 3/8- to 3/4-inch in diameter and 18 to 24 inches long.

Make sure the tip is sharp so that it cuts cleanly through a cross-section of hay.

The probe should be inserted at a right angle to the outside circumference of the bale for round bales and into the center of the ends of square bales. Mix the samples thoroughly in a bucket, place about one quart in a plastic bag and ship it immediately to a laboratory for analysis.

Analytical packages and prices will vary from one lab to another. Feed samples are analyzed using wet chemistry or near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). Wet chemistry utilizes heat and chemicals to break down and isolate nutrients in the sample. It requires a skilled technician and is usually more costly but also more accurate.

With NIRS analysis, nutrient values are characterized by infrared light reflectance in a spectrophotometer. Values for different types of feed are determined by comparing light wavelengths from samples of known nutrient values that were established by wet chemistry procedures.

The accuracy of NIRS is dependent on the calibration methods and feed library available at each lab. It is most useful for pure forage samples such as alfalfa or a single grass species.

Wet chemistry is recommended for mixed-grass forages, grains and coproducts. Wet chemistry also should be used when determining mineral content of feeds.

In general, dry matter (DM), total digestible nutrients (TDN; estimate of energy) and crude protein (CP) are used as the basis to determine forage quality and develop rations for livestock at various stages of production.

However, evaluating other components of the forage as well can be worthwhile. Mineral content can vary widely from year to year, so forage analysis is helpful in determining what the forages supply and what type of mineral supplement is needed. Of course, if the forage has any potential for nitrates or other contaminants, those should be tested for as well.

Forage analysis results can be combined with an estimate of animal nutrient requirements based on the stage of production. In general, dry, mature beef cows in midgestation require a minimum of 50 per cent TDN and seven per cent CP. In late gestation, minimum requirements increase to around 55 per cent TDN and eight to nine per cent CP. After calving and during early lactation, requirements are further increased to 60 per cent TDN and 11 per cent CP. If producers intend to increase the condition of gestating or lactating cows, higher quality forage and/or supplements will be necessary.

These general rules of thumb can be used to evaluate the best use of different forages based on the stage of production (feeding the lowest quality hay early and saving the higher quality forage for lactation). Remember that factors such as breed, cow body condition, milk production, age and environment will influence requirements. Computerized ration balancing is typically a necessary step in determining specific needs for an individual group of animals.

“Hay inventory combined with forage analysis will help determine availability and quality of the forage base and whether or not supplementation will be necessary to meet livestock requirements,” Block says.

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