Completing a forage inventory now will aid in making ranch-level decisions and reducing costs.
Due to the significant impacts of drought on forage production in 2026, forage supplies may be tight this winter.
Now is a good time for cattle producers to evaluate forage supplies and develop a feeding plan for winter, according to North Dakota State University Extension specialists.
“Understanding how much forage is available, what it costs and how much may be lost during feeding can help producers manage one of the largest expenses in cattle operations,” says Vinicius de Souza Izquierdo, NDSU Extension beef cattle specialist.
The first step is to conduct an inventory of hay, silage and other feeds available for winter. For harvested hay, bales should be grouped by lot, defined as similar species harvested from the same field within a 48-hour period.
James Rogers, NDSU Extension forage crops production specialist, recommends using a commercial scale to estimate bale weight by weighing several loads or multiple individual bales. Once the weight is known, determine the dry matter content because moisture affects weight but does not provide nutrients to the animal.
Source : ndsu.edu