By Garth Ruff and Ted Wiseman et.al
“If you can’t change the situation, you adapt.” That’s a familiar mindset for many in agriculture, and it’s especially true in 2025. This growing season has brought another round of extreme weather across Ohio and the Midwest, making forage production unpredictable and challenging.
After what was considered one of the worst droughts in Ohio history in 2024, this year flipped the script with heavy spring rains and scattered summer storms. While the moisture helped pastures grow and may have allowed for multiple hay cuttings, it also made drying difficult. That led to inconsistent forage quality and a higher risk of mold and spoilage.
Recognizing the challenges producers are facing with forage quality, the Ohio State University Extension Beef Team launched a statewide effort to get a clearer picture of what’s really out there. Teaming up with 29 Extension educators across Ohio, 180 forage samples were collected and tested from local farms. Counties from which samples were collected are highlighted on the map above.
The results (see table below) show that many forages aren’t meeting the nutritional needs of spring-calving cows. Cows need about 49% TDN (Total Digestible Nutrients) starting three months before calving, and that climbs to 60% TDN at peak milk production. However, a lot of the grass hay and haylage tested falls short – grass hay ranged from 25.3% to 59.0% TDN, and haylage from 42.8% to 58.0% TDN.
Source : osu.edu