Sunday, January 11, 2026

Now that the silage is in the silo, extension agent Ernie Oelker says the real work begins to assure the cows receive a safe, properly balanced ration that is palatable and capable of supporting optimum production.

Extension dairy agent Tom Noyes gets back to basics in this week's Dairy Excel column.

Not all farm people are "fair people," but most are, as OSU Extension Dairy Specialist Dianne Shoemaker shares in her column this week, which explores her transition to fair-dom.

Diane Shoemaker guides producers through the process of pricing fields for silage.

Dennis Weilnau compares herd somatic cell counts and examines dairy farm attitudes.

An on-farm environmental assessment can help producers address problem areas, says columnist and ag extension agent Ernest Oelker.

Research has shown that attitude is a key component in the continuous improvement process. Extension Ag Agent Chris Zoller explores the connection between management attitude and farm quality and profitability.

Harvest management strategies are different for legumes, depending on if the stands are new, established or of a particular forage species. An OSU specialist offers harvesting tips.

Even though this year's feed nutrient values may be unique and yields will be down, corn silage is still likely to be the best forage value for the dollar. When should you chop? Answers to this and other forage questions by OSU Extension District Dairy Specialist Dianne Shoemaker.

Information coming out of the USDA or the Farm Service Agency on the counter-cyclical payment program mechanism included in the National Dairy Market Loss Payment Program, is sparse, but OSU ag economist Cam Thraen tries to sort through the mess.