Forages

Forages feed America’s heartland

Use our research-based information to build a strong forage-livestock operation.

Boost your pasture productivity

Attend Grazing School to learn grassland management techniques designed to improve your operation's profitability and sustainability.

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Forages

Grazing wedge

An online tool for managing pasture-based dairy farms

Visit Missouri Forage and Grassland Council

Promotes the efficient use of forages through a variety of research, education and service programs

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Missouri's forage-livestock industry is the state's largest agricultural endeavor.

Forage producers use 11 million acres of private lands for grazing, hay production and conservation. Forage-livestock enterprises contribute more than $12 billion annually to Missouri's economy, providing direct income for more than 200,000 citizens.

Nationally, Missouri has the third-largest cow-calf herd — comprising more than 4 million cows and calves — the second-largest number of beef producers and the seventh-largest number of dairy farms. Fittingly, Missouri also is the second-largest producer of grass hay. No other Missouri agricultural enterprise covers more acres, generates more real income or engages as many citizens.

Find information and resources aimed at improving the economic and environmental status of Missouri's forage and grassland agriculture on this site.

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Fall and Winter Drought Plans for Feeding Our Grazing Livestock - Buffalo, MO

Event date: Oct. 9, 2023

Event time: | 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Buffalo, MO

It’s time to consider what we need to do to get our pastures back into a sustainable grazing condition. The past two years of excessive heat and lack of rainfall along with over grazing has severely damaged our pastures and hayfields. The ...

Fall and Winter Drought Plans for Feeding Our Grazing Livestock - Lebanon, MO

Event date: Oct. 11, 2023

Event time: | 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Lebanon, MO

Fall and Winter Drought Plans for Feeding Our Grazing Livestock - Hermitage, MO

Event date: Oct. 16, 2023

Event time: | 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Hermitage, MO

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Graze milo to save on winter feed expenses, says MU Extension agronomist

Published: Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023

COOK STATION, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension agronomist Rusty Lee will tell why grazing milo saves livestock producers money Oct. 6 at the MU Wurdack Extension and Education Center Producer Field Day. He will share his experiences with ...

Cattle producers urged to watch for prussic acid poisoning

Published: Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension specialists urge producers to closely watch cattle grazing pastures with Johnson grass and other sorghum species.Cattle producers in several drought-stressed parts of Missouri have recently reported ...

Native warm-season grasses help feed livestock through drought

Published: Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023

The drought in Missouri has taken a toll on cool-season grasses, diminishing forage for cattle and other livestock.“Native warm-season grasses are the ideal forage for summer during the production slump of cool-season grasses due to heat, ...

Cover Crop Decision Tool provides choices for grazing

Published: Friday, July 28, 2023

TROY, Mo. – Row crop farmers have a Cover Crop Decision Tool to help them decide which cover crop will work best on their farms for potential fall/winter grazing.The free online tool simplifies decision-making and reduce risks for those wanting to ...

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Custom Rates for Farm Services in Missouri

Publication date: April 1, 2023

Drew Kientzy Research Analyst, Agricultural Business and Policy Extension Raymond E. Massey Extension Professor, Agricultural Business and Policy Editor’s note Rates are available in the PDF file, available via the “Download this ...

Forage Crop Irrigation Systems and Economics

Publication date: Feb. 1, 2023

Ryan MilhollinAssistant Extension Professor, Agricultural Business and PolicyDrew KientzyResearch Project Analyst, Agriculture Business and PolicyStacey HamiltonState Dairy Specialist, Division of Animal SciencesRyan LockState Forage Specialist, ...

Dairy Grazing: Growth of Pasture Plants

Publication date: Jan. 27, 2023

This publication is one in a series about operating and managing a pasture-based dairy. Although these publications often refer to conditions in Missouri, many of the principles and concepts described may apply to operations throughout the United ...

A Guide to the Common Forages and Weeds of Pastures

Publication date: Jan. 27, 2023

$30.00

Greg J. Bishop-HurleyPostdoctoral research associate, AgronomyRobert L. KallenbachState Forage SpecialistForages are the foundation of a successful grazing operation. Forage selection should take into account annual forage yield, plant persistence, ...

Hurry Up and Wait: Replanting Decisions for Pastures During Drought

Publication date: Jan. 27, 2023

Rob KallenbachDepartment of AgronomyCraig RobertsDepartment of AgronomyDrought typically causes Missouri cattlemen to be concerned about their pastures. These concerns can turn to thoughts of replanting, but such plans may be premature.The major ...

Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) Insurance in Missouri

Publication date: Oct. 1, 2022

Ryan MilhollinAssistant ProfessorAgricultural Business and Policy ExtensionRay MasseyProfessorAgricultural Business and Policy ExtensionJoe HornerState SpecialistAgricultural Business and Policy ExtensionFigure 1. Drought risk for grazing beef or ...

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The Impact of Weeds on Pastures (video)

Mizzou Weed Science graduate student Zach Trower discusses the most common weeds in Missouri pastures and their potential impact on pasture quality in this 2016 video he filmed for the North Central Weed Science Society of America’s annual meeting.

Alliance for Grassland Renewal

The Alliance for Grassland Renewal is a university/government/industry partnership that aims to replace toxic tall fescue grass with a tall fescue that hosts a nontoxic endophyte. This goal is pursued through education, seed quality control, ...

Ag Lease 101 document library

Farm leases and other agreements, forms and publications written by North Central Farm Management Extension Committee members.

Forage irrigation system cost analyzer (downloadable XLS)

Use this spreadsheet tool to help you estimate the cost of irrigating forage systems.

Forage Systems Research Center

University of Missouri center in Linneus, Missouri, that provides educational activities and research on forages, rotational grazing and cattle management.

Missouri Hay Directory

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has a hay directory available for both buyers and sellers.

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