Check out our Forage Resource Center at dairyherd.com. From planting through feedout, Pioneer Hi-Bred can help you monitor all variables of production with informative inputs from your growing decisions — this includes hybrid selection and agronomic management in the field, to harvest and storage management at the silo or bunker. Listen to podcasts, featuring Pioneer forage experts on topics related to forages and livestock nutrition.

Welcome to the Pioneer Forage Resource Center. The center is dedicated to providing you information — from hybrid selection and agronomic management in the field to harvest and storage management at the silo or bunker. Our online community includes links to Web sites and companies that have a special interest in the area of forage issues. Please browse the center and let us know what we can do to improve it even further. Send comments to tquaife@food360.com.  

Check out the newly revamped Forage Section of the Pioneer Web site for information dedicated to your end goal of meeting the feed needs of your livestock operation.

Pioneer Forage Forum – The Dairy Producer’s Podcast

Hear interviews from Pioneer forage experts, featuring news and information important to dairy professionals working for successful animal nutrition.

• Using Infrared Technology for Bunker Management — Bill Seglar, Pioneer nutritional scientist veterinarian explains how Pioneer is using infrared camera technology to detect heat loss in bunkers.
• Storage Time and Feeding Value (mp3 format) — Dr. Bill Mahanna, Pioneer global nutritional sciences manager offers advice on the timing of feeding after silage is harvested. 
• Winter Inventory Strategies — Leo Brown, Pioneer livestock information manger talks about ways to transition to new feedstocks as efficiently as possible.
• Hybrid Selection for Silage Quality  — Leo Brown, Pioneer livestock information manager stresses the importance of hybrid selection when it comes to silage quantity and quality. 

Pioneer forage information from GrowingPoint

• Measuring the Effectiveness of NDF and its Application in Dairy Rations
• True Purpose of Adding Rumen Buffers to the Ration
• Help Prevent Feed Loss by Using a Simple Assessment Equation
• New Crop Corn Silage Results in Depressed Milk Production
• Increased Organic Dry Matter Loss Formula
• Fall Alfalfa Management Key to Healthy Spring Growth
• Pack Silage in Thin Layers
• Tractor Types to Achieve Desirable Packing Densities
• Face Management of Silos Critical
• Protecting from A to Z
• Silage quality starts in the field
• A trip to the lab
• A sturdy forage foundation
• Better than the day it's harvested

Dairy Herd Management Articles

• Shrink the shrink (1/26/2009)
• Modified lignin has potential benefits for ethanol, paper and feed (1/21/2009)
• Get more from grazing (1/26/2009)
• Study examines heifer ammonia emissions (1/1/2009)
• Antioxidants and trace nutrients in transition cow rations (1/1/2009)
• Smart Farming topic of Swedish seminar (12/16/2009)
• Study examines ammonia emissions from heifers (12/5/2009)
• Formulate For Less Manure (12/1/2008)
• Avoid bad decisions (11/11/2008)
• Case Studies: Salt toxicity in cows (11/1/2008)
• Chop and pack same day (10/31/2008)
• Vreba Hoff Dairy 2 wins Forage Super Bowl  (10/9/2008) 
• Determine silage density  (10/9/2008) 
• Grow your Profits (Case Studies)  (10/1/2008) 
• Rice straw in heifer rations  (9/5/2008) 
• Online dairy management class  (9/5/2008) 
• Help to manage input price volatility  (9/1/2008) 
• Copper sulfate could be hurting your forages (2/1/2008)
• Not all silage inoculants are alike (1/14/2008)
• Keep an eye on silage from drought-stressed corn (12/1/2007)
• Bunker silo covering systems evaluated (10/1/2007)
• Tips for dealing with drought-stressed forages (8/16/2007)
• Go wide  (4/1/2007)
• Tips for harvesting high-quality alfalfa  (1/28/2007)
• How wide is your swath? (12/26/2006)
• Forage quality is key (12/13/2006)
• Get good forage samples (11/18/2006)

Additional links

• Smart Planning Makes Winter Feeding Transition More Economical and Productive
• Evaluating Cost Effective Feed Options — Leo Brown, Pioneer livestock information manager explains the effect the higher commodity and other input costs have on dairy producers.
• Are forage thieves robbing you of your profits?  — USDA's Agricultural Research Service (PDF format)

 

Pioneer Forage Forum – The Dairy Producer’s Podcast

Hear interviews from Pioneer forage experts, featuring news and information important to dairy professionals working for successful animal nutrition.

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Alfalfa Research: Tips to Improve Yield and Quality — Pioneer director of alfalfa research, David Miller, discusses Pioneer^® brand alfalfa seed varieties, traits and testing to help producers put the right product on the right acre.

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Alfalfa PEAQ method and RFQ — The PEAQ (Predictive Equation for Alfalfa Quality) method was developed around the relative feed value (RFV) which looks at the quantity of Fiber. Dr. Bill Mahanna, global nutritional sciences manager for Pioneer, takes a look at determining not just the quantity of Fiber but the digestibility of that Fiber through RFQ or relative feed quality testing.

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In Situ Analysis — Bill Rutherford, Pioneer research coordinator, discusses in situ analysis. In situ testing allows Pioneer researchers direct analysis of inoculant performance and fiber digestibility, providing producers additional product information.

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Breeding Corn Hybrids for Silage — Breeding corn for silage is very much like a conventional program for grain.

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Reducing Silage Heat — Have you ever wondered where the heat comes from in silage? Scott Dennis, Pioneer ruminant microbiologist, explains more about this topic along with management techniques to reduce heating.

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Why use inoculants — The most important thing a quality inoculant can do is maintain or retain more of the forage that is put in a bunker. Paul Porter, Pioneer Hi-Bred dairy specialist, says that improvement in dry matter recovery can add up to some substantial dollars.

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Bunker set up and management — Bunker management can have a serious impact on the nutritional value of silage. Most management revolves around keeping oxygen out of the forage mass. Paul Porter, Pioneer dairy specialist, looks at some keys to bunker management.

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Growing conditions impact nutrition value — The top environmental growing conditions that affect corn silage nutrition value are solar radiation, moisture, heat and soil fertility. Jim Smith, Pioneer livestock information manager advises to monitor these factors throughout the growing season because they can influence your management practices at harvest time.

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Spring Alfalfa Planting — Spring alfalfa planting is just around the corner. David Miller, director of alfalfa breeding at Pioneer, discusses some factors to take into consideration before putting the seed in the ground. Miller looks at seedbed preparation, planting depth and soil quality recommendations.

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New Traits in Alfalfa — Alfalfa was once considered a one-size-fits-all crop. Through alfalfa breeding and technology, new alfalfa traits offer growers options for matching the right product to the right field conditions. David Miller, director of alfalfa breeding at Pioneer, discusses these new trait advances.

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Using Infrared Technology for Bunker Management — Bill Seglar, Pioneer nutritional scientist veterinarian explains how Pioneer is using infrared camera technology to detect heat loss in bunkers.

Alternative content

Storage Time and Feeding Value — Dr. Bill Mahanna, Pioneer global nutritional sciences manager offers advice on the timing of feeding after silage is harvested.

Alternative content

Winter Inventory Strategies — Leo Brown, Pioneer livestock information manger talks about ways to transition to new feedstocks as efficiently as possible.