Biological & Regenerative Ag News

Why do we ferment forage? | Bailey’s Bit About Nutrition

Fermenting forages is very beneficial to cattle nutrition and production. When forage is fermented it causes a breakdown of forage material, making it easier for animals to digest. Since the fermented forage is easier to digest, the bodies can digest forage quicker and releases more energy for the animal. The cattle can utilize the feed more efficiently and this will result in less waste in the undigested material that they excrete.
Breaking it down to the molecular level, microbes multiply and break down the forage through …

Earn the Right | From the Desk of Gary Zimmer

Here we go again. In your farming career, you have about 40 chances. You could do the same thing every year. Make money, make life easy, and get rich when you sell the farm. But farming is not just about the money and getting rich, it’s also about responsibility and pride. We want to do what’s right for the land, the environment, and the consumer. Obviously, we wouldn’t have to regenerate anything if it was all being done perfectly.

An Ideal Time to Transition to Organic

Although it may seem counterintuitive, now is an ideal time to consider transitioning your operation to organic. That’s because while organic fertilizers tend to be premium to conventional fertilizers when all fertilizer prices go up, that premium drops to a much smaller basis, relatively speaking. The sky-high conventional crop prices more than offset the cost of the organic fertilizer premium.
For the transition years when you’re selling a conventional crop while using organic inputs, you could potentially be looking at a net profit, not a net …

Are You Ready to Put Cows on Pasture?

You may be ready to see green grass and be done with winter, but are our pastures ready? Before the ground thaws (unless sloped) is a good time to fertilize or apply soil correctives to the paddocks that didn’t get tended to last fall. It is time to check fences, and as it warms and greens up, water lines, lane condition, and pasture stand.
Evaluate The Stand
How did it come through the drought and winter?

It’s All About Getting Your Fertility Right

“Profitability.” That’s the most important thing Midwestern BioAg has brought to the Fairibault, MN farming operation of Bryan and Tammy Lips, says Bryan. Balanced soils, good fertility, and diverse rotations including cover crops and green manure crops are among the biological farming tools Bryan has been using for the past eight years on his 450 acres. He raises corn, oats, and alfalfa on a mixture of owned and rented land, with about half of the acres farmed conventionally and half certified organic.

Heifers: Increasing the Potential of Your Future Milking Herd

Heifers are the future of your herd and your long-term success as a dairy producer. Heifer raising makes up 20-25% of the total cost of milk production. A successful pre-weaning calf program has been proven to increase first lactation milk yield by 1,000 lbs – 3,000 lbs. Genetic selection can account for 150 lbs-300 lbs greater milk production per lactation, but pre-weaning management can increase this 5-fold.

A successful pre-weaning calf program includes:

1 gal of high-quality colostrum within 4 hours of birth…

Alfalfa Stand Assessment

How have your forages fared in the unpredictable Midwest winter weather? Winter weather in the Midwest is unpredictable to say the least. Bitter cold, mid-winter rain, and extreme freeze-thaw cycles may have taken their toll. Use the prime times in April and May to evaluate your alfalfa fields. Are they going to be healthy, high-producing forage stands? Or is rotation the best option for maximum farm yield?
Tips for Evaluating Your Alfalfa Stands:

Healthy alfalfa stands will green up quickly & evenly.

Midwestern BioAg Introduces Carbon Farming Support with Indigo Agriculture

Collaboration Poised to Help Farmers Access, Maximize Carbon Credit Opportunity
Midwestern BioAg (MBA) today announced a new collaboration with Indigo Agriculture to help farmers access and maximize success in the rapidly growing market for agricultural carbon credits. The collaboration – which will enroll and support farmers’ participation in Indigo’s premier carbon farming program – represents the next step in MBA’s nearly 40-year legacy of advocating for better farming through improved soil health.
Starting with the 2022 planting season, MBA farmers adopting practices that prioritize …

Midwestern BioAg Partners with Growers Edge and The Nature Conservancy to Help Growers Implement Warranty-Backed Sustainability Crop Plan

Johnston, Iowa and Blue Mounds, Wisconsin – February 17, 2022 – Growers Edge, a provider of data-driven financial technology (fintech) solutions for the agricultural industry, announced today a new partnership with Midwestern BioAg and The Nature Conservancy to introduce a sustainability-focused, warranty-backed, agronomic offer.
“Bringing innovative, sustainability-focused agronomic solutions to growers is key in achieving optimum soil productivity and protecting natural resources for success in today’s volatile marketplace,” says Gaji Balakaneshan, Chief Operating Officer of Midwestern BioAg.

Energy | Bailey’s Bit About Nutrition

Energy
Energy is required for every single biological reaction in the body. Without adequate energy intake, vital organs do not operate properly; cells do not multiply, bones and muscle tissue do not grow, the mammary gland does not produce milk, and reproduction is halted. Energy is essential for maintenance, growth, health, lactation, reproduction, and gestation.
Maintenances are the metabolic processes, such as heartbeat, brain activity, respiration, and other vital functions. Physical activity is also classified as maintenance.

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