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BMR Forages What We See In the Lab

BMR forages include sorghums, millets, sudans, corn and hybrid variations such as sudex. BMR stands for brown midrib, the visible phenotype associated with the low-lignin genetic mutation. These forage varieties claim to improve animal performance when fed ad libitum. Improved digestibility increases the rumen passage rate. A rapid passage rate results in less time spent ruminating and more time…

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#aNDF #Brown Mid-Rib #Lignin #Millet #NDFD #sorghum #sudan

Confidence In NIRS Analysis of Forages

Ward Laboratories, INC. takes the steps from sample receiving to results reporting to ensure your confidence in NIRS analysis of forages. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is commonplace in commercial feed testing laboratories. Most forage samples are ran by NIRS in our lab. Unfortunately, NIRS results undergo more skepticism than wet chemistry methods. However, NIRS is as accurate as wet…

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#Forage #Hay #NIRS

Hay Under A Full Moon

Grandpa always said he cut the best hay under a full moon.

said a hay customer during a report consultation.

This customer was not the first this year who was disappointed in the her forage quality. Another gentlemen stated, “I was so on the ball this year, up and cutting by 9am!” I certainly feel for those hay producers who are organized to make hay as soon as the sun starts shining and then…

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#Forage #Hay

Welcome to Ward

Welcome to Ward! Here, we strive to provide quality analytical analysis of agricultural samples. Soil, plant, and fertilizer reports allow farmers to make informed decisions regarding field amendments. Additionally, Soil health analysis provided producers with a tool to compare management practices. While, water testing can ensure safety and quality for intended use. Furthermore, feedreports…

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#Featured

Value in feed testing: Feed analysis pays off in profits

When surveying the financial horizon for may lead some cow/calf producers to determine feed analysis is an unnecessary cost. However, upon closer examination there is value in feed testing. Let’s see how knowing the actual protein content of feed-stuffs can pay off in just 1 week.

The cost of the the feed and the analysis

Of course the cost of various feeds are variable and depend upon…

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#feed Testing #Profitability #Protein

What are Aflatoxins and How to Prevent Them

Aflatoxins are part of a large group of fungal or mold produced toxins called mycotoxins. This sub-group of mycotoxins are considered to be ‘the big ones’ of the mycotoxin world. Aflatoxins have the biggest impact on animal and human health. 25% of the world’s food crop contamination can be attributed to aflatoxins. These toxins are colorless, odorless, and tasteless. These characteristics make…

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#Mold #Mycotoxin #Mycotoxins #Safety

Haney Soil Health Test: 3 Things I Like

1. Soil Respiration

The first part of the Haney Soil Health Testis soil respiration test or CO2 24 hr. burst test is an indicator of soil microbial biomass. When we receive the sample we dry the soil over night at 110 F and then crush the soil and collect soil that passes through a 2 mm sieve (opening is the size of a window screen). We measure out 40 grams (about 1 ½ ounces) of soil and…

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#Haney Analysis #Microbes #Soil Analysis #Soil Health #soil health experts #Soil Scientist #Soil Testing #Soils

Tissue Testing: Are your plants Hungry?

If you have taken a basic agronomy course or spent some time crop scouting, then you’re probably aware of visual nutrient deficiency symptoms in plants. If a plant has yellowing of lower leaves at the leaf tip developing a yellow V on the leaf, then it is a nitrogen deficiency. When there is purple coloring on the outside of lower leaves, then it is a phosphorus deficiency. If there is yellowing…

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#Crops #Plant Analysis #Tissue Testing

Feeding Soil Microbes: A How To Guide

The Role of Bacteria

Feeding soil microbes includes feeding fungi and bacteria present within the soil. Bacteria are single-celled organisms that are generally 4/100,000 of an inch wide and long. A teaspoon of healthy soil can contain between 100 million and 1 billion bacteria. Because of their abundance, bacteria play important roles in the way soil functions including water infiltration,…

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#Haney Analysis #Microbes #PLFA #Soil Analysis #Soil Health #soil health experts #Soil Scientist #Soil Testing

Quality, What's Quality got do with it?

Quality, What’s Quality got do with it?

I’d be willing to wager that if you are reading this blog, you’ve probably submitted either soil, water, feed, or another of the numerous things we test, to Ward Laboratories, INC. Then, once you’ve received your results you’ve probably called in and been able to talk to either Dr. Nick, or Dr. Ray and had your results interpreted. But have you ever wondered, “How do I know that the results I…

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#accurate #correct #Feed analysis #feed Testing #precise #QA/QC #Quality #Quality Assurance #Quality Control #Soil Analysis #Soil Testing #Water Analysis

Answering Questions On Urea Application

Reprint From June 2003 Ward Letter.

Ward Laboratories professionals often get questions about surface urea application and UAN solutions. Urea is a dry fertilizer that dissolves with water after application creating urease enzyme activity that is naturally present in all soils at some level. Urease enzyme converts urea to ammonia (NH3) and bicarbonate (HCO3) in the presence of water.

How Urea…

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#Fertilizer #Nitrogen #pH #Soil Analysis #Soil Testing #urea #urease

Fungal to bacterial ratios: what and why?

What is “regen ag?”

If the topic of “fungal to bacterial ratios” peaks your interest, it is likely you are interested in regenerative agriculture. We are entering the age of regenerative agriculture (commonly referred to as “regen ag”). This is a time where novel concepts and rationales are being introduced to farmers. Many producers are familiar with the “5 principles” of regen ag and soil…

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#bacteria #Fungal to Bacterial Ratios #fungi #Microbes #regen ag #regenerative agriculture

Zoonosis of Covid19

Right now info-graphics about flattening the curve and memes about toilet paper flood social media. However, as an animal scientist my first thoughts when I heard about Covid19 went to what I knew of corona virus effects in cattle. Corona viruses cause scours in young calves and respiratory symptoms in adult cows. This lead me to do more digging which ultimately lead back to a bigger issue…

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#Corona Virus #Covid19 #Zoonosis

The 5th Principle of Soil Health: Livestock

There are 5 principles of soil health as defined by the Natural Resources Conservation District.

Armor the Soil (keep crop residue on the soil to prevent errosion)

Minimal Soil Disturbance (No-Till)

Plant Diversity (Grow more than just row crops, consider cover crop mixes)

Keep a continual live root in the soil (again cover crops)

But it is the 5th principle of soil health, livestock integration,…

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#Beef Cattle #Cover Crops #Crop Residues #Grazing #Soil Health #Soils

Brown Mid-Rib Forage: What does low lignin mean?

Brown mid-rib forage (BMR) varieties have been around since the early 2000s. Yet, I still find producers aren’t sure about what BMR means to their operation. Traits associated with BMR varieties can impact forage quality and animal performance. First, lets define what BMR really is. Then, we can examine how this trait impacts forage quality and animal performance.

What is Brown Mid-Rib Forage?

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#Acid Detergent Fiber #Animal Performance #BMR #Brown Mid-Rib #Corn #Forage #Lignin #Millet #Neutral Detergent Fiber #sorghum #sudan

Harvested Crop Residue: Poor Economics and Soil Health Impacts

In Early September, I wrote a blog post entitled The Downside of Baled Crop Residue. My previous post focused on cornstalks. After harvest, as I traveled across the state, I have observed we have more harvested crop residue to consider. Baling soybean and wheat residues are poor economic decisions and negatively impact soil health of harvested fields.

Baled Soybean Residue

About a week…

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#Baled Feed #Crop Residues #Harvested Crop Residue #Soil Health #Soils #soybeans #water #wheat

5 Key Points from the Western Canada Conference on Soil Health and Grazing

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Western Canada Conference on Soil Health and Grazing on behalf of Ward Laboratories, Inc. If you missed out, the video recordings of the conference will be posted here. The event was packed full of knowledgeable speakers and eager to learn producers. Here are the key messages from presenters at the conference:

1. #RootsNotShoots

Joel Williams,…

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#Forage #Microbes #Soil Health #Soils #water

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