Multiple years of manure fertilizer use research in ND have shown that manure can be used as a fertilizer but there are management considerations. If the manure is used on short season crops such as wheat, some supplemental nitrogen fertilizer is needed. If used on a longer season crop such as corn, manure can be a complete substitution for commercial fertilizer.

Manure and commercial fertilizers contain nutrients essential for plant growth.

This document is a guide to the North Dakota Grazing Monitoring Stick. A Grazing Monitoring Stick can be a fast, user-friendly tool for measuring and monitoring utilization of pasture and rangeland. Utilization measures the percent of the plant that has been removed by grazing animals. Monitoring utilization of grass can determine livestock removal date and prevent overgrazing.

Plants utilized in the feeding of livestock have long been a fundamental link in the food chain. Native grasses supported grazing animals well before man began to domesticate livestock. Forages have always been an extremely important source of nutrients in livestock rations. Additionally, they provide fiber in the ration which enhances proper digestion in forage-consuming animals. Through their conversion into milk and meat products, forages continue to be one of the primary sources of nourishment in the human diet.

This publication is intended to familiarize cow-calf producers with the terminology that feedlot managers may use when discussing custom feeding and feedlots.

The purpose of this publication is to provide annual forage options that can be used in cover crop mixtures for livestock grazing and/or hay production. The use of cover crops in a cropping rotation has been resurrected in recent years due to greater awareness of their environmental and ecological impacts on our natural resources.

Manure spills are defined as manure that is released to the environment in a manner that exceeds the rate of nutrient uptake by plants or applied in a manner that is not identified in the “Nutrient Management Plan.” Manure spills may occur during manure storage, transportation and land application.

Corn commonly is used as a feed grain in beef cattle diets throughout the U.S. However, until recently in many parts of North Dakota and other northern-tier states, feeding corn was less common. With the availability and improvement of shorter-season corn varieties, corn plantings in North Dakota increased nearly 40 percent from 2008 to 2017. In 2017, 427 million bushels of corn were produced in North Dakota. This has resulted in more interest in using corn as a feedstuff for beef cattle.

Accurate sampling and laboratory testing provides actual manure nutrient information. This information allows crop producers to strategize for maximum crop yields and minimal manure nutrient impact to the environment.

One of the most important grazing management decisions land managers make is selecting a start date for grazing tam pasture and native range. Monitoring grazing readiness ensures that grazing starts at the proper time, when plants are tolerant of grazing. This publication provides guidelines for selecting the appropriate start date based on plant development and growing degree days.