70: Forage Quality Decisions That Drive Dairy Profitability
In this episode of Ruminate This with Agrarian Solutions, host Scott Zehr sits down with Joe Lawrence of Cornell Pro-Dairy to discuss one of the most critical and often underestimated drivers of dairy profitability: forage quality.
As first cutting approaches, this conversation focuses on the real-world decisions dairy producers are making right now that will impact milk production, feed efficiency, and herd performance for the entire year. From harvest timing and equipment readiness to storage management and crop strategy, Scott and Joe go beyond theory and into practical application.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
* Why first cutting can account for 40–50% of total forage yield
* How harvest timing, not hybrid or variety, drives forage quality
* The hidden cost of shrink and poor storage management on milk production
* Why small grains and cover crops should be strategic tools, not backup plans
* The difference between maximizing tons harvested vs. tons fed
They also challenge assumptions around continuous corn systems, double cropping, and aligning agronomic decisions with labor and logistics on today’s dairy farms.
Whether you're a dairy producer, nutritionist, agronomist, or industry professional, this episode delivers value to help you get more from your forage program.
Because what goes into the bunk today determines what ends up in the tank tomorrow.
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