Project Overview
Information Products
Commodities
- Agronomic: grass (misc. annual), millet, radish (oilseed, daikon, forage), sorghum (sweet), sorghum sudangrass, soybeans, Summer forage mixes
Practices
- Animal Production: feed/forage
- Crop Production: nutrient management
- Education and Training: extension, farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research
- Soil Management: organic matter, soil analysis, soil chemistry, soil quality/health
Summary:
Ranchers in North-Central Nebraska face limited options for summer forage. Cool-season pastures decline in yield and quality during mid-summer, resulting in reduced forage availability. Project FNC24-1425 addressed this challenge by evaluating warm-season forage species and multi-species mixes to improve summer forage production, quality, and soil health while providing producers with practical, locally relevant guidance.
Research and Education Approach
On-farm demonstration plots were established across multiple sites to evaluate warm-season grasses, legumes, and multi-species mixes under realistic ranch conditions. Researchers collected data on forage production, quality, nutrients needs, and soil health. Field days with plot tours, winter meetings, and one-on-one consultations enabled producers to observe performance, discuss summer forage strategies, and learn more about nutrient management for summer forages.
Key Findings
Summer forage selection and suitability varied across the Sandhills due to soil type, ranch operations, and intended forage use. Nutrient studies revealed that millet removes less nitrogen but more potassium than sorghum. Most soils exhibited moderate to severe potassium deficiency, which may contribute to millet’s variable establishment. Fertilizer programs were typically weighted toward nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, with minimal potassium input, despite similar K export as N from hay harvest. Micronutrients such as zinc and manganese were limited in specific fields, and soil pH correction through liming to increase nutrient availability was discussed, but it is expensive. Selecting forage species tolerant of low pH soils and adjusting nutrient programs can gradually rebalance soils while improving forage productivity and quality.
Farmer Adoption and Impacts
The project led to significant on-farm changes:
Three irrigated pivot fields implemented nutrient management strategies based on soil tests and nutrient removal from hay, improving efficiency.
One producer expanded cover crops and summer forage plantings to over 600 acres after observing species performance.
Another producer adjusted his summer forage mix based on trial results, improving summer forage production and quality.
The North Central Nebraska Forage Production Group was formed, providing a lasting peer-to-peer network for sharing forage performance data, nutrient management strategies, and soil health practices.
Future Needs
Challenges remain with weed management, particularly for millet, and integrating broadleaf cover crops into multi-species mixes requires further research. Optimizing nutrient management, incorporating grazing where feasible, and addressing micronutrient and pH limitations can further improve summer forage productivity.
Conclusion
This project provided regionally adapted data, practical guidance, and hands-on learning opportunities that improved summer forage management, soil health, and producer confidence. Through demonstration trials and collaborative education, the project strengthened both economic resilience and environmental sustainability for ranchers in North-Central Nebraska and established frameworks for continued peer-to-peer learning and forage improvement.
Project objectives:
_Evaluate summer forage options: Compare warm-season grasses, legumes, and multi-species mixes for forage production, quality, and nutrient dynamics under real-world ranch conditions.
_Monitor soil health and nutrient impacts: Track changes in soil fertility, including macro- and micronutrients, and assess how forage selection and management influence soil sustainability.
_Support producer adoption and learning: Share findings through field days, winter meetings, consultations, and peer networks to improve summer forage management and practical decision-making.
_Provide regionally relevant guidance: Document forage performance and management strategies to help ranchers enhance summer forage productivity, quality, and environmental sustainability.