This fact sheet authored by PRO-DAIRY forage systems specialist Joe Lawrence and nutrient management specialist Kirsten Workman was shared in the April 2026 PRO-DAIRY e-Leader newsletter, distributed to an email list of nearly 7,000 dairy producers, agriservice, and legislators.
Following a difficult 2025 growing season, many dairy farms are entering 2026 with tight forage inventories and rising input costs. Rebuilding supplies will require disciplined decision-making that balances productivity with cost control.
Key considerations include:
- Optimize crop nutrition: Use current soil tests and research-based guidelines to meet, not exceed, crop needs. Properly credit nutrients from manure, soil, crop rotations, and cover crops.
- Maximize manure value: Time applications to optimize nutrient availability, conserve nitrogen, and recognize its contribution of phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients.
- Focus on yield and quality: High tonnage alone does not build inventory—nutrient-dense, digestible forage is what drives animal performance.
- Prioritize forage needs first: Evaluate acreage and inventory goals before allocating acres to grain.
- Harvest and store strategically: Timely cutting, proper moisture, and careful storage management reduce shrink and preserve feed value.
- Match forage to animal groups: Segregating by quality improves feeding efficiency and overall herd performance.
Despite economic pressures, cutting corners on fertility or harvest management often leads to greater losses. Proven, research-based practices remain the most cost-effective path forward.
For more detailed guidance, see the PRO-DAIRY fact sheet on building and managing forage inventories under tight margins.
PRO-DAIRY is a nationally recognized extension and applied research leader serving dairy farms for more than 30 years.
