EPISODE · Apr 6, 2026 · 29 MIN
Cut Feed Costs by Improving Pastures: Weed Control and Soil Fertility Strategies
from Casual Cattle Conversations · host casualcattleconversations
On this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast, Shaye interviews Corteva forage specialist, Sam Ingram, about prioritizing pastures and hay land to maximize forage production and improve cattle margins by lowering feed costs through grazing. Ingram explains how fertility, weed control, and grazing rest increase tonnage, forage quality, and carrying capacity, emphasizing soil testing and sticking to a consistent testing time to guide nutrient plans. He discusses the value of legumes like white clover and annual lespedeza for quality and nitrogen fixation and introduces Corteva’s NovaGraz, a non-residual broadleaf herbicide that controls weeds such as biennial thistles, ironweed, buttercup, plantains, wild carrot family species, poison hemlock, and parsnip while maintaining key legumes, offering flexibility for hay sales and crop rotation. He also describes UltiGraz, which combines herbicide and fertilizer in one pass for efficiency. The conversation addresses drought and wildfire impacts, stressing post-disaster planning, avoiding grazing too soon, and using sacrifice areas and stored feed to protect forage cover. Learn more about Corteva Pasture Products here: https://www.corteva.com/us/products-and-solutions/pasture-management/product-finder.html Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ Other Links and Resources Learn more about CattleScales here: https://bit.ly/4dqqTtr Learn more about Cargill here: https://bit.ly/4e1qygS Learn more about Performance Livestock Analytics here: https://bit.ly/47PxY3W 00:00 Pasture Profit Boost 00:16 Meet The Forage Expert 01:10 Why Prioritize Pastures 03:56 Fertility And Grazing Basics 04:49 Weed Control Matters 06:26 Legumes And NovaGraz 09:02 Target Weeds And Application 11:36 Hay Fields And Residue 15:16 Soil Testing Fertility Plan 18:08 Weed Control Plus Fertility 21:19 Drought And Recovery Planning 25:24 Key Takeaways And Wrap Up
What this episode covers
On this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast, Shaye interviews Corteva forage specialist, Sam Ingram, about prioritizing pastures and hay land to maximize forage production and improve cattle margins by lowering feed costs through grazing. Ingram explains how fertility, weed control, and grazing rest increase tonnage, forage quality, and carrying capacity, emphasizing soil testing and sticking to a consistent testing time to guide nutrient plans. He discusses the value of legumes like white clover and annual lespedeza for quality and nitrogen fixation and introduces Corteva’s NovaGraz, a non-residual broadleaf herbicide that controls weeds such as biennial thistles, ironweed, buttercup, plantains, wild carrot family species, poison hemlock, and parsnip while maintaining key legumes, offering flexibility for hay sales and crop rotation. He also describes UltiGraz, which combines herbicide and fertilizer in one pass for efficiency. The conversation addresses drought and wildfire impacts, stressing post-disaster planning, avoiding grazing too soon, and using sacrifice areas and stored feed to protect forage cover. Learn more about Corteva Pasture Products here: https://www.corteva.com/us/products-and-solutions/pasture-management/product-finder.html Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ Other Links and Resources Learn more about CattleScales here: https://bit.ly/4dqqTtr Learn more about Cargill here: https://bit.ly/4e1qygS Learn more about Performance Livestock Analytics here: https://bit.ly/47PxY3W 00:00 Pasture Profit Boost 00:16 Meet The Forage Expert 01:10 Why Prioritize Pastures 03:56 Fertility And Grazing Basics 04:49 Weed Control Matters 06:26 Legumes And NovaGraz 09:02 Target Weeds And Application 11:36 Hay Fields And Residue 15:16 Soil Testing Fertility Plan 18:08 Weed Control Plus Fertility 21:19 Drought And Recovery Planning 25:24 Key Takeaways And Wrap Up
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Cut Feed Costs by Improving Pastures: Weed Control and Soil Fertility Strategies
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