Forage 2025 | Gains in Efficiency: Precision Ag and Forage Crops

At one point in history, precision agriculture looked like a crank on a baler that determined if the hay packed tightly or loosely. Most advancements in precision agriculture were fueled by the promise of gains in efficiency for row crops, which usually meant a higher return at harvest. Even though row crops were initially the focus, the forage industry has plenty to gain from precision agriculture also.  

Traditionally, putting up hay was dusty, dirty and downright hot. The day grandpa put an umbrella on his Allis Chalmers WD45 was a big step up in innovation. Amid drone field sprayers and crop scouters, raking hay with a cabless tractor at dusk will forever be the hallmark of forage production. Of course, that’s not how most farmers are passing through their field anymore. Equipped with autosteer and monitors or sensors that can track and adjust in real time, forage production is using precision technology to take their gains in efficiency to the next level. 

“I like to look at precision agriculture as the technology that helps fine tune management and manage inputs in the system more efficiently,” said Clint Beiermann who is an assistant professor of forage crop production and weed management at the University of Wyoming. The state ranked second in the nation in forage crop production during the 2022 U.S. Census of Agriculture. Those forage crops covered more than a million acres in Wyoming, according to the census.  

“Alfalfa is Wyoming’s highest value forage crop and easily covers the most acres across the most counties,” Beiermann said. Most forages being harvested today are perennials which can make implementing some precision ag technology difficult. Perhaps, this is why forage production is not the most sought-after area of expertise in the field of precision agriculture. There’s always room for a little more efficiency and that’s exactly what precision agriculture is doing for all crops today.  

Right Time, Right Place  

Some of the most land locked states in the nation produce the most food and forage. Both Wyoming and South Dakota rank among the top forage producers. Their climates, while unique and even a bit extreme, lend their acres to growing high quality forages. Variations in elevation contribute to wide gaps in temperatures from one season to the next in both states. Wyoming, however, is drier, windier and often colder than most of its forage counterparts. The climate ranges from semi-arid deserts to cool continental alpines. The winters are long which makes for a short growing season, around 125 days. The four very distinct seasons transition quickly in the spring and fall. South Dakota is different from Wyoming in that it can be moderately humid and warm through the summer and exceptionally dry and cold in the winter. South Dakota enjoys nearly three additional weeks in its growing season, on average.  

“Optimization is valuable for any type of production and that’s what precision agriculture is trying to do,” said South Dakota State University assistant professor and extension precision agriculture specialist, Ali Nafchi. “Precision agriculture allows us to make better decisions for the right inputs, at the right time, in the right place, with the right amount and in the right manner.”  

While autosteer can create exceptionally straight rows for any crop, that isn’t typically helpful in a forage crop. Most forages go years without replanting.  

“Alfalfa is in the ground for several years; it doesn’t need any extra nitrogen and it’s not all that responsive to other nutrient applications,” Nafchi said. “There isn’t a whole lot of variability in an alfalfa field but even when there is there probably won’t be a return on investment for that season.”  

That doesn’t mean variable rate applications aren’t a beneficial option for forage crops. It means that intentionality and strategic planning are key components to effectively using precision agriculture with a forage crop.   

“I would expect most forage growers are sampling their soil annually and then fertilizing accordingly,” Beiermann said. “This can help reduce inputs for that year when it comes to applying fertilizer, but I think insect management is a bigger point of interest, especially for anyone raising alfalfa or an alfalfa mix.”  

Regular crop scouting keeps plenty of growers busy during each of the three, four or even five growing cycles of a typical forage field. This is where variable rate applications could come in quite handy, especially earlier on in the season.  

“Drones and different types of aerial fliers can collect information about a crop’s health which can help mitigate or even prevent a disease outbreak in a field or locate weed and insect problems,” Nafchi said. “This technology can easily be adapted for forage crops; we just need people to adopt the technology.”  

Weather and Weeds  

Watching a storm roll in over a field with cut hay on the ground is possibly the peak of disappointment for a forage grower. When a weatherman gets it wrong, forage producers most likely suffer more than most. Some advancements in equipment are attempting to help rectify this common scenario. “It sounds like a lot of forage growers have adjusted the conditioning system on their mowers and crimpers to shorten the drying time,” Beiermann said. “If they can shorten drying time by even a few hours, more nutrients remain in the crop and it’s easier to avoid weather conditions that can ruin hay on the ground.”  

A weed scientist by trade, Beiermann’s research primarily focuses on controlling weeds in annual forages like barley, and in alfalfa fields. Retaining as much nutritional quality in those forages begins in the soil but doesn’t ultimately end until the hay is consumed by its end user.  

Precision agriculture leads the pursuit of innovation and productivity for most row crop operations. Using precision agriculture with forage crops takes both intentional planning and an open mind to doing things even just a little bit different.  

“Precision agriculture is a type of management that typically uses advanced technology to be more efficient with our resources,” Nafchi said. “I’m confident that forage production can easily use precision agriculture to not only improve their efficiency but also reap rewards in the quality of their product and ultimately their return on investment over a longer period.”  

It’s easy to stick with the old way of doing things simply because it’s worked for a long time, but that mentality doesn’t lend itself to innovation or improvement.  

“Precision agriculture can be as simple as asking yourself, ‘How can I do it better, how can I improve my process and my crop,'” Nafchi added. “Little by little, those improvements will compound and make a much bigger difference than you might expect.”