Chuck Zimmerman http://www.worlddairydiary.com Timely ideas and suggestions for dairy producers from Pioneer Hi-Bred A bi-monthly podcast from Pioneer Hi-Bred Twice each month Pioneer Hi-Bred will offer dairy producers ideas and suggestions from leading nutritionists on timely forage-related topics. en-us 2006 Pioneer Hi-Bred Chuck Zimmerman chuck@zimmcomm.biz Chuck Zimmerman NIR on Choppers Silage evaluation can be a timely process. Following harvest, a sample needs to be bagged and sent to a lab for evaluation. At Pioneer Hi-Bred, experts are using near-infrared technology (NIR) on research choppers which offers a much faster turnaround time for evaluating the nutritional value of silage hybrids. Kevin Putnam, Pioneer dairy specialist, discusses the benefits of Pioneer using NIR on their research choppers. http://www.wdexpo.org/2009/05/27/nir-on-choppers/ Wed, 27 May 2009 17:04:00 GMT 5:28 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Feeding High Moisture Corn High moisture corn offers growers both agronomic and nutritional benefits. Fred Owens, Pioneer senior research scientist, discusses some of these benefits, including, high digestibility, earlier harvest window and increased nutritional energy value. http://www.wdexpo.org/2009/05/13/feeding-high-moisture-corn/ Wed, 13 May 2009 17:04:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Impact of Growing Conditions on Nutritional Value of Silage Growing conditions can vary from year to year and this variance can impact the nutritional value of the silage. In this edition of the Pioneer Forage Forum podcast, Pioneer livestock information manager Jim Smith explains the effects of solar radiation, moisture and heat at different stages of plant growth. http://www.wdexpo.org/2009/04/30/impact-of-growing-conditions-on-nutritional-value-of-silage/ Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:04:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Breeding Corn Hybrids for Silage Breeding corn for silage is very much like a conventional program for grain. The main difference is the equipment used to measure the end product. Bill Curran, Pioneer research scientist, discusses some of the key traits producers and breeders are looking to achieve. Some key traits include dry matter, tonnage and starch digestibility. http://www.wdexpo.org/2009/04/01/breeding-corn-hybrids-for-silage/ Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:04:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Assessing Spring Alfalfa Stands Now is the time to start assessing the yield potential for alfalfa stands – looking for potential winterkill concerns. There are several factors that affect winter injury, such as stand age, variety, soil conditions, such as pH fertility and fall moisture, timing of the last cut and cutting interval. In some parts of the country, snow cover is also a factor. David Miller, Pioneer alfalfa research director, discusses winterkill concerns, spring growth characteristics and more. http://www.wdexpo.org/2009/03/18/assessing-spring-alfalfa-stands/ Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:04:00 GMT 5:20 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Spring Alfalfa Planting Spring alfalfa planting is just around the corner. David Miller, director of alfalfa breeding at Pioneer, discusses some factors to take into consideration before putting the seed in the ground. Miller looks at seedbed preparation, planting depth and soil quality recommendations. http://www.wdexpo.org/2009/03/04/spring-alfalfa-planting/ Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:04:00 GMT 4:45 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman New Traits in Alfalfa David Miller, director of alfalfa breeding at Pioneer, discusses new trait advances through alfalfa breeding and technology. http://www.wdexpo.org/2009/02/18/new-traits-in-alfalfa-picking-the-right-variety/ Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:04:00 GMT 5:16 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Feed Efficiencies for Difficult Times The recent turn in dairy commodity prices have producers looking for tactics to boost their bottom lines. Jim Smith, Pioneer livestock information manager, discusses some management practices to maximize production and lower input costs. http://www.wdexpo.org/2009/02/04/feed-efficiencies-for-difficult-times/ Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:04:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Starch Digestibility Fredric Owens, Pioneer senior research scientist talks about starch digestibility and its importance. http://www.wdexpo.org/2009/01/08/starch-digestibility/ Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:04:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Ensiled Versus Dry Corn Curious as to whether ensiled corn is better for your operation than dry corn? Scott Dennis, Pioneer Hi-Bred technical services manager for forage additives, says it’s not a matter of whether one has more nutritional value but rather how effectively an animal digests the nutrients. Ensiled or high-moisture corn, makes the starch more available to the rumen bacteria. Dennis, however, points out there are pros and cons to feeding both high-moisture and dry corn, and it’s a matter of what works best for each producer’s operation. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/12/01/ensiled-versus-dry-corn/ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:04:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Different Strains of Inoculants Have you ever wondered how inoculants work and what job each inoculant strain serves? Scott Dennis, Pioneer Hi-Bred technical services manager for forage additives, sorts through the information, explaining the role for each strain and the impact it has on silages. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/11/15/different-strains-of-inoculants/ Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:04:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Winter Inventory Strategies Higher feed prices have put a new twist on developing a strategy for winter feeding for dairy producers. Leo Brown, Livestock Information Manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred, discusses steps livestock producers can take to make the transition to new feedstocks as efficient as possible from an economic and production perspective. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/10/16/winter-inventory-strategies/ Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:04:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Evaluating Cost Effective Feed Options Feed prices are high and look to remain on the high end. There are some factors for producers to keep in mind for their dairy operation. According to Leo Brown, livestock information manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred, producers should evaluate cost-effective feed ingredients, look for good buys, manage the basics of feeding on the farm and keep cows in top reproductive form. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/10/01/evaluating-cost-effective-feed-options/ Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:04:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Harvesting High Moisture Corn at the Right Time High-moisture corn (HMC) offers growers some benefits that dry corn may not. Leo Brown, Pioneer Hi-Bred livestock information manager, says high-moisture corn is increasing in popularity because growers have a longer window of time for optimum harvesting, which reduces their field losses. Also helping to reduce losses is the availability of L. Buchneri inoculants specifically designed for HMC at the fermentation stage. When is the right time to harvest? Brown suggests when corn has reached black layer and when moisture is about 28 percent to 32 percent moisture content. Harvesting when corn is at the right moisture content is important. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/09/17/harvesting-high-moisture-corn-at-the-right-time/ Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:04:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Hybrid Selections for Silage Quality With high commodity prices, it is important to maximize profit from every acre. Silage performance can vary depending on hybrid selection. Performance consistency can be different from one hybrid to the next. Leo Brown, livestock information manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred, says growers need to look at maturity and agronomic needs first then yield, tonnage and fiber digestibility when making a hybrid selection. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/09/03/hybrid-selections-for-silage-quality/ Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:04:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Silage Additive Feeding Experiences Looking for answers as to how NDF digestibility impacts dairy production? Pioneer Hi-Bred nutritional sciences veterinarian, Bill Seglar, explains how the types of forages being fed will impact neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Furthermore, Seglar talks about the value of silage additives and the role they play in nutrition. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/08/25/silage-additive-feeding-experiences/ Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:04:00 GMT 5:30 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Alphabet Forages Have trouble sorting out PENDF, NDF and PEF? Pioneer Hi-Bred nutritional sciences veterinarian, Bill Seglar, explains these acronyms and their value to producers. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/08/06/alphabet-forages/ Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:04:00 GMT 5:30 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Moldy Silages Pioneer nutritional sciences veterinarian, Bill Seglar, discusses the effects of moldy silages. Additionally, Seglar explains how to identify moldy silages as well as how to reduce and remove the problem. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/07/23/moldy-silages/ Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:04:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Using Infrared Technology for Bunker Management Pioneer recently invested in an infrared camera that shows heat in the silage face. This technology shows several qualities about the silage in the bunker. With this camera, Pioneer professionals can show producers if silage was packed properly, if the method for feeding silage from the bunker is optimum for their operation, among other bunker management information. Bill Seglar, nutritional science veterinarian for Pioneer Hi-Bred, talks about how this technology can enhance dairy professionals' knowledge and management information. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/07/09/using-infrared-technology-for-bunker-management/ Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:04:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Heat Stress and Nutrition As we head into the summer months and temperatures begin to rise, producers need to monitor feed rations. Inevitably, dairy cows will go through an intake depression. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer, says we need to pay close attention to our starch digestibility - how much effective fiber is in the ration. Producers need to have a ration balanced properly at that lower-level intake. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/06/25/heat-stress-and-nutrition/ Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:04:00 GMT 4:15 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Biology of Hay and Haylage Drying Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer, discusses alfalfa management and suggests growers refine alfalfa curing practices to maintain integrity of harvested hay. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/06/11/biology-of-hay-and-haylage-drying/ Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:04:00 GMT 5:30 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Managing Forage Quality Dr. David Miller, director of alfalfa research for Pioneer, talks about the importance of forage quality. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/05/28/managing-forage-quality/ Wed, 28 May 2008 17:04:00 GMT 4:30 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Alfalfa Spring Growth, Genetics and Management Best practices and cutting management will provide growers with an optimum alfalfa crop, says David Miller, director of alfalfa research for Pioneer. With a slow spring green-up, Miller takes a look at the impact of a cold winter on alfalfa as well as alfalfa genetics and management. Growers who tend to harvest late in the fall may be seeing more winterkill this spring, Miller says. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/05/14/alfalfa-spring-growth-genetics-and-management/ Wed, 14 May 2008 17:04:00 GMT 4:30 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman PEAQ and RFQ The PEAQ (Predictive Equation for Alfalfa Quality) method was developed around the relative feed value (RFV) which looks at the quantity of fiber. Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer, takes a look at determining not just the quantity of fiber but the digestibility of that fiber through RFQ or relative feed quality testing. Mahanna also comments on timing the first alfalfa cutting. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/04/30/peaq-and-rfq/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:04:00 GMT 5:30 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Pioneer Inoculant Products for Different Crops Managing the gaps in today's agriculture can be an issue, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer. When visiting an operation, several factors come into play before a crop becomes feed. Pioneer can offer expertise to deal with the full continuum - managing the gaps between growing and cutting the feed to packing the silo and feed management. Mahanna comments on Pioneer's integrated forage approach and the expertise available to producers. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/04/16/pioneers-integrated-forage-program/ Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:04:00 GMT 4:30 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Pioneer Inoculant Products for Different Crops Pioneer microbiologists have focused on bacterial strains unique to each crop. Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional services for Pioneer, says Pioneer is improving the nutritional value and preserving the quality of the crop by using specific products. http://www.wdexpo.org/2008/04/02/pioneer-inoculant-products-for-different-crops/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:04:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Value of Starch in Corn Silage Along with higher corn prices, the value of corn silage has tracked notably higher. Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional services for Pioneer Hi-Bred, provides suggestions on how growers might manage their corn crop to increase starch content, and in turn, the value of their corn silage. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1959 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:04:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Role of Yeast in Unstable Silages While yeast is a common ingredient in feed rations, including yeast in silage can cause stability issues, particularly when there is significant variability in the corn crop, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional services for Pioneer Hi-Bred. Mahanna shares silage management practices to help minimize the growth of yeast. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1934 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:04:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, yeast Chuck Zimmerman Corn Silage for Heifers Hear how producers can potentially manage this problem and their crops to reduce starch levels. Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional science for Pioneer Hi-Bred highlights some of the challenges and potential solutions for managing corn silage when feeding heifers. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1911 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:04:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, silage innoculants Chuck Zimmerman Preserving High Quality Silage Bill Rutherford, research coordinator, Pioneer Forage Additive Group, explains the process of preserving high quality silage. He highlights how forage additives can rapidly lowering ph levels and impact nutrients in a positive manor. Bill offers suggestions on how producers can ensure they are buying a quality forage additive product. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1839 Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:04:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, silage innoculants Chuck Zimmerman Silage Innoculants Silage innoculants are discussed in this segment of the Pioneer Forage Forum, with information provided by Bill Rutherford, research coordinator, Pioneer Forage Additive Research Group. The goal of the Pioneer Forage Additive Research Group is to bring products to market that help increase meat and milk-production efficiency and producer profitability. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1805 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:04:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, silage innoculants Chuck Zimmerman Storage Time and Feeding Value Timing is no more important than when it comes to feeding silage after harvest. Dr. Bill Mahanna, Pioneer Global Nutritional Sciences Manager, offers background and details on this subject in the latest Forage Forum segment. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1775 Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:04:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn Chuck Zimmerman Starch in Fermented Grains Starch in Fermented Grains is the topic of this Forage Forum segment, with information provided by Dr. Bill Mahanna, Pioneer Global Nutritional Sciences Manager. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1752 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:04:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, kernal texture Chuck Zimmerman Kernal Texture Dr. Bill Mahanna, Pioneer Global Nutritional Sciences Manager explains kernel texture and the link to digestibility and touches upon current Ohio State University research on corn grain and corn silage. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1728 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:04:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, kernal texture Chuck Zimmerman Total Tract Starch Digestibility Pioneer's Dr. Bill Mahanna explains total-tract starch digestibility and the importance with high corn prices. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1706 Mon, 30 Jul 2007 11:04:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, corn, starch digestibility Chuck Zimmerman Fermentation Can Bring Value Worth Waiting For Pioneer's Dr. Bill Mahanna says up to 60 days of fermentation before feeding can improve starch digestibility, particularly with high-moisture corn. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1668 Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:33:00 GMT 4:30 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, fermentation, starch digestibility Chuck Zimmerman Grain Particles: The Relationship of Size to Speed Pioneer's Dr. Bill Mahanna calls attention to the importance of particle hardness and distribution in processing for improved feed value. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1633 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:33:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, grain, starch digestibility Chuck Zimmerman Weighing in on Kernel Vitreousness Issues on ruminant starch digestibility (STRD) include vitreousness, harder starch vs. soft, floury endosperm in commercial corn germplasm. As part of a series of Pioneer Forage Forum segments highlighting STRD research, Dr. Bill Mahanna, Pioneer Global Nutritional Sciences Manager, condenses decades of research on this topic. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1600 Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:33:00 GMT 4:30 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, starch digestibility Chuck Zimmerman Starch Digestibility: Concentrate on the Controllable While ruminant starch digestibility (STRD) is a complex subject, producers' control can be simplified by addressing basic critical factors: harvest moisture, particle size and length of time in fermentation. Dr. Bill Mahanna, Pioneer Global Nutritional Sciences Manager, offers details, particularly on the influence of moisture and the extent of fermentation in high moisture corn. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1558 Wed, 30 May 2007 10:33:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, starch digestibility Chuck Zimmerman Alfalfa Traits: Manage by Objective To optimize alfalfa performance, one-size-fits-all is no longer in style. Today's grower can tailor variety selection to manage specific production challenges, observes Dave Miller, Alfalfa Research Director for Pioneer Hi-Bred. The result can be a better fit with bottom-line goals. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1385 Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:33:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman Alfalfa Genetics: Winning Percentages Among seed genetics, alfalfa is a non-conformist. Within each alfalfa variety, there is a range of performance for critical agronomic categories. As explained by Dave Miller, Alfalfa Research Director for Pioneer Hi-Bred, this is why ratings for disease and insect resistance, fall dormancy and winterkill are characterized in the context of average percentages-bag-by-bag, stand-by-stand, plot-by-plot. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1333 Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:33:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman Evaluate Alfalfa Winterkill for Go/No-Go Decision Early- to mid-April, when alfalfa begins to green up, is the time to assess the degree of damage from winterkill. Dan Wiersma, account manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred, offers tips on what to look for, both above and below ground, to evaluate alfalfa stands just ahead of the upcoming growing season. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1293 Sat, 03 Mar 2007 11:33:00 GMT 4:30 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman Milk 2006: New Values Mean a More Useful Equation The new Milk 2006 equation for silage corn from the University of Wisconsin reflects important modifications to the Milk 2000 version, according to Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred. Neutral digestive fiber values can now be entered from any time point. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=1020 Wed, 06 Dec 2006 11:33:00 GMT 4:30 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman Why's and What-For's of VFA Profiles Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred, provides a brief refresher on VFA's. Citing Pioneer research, he offers observations on the challenges in conducting accurate testing, due largely to variability, to help nutritionists and producers determine reasonable expectations for profiling. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=985 Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:51:00 GMT 4:30 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman Vitreousness: Shifting the Blame for Milk Butterfat Depression Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred, discusses milk butterfat depression and the shifting theories on what creates this problem. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=954 Thu, 09 Nov 2006 14:51:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman Vitreousness: Hard Facts Lead to Softened Concerns Among silage corn issues, vitreousness generates more noise than it deserves, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred. This is the hard starch on the outside of the corn kernel that develops late in maturity, contributing to high test weight. Bill says research based solely on dry corn at 15.5% moisture is not relevant to high-moisture and silage corn. From processing to digestibility, he cites comprehensive Pioneer research involving multiple hybrids and feeding methods to put vitreousness in perspective. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=908 Wed, 25 Oct 2006 20:57:00 GMT 5:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman Accurate Analysis Begins with Smart Sampling At what point can inaccuracies plague the testing of corn silage? The greater potential for problems is not in the laboratory, but instead in the sampling, according to Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=851 Wed, 11 Oct 2006 09:57:00 GMT 3:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman Fresh Measurements of Your Next Feed Crop Smooth transition to a new feed crop starts with analysis per back-to-basics guidelines. For example, separate the evaluations between the grass portion of your corn and the high- moisture grain. Open your mind, though, to new strategies, advises Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=806 Wed, 27 Sep 2006 16:57:00 GMT 3:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman Snaplage Makes Sense for High-Moisture Harvest While harvesting snaplage is not a new practice, it is becoming more appealing, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional services for Pioneer Hi-Bred. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=765 Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:57:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman What to Demand from Data Experts agree on the basics for believability in corn silage plot data. Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional services for Pioneer Hi-Bred, details credibility thresholds for confidence in that data. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=728 Wed, 30 Aug 2006 16:57:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman Raising the Bar Enhances Corn Silage Improved fiber digestibility can be a major benefit of chopping corn silage higher, according to Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=694 Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:57:00 GMT 4:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman Shared Expectations for Better Corn Silage An up-front dialogue between the nutritionist and custom cutter can pay dividends, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=667 Wed, 02 Aug 2006 11:46:00 GMT 3:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman Reality-Driven Pricing for Corn Silage Should the cost of purchasing corn silage be driven by quantity or quality? Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred, believes in retiring the 30-year-old rule of thumb, the Board of Trade price for corn times seven or eight.. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=641 Wed, 19 Jul 2006 10:46:00 GMT 3:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa Chuck Zimmerman Cutting Edge Alfalfa Chopping Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred, weighs in on the recent interest in the dairy industry about how alfalfa can and should be chopped. http://www.wdexpo.org/?p=608 Wed, 05 Jul 2006 09:46:00 GMT 3:00 agriculture, agribusiness, farming, podcast, pioneer, dairy, forage, animal nutrition, cattle, livestock, alfalfa No