Alfalfa is the most productive of the forages. Because production and stand viability are promoted by adequate levels of nutrients, determine soil nutrient status, especially phosphorus, before stand establishment. Soils should be tested before planting alfalfa to determine the soil fertility status so appropriate fertilizers can be applied and properly incorporated. It is best to apply enough fertilizer to meet three to five years of the alfalfa production requirements. Alfalfa...

The drought that prompted the federal government last year to declare an agricultural disaster area in 39 northern Minnesota counties is over in the state's prime agricultural areas, according to new data released Thursday by the National Drought Mitigation Center. The drought that prompted the federal government last year to declare an agricultural disaster area in 39 northern Minnesota counties is over in the state's prime agricultural areas, according to new data released Thursday by...

Messenger staff writer DES MOINES One of only a few companies in the United States processes human food residuals into animal feed, and on Monday federal inspectors were scheduled to visit an Anamosa operation concerning tainted products that have already been found responsible for the death or sicknesses of hundreds of dogs in the U. Messenger staff writer DES MOINES One of only a few companies in the United States processes human food residuals into animal feed, and on Monday federal...

University of Wyoming researchers say ban on genetically engineered alfalfa could hurt Wyoming production. The judge ruled the federal government failed to fully consider the public health, economic and environmental consequences before allowing the sale of Roundup Ready alfalfa. Groose says genetically produced seed would help in weed control. No new sales of Roundup Ready alfalfa seed will be allowed until the case is resolved, according to the judge's preliminary injunction. Farmers who...

On April 26, the government said several hundred of the 6,000 hogs that may have eaten contaminated pet food are thought to have entered the food supply for humans. Only four domestic gluten manufacturers, including two in Kansas, have survived the flood of foreign wheat gluten bought here in the last decade at prices cheaper than U. imports roughly 80 percent of its wheat gluten from Australia, the European Union and China, where the contaminated wheat gluten behind the recent pet food...

Ahwatukee veterinarian Alex MacKenzie is almost as busy calming worried pet owners as he is treating their pets in the wake of the recent pet food recall. Although the danger seems to be subsiding as tainted food is pulled from store shelves, there still are cans and bags of pet food in homes that may contain the harmful chemical. The concern follows the recall of about 100 brands of dog and cat food thought to be contaminated with melamine, a chemical used for industrial purposes and,...