NCCC31: Ecophysiological Aspects of Forage Management

(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)

Status: Active

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[07/30/2026]

Date of Annual Report: 07/30/2026

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/02/2026 - 06/04/2026
Period the Report Covers: 07/31/2025 - 08/01/2026

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

<h2><a name="_Toc236311784"></a>Activities & Milestones</h2> Activities below are organized by research theme rather than by station, and emphasize work involving two or more participating states. Alfalfa establishment and intercropping across stations. North Dakota completed a four-study series (two locations, 2023–2024, concluded 2025) evaluating alfalfa established in intercropping with sunflower, forage sorghum, and sainfoin, confirming the hypothesis that intercropped alfalfa fixes 20–30% more nitrogen than alfalfa alone and transfers a comparable amount to the companion crop; results were presented at the World Alfalfa Conference in Reims, France, in November 2025. Wisconsin evaluated wheel-traffic effects in alfalfa–corn interseeded systems and advanced breeding of alfalfa for interseeded and intercropped systems. A joint USDA-ARS and university analysis of what controls alfalfa establishment and silage corn yield when both are planted together was completed and delivered to producers through Forage Focus (Costa, Osterholz, Bjorneberg, Burns, Diaz, Cassida, Kohmann, Grabber, and Renz). Multi-site alfalfa cold-stress and persistence germplasm trial. North Dakota established and coordinated a six-location trial (two sites in North Dakota, two in Alaska, and one each in Minnesota and Missouri) evaluating 8–10 cultivars and 23 U.S. germplasm bank accessions for forage yield, nutritive value, winter hardiness, persistence, root architecture, and nitrogen fixation over 2025–2027. First-year data were collected at all sites, with total yield ranging from 0.28–1.04 t/ac at Palmer, 0.50–2.36 t/ac at Grand Rapids, 1.17–2.37 t/ac at Fargo, and 2.67–4.51 t/ac at Fairbanks. RESILIENCE CAP coordinated activity. Members from Michigan, North Dakota, Maryland, Oregon, Kentucky, Iowa, Texas, and Wisconsin continued participation in the USDA-NIFA SAS-CAP project. Michigan led the nationwide farmer network and Extension effort, overseeing final data collection from 82 farmers nationwide (12 in Michigan) in 2026 and recruiting a second cohort of approximately 75 farmers. Texas contributed data to the developing Forage Data Hub and Forage Information System. A multi-author cross-station manuscript on perenniality and soil health indicators (Orcasberro et al.) was submitted to Agronomy for Sustainable Development. Alfalfa autotoxicity, winterkill, and allelopathy. Michigan validated a soil bioassay for alfalfa autotoxicity as a predictor of alfalfa performance and evaluated management strategies to mitigate autotoxicity at replanting. Wisconsin initiated a winterkill study producing ice sheets on alfalfa stands varying in winter hardiness and fall dormancy rating, and initiated a companion study evaluating ten alfalfa cultivars for sensitivity to allelochemicals from cereal rye. Summer annual forages, sorghum, and prussic acid risk. Iowa quantified dhurrin concentration by tissue type and hours after frost across multiple frost events, pairing tissue data with hourly air and canopy temperature records from the Iowa ASOS, Purdue ACRE, and Kansas Mesonet networks. Iowa also compared forage sorghum and sorghum–sudangrass systems with corn silage under tar spot pressure at three site-years, using an automated ImageJ image-analysis workflow for batch lesion counting. North Dakota tested 28 forage sorghum, sorghum × sudangrass, photoperiod-sensitive, and dual-purpose entries, with 2025 forage yields ranging from 19 to 50 MT/ha in a one-cut system. Forage preservation, storage, and hay safety. Maine evaluated graded propionic acid application rates on alfalfa–timothy mixtures across two harvests, established a geographically characterized hay-mold isolate library from samples collected in Wisconsin, Maine, Vermont, New York, and New Jersey, and evaluated an ammonium propionate-based preservative on fungal community composition and beta diversity in high-moisture alfalfa–grass round bales. A national survey of road hay fires from 2003 to 2022 was completed and analyzed by NOAA climate region and season. Grazing systems, ecosystem services, and grazing technology. Oregon completed one of the first multi-year sheep grazing studies within a utility-scale agrivoltaic system and conducted controlled feeding trials on industrial hemp byproducts in dairy cattle and beef steers. Utah documented elevated non-fiber carbohydrate and pectin concentrations in high-altitude perennial legumes and equipped a laboratory for chemical pectin assay. Iowa established more than 20 producer-cooperator grazing sites statewide and sampled 10 locations in summer 2025 to assess grazing of CRP acres inside versus outside the nesting season. Tennessee completed multi-year evaluations of plant growth-promoting bacteria in tall fescue and crabgrass systems under varying nitrogen management. Analytical methods, protocols, and decision tools. Indiana completed a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis framework for evaluating diagnostic performance of soil and tissue phosphorus and potassium critical values, and neared completion of a systematic review with meta-analysis of nitrogen × elevated CO₂ interactions using Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment network datasets. A multi-station team developed an AOSCA maturity group rating protocol for cool-season perennial forage grasses, presented at both the Southern Pasture and Forage Crop Improvement Conference and the American Forage and Grassland Council annual meeting. Iowa and Michigan jointly developed a machine-learning approach to forecasting first-cut yield in the Upper Midwest. Texas advanced satellite- and UAV-based approaches to alfalfa irrigation scheduling and pasture species classification. <h2><a name="_Toc236311785"></a>Milestones Achieved</h2> <ul> <li>Annual meeting convened at Columbus, OH, June 2–3, 2026, with 13 principal investigators from 13 states and 3 students in attendance.</li> <li>Officer slate confirmed through 2028 and the 2027 host institution secured (University of Kentucky), with NC1182 participation arranged to broaden cross-committee coordination.</li> <li>North Dakota's four-study alfalfa intercropping series completed in 2025; results delivered internationally at the World Alfalfa Conference, Reims, France, November 2025.</li> <li>Six-location, four-state alfalfa cold-tolerance and persistence trial established with first-year yield, height, and nutritive value data collected across North Dakota, Alaska, Minnesota, and Missouri.</li> <li>RESILIENCE CAP farmer network reached final data collection for cohort one (82 farms) and completed recruitment of cohort two (approximately 75 farms) during the reporting period.</li> <li>Two new Iowa trials established with protocols structured for sharing and replication at cooperating NCCC-31 stations: sensing technology for pasture productivity and grazing utilization, and summer annual mixtures versus monocultures.</li> <li>Utah completed laboratory setup for chemical pectin assay and initiated development of an NIRS calibration for pectin in alfalfa in collaboration with other NCCC-31 members.</li> <li>Maine certified and brought into service the first livestock facility designed specifically for PFAS dairy studies with fecal and urine PFAS containment, reviewed and approved by Maine DACF, CDC, DEP, and institutional safety and animal care committees.</li> </ul> <h2><a name="_Toc236311786"></a>Outputs</h2> Peer-reviewed literature. Approximately 70 refereed journal articles were published, accepted, in press, or submitted across participating stations during the reporting period, spanning alfalfa management, forage nutritive value, grazing systems, agrivoltaics, forage preservation microbiology, soil fertility diagnostics, and ecosystem services. Full citations appear in Section 6. Book chapters. Three chapters were contributed to Forages—An Introduction to Grassland Agriculture, Volume I, 8th Edition (Wiley): “Environmental aspects of forage management” (Volenec and Nelson), “Structure and morphology of grasses” (Moore and Gruss), and “Compendium of common forages” (Moore and Gruss). Variety trial and performance reports. Kentucky published twelve forage variety and grazing tolerance reports in the PR series covering alfalfa, red and white clover, annual lespedeza, orchardgrass, timothy and Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, bromegrass, meadow fescue, annual and perennial ryegrass, festulolium, warm- and cool-season annual grasses, and a long-term summary. Michigan published the 2025 Michigan Forage Variety Test Report (MSU Forage Factsheet 26-01, 27 pages). Datasets and reference collections. A geographically characterized hay-mold isolate library was established from alfalfa and alfalfa–grass hay collected in five states, with full ITS sequencing identification. A multi-year, multi-state dhurrin × frost dataset was assembled and paired with hourly weather network records. RESILIENCE CAP farm-network datasets were finalized for cohort one and initiated for cohort two, with contributions made to the Forage Data Hub and Forage Information System. Protocols and analytical tools. Outputs include an AOSCA maturity group rating protocol for cool-season perennial forage grasses; an automated ImageJ macro workflow for batch foliar lesion counting; an ROC-based framework for evaluating soil and tissue test critical values; a chemical pectin assay with NIRS calibration in development. Extension curricula and producer-facing materials. The Iowa Grazing Academy hybrid curriculum (online and in-person sessions) was developed and delivered, along with curriculum materials on rotational stocking, forage allowance, and grazing distribution. Extension bulletins, factsheets, and trade publication articles were produced across stations. Research infrastructure. New capacity added during the reporting period includes a FOSS DS3-F NIR instrument (North Dakota); a BUCHI ProxiScout NIRS (Texas); a Shimadzu 2030 gas chromatograph with AOC-6000 Plus autosampler configured for CH₄, N₂O, CO₂, and SF₆ (Utah), available to investigators outside the host institution on a per-sample basis; plot forage harvesters (Iowa; Wisconsin, ~$84,000); a mobile grazing demonstration trailer (Iowa); and a PFAS-containment livestock research barn (Maine). Online resources. Maintained and expanded web resources include MSU Forage Connection, the Ag-Resilience CAP website (co-managed by Michigan and Iowa), the Ag Resilience Facebook group, and the University of Maine livestock PFAS site. <h2><a name="_Toc236311787"></a>Short & Medium-term Outcomes</h2> Documented reach of extension programming.  The I-29 Forage Field Day, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Nebraska,  drew 60 registrants, of whom 100% reported being completely (82%) or mostly (18%) satisfied; participants collectively managed 300 dairy cows, 2,325 beef cows, and 8,500 forage acres. A hay school drew more than 60 registrants with consistent reported knowledge gain. Michigan webinars reached 340 participants (Field Crops Virtual Breakfast) and 199 participants (Optimizing Alfalfa Harvest Schedules); a Wisconsin virtual small grains and forage session drew 294 registrations with 106 participating. Reduced nitrogen inputs without production loss. Tennessee demonstrated that Azospirillum brasilense maintained forage availability and animal performance while allowing a reduction of 17 kg N ha⁻¹, establishing a measurable nitrogen-use-efficiency pathway even though inoculation did not directly increase forage production. Improved irrigation efficiency in alfalfa. Texas found that satellite-derived NDVI-based irrigation rates were 30% lower than conventional farmer practice and 10–20% lower than crop-coefficient-derived rates, while closely matching soil-moisture-sensor estimates — pointing toward a field-scale workflow for reducing water use in a crop with low water use efficiency but high value to livestock systems. Quantified cost of machinery traffic on alfalfa. Wisconsin documented that wheel traffic from trucks reduced forage accumulation per harvest by up to 25% and total root biomass to 15 cm depth by 10%, and that fall trafficking reduced following-spring stem counts — giving producers a basis for revisiting harvest logistics and equipment routing. Regulatory-relevant data for alternative feed ingredients. Oregon's controlled feeding trials confirmed that spent hemp biomass can be incorporated into ruminant diets without adverse effects on animal performance or welfare, and generated cannabinoid clearance and consumer exposure data contributing directly to ongoing regulatory discussion. Maryland found no difference in milk quantity or quality between black soldier fly larvae meal and soybean meal, supporting BSFL as a viable substitute protein. Establishment strategies that reduce weed competition. North Dakota demonstrated that barley and oat companion crops suppressed weeds during establishment of perennial pollinator mixes at levels comparable to mowing while producing 2.71 and 2.38 Mg/ha of forage at relative forage quality values of 102.9 and 92.0, meeting beef cow requirements. Graduate and postdoctoral training. Approximately 50 graduate students were mentored across participating stations during the reporting period, with at least nine completing degrees. Undergraduate research and internship opportunities were provided at multiple stations, including a fourth student intern advised through the AFRI-SAS-CAP effort linked to NCCC-31.

Publications

Refereed journal articles, book chapters, and major reports for the current project year, organized by station. Conference abstracts, proceedings, extension factsheets, and outreach presentations. <h2><a name="_Toc236311792"></a>Indiana — Purdue University</h2> Abendroth, L.J., T. McClellan Maaz, S.M. Brouder, C.A. Cambardella, G. Chighladze, L.E. Christianson, C.F. Drury, F.G. Fernández, L.E. Gentry, M.J. Helmers, D.B. Jaynes, J.L. Kovar, T.B. Moorman, K.A. Nelson, C.M. Pittelkow, J.E. Sawyer, J.J. Volenec, and A.J. Eagle. 2025. Crop metrics for nutrient management research in corn-based cropping systems. protocols.io. https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.5jyl8d8jrg2w/v1 Stefancic, B., K.D. Johnson, J.J. Volenec, and R.P. Lemenager. 2025. Developing morphological prediction equations for switchgrass cultivars in Indiana. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Mgmt. 11:e70088. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.70088 Wassgren, A., S.M. Brouder, D. Quinn, J.J. Volenec, and P. Poudel. 2025. Factors contributing to delayed adoption of short-stature corn: A systematic review. Agron. J. 117:e70218. Kenney, M.A., R. Kopp, C. Samaras, et al. 202x. What a robust, evidence-based United States climate assessment needs. Earth's Future (in revision). [J.J. Volenec served as one of 17 Section Lead authors and led the Agriculture and Food section.] Crespo, C., M. Nunes, M. Biru, J.L. Kovar, L.J. Abendroth, S.M. Brouder, T. Bruulsema, D. Carney, L.E. Christianson, C.F. Drury, A.J. Eagle, B. Emmett, F.G. Fernández, L.E. Gentry, M.J. Helmers, R. Malone, K.A. Nelson, P. O'Brien, G. Preza Fontes, N. Rogovska, S.J. Ruis, and J.J. Volenec. 2026. Quantifying the impact of 4R nutrient stewardship on soil health across the US corn belt. Soil Tillage Res. (in press). Cai, C., J.F. Yatcilla, S.M. Brouder, and J.J. Volenec. 2026. Evolution and global landscape of evidence synthesis in agricultural research: A bibliometric analysis. Agriculture 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16070793 Volenec, J.J., and C.J. Nelson. 2026. Environmental aspects of forage management. Chapter 5, pp. 71–88. In: C.J. Nelson, M. Collins, J. MacAdam, and K.J. Moore (eds.). Forages—An Introduction to Grassland Agriculture, Volume I, 8th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY. ISBN 978-1-394-25859-8. <h2><a name="_Toc236311793"></a>Iowa — Iowa State University</h2> Moran, J., A.S. Goggi, K.J. Moore, S. Fei, and S. Gruss. 2025. Improving groundcover establishment through seed rate, seed ratio, and hydrophilic seed coating. Agronomy 15(8):1927. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081927 Gupta, V., S.M. Gruss, D. Cammarano, S.M. Brouder, P.A. Bermel, M.R. Tuinstra, M.W. Gitua, and R. Agrawal. 2025. Optimizing corn agrivoltaic farming through farm-scale experimentation and modeling. Cell Reports Sustainability 1(7). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsus.2024.100148 Kubesch, J.O.C., E. Matcham, S. Gruss, N. Tilhou, C. Roberts, A. Grev, F.A. Reith, and D.P. Golding. 2026. Establishment success and failure are seldom mentioned and poorly defined in forage systems. (Submitted) Osterloh, M., S.M. Gruss, L.A. Schulte, F. Miguez, and A. VanLoocke. 2026. Modeling ecosystem services of managed prairie systems: Simulating production and nitrate loss. (Submitted) Gruss, S.M., K.D. Johnson, R.P. Lemenager, and M.R. Tuinstra. 2026. Comparison of dhurrin-free and conventional sorghum hybrids for forage nutritive value and stocker calf performance. (Submitted) Moore, K.J., and S.M. Gruss. Structure and morphology of grasses. In: C.J. Nelson, M. Collins, J. MacAdam, and K.J. Moore (eds.). Forages—An Introduction to Grassland Agriculture, Volume I, 8th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY. Moore, K.J., and S.M. Gruss. Compendium of common forages. In: C.J. Nelson, M. Collins, J. MacAdam, and K.J. Moore (eds.). Forages—An Introduction to Grassland Agriculture, Volume I, 8th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY. <h2><a name="_Toc236311794"></a>Kentucky — University of Kentucky</h2> McGrail, R.K., J.D. Moore, A.E. Carlisle, J.A. Nelson, and R.L. McCulley. 2026. Climate change effects on biomass and greenhouse gas emissions are ameliorated by nontoxic endophytes in southeastern USA transition zone tall fescue pastures. Grassland Research 31:e70042. https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.70042 Ribeiro, R.H., J. Dieckow, A.F. Sbrissia, F. Bratti, H.A.S. Ducheiko, M. Trybek, A. de Moraes, and M.B. Chiavegato. 2026. Increasing diversity of warm- and cool-season species enhances aboveground and root carbon and nitrogen accumulation in subtropical forage mixtures. Plant and Soil. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-026-08680-8 Yahdjian, L., S. Campana, P. Tognetti, et al. (including R.L. McCulley). 2026. Insights on global rangeland ecosystem services shaped by grazing and fertilization. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment: e70022. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.70022 Almagro Bonmati, M., A. Rey, R.M. Inclán, et al. (including R.L. McCulley). 2025. Vegetation type and climate determine temperature thresholds of soil respiration across drylands. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 211:109984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.109984 Keller, A., E. Borer, C. Buyarski, E. Cleland, A. Gill, A. MacDougall, J. Moore, J. Morgan, R.L. McCulley, A. Risch, E. Seabloom, J. Wright, and S. Hobbie. 2025. Effects of elevated nutrient supply on litter decomposition are robust to impacts of mammalian herbivores across diverse grasslands. Oecologia 207(10):1–11. van Galen, L., G. Smith, A. Margenot, et al. (including R.L. McCulley), and J. van den Hoogen. 2025. A global database of soil microbial phospholipid fatty acids and enzyme activities. Scientific Data 12:1568. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05759-2 <h2><a name="_Toc236311795"></a>Maine — University of Maine</h2> Poblete, J.B., K. Nishimwe, D. Zamudio, M.V. Cardoso, A.P. Jimenez, B.H. Carpa, N. Loganathan, A.K. Wilson, G. Pereira, Y. Jiang, and J.J. Romero. 2026. Efficacy of binders on sequestering per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances under in vitro ruminal conditions. Journal of Dairy Science 109(1):469–481. Killerby, M.A., J.J. Romero, Z. Ma, and A.T. Adesogan. 2025. Ruminal planktonic, weakly, and tightly feed-adhered bacterial community as affected by two Trichoderma reesei enzyme preparations fed to lactating cattle. Applied Microbiology 5(3):93. https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol5030093 Oppong, G.M., D.C. Reyes, Z. Ma, S.A. Rivera, M.A. Killerby, D. Zamudio, A.B. Lichtenwalner, and J.J. Romero. 2025. Technical lignins antibacterial effects against environmental mastitis pathogens across various levels of bedding cleanliness in vitro. Molecules 30(14):2904. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30142904 <h2><a name="_Toc236311796"></a>Maryland — University of Maryland</h2> Craig, H.McS., A. Castañeda, A. Tiwari, A. Johnson, N. Indugu, D. Pitta, R. Kohn, W. Lamp, and E. Rico. 2026. In vitro and in vivo evaluations of black soldier fly larvae as a methane-mitigating protein substitute in dairy cattle diets. (In preparation, Journal of Dairy Science) Craig, H.McS., S. Windsor, K. Siniuk, R. Smith, J. Kraemer, and W. Lamp. 2026. Sampling insect assemblages in agricultural landscapes using sticky traps for community science based evaluations of farm management practices. (In preparation) Siniuk, K., Y. Helbling, A. Shokoohi, S. Winsor, and W. Lamp. 2026. Evaluating the spatial and temporal distribution of arthropod predators within agricultural drainage ditches into surrounding crop fields. (In preparation, Environmental Entomology) Siniuk, K., E. Rodriguez, J. Stewart, M. Hensley, H. Craig, and W. Lamp. 2026. Tri-trophic interactions within potato leafhopper resistant and susceptible alfalfa cultivars: Response of auchenorrhynchan species, pea aphids, and natural enemy arthropods. (In preparation, Environmental Entomology) <h2><a name="_Toc236311797"></a>Michigan — Michigan State University</h2> Cassida, K., J. Paling, J. Dedecker, and C. Kapp. 2026. 2025 Michigan Forage Variety Test Report. MSU Forage Factsheet 26-01, 27 pp. Costa, M.C., W. Osterholz, D.L. Bjorneberg, E. Burns, J.L.C.S. Diaz, K.A. Cassida, M.M. Kohmann, J.H. Grabber, and M.J. Renz. 2026. What controls alfalfa establishment and silage corn yield when both crops are planted together? Forage Focus, May 2026, pp. 18–19. Cassida, K. 2026. Ace your spring alfalfa seeding. Hay & Forage Grower 41:14–15. https://hayandforage.com/article-5651-Ace-your-spring-alfalfa-seeding.html Legleiter, T., T. Butts, K. Cassida, M. Chilvers, S. Conley, A. Essman, W. Everman, A. Friskop, S. Knezevic, C. Krupke, D. Mangel, A. Robertson, D. Smith, A. Tenuta, and K. Wise. 2026. Cover crops do's and don'ts. Crop Protection Network CPN-4002. https://doi.org/10.31274/cpn-20190620-033 <h2><a name="_Toc236311798"></a>North Dakota — North Dakota State University</h2> Tabert, M., M. Gartenberg, and M.T. Berti. 2026. Sunflower–alfalfa intercropping improved establishment of alfalfa and increased system profitability. Agronomy Journal. (Under revision, R2) Orcasberro, M.S., K. Cassida, M.T. Berti, J. Guretzky, S. Ates, M. Atiemo, M. Casler, A. Finan, S. Gailans, A. Grev, S. Gruss, et al. 2025. Perenniality enhances biological indicators of soil health in farming systems across the US. Agronomy for Sustainable Development. (Submitted) Spiess, J., C. Gasch, D. McGranahan, T. Hovick, M.T. Berti, and B. Geaumont. 2025. Soil nutrients and microbial community resistant to patch-burn grazing in southwestern North Dakota. Ecosphere. (Accepted) <h2><a name="_Toc236311799"></a>Oregon — Oregon State University</h2> Irawan, A., D. Hasan, J. Cruickshank, C.T. Estill, S. Ates, E. Trevisi, J. Ranches, B. Dolan, and M. Bionaz. 2025. Spent hemp biomass as a feed ingredient for beef steers: Effects on performance, blood parameters, behavior, cannabinoid residues, and consumer exposure levels. Animal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2025.101715 Akyuz, S., S.K. Aydemir, and S. Ates. 2025. Assessment of seed viability before and after storage in forage pea (Pisum sativum L. var. arvense) using field and laboratory methods. Plants 14(18):2872. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182872 Dazaea, A., C.W. Higgins, A. Rosati, M. Graham, and S. Ates. 2025. The effect of establishment method and shade zones within solar arrays on pasture production in agrivoltaics production system. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 9:1637340. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1637340 Ford, H., J. Klopfenstein, S. Ates, S. Busato, E. Trevisi, and M. Bionaz. 2025. Feeding chicory-plantain silage and Se-yeast does not improve Strep. uberis-induced subclinical mastitis in lactating sheep. Dairy 6(4):40. https://doi.org/10.3390/dairy6040040 Aydemir, S.K., A. Devlet, and S. Ates. 2025. Exploring potential of quinoa as a forage crop in dryland farming: Effects of plant growth regulators and application timing. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management 11(2):e70062. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.70062 Irawan, A., D.G. Nosal, R.N. Muchiri, R.B. van Breemen, S. Ates, J. Cruickshank, et al., and M. Bionaz. 2025. Cannabinoid distribution and clearance in feeding spent hemp biomass to dairy cows and the potential exposure to Δ9-THC by consuming milk. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 73(22):13934–13948. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5103953 Irawan, A., H. Buffington, S. Ates, and M. Bionaz. 2025. Use of industrial hemp byproducts in ruminants: A review of the nutritional profile, animal response, constraints, and global regulatory environment. Journal of Cannabis Research 7:25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00279-7 Ates, S., E. Seeno, J.W. MacAdam, and D.J. Moot. 2025. Exploring clover-based nurse cropping for birdsfoot trefoil establishment and yield. Grass and Forage Science 80:e12710. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12710 Stewart, W.C., J.D. Scasta, C. Maierle, S. Ates, J.M. Burke, and B.J. Campbell. 2025. Vegetation management utilizing sheep grazing within utility-scale solar: Agro-ecological insights and existing knowledge gaps in the United States. Small Ruminant Research 107439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107439 Krueger, A., J. Cruickshank, S. Ates, E. Trevisi, and M. Bionaz. 2025. Welfare status in dairy cows during confined and grazing periods in the Pacific Northwest using blood parameters and visual assessments. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2025.2451942 <h2><a name="_Toc236311800"></a>Tennessee — University of Tennessee</h2> Almeida, O.G., C.G.S. Pedreira, J.I. Yasuoka, S.C. Holschuch, G.B. Pedroso, V. Silva, A. Monteiro, and R.L.G. Nave. 2025. Stocking method effects on canopy characteristics and herbage accumulation of Mulato II brachiariagrass. Grass and Forage Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.70028 Nave, R.L.G., O.G. Almeida, J. Tucker, M.K.C.R. Sousa, and F.F. Nassar. 2025. Low-disturbance restoration of degraded orchardgrass pastures: Forage productivity and soil C and N responses. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70261 Johnson, K.F., R.L.G. Nave, O.G. Almeida, G.E. Bates, P. Myer, and K. Mason. 2025. Agronomic responses and cattle performance in cultivars of tall fescue and orchardgrass under continuous stocking. Translational Animal Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaf120 Nassar, F.F., R.C. da Silva, R.L.G. Nave, and O.G. Almeida. 2025. Agronomic responses of tall fescue interseeded with crabgrass and buckhorn plantain. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.70053 Nave, R.L.G. 2025. Sustainable forage production in crop-livestock systems. Agronomy. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030657 Nave, R.L.G., O.G. Almeida, J.J. Tucker, Y.V. Xiong, and A.P. Griffith. 2025. Nutritive value and economic responses under different restoration strategies of cool-season grass pastures. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.70039 <h2><a name="_Toc236311801"></a>Texas — Texas A&M AgriLife Research</h2> Dey, S., J. Kim, P.J. Deshpande, N. Shimim, X. Xu, M. Bhandari, J. Foster, Y. Calil, B. Whitaker, G. Jha, and D. Min. 2026. Feature selection and explainable machine learning to identify climatic drivers of alfalfa yield in Ogallala region (USA). Frontiers in Agronomy 8:1789727. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2026.1789727 Ghansah, B., I. Khuimphukhieo, J. Da Silva, J.L. Landivar Scott, O. Fernández Montero, J.L. Foster, H. Li, M.J. Starek, and M. Bhandari. 2026. High throughput phenotyping of energy cane using uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) and machine learning. Industrial Crops & Products 239:1222396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.122396 Bekewe, P.E., J.A. Burke, J.L. Foster, K.L. Lewis, H.L. Neely, C.B. Neely, L.E. Tomlin, B. Gerrish, and T.W. Boutton. 2026. Double cropping and tillage intensity in continuous wheat agroecosystems have variable impacts on soil hydrologic and physical properties. Soil & Tillage Research 255:106826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2025.106826 Palmer, K., M. Orem, J. Parrella, P. Lu, H. Leggette, and J. Foster. 2025. You've got mail: Exploring predictors of farmer's behavior toward soil health conservation practices. Advancements in Agricultural Development 6:90–105. https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v6i3.619 Victoria, M., M. Orem, J.A. Parrella, H.R. Leggette, J.L. Foster, H. Neely, and C. Neely. 2025. 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Science of the Total Environment 1007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180924 Cardoso, A.S., J.R. Hendrickson, M.A. Liebig, S.L. Kronberg, A.K. Clemensen, D.W. Archer, C. Nieman, M.M. Kohmann, and J.G. Franco. Grazing and cover crop effects on cover crop biomass and crop productivity during transition to organic production. Agronomy Journal 118:e70404. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70404 Cardoso, A.S., M.A. Liebig, J.R. Hendrickson, S.L. Kronberg, A.K. Clemensen, D.W. Archer, C. Nieman, M.M. Kohmann, and J.G. Franco. 2025. Grazing and cover crop effects on soil health during transition to organic production. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment 8:e70213. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70213 Cardoso, A.S., C. Nieman, M.P. Popp, K. Cartwright, J. Schafer, L. Ashlock, A.L. Thomas, B. Kirksey, S. Haller, Z. Libohova, P. Owens, A.J. Ashworth, M.M. Kohmann, and J.G. Franco. 2026. 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Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. (Accepted) Orcasberro, M.S., N. Tautges, M.M. Kohmann, I. Berro, P. Pinto, D. Undersander, and V. Picasso Risso. 2025. Management practices that maximize alfalfa forage harvested on farms: Insights from technological groups. Agronomy Journal 117:e70177. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70177">https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70177</a>

Impact Statements

The committee's collective work during 2025–2026 advanced the physiological and ecological understanding needed to keep forages competitive and to integrate them productively into cropping systems, while delivering that understanding to producers through coordinated extension effort across thirteen states.
The economic case for this work is substantial and quantifiable. North Dakota alone estimates that its forages, bioenergy, and cover crops research program returns approximately $154.5 million per year to the state economy, built from documented yield gains in alfalfa management ($52.2 million), warm-season annual forages ($6.5 million), alfalfa–corn and alfalfa–sunflower intercropping at establishment ($62.3 million combined), alfalfa nitrogen credits to corn ($21.8 million), bioenergy crops ($2 million), cover crop adoption ($4.7 million), and carbon sequestration payments ($5 million). Comparable mechanisms operate in every participating state.
Committee research also quantifies losses that were previously invisible. Maine's national survey established that road hay fires occur approximately once every 2.7 days in the United States, with a mean cost of $105,717 per incident and a cumulative economic impact of $276 million between 2003 and 2022 — driven overwhelmingly by road maintenance (63%) and vehicle damage (31%) rather than the value of the hay itself. This finding reframes bale moisture monitoring, preservative use, and adequate curing before transport as transportation-safety measures with public cost implications, not merely as on-farm quality management.
Work on forage integration is changing the economics of establishment. North Dakota's intercropping research demonstrates that establishing alfalfa within a standing cash crop increases Year 2 alfalfa yield by 2.5 tons/acre relative to spring seeding and raises net returns by 60% in corn ($267/acre) and $452/acre in sunflower compared with conventional sequential establishment. Because intercropped alfalfa fixes 20–30% more nitrogen than alfalfa alone and transfers a similar quantity to the companion crop, the practice reduces fertilizer demand at the same time it expands perennial acreage.
Kentucky demonstrated that nontoxic endophyte symbioses in tall fescue increased aboveground biomass 24% across years while warming reduced it 17%, and that endophyte infection reduced CO₂ emissions under ambient and heated conditions — evidence that these symbioses may improve pasture resiliency under projected weather changes in the southeastern transition zone. Oregon's multi-year agrivoltaic grazing studies established that sheep grazing is compatible with utility-scale solar production, with animals preferentially using shaded areas during heat stress without performance loss, generating foundational data for land-use and energy policy discussions.
Environmental and public-health benefits extend beyond production. Utah documented that cattle finished on perennial birdsfoot trefoil produced steaks with a significantly superior omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio compared with grain-finished cattle, while sensory panels rated the two equal — and separately documented in vivo reductions in methane and urinary nitrogen from perennial non-bloating legumes and forbs. Maryland's work established that predatory insect populations are enhanced by agricultural drainage ditches, supporting biological control that can displace pesticide applications and protect on-farm biodiversity. Maine's PFAS research program, operating the first livestock facility in the world designed to contain fecal and urine PFAS during dairy studies, is developing feed binders and management strategies for contaminated systems.