Forage Testing for Dummies 

I had never fully appreciated just how talented farmers needed to be. Part accountant, part chemist, part heavy equipment operator, part mechanic, part animal psychologist, but cattle must be the wisest of all animals because they are always ruminating.

This has got to be the most rookie friendly info I've ever seen. You remind me of my grade 12 math teacher. Putting challenging ideas in simple terms. If only all smart people could break down complex ideas into simpler terms.

Thank you for breaking that down! I shake my head whenever I hear anyone say farming is easy or doesn't take a lot of knowledge or.. that farmers are "simple". Thank you for taking the time to show and explain this!!

Pete, in another life I was a consultant to farmers. I'll never forget a colleague referring to the combined 1st, 2nd, 3rd cutting all-in-one as "baled puckerbrush."

As a scientist I can say that Pete is no lightweight when it comes to his profession!

Thanks for that info. When we were dairy farming back in the 60’s, we bought our hay which was alfalfa hay. I always loved the smell when you cut the wire and the bail fell open. It was leafy and grown without herbicides and pesticides. We fed our cows dairy feed when in the milk barn which was oats and barley and molasses. They loved it. During the day they were out on pasture grasses. The only testing we ever did was on the milk for butter fat content and bacteria. That testing was weekly unless we suspected a problem. Things are so high tech now. 😂

Pete, it's just fascinating how technology is there today for a farmer like yourself!!! If my farmer daddy were still alive, he'd be right here with me in rapt attention to today's science of farming. Thanks for sharing, and blessings for letting all 239,000 of us visit you and your farm life there in New York!!! ;o)

I didn’t realize how little I knew about hay. Raising cows is more complicated than most people think. Most think their Tbone is grown in a factor.

Obtaining information and knowledge is one thing. Being able to translate, articulate and share that information in a thoughtful interesting way is an art form. You nailed it Pete! Great presentation! You’re a blessed teacher!

As the late Tom Lasater used to say: "The cattle business is a simple business. The only problem is keeping it simple.”

I just rewatched an episode from March 31 2020. Ironically it was about getting a field to grow decent alfalfa and other grasses. At the end you thanked the viewers for your channel reaching 1,000 subs. Now you're at 239K You've come a long way in two years and your videos just keep getting better and better. Congrats!

I have been ill for the past 6 weeks. Watching your videos whether it is about the farm or rebuilding your tractors always brings a ray of sunshine into my life. I eagerly await your new videos and rewatch your old ones. You are obviously very bright and a deep thinker. Please keep it up

Ever since I started watching your videos, I’ve never missed even one. You’re in a league of your own, Pete. Your videos are priceless…😍😍😍

Thank You Pete, for giving us this information ! It is surprising to me that, local AG department or at least a FFA would not have this info and be willing to share and teach what it all means, to the health of the future of our food !!! I hope to one day have a homestead to just feed my family ! I wish I had started earlier in my life, but like to many I was chasing the all mighty worthless dollar ! As everyone can see today our GREAT GRANDPARENTS had it right !!! ( 100 yrs ago ) THANK YOU AGAIN , GOD BLESS YOU AN FAMILY !!!

Just imagine 30/40 years time watching these videos with a grandchild that's farming and comparing results! Pure gold in the bank for an education to them

Mr Larson, I can see you have the same love and respect for not just your personal heritage, but our great American heritage that I have! Your endless patience and work, transcending all sorts of needed talents and abilities is, Im sad to say, quite unusual for our times today! My wonderful father was a decorated 101st Airborne survivor who was a heavy equipment operator and mechanic, but he could do anything , build, re -build, electrify, plumb, and I followed in his image , Ive never hired anything built, plumbed or electrified, and until our evil govt infringed on our wonderful auto industry I had never hired an engine, tranny or rear end worked on ! Im a fan and will be subscribing !

Greg video Pete!! You bring me back to my time on the farm as a kid in the 60's and 70's. I'm 66 this month and this is as close as I get to farmers by these days. Thanks for sharing this part of your life ! With us.

A person just never knows what Pete is going to educate us on! Keep up the great work!

Never appreciated the potentially disastrous consequences of Tedding when it’s too dry. I’m glad to hear there’s no issue with the herd and that Prudence’s passing was sadly, just one of those things…

We love the talking and farming, no pressure On you 👍

Very interesting! That is a very valuable tool Pete! Very well done as usual. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and knowledge as always Pete!

Pete, I love your sense of humor. You are an excellent teacher!

Pete, again... you are a fantastic teacher because you put complex items into easily understood terms. Thanks for another great video.

This was extremely useful, insightful, and especially knowing that you make hay and you buy it in, too. Thank you for making the time to post this. I have dairy sheep, and we’re still figuring everything out from scratch.

That was So interesting !!! Thank you !! As a horse owner this is very inportant in the comparison.. What you feed cows ! The NDF very relevant & ADF. Thats what we need to understand $19 is very good for data !! have no idea on £'s. I know Cow & Horse Ratio is different as I had to sow Horse grass !!! Love your disection of this as it is very relevant what is the point of feeding S*** Hay !!!! Love your Porkies even tho I am a veggie !! But You would not have them if people didn't eat them!!! Sorry Mr or Mrs Vegan !!!! Love your Vloggs !! Hubby Is a Electrical & mechanical engineer I watch loads of tractor disections !!!!!🤣😂🤣😂

Pete I give this video a 102% rating. I have often wondered how grass/hay gives animals what they need to survive and grow to such large sizes. By the way the monsters are looking Marvelous. This video was very informative and funny. Even being a city girl I am always interested learning how things work. You managed to take a serious matter and made it palatable with your sweet humor. If we lived closer to NY we sure would buy or meats from your farm. Thank you and your wonderful wife for all your hard work. Your videos have enlightened me to a new appreciation of where our food comes from. Every time I eat anything I say a special thanks for those that do what you do. God Bless We look forward to seeing what the farm is up to.

Thanks for sharing your personal farming-related experiences...

Pete - Your explanation regarding feed analysis is spot on. Using available resources to constantly improve everything you do is a no brainer IMO. Then you share your knowledge for free. You are pretty unique in this selfish world. More power to you.

We took soil samples last night to see what we could be lacking in out soil. I guess we will see what the Data will tell us. Thanks for all you do Pete.

Always a pleasure Pete.

Hello Peter I love your stories God bless you keep them coming love to all your family 👪

❤️. Keep them coming Pete. Your amazing and very informative. I’m happy for you and your family. You will remain successful.

Perfect timing for this video for me. I just got back from a Grazing Conference and they handed out some forage analysis reports for a couple of the farms we visited. Now I can go back over the forms and figure out that they actually mean.

I'm nowhere near a farmer. But I can't appreciate enough someone who puts this much thought and effort into what they do. No matter what the field. I work in the radiology department of a hospital. My world is digital imaging, radiology information systems, and AI digital dictation systems. I am inspired by spirits like Pete. Go all in on whatever you do. I sub'd when you were 20'ish K subscribers. I've loved watching you grow to almost 250K. It's a privilege to get to decompress and listen to your calm words of wisdom no matter the topic. Keep doing what you do Pete.

Really informative! Thank you very much Pete!

That’s the single best resource on RU-vid about hay quality. Great job Pete!

Fascinating! Thanks for taking the time to explain all this! Very helpful!

Thank you Pete for another informative video. I never knew there was so much involved in raising cattle. I truly enjoy all your videos.

This needs to go viral it's the best explanation I've herd

As I have come to appreciate yet another great video. I love your style! Thank you for all your effort to share what you do!!!

Can’t thank you enough. Father in law and husband have talked this jibbrish for years. Thanks to YOU I finally understand 🤣. Amazing

love those detailed talks, keep em coming

Very informative vlog... Thank you Very much for all you fun & learning vlogs each time... GBY & YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY ALWAYS 🙏❤️💙✝️🤗

Interesting stuff Pete! Thank you for sharing! Stay safe!!

I just found your channel about 1 month ago. It is wonderful. Thank you for sharing all you do. I am learning so much. I just bought an old dairy/then beef farm and an IH 544 row crop diesel that the previous farmer was using . My first tractor. It is a very small farm of 23 acres with about 14 acres of the land being baled for hay. I have so much to learn going forward. Oh! Love the dad jokes! Thanks again for your channel. Take care Greg

Pete, I always enjoy your videos. They are always informative and entertaining. I will never be a farmer or rancher. Thanks to you I have whole new respect for you and all others like yourself.

That was really insightful and I enjoyed learning about hay nutrition. Do you have a comparison to balage or silage? You mentioned a few videos back that the nutrition in these forms is better but the added plastic waste is a big negative part of that process. It would Be nice to know how much more or better nutrition they have vs hay and if it’s worth it(maybe worth it in a dairy farm but for beef cows perhaps not)

Super interesting, thanks Pete!

Excellent info, thanks!

Excellent presentation Pete

WOW.....Thanks, very informative. Jim

I grew up in the hay fields on a farm, and I still learned a few things.... many thanks

Glad to hear the out come of the hay, but still very sorry for your loss.

A great informative video Pete. Thank you for sharing this information.

Pete, you can make the dullest of subjects somehow quite fascinating. You are a very talented fellow.From a long time subscriber . Bob

Good follow-up work, Pete. The peace of mind to know you're doing right by your stock is what a good night's sleep is made from. Not to mention, liking the face of the guy who looks you in the mirror every morning. Kudos Kemosabe.

Hello Pete and Hillary. Usefull information have a great day.

Boy your doing super job on the tractor. Thank you for taking the time to explain how the parts work. Can wacth for hrs.

I am such a good listener. Even if I only understood 10 % of the lesson. But I did stay till the end. Well done me.

Thats very informative thanks Pete. Even the cows pays attention on this ones towards the end. Thanks again keep up the good work I learn a lot

Very helpful to help us with our beef cattle. Thank you.

Another great video. Thanks for all the great information you gave us. Best regards

Wow!!! Awesome, very informative.

The agricultural extension station class on hay was very educational, nice to make your background the latest work on the tractor which I can tell is something you're proud of!

Looking forward to Spring. I’m sure the animals are too. I enjoy your videos. Thanks!

Awesome video! I'm currently taking a forage ecology and management class at my university and it's great to have an explanation/input from the producers side, along with the professors.

Great info, thanks Pete

I appreciate you and your videos sooo much!!!!

We need more people like you!! You give out a lot of good information love you. Keep it up and be happy!!!!

Very interesting! Well done. Thanks

Always such knowledge in your RU-vid videos. Thanks so much. My parents just retired and purchased a farm that only raises hay. They will be getting that test done for sure

Excellent as always Pete. Just one question, based the results are there any changes you are contemplating to improve your hay? Would you overseed anything? Thanks as always. You are providing a great service to those who need it and education for all.

Great show Pete !!

All I can say is wow! Great educational content . Lived ir

Great video Pete! There's a lot of good info on this one for us farmers to compare notes with, so to speak. I think the macro nutrients has been one of my issues in the past, we went to a better loose mineral. I think that those minerals helped our herd, especially recently, with some of our feed getting baled too late due to weather and equipment breakdown and failure. Thanks for sharing, have a good one....stay safe!

Thank You Pete.

Interesting stuff Pete👍👍👍

Can’t say I ever thought hay analysis would be interesting, yet, here I sit on the edge of my seat, learning stuff. :)

Thanks Pete, very interesting video.

An excellent tutorial to the layman. THANK YOU

Really informative, thank you!!

Very good report to us to used, thanks again

Just wanted to say what a treat it was to be reading through my most recent issue of Grit, turn the page see you standing there with a calf wrapped around your shoulders! I looked and thought, “Hey, I know that guy!” Great article!

I have a relitive who is a farm consultant. Part of his service offerings is soil sampiling. Wow it is a lot more complicated than I thought. Way over my head. I knew not all hay is equal, but you brought a lot of info out that no one every knew about. I will think of you when I mow my lawn. ha. thks

Amazing the data is always the best.

Great stuff, Pete. I watch Sonne Farms you tube and they are always talking about haying and leaf loss - now I know why!

Interesting, glad you got some answers.

This is so easy to understand! Tuanks Pete!

Your do a great job 👏 of taking care of all the animals 👍

Very interesting Pete👍

Fascinating. I enjoyed learning about hay.

College level lesson. Even better! Saludos desde Mexico! Pete, Saludos desde Tamaulipas . Thank you!

Great video Pete

Thank you for the education! I’m starting out with 2 low line angus and a belted Galway here in Northwest Florida. Most farmers get 4 cuttings a year here. I buy hay from a local black angus farmer so I assume it’s good but I’m going to have it tested.

Thanks Pete! Obviously I know next to nothing about how ruminant nutrition works. I assumed proteins worked the same in all animals. This is a great video on so many levels.

Thanks so very much Pete, I am not farming myself, but that is the kind of information tat anyone raising catle, or other pastured an8imals, need to know. Your a great teacher.. Keep it up.. JR

Nice video Pete!

Thanks fpr the videos sir , i really injoy them !

This is very good to know! Thank you!

Great video pete 💯👍 never knew any of that about hay really interesting