High levels of nitrates have been detected in South Dakota forages this growing season. SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Robin Salverson says producers need to be proactive by testing for nitrates before feeding.
She says if high enough levels of nitrates get consumed by livestock through the forages they can cause abortions or in some instances, even death.
Salverson says when testing farmers need to make sure they get samples from across the entire field.
Salverson says nitrate accumu-laters include: millets, sorghum sudans, kochia and even corn. She says it’s also good to do a core test on baled forages. For specific information on where to find labs to send test samples, just log onto Igrow.org and search lab.
