71: Forage Quality ROI: Stop Losing Money in the Bunk

In this episode of Ruminate This with Agrarian Solutions, host Scott Zehr continues the conversation with Joe Lawrence of Cornell Pro-Dairy, shifting from forage strategy to what matters most right now: return on investment.

With milk prices under pressure and input costs still elevated, the margin for error is slim. This episode explores the real economics behind forage decisions—and how small missteps can erode profitability.

Scott and Joe discuss:

• Why short-term decisions often come at a long-term cost
• The difference between growing tons and feeding usable tons
• How forage shrink can act like someone stealing 25% of your bank account if left unmanaged
• Why securing high-quality forage for lactating cows beats scrambling to replace it later
• The risk of “busy” decisions that don’t deliver financial returns

This conversation redefines forage management as one of the most controllable and impactful financial levers on a dairy operation.

If you're looking to navigate tight margins, reduce purchased feed, and make more confident decisions under pressure, this is a must-listen.

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