4 pp. / Lesquerella (Lesquerella fendleri) is a member of the mustard family and is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The oil in lesquerella seeds has superior performance compared to castor, soybean, and rapeseed methyl esters in reducing wear and damage in fuel injected diesel engines. Lesquerella can also be used as an ingredient for a number of other bioproducts such as lubricants, motor oils, plastics, inks, and adhesives. The hydroxylated oil in lesquerella is similar to castor oil but does not contain the deadly poison ricin. Therefore, lesquerella is a safer alternative to castor in the United States and can be handled both at the farm level and the oilseed processing level with industry standard equipment and technology. This article provide information to growers in planting, water and nutrient management, pest management, and harvesting of lesquerella as a potential alternative crop.

Two lactation trials were used to investigate corn grazing as a management tool for dairies. Control (n = 18) cows, housed in free-stall barns were allowed ad libitum access to TMR while Grazing (n = 18 to 36) cows were limited TMR down to 70% of that in Controls and allowed 24-h access to corn plots. By wk 3, Grazing cows consumed 7.9 +/- 1.5 kg/hd/d of standing corn. By wk 7, the crop had matured and Grazing cows consumed 11.42 kg/hd/d of corn grain. Intake of TMR by Controls was 20.07 +/- 0.46 kg DM/hd/d, 19.78% greater than Grazing groups. Corn grazing had no impact on body weight, condition score, or ruminal pH, but significantly increased milk production in the Grazing group. Corn grazing reduced the need for purchased commodities, while improving milk production and performance. The value of saved commodities and increased milk production was $0.71 per cow/d.