Latest News
01.24.25 - New Agronomy Data Distillation: An update on soil test trends
A new Data Distillation is posted, discussing the latest soil test trends seen after wrapping up the 2024 season. Check out what Potassium and Phosphorus numbers look like and what they mean for soil's fertility future, here.
01.07.25 - New modeling updates dial in snaplage and earlage results
Harvesting corn for snaplage has its benefits - including harvesting more yield and improving the fermentation potential relative to high moisture shelled corn, plus bringing some additional fiber into the ration with lower forage diets. As we continue to improve our reliable feed analyses via the NIR models that drive them, our snaplage and earlage analysis has been notably improved - further refining your ability to dial in diets with accurate snaplage analysis results.
If you or your clients harvested snaplage in 2024, or have it on the radar for 2025, check out our Comprehensive Nutrition Analysis to take full advantage of the improved model and dial in your snaplage use within the complete ration.
Check out snaplage nutritional opportunities and limitations in this Hay and Forage Grower article: https://rockriverlab.com/file_open.php?id=393
01.02.25 - New South Dakota Location Opens Today
We're officially opening our Sioux Falls, South Dakota laboratory today! The former AgLab Forages is now Rock River Laboratory - South Dakota, headed by our new teammate, Mike Barber. The new location offers access to our accurate feed and forage analysis, tools, and insights for beef and dairy operations - along with the exceptional customer service and support our customers know and trust. We're ready to accept samples! Pop in and say hi at 2601 S. Minnesota Ave., Suite103, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, or call us at 1-844-206-7255.
12.02.24 - New Fatty Acid NIR Analyses for Commodities
Dialing-in rations to improve dietary fatty acid supply and profile is now easier than ever thanks to accurate fatty acid profile and total fatty acid content NIR models, developed for forages and corn grain in the past ten years. However, commodities account for a substantial amount of fat in the typical dairy ration and book values still remain the norm for these more expensive purchased feeds. Until now.
Starting this week, Rock River Laboratory is complimenting our forage and corn grain fatty acid profile options with new fatty acid NIR analyses for commodities.
We can measure total fatty acids and fatty acid profiles on your commodity feed samples - helping improve diet formulation, painting a better picture of the fats present in these feeds, and refining your teams’ understanding of fatty acids relative to milk fat. Simply select the Comprehensive Commodities package for your next commodity sample and gain fatty acid nutrition insights.
Learn more about fatty acid nutrition in Hay and Forage Grower here, or download the article here.
11.12.24 - Enhanced Nutrition Report Features: KPS Indicators
As the industry continues to use Kernel Processing Score (KPS) at harvest and feedout to benchmark corn silage grain feeding value, we’ve added a Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) KPS Indicator on our nutrition analysis reports to better inform ration decisions.
‘Likely above 70’ denotes a high probability for KPS at or above 70; alternatively ‘Likely below 70’ depicts the opposite. The 70% threshold has been a long-standing goal, and our current interpretive guidelines for standard KPS test results can be found and downloaded here. For samples likely below 70, producers should consider assessing KPS with traditional methods
This new indicator is available within our Comprehensive Nutrition Analysis (CNA) by NIR for corn silage. Read the Frequently Asked Questions here and try it out today!
10.22.24 - New Total Tract Fat Digestibility Tool
Fat supplements in dairy diets are expensive and there is likely a range in supplement digestibility. Thanks to collaborative research with the UW-Madison College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, we have a new tool to assess total tract fat digestibility (TTFD) in lactating dairy diets. TTFD cattle can be predicted with fecal fat, much like fecal starch has been used to project total tract starch digestibility. Read the details, guidelines, and benchmarks, here.
10.09.24 - Enhanced Nutrition Report Features: Forage Nitrate Nitrogen
Today we are launching a new, novel Forage Nitrate Nitrogen indicator on Rock River Laboratory nutrition analysis reports. These new categorical predictions stand to assist our customers by supplying additional information to guide decision-making. Learn more about this new report feature in our downloadable FAQs document, and choose any of our Comprehensive Nutrition Analysis (CNA) by NIR packages to start seeing this reported - for applicable feed types!
10.08.24 - New Indiana Convenience Route
A new Convenience Route has been set up in Indiana. Get your samples to Rock River Laboratory - Ohio in a timely manner using our new drop boxes spread out across key locations in the state, with pickups on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Check out the exact drop off spots, and pickup timing, on our website map here, or in the FeedScan app after collecting your samples!