OSU Extension checks canning equipment for safety

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – With home gardens ripe for picking and farmers markets bursting with fresh fruits and vegetables, many Oklahomans also are gearing up for canning season. Canning the bounty from a garden is a great way to get that fresh-picked taste all year long, said Barbara Brown, Oklahoma State University Extension food specialist. “Canning can help gardeners avoid waste of excess produce by preserving the food for months. However, making sure…

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Impact of Higher Grain Prices on Feedlot’s Decision to Feed Distillers Grains

Elliott Dennis, Livestock Marketing and Risk Management Economist Galen Erickson, Nebraska Extension Beef Feedlot Specialist Photo credit Troy Walz. Listen to a discussion of the content in this article on this episode of the BeefWatch podcast. You can subscribe to new episodes in iTunes or paste http://feeds.feedburner.com/unlbeefwatch into your podcast app.The historical demand from China and domestically low stock-to-use ratios has led to the most recent run-up in grain prices. The direct impact of higher grain prices is…

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Beware of Stocking Rate Creep

Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator T.L. Meyer, Nebraska Extension Educator Larger cows eat more, and if an operation is running the same number of cows today for the same amount of time on the same amount of rangeland as 10 or 20 years ago, the stocking rate has increased. Photo credit T.L. Meyer. Listen to a discussion of the content in this article on this episode of the BeefWatch podcast. You can subscribe…

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Tips for Managing Free Choice Mineral Intake

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Ensuring that cattle are getting enough mineral without overconsuming can be a struggle. Photo credit Troy Walz. Listen to a discussion of the content in this article on this episode of the BeefWatch podcast. You can subscribe to new episodes in iTunes or paste http://feeds.feedburner.com/unlbeefwatch into your podcast app. Free choice mineral mixes are commonly used to provide the mineral that grazing cattle need. However, ensuring that cattle are getting enough…

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K-State ag economist looks at impact of energy produced on U.S. farms

Researchers have found that income gained from energy produced on U.S. farms has neither a positive or negative effect on agriculture. (File photo) Findings indicate little effect on farm business MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Kansas State University agricultural economist has published findings from a study looking at the impact of income gained from energy produced on the farm. Jenny Ifft, an agricultural policy specialist with K-State Research and Extension, said while energy income…

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Insect control key to successful double-crop soybean management

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – Insect control will play a major role in the management of double-crop soybeans after wheat harvest is completed, said an Oklahoma State University Extension expert.  Experienced farmers know soybeans planted after wheat are vulnerable to several insect pests, but most especially defoliating caterpillars and grasshoppers. Three caterpillar defoliators commonly occur in soybeans.  “It’s important to correctly identify the type of caterpillars infesting the crop and estimate defoliation levels before…

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Learn the Myths About Ticks to Keep Yourself Tick Safe

Tim McDermott DVM, OSU Extension Educator, Franklin County (originally published in Farm and Dairy) Myth #3: It’s common to believe that ticks such as this deer tick are only present during spring or summer. I remember one day back when I was in private practice when a client brought in their dog for their examination and vaccinations and when he set his pup up on the examination table I noticed that the dog’s entire top…

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Open and Late Calving Cows: The Conundrum

Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist, OSU Extension Figuring out why we have a late calving female is important when deciding to keep or cull. Being that most of the spring calving cow herds in Ohio and beyond have calved, and breeding season is upon us, there is a cow conundrum that we need to discuss. In the 9 or months that I have been in this position, my favorite questions to answer…

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Hot Days Ahead and the Need for Water

Robin Salverson SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Hot summer days are still ahead, and we need to account for water. We all know water is the most-important nutrient to the animal, but we are always concerned about protein, energy, minerals and vitamins; even though water is required for regulation of body temperature, digestion, absorption of nutrients, waste removal, fetal growth and lactation. All the grass in world means nothing without water. The amount…

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