Cattle Chat: Planning for upcoming pregnancies

Caring for cows well in mid-pregnancy influences future breeding success Kansas State beef cattle experts share fall cow management tips for spring calvers MANHATTAN, Kan. — Most would agree that planning ahead is one of the best ways to meet a goal and that is true of the cow herd as well, say the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute. Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, veterinarians Bob Larson and Brad White shared…

Continue ReadingCattle Chat: Planning for upcoming pregnancies

Prepare farm and ranch equipment for winter storage

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – With colder weather just around the corner, many farmers and ranchers are preparing to store machinery for the winter. Rodents will be eyeing that same machinery for another reason – as a cozy place to shelter for a few months. “There are dozens of nooks and crannies under the hood of a piece of farm machinery that are attractive to many rodent species,” said Kevin Shelton, Oklahoma State…

Continue ReadingPrepare farm and ranch equipment for winter storage

AICA Announces Clint Rusk as New Executive Vice President

Kansas City, MO - The American-International Charolais Association Board of Directors has selected Clint Rusk,current Department Head of the Animal and Food Sciences Department at Oklahoma State University, as its newExecutive Vice President. Clint will be replacing J. Neil Orth, who is retiring at the end of 2021 after two decades ofleading the organization. Clint grew up on his family’s Hereford and Angus ranch near Sun City, Kansas. After graduating as valedictorian ofhis…

Continue ReadingAICA Announces Clint Rusk as New Executive Vice President

Cattle Chat: Maintaining cow efficiency

Many factors influence the efficiency of the cow herd. Beef cattle experts share the factors that influence the well-being of the cow herd MANHATTAN, Kan. — Efficiency is something many strive for, whether it is spending money wisely or making the most of the time dedicated to a project. And for the beef producer, developing an efficient cow herd has financial implications, according to beef cattle experts who recently spoke on a Kansas…

Continue ReadingCattle Chat: Maintaining cow efficiency

Analyze Cow Production Performance at Weaning

Identify the cow herd’s performance and see where improvements can be made with these calculations. by Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University Regular and consistent performance analysis can help a cow-calf operation: 1) identify where the business has excelled, as well as opportunities for improvement; 2) make informed management decisions; and 3) formulate goals and monitor progress toward goals. Analyzing cow herd performance for only one year will not accomplish all the above. Regular…

Continue ReadingAnalyze Cow Production Performance at Weaning

Mesonet weather program benefits Kansas farmers

State meteorologist says local weather information is free By Shelby Varner, K-State Research and Extension news MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Anyone who has ever lived in Kansas knows that the weather can change quickly, a fact that Chip Redmond thinks makes the Kansas Mesonet especially valuable in the state. Redmond, a meteorologist and manager of the Kansas Mesonet, said the program is working to continue spreading its multiple resources across Kansas for citizens. He…

Continue ReadingMesonet weather program benefits Kansas farmers

OSU Extension offers Halloween safety tips

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – When children dress up as their favorite superhero, princess or goblin, they likely have one thing on their mind: trick-or-treating and filling their candy container to the brim. But parents know there’s more to celebrating the holiday than choosing a costume and ringing neighborhood doorbells. Taking precautions ensures Halloween is both fun and safe, said Gina Peek, Oklahoma State University Extension housing and consumer specialist and interim associate dean. “The…

Continue ReadingOSU Extension offers Halloween safety tips

High Nitrates and Pregnant Cows

Olivia Amundson SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Drought poses many challenges to the beef cow herd. Nitrates in feed is one of the challenges that producers need to be aware of, especially in the reproductive herd. Nitrates can be found in multiple forages and weeds, such as millet, oats, wheat, corn, sorghum, sudan, kochia, pigweed, lambsquarter, brome grass and orchard grass, to name a few. Nitrates are taken up from the soil by…

Continue ReadingHigh Nitrates and Pregnant Cows