Fike Awarded 2021 Mark and Eva Gardiner Innovation and Excellence Faculty Award

Dr. Karol Fike, Kansas State University teaching associate professor, has been awarded the prestigious 2021 Mark and Eva Gardiner Innovation and Excellence Faculty Award.  Fike completed her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences at Iowa State University in 1991. She continued her education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, earning her master’s and doctorate, studying reproductive physiology in beef cattle.  With a passion for teaching and working with students, Fike first taught courses in Anatomy…

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Creep feeding a good practice for raising foals

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – A nursing foal’s nutritional requirements will exceed the mare’s ability to supply nutrients to the foal through its milk a few months after birth, underscoring the need to provide access to solid foods.  Commonly called creep feeding, research indicates the practice will not only provide many of the necessary nutrients for sound bone and muscle growth, it also will lessen weaning stress, said Kris Hiney, Oklahoma State University…

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Composting proves good for gardening and reducing waste

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – One of the foundations of success when it comes to gardening is good soil. For those who don’t have naturally nutrient-rich soil already, composting may be an answer that also reduces the amount of waste going to local landfills. Compost is a natural, dark brown, humus-rich material formed from the decomposition or breakdown of organic material such as leaves, grass clippings, vegetable food scraps and twigs, said…

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Land rentals reported for crops, pasture

By Brian Brus STILLWATER, Okla. – The cost to rent cropland held steady through the pandemic last year while pasture rentals fell slightly overall, according to the latest studies by Oklahoma State University Extension. The biannual pair of market surveys of agricultural landowners found mixed results, said Roger Sahs, OSU Extension agricultural economist. “People reading this data might be somewhat surprised and have questions about crop commodity prices, which were dismal and disappointing in the…

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Straw bale gardening is great alternative to traditional gardening

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Gardening is a popular hobby for many people, but obstacles such as poor soil quality, limited space and temporary housing can frustrate even the most dedicated green thumbs. Fortunately, there is an alternative for growing flowers, herbs and vegetables, said Casey Hentges, host of the Oklahoma State University Extension television program Oklahoma Gardening. “Straw bale gardening is great for those who, for whatever reason, are unable to garden in the…

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Drylotting Cow-Calf Pairs

Warren Rusche SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Associate Whether because of reduced forage production caused by drought, or increased competition for grazing acres, feeding lactating cows in a drylot is being at least considered as an option by more ranchers. In some pasture rent markets the total cost per day for drylotting pairs is similar to or even lower than the total costs on pasture. When feed supplies are short, it may be…

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The Importance of Math in the Art of Grazing

Krista Ehlert Assistant Professor & SDSU Extension Range SpecialistAdditional Authors: Jameson Brennan Growing up, I remember asking the question, “Why do we need to learn this?” The “this” being math, and I posed the question to my algebra, geometry, calculus and statistics teachers from grade school all the way through high school. All I ever received for an answer was, “You’ll use it someday.” In college, math seemed slightly more important, since I needed to figure out how…

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A Mineral Program is Key to Successful Grazing

Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist, OSU Extension (originally published in Farm & Dairy) A good mineral program is just as important as good forages in a successful grazing program. The grass is getting greener by the day and the grazing season is within sight. In previous editions of this column my colleagues have covered a variety of topics to consider before turning livestock out to pasture this spring. While checking fences, watering…

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K-State’s Lollato gives update on Kansas wheat condition

K-State's Lollato gives update on Kansas wheat condition K-State Research and Extension wheat specialist Romulo Lollato talks about the condition of the 2021 Kansas wheat crop. Lollato says that spring moisture has made the prospects of a good wheat crop very promising, in part due to approximately 4-6 inches of precipitation received across Kansas since March 12. "From now until heading is when the crop needs the largest amount of water," said Lollato…

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