Tips to Improve Cow Performance While Consuming Low-quality Forages

Rob Ziegler, UNL MS Animal Science StudentTravis Mulliniks, UNL Beef Cattle Nutritionist, Range Production Systems Because of the challenges faced last spring and this year’s projected lower quality hay crop, supplementing cattle this year with protein will be an effective way to increase intake and digestibility of low-quality forages. Photo credit Troy Wal Low-quality range pasture and cold wet winter left cows in thinner than normal condition coming into spring this year. The…

Continue ReadingTips to Improve Cow Performance While Consuming Low-quality Forages

Frequently Asked Questions about Grazing Corn Residue Fields with Excessive Downed Corn

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Prior to grazing cornstalks with cattle, an estimate should be made of the amount of corn that is present in the field. Photo credit Troy Walz. Putting cows out on corn fields with a lot of corn is a recipe for acidosis (grain overload), abortion, and possibly death, if their rumen bacteria are not properly prepared. Cattle that become acidotic for even a short time can…

Continue ReadingFrequently Asked Questions about Grazing Corn Residue Fields with Excessive Downed Corn

What to Do with Wet Hay

Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension EducatorHannah Greenwell, Nebraska Extension Educator While some weathering of bales is to be expected, those that were put up a bit wet, have been sitting in water, or were otherwise saturated need some special considerations. Photo credit Troy Walz. With the wet weather this year, putting up quality hay and keeping it protected from the elements has been a challenge.  While some weathering of bales is to be expected,…

Continue ReadingWhat to Do with Wet Hay

Inventory Insights

Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, Ness School of Management & Economics, South Dakota State University The October Cattle on Feed report was very close to trade expectations. Placements during September were 2.1 million head, slightly above expectations. Marketings during September were 1.7 million head, even with expectations. The 11.3 million head on feed is 99 percent of a year ago. The placements by weight categories reflected a slight decrease in the…

Continue ReadingInventory Insights

First step in marketing; Identify an endpoint!

Dr. Andrew Griffith, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee I have been asked to do a program early next year that focuses on step-by-step marketing. At first thought this would seem extremely elementary to most readers and maybe it is to some. However, my experience has been that many producers who have been in the cattle business for decades do not even consider that every decision they make…

Continue ReadingFirst step in marketing; Identify an endpoint!

Hay, just how bad is it?

Ted Wiseman, and Dean Kreager Extension Educators in Perry and Licking County Much of Ohio’s 2019 first cutting grass hay was beyond optimum maturity when it was harvested. Laboratory analysis indicates little if any first cutting has adequate quality to meet the nutritional needs of bred cows in late gestation or lactation. You may be thinking enough already with the hay quality talk. Many articles have been sent out on this topic starting…

Continue ReadingHay, just how bad is it?

Secretary Perdue Announces OneUSDA Internship Program for Summer 2020

(Washington, D.C., November 1, 2019) Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the “OneUSDA Internship” opportunity for Summer 2020. As part of the Federal Pathways Program, the OneUSDA Internship Program will provide students a way to explore serving their country through a career in government while gaining work experience in agriculture, natural resources, rural development, and other career fields.   “Our goal at USDA is to recruit the best and retain the…

Continue ReadingSecretary Perdue Announces OneUSDA Internship Program for Summer 2020

USDA Highlights Customer Service Successes and IT Modernization at Impact Expo

(Washington, D.C., October 31, 2019) – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture held the first ever Impact Expo with employees to celebrate the impact of its customer-focused IT modernization efforts. This event underlined the connection between modernization, customer experience, and USDA’s overall impact. The Expo featured projects from across the Centers of Excellence, Office of Customer Experience, USDA’s Customer Experience Champions program, Office of the Chief Information Officer, and every USDA mission area…

Continue ReadingUSDA Highlights Customer Service Successes and IT Modernization at Impact Expo

Cattlemen Applaud Introduction of Real MEAT Act of 2019

WASHINGTON (Oct. 28, 2019) - The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today applauded the bipartisan introduction of the Real MEAT (Marketing Edible Artificials Truthfully) Act of 2019 by U.S. Reps. Roger Marshall (R - 1st Dist., Kansas) and Anthony Brindisi (D - 22nd Dist., N.Y.) “A growing number of fake meat products are clearly trying to mislead consumers about what they’re trying to get them to buy,” said NCBA President and Tennessee cattlewoman…

Continue ReadingCattlemen Applaud Introduction of Real MEAT Act of 2019

USDA Establishes Domestic Hemp Production Program

WASHINGTON, October 29, 2019 — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the establishment of the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. This program, as required by the 2018 Farm Bill, creates a consistent regulatory framework around hemp production throughout the United States. “At USDA, we are always excited when there are new economic opportunities for our farmers, and we hope the ability to grow hemp will pave the way for new products…

Continue ReadingUSDA Establishes Domestic Hemp Production Program