Studies indicate patch burning of tallgrass prairie is a valuable option

Practice provides a method to offset carbon emissions from a cow-calf operation MANHATTAN, Kan. – To the uninitiated, it’s an awesome and sometimes scary sight, coming over a hill to encounter a burning prairie as far as the eye can see. But planned burning – also called prescribed burning – of the tallgrass prairie is a proven effective and widely used way to control invasive plant species. The practice also improves forage quality…

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Free environmental law enforcement training available April 1

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – A Sunday drive down the backroads of Oklahoma to enjoy the countryside can be a relaxing adventure – at least until the route crosses an unsightly, illegal and dangerous dumpsite. To help reclaim the rural environment, Oklahoma State University Extension is joining forces with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development to host the Oklahoma Environmental Law Enforcement Training Seminar. The free event will take place…

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Cattle Chat: Managing mud

K-State beef cattle experts offer advice for reducing the impact of mud on cattle performance MANHATTAN, Kan. — Snow thawing and warm days may lift the spirits of many, but for cattle producers it often leads to extra work managing around mud.  Not only is mud an inconvenience, but the veterinarians at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute said if not managed properly, it can negatively impact cattle performance.   Addressing this topic…

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Cattle breeders should check bull fertility after recent snowstorms

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – The extreme winter weather that hit the southern Plains States in mid-February may have reduced bull fertility in herd sires – potentially bad news for the economic well-being of cow-calf operations.  Cattle breeders should have a veterinarian check their bulls for frostbite to the animal’s scrotum and testicles as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made to protect the herd’s reproductive efficiency, said Dr. Rosslyn…

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Sub-zero temperature won’t have big effect on insect pests

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Although recent subzero temperatures put the big chill on the human population, the insect population fared better. “While some insects leave the area in the winter and return in the spring, there are others that make their own antifreeze,” said Tom Royer, Oklahoma State University Extension entomology specialist. “The greenbug, for example, can withstand temperatures of up to minus 9 degrees Fahrenheit, so they often survive the kind of…

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Know your morel: Online classes will help enthusiasts ID wild mushrooms

Morel mushroom grow in the wild and can be hard to find. Know your morel: Online classes will help enthusiasts ID wild mushrooms K-State, KDA team up to offer guidance MANHATTAN, Kan. -- K-State Research and Extension, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, is offering online classes at two different times to help people earn the necessary approval to sell wild morel mushrooms. The classes will be offered online through Zoom…

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Don’t let the green grass fool you

Dr. Katie VanValin- Assistant Extension Professor- University of Kentucky. Perhaps it was the full season worth of winter weather we got in one-week last month, or the above average temperatures that followed, but either way we are rounding the bend and spring will be here before we know it. One of the things I love most about spring is that along with the warmer temperatures and longer days, inevitably comes greener pastures. However,…

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Is your bull ready for work?

Dean Kreager, Ohio State University Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Licking County Should a person wait until the hay is mowed before looking at the rake and baler to fix any problems that carried over from last year? Would they head out on a cross country drive without at least checking the oil and tires? If most people answered no to these questions, then why do so many people just turn their…

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One Year with COVID-19 and Year-Over-Year Comparisons

James Mitchell (University of Arkansas), Kenny Burdine (University of Kentucky), and Josh Maples (Mississippi State University) It is hard to imagine that we have been living with COVID for more than a year now. It seems like yesterday, and forever ago, all at the same time. Last week marked one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID a global pandemic. A year ago this Friday, the first stay-at-home order was placed in…

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Grass Tetany/ Hypomagnesemia –Start Preventive Measures Now

Dr. Michelle Arnold, Ruminant Extension Veterinarian, University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Lab; A special thanks to Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler for his contributions to this article. What is “Grass Tetany” and when are cattle most likely to have it? Grass tetany, also known as spring tetany, grass staggers, wheat pasture poisoning, winter tetany or lactation tetany, is a condition resulting from a low level of magnesium (Mg) in the blood. Maintenance of blood magnesium depends…

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