Kansas net farm income climbed in 2020 despite COVID-19; 2021 looks promising

Economists give early estimate and projections for 2021 MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas farms appear to be moving out of the shadow of the global pandemic, according to two Kansas State University agricultural economists. Ad hoc government payments made because of the pandemic and higher than expected grain prices since last summer boosted average estimates for 2020 Kansas net farm income to $137,000, a 7% increase over $128,000 the previous year. Even though 2020…

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Cattle needs rise as temperatures drop

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – Cattle producers need to follow recommended livestock-care checklists to mitigate significant dangers that arctic blasts bring to animal health and production, said Oklahoma State University experts.  Ranchers might not typically think about frozen water sources during a mild winter, for example.  So it’s important to remember that cattle in southern Great Plains states are relatively naïve when it comes to the presence of ice in the field,…

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Horse owners need to be watchful for signs of colic

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – Horse owners need to take steps to ensure colic does not become a problem for their animals as temperatures drop, said Oklahoma State University experts.  “Horses need more feed to replace energy loss brought about by harsher wintertime weather conditions,” said Kris Hiney, OSU Extension equine specialist with the university’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences. “A good first step is to maximize forage intake. Give them as…

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Take steps to maximize available hay in cattle operations

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – Cattle producers are only halfway through the hay feeding season, so it’s a good time to double-check they’re not wasting that precious resource, said experts with Oklahoma State University’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences.  “Management of input costs can mean the difference between operational profit or loss,” said David Lalman, OSU Extension beef cattle specialist and holder of the university’s Harrington Endowed Chair in Animal Science. “Costs…

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Recipe: TOASTY GRILLED BEEF AND CHEESE

For best results use Certified Angus Beef ® brand TOASTY GRILLED BEEF AND CHEESE SERVES 4 Share your great taste! Can't decide between a cheeseburger and grilled cheese? Make this toasty grilled beef and cheese sandwich to have the best of both. INGREDIENTS: 1 pound Certified Angus Beef ® ground chuck1 cup chopped mushrooms1/2 small onion, finely chopped1 clove garlic, minced4 teaspoons butter8 slices white bread8 slices Swiss cheese INSTRUCTIONS: Brown ground chuck in medium frying pan with mushrooms,…

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Strategic Feedlot Bedding in the Winter

Warren Rusche SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Associate Key Takeaways Bedding cattle during extreme cold conditions dramatically reduces maintenance energy costs and improves gain and feed efficiency with potential carryover effects to the end of the feeding period.Bedding during more moderate weather conditions also improved cattle performance, but to a lesser degree.Proving bedding is a viable management strategy to mitigate the impacts of winter on cattle performance, especially under severe conditions. Feeding cattle…

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SELECT BEEF: WHO WANTS IT?

by Miranda Reiman What was exceptional yesterday is average today. That’s true in the cattle business and especially apparent in high-quality beef production. “Without paying attention to shifts in the market, it can be easy to assume what worked when you started still works now,” says Paul Dykstra, of the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand. “It’s hard to argue there’s ever been true demand for Select, rather than simply a price point for those indifferent…

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Feed at Night, Calve During the Day

Adele Harty SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist As cattle producers begin thinking about calving season and management practices to ease the work load a bit, night feeding is something to be considered. Producers have questioned whether or not time of feeding affects time of calving, and the answer is “Yes.” What Research Shows Research indicates that feeding cows later in the day and evening will increase the number of calves born during daylight…

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Weather patterns increase risk of Kansas wildfires, officials say

The Kansas Forest Service is among the agencies that assist in responding to wildfires in the state and around the country. The photo above shows KFS Engine 44 helping during the Pine Gulch Fire in Colorado last year. Kansas Forest Service prepping for busy spring MANHATTAN, Kan. – A swing to drier weather patterns and higher winds this spring is likely to increase the risk of wildfires in parts of Kansas, according to…

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2020 Cow Slaughter and 2021 Inventory Expectations

Dr. Kenny Burdine, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Kentucky Cattle slaughter got a lot of attention in 2020 as the sector raced to deal with labor challenges in the spring that greatly impacted processing volumes. At its lowest point, federally inspected cattle slaughter was down by more than one-third from 2019. But the processing industry showed a lot of resiliency through summer as slaughter levels picked back up, despite the challenges the pandemic…

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