Jeff Lehmkuhler, Associate Extension Professor, University of Kentucky Fall is officially here and with it will bring the country sound of calves bawling as weaning occurs on beef cattle farms. This time of year can be busy with field crops, getting the last cutting of hay and other farm activities. Take some time to prepare for weaning of the beef calves to add value to the calf crop prior to marketing. Weaning preparation…
Chris Teutsch, Associate Extension Professor, Forage Specialist, University of Kentucky Knowing the nutritional quality of forage and hay is an integral part of a profitable and efficient livestock operation. Accurate estimation of forage quality starts with obtaining a representative sample of the forage to be fed. Proper sampling technique is critical. Hay is preserved in a number of different packages ranging from the small square bale weighing 40-50 lb to the large square…
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(Washington, D.C., September 29, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that more than 100 million food boxes have been distributed in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmers to Families Food Box Program. Earlier this month, the Department announced it had entered into contracts with 50 entities for the third round of food box deliveries, which include contracts to purchase…
Olivia Amundson SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist In a previous article, Capitalizing on Cow Costs, reducing feed costs to improve cow efficiency was discussed. To continue the conversation, another area of cost reduction is in cull cows, bulls and calf death loss. Cull cows and bulls as well as calf death loss in the herd can play a significant role in profitability. Producers need to determine their profit margins and decide what options or…
K-State experts say facilities should be safe for people and cattle MANHATTAN, Kan. — Many a rancher will say there is nothing that tests the bonds of a relationship more than processing cattle together. Between the quick movements of the calves and the short tempers of the humans it can be a trying experience for all. One way to help ease some of the potential for frustration is to make sure cattle are…
Smartphone app could boost biosecurity for the beef industry MANHATTAN, Kan. – If you’ve stared one cow in the face, you’ve seen them all … right? New technology being developed at Kansas State University is likely to debunk that thought, capitalizing on the power of artificial intelligence to build a database of facial recognition technology for the cattle industry. In other words, just like humans, each cow in the herd has a set…
Focus on home and car before the weather turns cold MANHATTAN, Kan. -- It’s early October…do you know where your snow boots are? You may not really need them for a while, but assistant state climatologist Mary Knapp says now is about the right time to start preparing for winter. “A couple things you can do right now to get ready for winter is to look at preparations around your house and car,”…
A new report unveiled today by the American Farm Bureau Federation provides an in-depth examination of the causes and price implications resulting from extreme market volatility in the cattle industry. It also sets the stage to explore policy solutions. The Cattle Market Working Group, comprised of 10 state farm Bureau presidents, spent more than two months investigating factors that led to market disruptions following the Holcomb packing plant fire and the COVID-19…
By Lauren Raley STILLWATER, Okla. – Now that fall has fallen, Oklahoma gardeners can turn to Oklahoma State University Extension for helpful tips on how to prepare for the end of the year. OSU Extension’s fall gardening fact sheet includes a wide range of vegetables that can outlast other summer crops, as well as how to prepare the soil for the next growing season. The foundation for a healthy garden is keeping crops properly watered and monitoring…