K-State eyes new approach to soil health in dryland cropping systems

Dryland Soil Health Network meeting set for Feb. 18 in Hays HAYS, Kan. – There’s no teacher like experience, and like any profession, farmers learn from their own experiences plus those of fellow growers and researchers. With that in mind, K-State Research and Extension is launching the Dryland Soil Health Network to help facilitate information sharing and more. A kickoff meeting is set for Feb. 18 in Hays. The meeting runs from 10…

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Nighttime Feeding, Daytime Calving

No matter when you calve your spring-calving herd, it is a good reminder to change the feeding schedule for part, if not all, of the spring-calving cow herd. It is generally accepted that adequate supervision at calving has a significant effect on reducing calf mortality. Saving every calf is always important to the bottom line, but takes on additional urgency when profit margins are narrow. On most ranching operations, supervision of the first-calf…

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CattleFax Cow-Calf Survey Provides Valuable Data

CattleFax is conducting its annual Cow-Calf Survey, sponsored by Crystalyx. Information requested in the survey provides participants and the rest of the industry with valuable data regarding industry benchmarks and trends. The survey takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete and can be accessed by clicking here. The survey will be open from January 7 to February 21. All individual results will be confidential and remain anonymous. Those choosing to participate in the…

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Marshall, Peel to Headline Cattlemen’s Day Program

K-State's 107th Annual Cattlemen's Day set for March 6. MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University's Animal Sciences and Industry Department will host Cattlemen's Day 2020 on Friday, March 6 at Weber Hall in Manhattan. Lorna Marshall, Select Sires vice president of beef programs, will kick off the event by highlighting genetic and reproductive trends in the global beef industry. "We're excited to host the 107th KSU Cattlemen's Day," says Ken Odde, K-State professor…

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Tamegrass stocker field day slated Feb. 20 in Girard

Program aims to help producers improve cattle health, pasture management GIRARD, Kan. – Kansas State University’s Southeast Research and Extension Center will host the Tamegrass Stocker Field Day on Feb. 4 to help the area’s producers improve the health, nutrition and pasture management for their cattle herds. “Managing cattle on such tamegrasses as fescue and Bermudagrass requires some specific managerial aspects to be able to grow cattle and forage efficiently,” said Jaymelynn Farney,…

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Signs to Watch When Making Decisions on Stocking Rates

By Brian HaysPasture and Range Consultant A key component of intentional management is the stocking rate management plan. This plan entails the matching of grazing livestock numbers to forage production as well as managing and adapting livestock numbers as forage production changes within and over years. So how can a manager determine if the stocking rate should be adjusted during the year? One way is to use an intuitive approach to the assessment,…

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Do You Possess the 8 Characteristics of an Intentional Beef Producer?

By Robert Wells, Ph.D.Livestock Consultant To be successful, any business person must develop a plan and then devise a strategy on how to work the plan to accomplish desired goals. That’s especially important in the cattle business, where most cow-calf producers would agree that the return on investment on an annual cash basis is typically low. In order to become and remain profitable, producers must effectively manage the operation by paying close attention…

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Secretary Perdue Statement on EPA WOTUS Rule

(Washington, D.C., January 23, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today praised the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for defining the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule with the Navigable Waters Protection Rule:   “President Trump is restoring the rule of law and empowering Americans by removing undue burdens and strangling regulations from the backs of our productive farmers, ranchers, and rural land-owners. The days are gone when the Federal Government…

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Western Ranchers Welcome BLM Action to Improve Grazing Regulations

Western ranchers welcomed a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Notice of Intent (NOI), which appeared in today’s Public Inspection and will publish in the Federal Register on January 21st, announcing that the agency is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on new grazing regulations. The NOI opened a public comment period and announced that in-person scoping meetings will be held across the West. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for BLM permittees to set…

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Secretary of Agriculture Perdue to Share Insights at 2020 Cattle Industry Convention

Perdue will share insight on issues of concern to cattlemen and women at the 2020 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 5, 2020. Perdue will participate in the Opening General Session of the event, being hosted Feb. 5-7, 2020 at the San Antonio Convention Center. Among topics he is expected to address will be recent trade developments, markets, farm bill implementation and other issues affecting the state…

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