Rory Lewandowski, OSU Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator, Wayne County I have received several phone calls recently where the caller describes their hay; date baled, whether or not it got rained on before baling, general appearance, and sometimes smell. The question is how to best use this hay, is it suitable for horses or cows or sheep to eat? Physical evaluation of hay is useful to sort hay into general categories such…
Oklahoma is no stranger to cold and ice. When the temperature drops and leaves a layer of ice on everything, getting from one place to the next can pose a hazard. This is the time of year when public safety is a high priority. In order for roads and sidewalks to be safe for motorists and pedestrians, the use of deicing compounds is a must. While these deicing compounds make it safer for…
NCBA Honored to Be Part of Process From Day One to White House Signing Ceremony WASHINGTON (Dec. 4, 2019) - National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Jennifer Houston today issued the following statement in response to Japan's final approval of a trade deal that will lower tariffs for U.S. beef exports to that nation: "There's just no other way to say it: this is a tremendous victory and a great day for America's…
Tracey Erickson SDSU Extension Dairy Field Specialist Even though every producer tries their best to keep all animals born alive, there will always be death loss in livestock production systems. Thus, we need to keep in mind the regulations surrounding disposal. Why? Carcass disposal is crucial to preventing the spread of disease and protecting the environment as well as being regulated by South Dakota law with oversight provided by the South Dakota Animal…
With record low unemployment, USDA finalizes rule to promote work (Washington, D.C., December 4, 2019) – At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced a final rule to move more able-bodied recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) towards self-sufficiency and into employment. The rule restores the system to what Congress intended: assistance through difficult times, not a way of life. “Americans are generous…
Managing feed and health costs while optimizing marketing strategies are keys to success MANHATTAN, Kan. – Cow-calf producers, stocker operators and feedlot managers all have the same end goal in mind: raise high quality beef profitably. Experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute say there are many ways that producers can do that successfully. Stocker cattle are typically newly-weaned calves weighing between 300 and 800 pounds. They are often co-mingled with…
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2019 – USDA announces details of the 96thAgricultural Outlook Forum program (PDF, 94 KB), which takes place February 20-21, 2020 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. The 2020 Forum is themed The Innovation Imperative: Shaping the Future of Agriculture. The Forum’s plenary panel and several breakout sessions will focus on the central role science and innovation play in driving future growth and addressing challenges facing farmers. Speakers…
(Washington, D.C., December 6, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue released the following statement regarding the latest jobs report released today by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The jobs report shows the economy added 266,000 new jobs in November with an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which remains at a record 50 year low. Earlier this week, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)…
USAID adds $23 million to lab based at Kansas State University MANHATTAN, Kan. – A unique organization focused on farm innovations in developing countries and Kansas will continue and expand its work for another five years. “We’re furthering our partnership with Kansas State University on the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Sustainable Intensification for five years, building on our successful collaboration with them to date,” said Bonnie Glick, deputy administrator of the…
NCBA Staff Directed to Work With USDA to Verify Beef Origin Labeling Claims WASHINGTON (Dec. 3, 2019) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the nation's oldest and largest national organization representing American cattle producers, today reaffirmed its policy supporting voluntary country-of-origin labeling (COOL). Because the association takes the concerns of its members and stakeholders seriously, its Executive Committee has unanimously approved efforts to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety…