It is important to make plans now so that cattle are able to graze late into the fall. | Download this photo. The time is now to plan ahead for fall grazing in the beef herd MANHATTAN, Kan. — Cool crisp mornings and school activities filling the calendar are two signs that fall is on the horizon. Just as families make plans, cattle producers need to be looking into their fall grazing options, according to…
K-State wildlife specialist shares tips on keeping rats out of the home MANHATTAN, Kan. – A study released in July by researchers at three universities indicates that the number of people reporting rat sightings has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Charlie Lee, a wildlife management specialist at Kansas State University, says the increased contacts between human and rodents could be a result of people staying in place more often where…
This year's Stocker Field Day moves to virtual event. MANHATTAN, Kan. – Making alternative ration ingredient changes work, beef cattle market outlook and nutrition, management, and economic aspects of limit feeding are among topics planned for the 2020 Kansas State University Beef Stocker Virtual Field Day on Thursday, Oct. 1. The conference will be hosted on the Zoom webinar platform. "Due to increasing concerns around this evolving situation and standing by our commitment…
Community engagement, food production, distribution and security among highlights OLATHE, Kan. – An educational opportunity focused on growing food for and in urban areas will be held Wednesdays in October this year. The 2020 Urban Food Systems Symposium will be online, with sessions planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT every Wednesday in October. The event typically draws community leaders, urban planners and growers, not-for-profit administrators and educators, researchers, students and anyone interested in…
Some farmers are turning to non-traditional lenders to finance their business. (File photo) K-State’s Ifft says the trend is toward alternate ways of seeking funding MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Kansas State University agricultural economist says that non-traditional lenders are becoming a bigger part of doing business in farm country. Jenny Ifft spoke recently at the Risk and Profit Conference, hosted by K-State Research and Extension and the K-State Department of Agricultural Economics. Her…
K-State Research and Extension, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and other state and local agencies are conducting a study focused on using barley straw to mitigate the effects of blue-green algae in farm ponds and lakes in northeast Kansas. | Download this photo. Study in northeast Kansas ponds shows promise HOLTON, Kan. -- In her day-to-day work as an extension agent in northeast Kansas, Jody Holthaus often gets calls from landowners looking for…
K-State beef cattle specialist explains ways to effectively use data in sire selection MANHATTAN, Kan. — In any team sport, members contribute their physical strengths to help achieve the goal for the common good. It is hard for an athlete to be the best in all aspects of the game. In much the same way, bulls that excel in maternal traits are not always the ones that reach the top of chart for…
USDA Begins Issuing Agreements for Round Three (Washington – Aug. 25, 2020) – Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced up to an additional $1 billion for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The additional funding allows the program to continue critical support to farmers, distributors, and American families in need. The Farmers to Families Food Box program has provided over 70 million boxes to hungry Americans across…
Researchers at Kansas State University have studied the performance of 28 wheat varieties in a dual-purpose system. (File photo) Year-long study helps identify varieties ideal for dual-purpose system MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University researchers have released findings of a study to identify the best-performing varieties when producers are growing wheat for grain and grazing, known as a dual-purpose system. K-State Research and Extension wheat specialist Romulo Lollato said he and his colleagues…
Maintaining accurate records can be an important component of any beef cattle operation. | Download this photo. K-State beef cattle experts advocate for data as a valuable decision-making tool MANHATTAN, Kan. — Humans consume data daily, from knowing the latest COVID-19 counts to learning which baseball pitcher threw the most strikeouts from the mound. In sports, that data can determine which player gets called up to play. Likewise, data can also help beef producers…