Kermes scale is a small insect that is often mistaken for small bumps on a tree. Tip dieback caused by the insect may not have any lasting impacts on the tree’s overall health. Trees will rebound from environmental stressors that cause tip dieback on trees, official says MANHATTAN, Kan. – Branch tip dieback, a progressive death of twigs and branches, can be worrisome to see on oak trees in summer, as these long-lived…
Experts discuss this common cattle condition and offer tips for prevention MANHATTAN, Kan. — Sores on the feet can sure make a person feel miserable not to mention making it hard to walk. The same can be true of cattle when they develop foot rot in the crevasse between their toes, causing some of them to become lame according to the veterinarians at the Beef Cattle Institute. Speaking on the weekly Cattle Chat podcast, Kansas…
Keeping safety top of mind is important during fast-paced silage harvest operations. Heavy equipment, speed and long hours can be a dangerous combination GARDEN CITY, Kan. – As silage harvest operations begin ramping up across the state, a K-State Research and Extension beef cattle specialist encourages farmers and feed yards to keep safety top of mind … and to remind others involved to do the same. “As we look at silage operations, that’s…
Kansas State University has just unveiled its new Wheat Variety Disease and Insect Ratings 2020 publication Ratings are a tool to help with wheat variety selection MANHATTAN, Kan. — One of the most important decisions wheat growers make each year is deciding what varieties to plant. Some have greater resistance to certain diseases than others. Some yield well despite pressure from some pests and diseases. So gathering information about how different varieties have performed…
A close grouping of calves is one of the risk factors for pre-weaning pneumonia. K-State vets: Watch for summer respiratory condition in calves Experts discuss risk factors and treatment options for pre-weaning pneumonia MANHATTAN, Kan. — When talking to ranchers about cattle health concerns in the summer, fly control and pinkeye will often come to mind, but one condition that can lead to calf death is pre-weaning pneumonia. “Research has shown that pre-weaning…
Summer is a good time to evaluate bulls as they leave the breeding pastures. | Download this photo. K-State experts lay out criteria for evaluating bulls Summertime culling decisions hinge on several factors MANHATTAN, Kan. — As bulls come off the summer breeding pastures, producers have several criteria to consider when making culling decisions, according to experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute. In a recent CattleChat podcast, they debated whether fertility…
Humans have a few options for deodorizing hair, clothes or body if they -- or their pets -- are sprayed by a skunk. K-State wildlife expert offers tips for eliminating the pungent smell MANHATTAN, Kan. – There are two sure-fire ways to avoid the pungent smell of a skunk: don’t get into areas where skunks may live, but if you do, for goodness sakes don’t get sprayed. When those two factors collide, humans…
Hedging can help cattle producers protect against adverse price changes in markets by locking in futures prices. (File photo) K-State ag economist charts risk, benefit of hedging sale of live cattle Ten-year study analyzes outcomes of hedging via futures markets MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Kansas State University agricultural economist has completed an exhaustive study on hedging cattle prices, which he says could help producers manage their economic risks – perhaps especially so in…
New USDA-NIFA award provides funding to 2023 MANHATTAN, Kan. – On a recent summer morning, a team of students and scientists worked quietly, row by row in a research field, thinning soybean seedling plants by hand and saving the strongest to establish a uniform plant population for varieties to be grown in a new research project. The team, led by Kansas State University agronomy professor and soybean breeder Bill Schapaugh, is just starting…
Environmental considerations important, but so are social, economic matters MANHATTAN, Kan. — In agriculture, the word sustainability is often associated with environmental topics, but a senior official with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said it also has economic and social ties. “The three pillars of sustainability are economic, environmental and social, and there are ways that cattle ranchers can impact each of these on a local level,” said Myriah Johnson, NCBA’s senior director…