Kansas Forest Service notes bagworms are most easily controlled in May and June

MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Kansas Forest Service official says mid-May is an important time to start scouting for bagworms, a perennial problem that affects many trees common to Kansas landscapes. Ryan Armbrust, the forest health coordinator with KFS, said bagworms negatively affect ornamental landscape conifers, windbreak trees like eastern redcedar and arborvitae, and Scotch pine Christmas tree farms. “While deciduous broadleaf trees can recover from the defoliation that bagworms cause, conifers are often…

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Bottleneck in beef industry pushes producers into making key decisions

K-State beef team outlines feeding options during online workshop MANHATTAN, Kan. – Several members of Kansas State University’s extension beef team hosted an online workshop Thursday to help producers with looming decisions on managing their herds in light of unique challenges in the market. The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed Kansas’ beef supply chain to as much as 40 percent capacity, though the state has rebounded in recent days, according to K-State agricultural economist…

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Take steps now to reduce aquatic plants in farm ponds

Healthy farm ponds provide fishing, swimming and boating opportunities, as well as a water source for range cattle. K-State’s Lee outlines options for maintaining pond health MANHATTAN, Kan. – In rural Kansas, the farm pond is a central part of family life. Aside from providing a water source for range cattle and other livestock, some ponds provide recreation for family members, including swimming, fishing and even boating. In an emergency, water from the…

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Breeding success strategies for beef cattle

K-State beef cattle experts offer advice on ways to manage heifers and cows MANHATTAN, Kan. – Bulls are often the focus when cattle producers are thinking about the breeding season, but experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute said it is important to prepare the females as well. “Achieving a successful breeding season starts long before the cows are turned out with a bull,” said Bob Larson, Kansas State University veterinarian. “What…

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K-State beef cattle experts join effort to help reproductive success of heifers, young cows

Yearling heifers need extra care to help prepare them for breeding. When trouble arises the Heifer CONSULT tool may serve as a resource. Heifer CONSULT is an online resource for cow-calf producers MANHATTAN, Kan. – Many veterinarians say that getting to the bottom of an animal health challenge often involves deducing a series of clues. To help beef producers solve the mystery of why their cattle conception rates aren’t where they’d hoped, Kansas…

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Ag economists warn against overreaction to meat industry structure in face of COVID-19

Disruptions in the meat supply chain linked to the COVID-19 pandemic has cut industry processing capacity by 40%. Now is not the time, however, to make sweeping changes to the industry structure itself, K-State agricultural economists say. Ag economists warn against overreaction to meat industry structure in face of COVID-19 ‘Be cognizant of how we got here,’ one specialist says MANHATTAN, Kan. – Tumultuous times in the meatpacking industry linked to the current…

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BCI: Beef Prices Up, Cattle Prices Down, Grazing Management and Pasture Turnout, Top Recommendations for Transitioning Cows to Grass, Grass Tetany

https://ksubci.org/2020/04/17/beef-prices-up-cattle-prices-down-grazing-management-and-pasture-turnout-top-recommendations-for-transitioning-cows-to-grass-grass-tetany/

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Swine producers adjust to meet challenges created by pandemic

DeRouchey says plant closings have put a time crunch on industry MANHATTAN, Kan. – The recent closing of meat packing plants and processing facilities in the Midwest and other parts of the U.S. due to the global pandemic  is having a trickle-down effect on swine producers, says Kansas State University livestock specialist Joel DeRouchey. “Plants and processing facilities closing or cutting back on the number of shifts they are running is putting pressure…

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Spring grazing management for beef cattle

Experts offer ways for producers to best prepare pastures ahead of spring grazing   MANHATTAN, Kan. – Beef cattle grazing on lush, green pastures is a common sight when driving through the Kansas Flint Hills in the late spring. Experts from Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute discussed steps for managing the spring grazing season recently on the weekly podcast Cattle Chat. K-State beef cattle extension specialist Bob Weaber advised producers to begin…

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K-State plant expert outlines best way to control moles in home lawns

Rows of raised ground are a sign of problems MANHATTAN, Kan. – They may spend much of their time underground, but it’s the tell-tale signs that moles leave above the ground that irks many homeowners. Known to be efficient foragers, moles make meandering paths of upheaved soil on home lawns as they hunt for earthworms and other sub-surface delicacies. The tunnels serve as a travel lane for a period of time, but once…

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