OSU researchers look at meat plants post-pandemic

By Brian Brus STILLWATER, Okla. – When consumers noticed a reduction in meat products in grocery stores at the beginning of the pandemic, some took matters into their own hands, working with producers directly to arrange for meat processing. An ongoing decline in small meat plants had already led to processing wait times of about nine months pre-COVID 19. In slaughterhouses across Oklahoma, many customers are being told now they’ll get their livestock…

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Vertical gardening makes most of limited ground space

STILLWATER, Okla. – Things are looking up for gardening enthusiasts who want to think outside of the box – literally – and those with limited ground area for traditional gardens to grow fruits, vegetables and flowers. Growing plants vertically expands possibilities for garden spaces, said David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Extension consumer horticulturist. Although plants naturally reach vertically toward sunlight, vertical in this case refers to the surfaces they grow along. “Vertical gardening is a…

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Keep watch on obese horses eating green forage

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – Obesity in horses is never a desired condition, but especially so for animals that have developed equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), a condition similar to Type II Diabetes in people.  Springtime can be especially hard for horses that suffer from EMS because the disorder is associated with insulin deregulation that can promote increased fat deposition and a reduced ability to lose weight, said Kris Hiney, Oklahoma State University Extension equine…

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Reusable totes can carry health risks with groceries

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – While many people use cloth or mesh tote bags at the grocery store in an effort to be more environmentally friendly, they may not realize they could be putting their family at risk for foodborne illnesses. There are several steps consumers can take to help ensure proper food safety, said Barbara Brown, Oklahoma State University Extension food specialist. The simplest is to compartmentalize. “While grocery shopping, place meat, poultry…

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Wildlife biologists gain valuable information from smartphone app

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – A smartphone app is helping wildlife biologists learn new information about the annual reproduction of gamebirds in Oklahoma. Wildlife specialists at Oklahoma State University joined forces with experts from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation just two years ago to develop the Gamebird Brood Observation application. Information entered by app users was intended to help specialists gain a better understanding of gamebird reproduction in Oklahoma, said Dwayne Elmore, OSU Extension wildlife specialist and…

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OSU Extension helps launch community grocery store

By Brian Brus STILLWATER, Okla. – A new community grocery store is bringing healthy produce to a food desert in northeast Oklahoma City, in a private-public partnership supported by Oklahoma State University Extension agricultural expertise. The Market at Eastpoint, 1708 NE 23rd Street, opened recently with the target of improving food security. In the process, it’s also developing new jobs, transportation infrastructure, urban agriculture education and long-term goals for the community, said Caylee Dodson, executive director at RestoreOKC. RestoreOKC,…

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Know your quality grades to get the most out of steak season

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – Grocery meat counters are filled with beef steaks labeled Choice, and while many consumers rightfully associate the label as a good choice for grilling or the stovetop, they might not be familiar with industry quality standards behind the designation.  A beef steak’s tenderness, juiciness and flavor all affect its palatability, or the degree to which food and fluids are deemed desirable and satisfying to a person’s palate,…

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OSU scientists make wheat gene discovery

By Alisa Boswell-Gore  STILLWATER, Okla. – A gene discovery in a wheat variety developed at Oklahoma State University could mean larger yields for Oklahoma wheat producers, researchers said.  After more than a decade of research, Liuling Yan, the Dillon and Lois Hodges professor of wheat molecular genetics and breeding in OSU’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, has discovered and cloned the TaOGT1 gene in the popular Billings wheat variety.  The full study on this topic is available…

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Pest control vital for overall pet health

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – There’s more to caring for a pet than choosing the right food. Protecting pets from fleas, ticks and other parasites is vital to good health. The first thing pet owners need to do when deciding on a pest control regimen is to contact their veterinarian, said Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, Oklahoma State University Extension veterinarian and director of continuing education for the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “Choosing a plan of…

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Get the most out of higher cattle placement weights in feedlots

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – The rising feedlot cost of gain in the southern Great Plains should have cattle producers considering economic opportunities for operations in forage-based stocker and backgrounding programs, said Oklahoma State University Extension experts.  Cost of gain, or the expense of gaining a pound of livestock bodyweight, involves several critical factors such as feed costs, flesh condition, animal genetics, weather and cattle health. When grain prices rise and cost of gain…

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