By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Gardeners are counting the days until they can get back to tending their landscapes without the need for hot chocolate breaks. While Oklahoma still has a few cold weeks until gardening season traditionally takes off, gardeners can keep themselves busy building raised garden beds. The idea behind raised bed gardening isn’t complicated: It’s an area that is elevated anywhere from a few inches up to 2 or 3…
By Brian Brus STILLWATER, Okla. – The Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime series of free teleconferences launches its next round of topics 12:30 p.m. Feb. 11 with a roundtable discussion by Oklahoma Youth Expo staff about show ring success. “This cycle of talks will deal with a unique segment of the cattle industry,” said Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, beef cattle extension specialist and continuing education director at OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “We’ll be providing information to help…
By Brian Brus STILLWATER, Okla. – The next round of the popular Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime series of teleconferences for the cattle industry moves into the area of managing cattle and forage in dry weather patterns, Oklahoma State University Extension officials said. The free events continue at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 28 through the Zoom online portal. Gary McManus, state climatologist with the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, is scheduled to discuss seasonal weather patterns. He will…
By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Gardeners who have been slacking on their landscaping chores lately have a loophole. No time to rake the leaves or clear out the flower beds? No problem. The landscape can go to the birds – literally – in the fall. David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Extension consumer horticulturist, said wild birds are grateful for the lack of upkeep. “This is the time of year when tidy gardeners are raking…
By Lauren Raley Difficult calving can have long-term health implications – potentially even be fatal – for a calf and its mom, Oklahoma State University Extension specialists said. “Ranchers who know what to expect in the calving process are in a better position to protect their livestock,” said Glenn Selk, OSU Extension beef cattle specialist. “If something has gone wrong, ranchers are able to identify it much faster and respond.” OSU Extension’s fact sheet on calving…
By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – For many people, heading home for the holidays is a long-standing tradition. However, with the world in the midst of a pandemic, traditions need to take a slightly different turn this year. Barbara Brown, Oklahoma State University Extension food specialist, said millennials and others who typically travel to their parents’ or grandparents’ homes for holidays should consider staying away this year due to health safety concerns. “This younger generation…
By Donald Stotts STILLWATER, Okla. – Candy is for more than people with a sweet tooth; it’s also a great way to train dairy cows how to use a robotic milking system, much to the delight and educational benefit of students working at Oklahoma State University’s Ferguson Family Dairy Center. The robotic milking system highlights how the OSU Department of Animal and Food Sciences provides students with firsthand experience of technological advances that are changing…
By Lauren Raley STILLWATER, Okla. – Year-end holiday food can mean unwanted diet breaks and extra weight for people as well as their pets. With Halloween starting off the celebrations, chocolate should be the first concern on the list, said Lara Sypniewski, Oklahoma State University Extension veterinarian. Dogs enjoy chocolate for the same reason as people: its sweet taste. However, chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which can be toxic to dogs, Sypniewski said. Theobromine is…
By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – They typically live near people throughout the year, but with cooler weather arriving, many mice are looking to move a little closer. Mice scramble to locate shelter before winter hits, said Kevin Shelton, Oklahoma State University Extension associate specialist and coordinator of OSU’s Pesticide Safety Education Program. “The house mouse, also known as Mus musculus, primarily is nocturnal, but it isn’t uncommon to see them during the daylight hours,” Shelton said.…
By Lauren Raley STILLWATER, Okla. – Canning can be a fun and rewarding way to prolong fresh produce as the season turns chilly, but it requires careful attention to the fruit or vegetable’s chemical profile, Oklahoma State University Extension specialists said. For example, a popular OSU Extension fact sheet on the importance of food pH in canning operations highlights information about acidity, or pH levels. Canning is the process of sterilizing and preserving food in an airtight…