Federal broadband discount still available for Oklahoma households

By Gail Ellis STILLWATER, Okla. – Thousands of Oklahomans are missing an opportunity to lower their monthly internet bills. The federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program is available to help households pay for internet service, but few have signed up since the program’s debut in December 2021. The $14.2 billion Affordable Connectivity Program is a continuation of the Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Broadband Benefit, which launched in April 2020 to help millions afford internet access during the…

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Jumping worms are real and a threat to the garden

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – As gardeners spend time in their flower beds and landscapes, they might uncover some worms in the soil – and not just any worm, the invasive Asian jumping worm. Unlike native earthworms, this and other non-native earthworm species, can wreak havoc in the soil. And yes, they do jump. Asian jumping worms are somewhat new to the United States, said Scott Loss, associate professor with Oklahoma State University’s Department of…

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Use caution with poison hemlock, ivy and oak

Use caution with poison hemlock, ivy and oak By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Flowers are blooming and vegetables are ripe for picking out of the garden, but unfortunately, poison hemlock and other toxic plants are also blooming across the state. Poison hemlock is one of the most toxic plants found in Oklahoma, excluding the Panhandle, said Laura Goodman, Oklahoma State University Extension range specialist. “Poison hemlock is toxic to many different livestock species. In fact, some…

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Watch for heat stress in livestock as temps climb

Watch for heat stress in livestock as temps climb By Gail Ellis STILLWATER, Okla. – The heat of summer is setting in, and after a cool spring, livestock are not yet fully acclimated to warmer temperatures. In a recent edition of the Oklahoma State University Extension Cow-Calf Corner newsletter, Paul Beck, Extension beef nutrition specialist, said cattle could suffer from heat stress. “In hot summer conditions, heat transfer failures cause accumulation of body heat resulting in heat…

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Honey bees are famous, but native bees are powerful pollinators

By Gail Ellis  STILLWATER, Okla. – The world’s fascination with honey bees is linked to a population decline during the past decade that threatens the production of fruit, nut, forage, vegetable and other crops that rely on pollination. The permanent disappearance of pollinators would be detrimental to society. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture report not only bees but also wasps, butterflies, other insects and birds are all responsible for pollinating more than 100…

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OSU research examines how to improve cattle selection practices

By Alisa Boswell-Gore STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State University researchers have hopes of offering future insight to cattle producers regarding selection practices. What could this mean for the cattle industry? “We’re hoping this will be the first steps in being able to find some selection criteria for immune response and robustness traits, along with the growth, carcass and feed efficiency traits that are currently being emphasized in selection,” said Paul Beck, animal and food sciences associate…

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OSU on the forefront of developing higher quality wheat

By Alisa Boswell-Gore STILLWATER, Okla. – Wheat harvest is underway in Oklahoma, and as an appropriate prelude, members of the OSU Wheat Improvement Team are working on stronger, higher quality wheat varieties. Oklahoma State University wheat genetics chair Brett Carver shared with wheat producers at the recent Lahoma Field Day that his team of OSU wheat researchers have been breeding wheat varieties with exceptionally high gluten quality, excellent yield and reliable disease resistance. “With wheat, we can look at…

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How to treat a tick bite and when to see a doctor

By Gail Ellis  It’s the season of ticks, and while most Oklahomans know how to ward off the creepy crawlers, tick bites are a common occurrence that can cause serious health implications. Justin Talley, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock entomologist and head of the OSU Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, said the reproductive cycle of ticks becomes more prolific when temperatures and humidity levels rise. To avoid ticks during the summer months, he recommends applying a…

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How to attract hummingbirds to the landscape

How to attract hummingbirds to the landscape By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Hummingbirds seem to have the precision, speed and appeal of a U.S. Air Force fighter jet, and these quick-winged feathered friends are fun to watch in the landscape. Typically appearing in the U.S. from April through August, hummingbirds are the smallest of all bird species. But despite their tiny stature, hummingbirds play an important role in the ecosystem, said David Hillock, Oklahoma State…

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Successful calving begins now with sound spring breeding

By Gail Ellis  STILLWATER, Okla. – Many cattle ranchers are turning bulls in with their cows and heifers this time of year, and Mark Johnson, beef cattle breeding specialist for Oklahoma State University Extension, has some tips for a successful breeding season. “It’s always a good idea to do breeding soundness evaluations on bulls prior to breeding season,” Johnson said. “BSEs are a general rule of thumb and good management practice.” Once bulls are determined sound,…

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