OSU receives $2.6 million grant to study regenerative agriculture

By Brian Brus STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State University has received more than $2.6 million to research ways to improve agricultural production while reducing environmental impacts, said Kevin Wagner, director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Center at Oklahoma State University. It will require a holistic approach, Wagner said. Climate, livestock grazing, crop rotation, hydrology, regional economics and more – the systems in regenerative agriculture are just too large, complex and intertwined for a simple solution. To that…

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Mobile Farmers Market helps youth learn about nutrition

By Trisha Gedon By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Students at Zion Public School in Stilwell, Oklahoma, recently set aside their traditional reading, writing and arithmetic studies for lessons on healthy eating, produce and budgeting. More than 100 students in first through third grades had an opportunity to shop at the Mobile Farmers Market set up in the school’s gymnasium, thanks to the High Obesity Prevention Program through Oklahoma State University Extension. Jessie Collins, HOP Program…

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Prepare farm and ranch equipment for winter storage

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – With colder weather just around the corner, many farmers and ranchers are preparing to store machinery for the winter. Rodents will be eyeing that same machinery for another reason – as a cozy place to shelter for a few months. “There are dozens of nooks and crannies under the hood of a piece of farm machinery that are attractive to many rodent species,” said Kevin Shelton, Oklahoma State…

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Analyze Cow Production Performance at Weaning

Identify the cow herd’s performance and see where improvements can be made with these calculations. by Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University Regular and consistent performance analysis can help a cow-calf operation: 1) identify where the business has excelled, as well as opportunities for improvement; 2) make informed management decisions; and 3) formulate goals and monitor progress toward goals. Analyzing cow herd performance for only one year will not accomplish all the above. Regular…

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OSU Extension offers Halloween safety tips

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – When children dress up as their favorite superhero, princess or goblin, they likely have one thing on their mind: trick-or-treating and filling their candy container to the brim. But parents know there’s more to celebrating the holiday than choosing a costume and ringing neighborhood doorbells. Taking precautions ensures Halloween is both fun and safe, said Gina Peek, Oklahoma State University Extension housing and consumer specialist and interim associate dean. “The…

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OSU scientists develop new test for anaplasmosis in livestock

By Alisa Boswell-Gore STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State University scientists have developed a screening tool for anaplasmosis in livestock, which has the potential to save producers a lot of time and money. The current industry standard for anaplasmosis detection in cattle, sheep and goats is the cELISA, a diagnostic tool that tells producers their livestock are infected with a disease. However, the test does not specifically indicate anaplasmosis, a bacterial disease transmitted through tick bites. This…

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Take a proactive approach to wildfire season

By Gail Ellis  STILLWATER, Okla. – The 2021 wildfire season is here, and while fires rage out west, Oklahomans also need to stay alert. Oklahoma’s official wildfire season runs from November through March when plant life and vegetation lay dormant across the prairie. March is historically the state’s windiest month of the year, but with most counties currently in a drought, drier air and lower humidity levels could fuel a fire across Oklahoma’s parched landscape at any…

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OSU and K-State agricultural roots run deep together

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – The Sept. 25 football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and Kansas State University Wildcats is a competition that has a long and historic tradition, but a cooperative partnership between the two universities has been providing benefits throughout the region for just as many years.  The agriculture and natural resource sectors of Oklahoma and Kansas have many similarities, so it’s not surprising that a close working relationship…

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OSU mum sale begins with tips for front porch decor

By Gail Ellis  STILLWATER, Okla. – Chrysanthemums get their 15 minutes in the spotlight every fall, but most won’t make it past the month of November. The annual mum sale at The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University is underway, and organizers have some tips when purchasing the perennial flower. Tip No. 1: Don’t buy mums in hot weather. Big box stores begin selling mums in September when Oklahoma temperatures can still reach 100 degrees. Lou Anella, director of The Botanic…

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Testing of hay and pastures key to offsetting high feed grain prices

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – High feed grain prices have been an area of concern for livestock producers this year, leading many to look for more cost-effective alternatives to meet the nutritional needs of their cattle during fall and winter months.  There has been a steady increase in cost of gain in cattle going back to the summer of 2020. To combat this and assure the continued well-being of his livestock, Kent…

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