Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS State Agronomist/Grazing Specialist Unrolling hay on pasture. A good option if soil conditions are good. I’ve enjoyed several good autumn days and quirked, “it can just stay this way and then turn nice,” but, winter is coming. I do enjoy the different seasons with each providing some traditional features, but my least favorite season is probably winter. Don’t get me wrong, there are some beautiful winter days – pristine,…
By Gail Ellis STILLWATER, Okla. – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released its winter outlook for the next few months, and another La Nina weather pattern of warmer and drier conditions is likely to occur in Oklahoma. State Climatologist Gary McManus advised against letting mild predictions fool people into thinking ice, snow and extreme cold won’t happen. Last year’s La Nina winter began with an ice storm in October and ended with a deep freeze in…
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…
State meteorologist says local weather information is free By Shelby Varner, K-State Research and Extension news MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Anyone who has ever lived in Kansas knows that the weather can change quickly, a fact that Chip Redmond thinks makes the Kansas Mesonet especially valuable in the state. Redmond, a meteorologist and manager of the Kansas Mesonet, said the program is working to continue spreading its multiple resources across Kansas for citizens. He…
Robin Salverson SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Hot summer days are still ahead, and we need to account for water. We all know water is the most-important nutrient to the animal, but we are always concerned about protein, energy, minerals and vitamins; even though water is required for regulation of body temperature, digestion, absorption of nutrients, waste removal, fetal growth and lactation. All the grass in world means nothing without water. The amount…
Kiernan Brandt Ensuring that cattle and any other livestock being pastured in exposed areas have adequate access to shelter to escape the wind and cold is especially important. Livestock grazing open crop residue fields or large pastures can be left exposed during extreme bouts of cold, and producers should try to mitigate these effects. In addition to cold, wind chills will increase heat loss dramatically by penetrating even the thickest winter coats, increasing…
Olivia Amundson SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Written collaboratively by Taylor Grussing, former SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist and Olivia Amundson. Rain, snow and warming temperatures are making their way again this winter as future forecasts indicate another wet spring. However, with last year’s flooding we’re a little wiser on how to tackle the predicted flooding. Last year’s flooding, blizzard conditions and excess snow wreaked havoc on livestock producers in South Dakota. While…
Warren Rusche SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Associate Winter in South Dakota is often not for the faint of heart, especially for livestock producers. The good news is that eventually there will be some signs of spring. The bad news is we there are often significant challenges to overcome. As the snow melts, we are going to be left to deal with mud at a minimum and extensive flooding as a possible worst-case…
Adele Harty SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Cold temperatures coupled with wind chill and precipitation make it challenging to meet a cow’s nutrient requirements during the winter months. A Polar Vortex is set to bring below normal temperatures to much of the country for the next week. With these below normal temperatures come challenges of ensuring adequate nutrition and protection for livestock, including being prepared to provide additional feed and shelter. There are…
Warren Rusche SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Associate Key Takeaways Bedding cattle during extreme cold conditions dramatically reduces maintenance energy costs and improves gain and feed efficiency with potential carryover effects to the end of the feeding period.Bedding during more moderate weather conditions also improved cattle performance, but to a lesser degree.Proving bedding is a viable management strategy to mitigate the impacts of winter on cattle performance, especially under severe conditions. Feeding cattle…