Hay workshop set April 26 at Overton
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will offer a training on hay production and purchasing April 26 at Overton. In contrast to 2011, hay supplies are adequate in East Texas, but producers still need to pay close attention to the quality, said Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension forage specialist, Overton. •“Understanding forage quality and hay testing factors affecting forage quality,” Banta. [Read More]
Minimizing drought-induced frustrations on range
On May 23, at the Arikaree School intersection of County Roads NN and 12 in rural Washington County, attendees at the second workshop will have a combined indoor presentation and field day. To register, or for more information about the May 23 workshop and field day, contact the Cope and Washington County Conservation Districts. The Cope, Washington County and Yuma County Conservation Districts and NRCS are sponsoring these workshops. [Read More]
Ted Alexander Ranch tour May 11
Kansas ranchers are invited to the Ted Alexander Ranch for a tour sponsored by Kansas Graziers Association focusing on the current drought and how to best manage ranch resources to survive the upcoming grazing season. Morning presentations will focus on Managing Drought on the Ranch by Ted Alexander, David Kraft and Dwayne Rice; lunch catered by Buster’s followed by an afternoon ranch tour. Sponsors for this event are Kansas Graziers Association, Comanche Pool Prairie Resource Foundation, ... [Read More]
MU Thompson Farm board hears updates on beef AI studies, pastures, field day plans
Most of the farm research and Extension work involves reproduction in beef heifers. Rod Geisert, farm superintendent, praised the work of the farm crew that manages and works the herd. Geisert said the annual field day would return to emphasizing beef reproduction research at the farm. [Read More]
Much of state's warm-season grass pastures still drought damaged
Much of the state’s warm-season grass pastures have yet to recover from damage suffered during the 2010 drought, said a Texas A&M Agricultural Extension Service forage expert. “But when you get out of deep East Texas and into the post oak savannahs, the Blackland Prairies, South Texas, West Texas, North Texas—many of those areas are essentially unchanged from 2011. More information on the current Texas drought and wildfire alerts can be found on the AgriLife Extension Agricultural Drought ... [Read More]
Entomologist: Fungal disease wipes out alfalfa weevils in central Missouri
Alfalfa weevil, a major pest of a prime hay crop, died out across central Missouri this spring. Warm, wet weather favors fungal pathogens that kill the weevil,” says Wayne Bailey. When alfalfa weevil, a foreign pest, first arrived in Missouri, it killed many alfalfa stands. [Read More]
Texas A&M to offer grass-fed beef conference
A panel of grass-fed beef producers providing firsthand knowledge of production practices will be one of several highlights at a grass-fed beef production conference scheduled May 30 to 31 at Texas A&M University in College Station. The following topics will be discussed: overview of the beef industry; defining natural, grass-fed and organic beef; forage fundamentals; cattle types suited for grass-fed beef; forage-based nutrition for cattle; preventive herd health; cattle handling for ... [Read More]
Monitor moisture in hay
Moisture in hay will stimulate the growth of microbes in the hay, causing heat. “Even at recommended moisture levels, hay will slightly increase in temperature, as microbes respire for a couple of weeks and slightly increase bale temperature—up to around 120 degrees Fahrenheit,” he said. If the hay is allowed to ferment with high moisture levels, “temperatures may reach 180 degrees or more and the hay may be in danger of spontaneous combustion,” he said. [Read More]
KDA, NASS complete Flint Hills bluestem pasture survey
According to the survey, pasture conditions in the Flint Hills at the beginning of the grazing season are 16 percent very poor, 41 percent poor, 34 percent adequate and 8 percent good. Meanwhile, stockwater supplies on May 5 were reported as 22 percent very short, 26 percent short, 50 percent adequate and only 2 percent surplus compared to the 2009 survey, where 92 percent reported adequate or better supplies. As of mid-April, 97 percent of pastures were already contracted, with 46 percent ... [Read More]
Working without a net
“Part of the problem is that we have bankers telling farmers not to plant alfalfa and the reason for that is alfalfa does not have a safety net like the program crops,” Beth Nelson, president of the National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance, said. “Now as they move away from the recoupled Title 1 payment to a program crop and alfalfa not being a program crop, it is a pretty significant disadvantage for not having a safety net,” Nelson said. Lack of a good crop insurance program for the alfalfa and... [Read More]
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