What a summer we had in Missouri. The rain was plentiful, the temperatures not too hot and the growing conditions perfect for forages and field crops. However, the weekly rains caused problems for harvesting hay. The hay was harvested late and/or rained on during the drying time. Another factor regarding forage quality is the abundant forage production that has occurred this year. Typically, when forage quantity is high, the forage quality is lower. Many of the Fall 2008 hay tests reveal that the hay is low in energy and protein. So it is strongly recommended to have your forages tested for quality.
Since 1986 more than 36 million acres of American cropland have been idled by famers in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Recently, due to increased grain prices and a number of other reasons, many farmers are choosing not to enroll these acres and instead bring them back into production. Converting CRP land back into grain production can present challenges not normally seen in a typical continuous grain production system. University of Missouri Extension Agronomy Specialist Travis Harper will discuss Bringing CRP Land Into Grain Crop Production on Tuesday, November 11th at 6:30 pm in the Friends Room at the Henry County Library. The Henry County Library is located at 123 E Green Street in Clinton, MO. Parking is available on the west side of the building. This program is free to the public and producers are encouraged to call in reservations to the Henry County Extension Center at (660)885-5556 by November 11.
The internet has certainly had a world-wide impact on information availability and information about the beef industry is no exception. Internet surfing can be fun and interesting, but a person can also spend a lot of time getting sidetracked and not really accomplishing anything. One exception to this is the ag bulletin board web site at the University of Missouri at www.agebb.missouri.edu/. This web site has been up for many years, and has links to a tremendous amount of information for farmers and ranchers.
Just because it’s almost time to put up the mower doesn’t mean it’s time to forget about taking care of your lawn. Here are a few things that you can do this fall to make sure that your lawn is healthier next spring:
Clinton School District Parents as Teachers invites everyone with children 0-5 years old to come on out to The Henry County Fairgrounds on Thursday October 9, 2008 from 6-8 pm to participate in Farm Night with us. New activities include Real Cow Milking, Corn Crib, Greased Pig Contest, and The Cow Train along with your old favorites such as petting zoo and pumpkin decorating.
For more information call Parents as Teachers at (660) 885-3285.
Unconditionally sunny, warm, and dryer weather ushered in the beginning of fall in our state. This time of year traditionally begins crop harvest season and countless hours of field work for farmers, with corn and soybeans as our state’s most abundant crops.
With the end of the 2008 crop production season quickly approaching for our state, many farmers are wondering how Missouri’s active summer weather conditions will play a role in harvesting their crops this season. After excessive spring rains caused considerable planting delays and severe flooding, dry weather conditions consumed much of our state from mid-July through mid-August. Hurricane season brought the wet weather back to Missouri after Hurricane Ike’s landfall in eastern Texas, which brought flooding to Missouri, Illinois, western Indiana, and southern Michigan. Some rainfall totals even reached in excess of six inches within a 24-hour period.
Fall is the time many cattle producers cull problem cows. Cull cow sales can make up 15 to 20 percent of the income on many beef cow/calf operations. Understanding the USDA cull cow grades may help you make smarter cull cow marketing decisions. Dr. Glenn Selk at Oklahoma State University recently summarized the USDA cull cow grades and the following information is taken from his article.
Now is the time to have your cows undergo a pregnancy diagnosis and determine if each cow has earned her right to stay on your farm for another year. With feed costs and cow costs at all time record prices, you cannot afford to keep an open cow in the herd.
Beef cattle producers have several feedstuffs available now that weren’t common a few years ago. Many of these products contain a considerable amount of water. Producers must understand how water in feedstuffs affects the amount of feed they need to provide their livestock and how moisture impacts the nutrients they are providing in the ration.
Soybean aphids are insects native to Asia that have the potential to seriously reduce soybean yields. They are a small insect (typically less than 1/8 of an inch), green to yellow in color, with twin black “tailpipes” on their abdomen. Soybean aphids generally begin colonizing soybeans in early June in Minnesota and other northern states. In August, these aphids begin migrating south, usually reaching this area of Missouri by late August or early September. Populations of soybean aphids increase rapidly, doubling about every 2-3 days.
It’s time to dust off your grain drying skills. This year’s delayed planting will result in a late harvest with limited time for grain drying in the field. Grain dryers may be getting a workout. Is your system up to the task? A series of grain drying meetings focusing on drying strategies related to a late harvest will be held in central Missouri.
With the rising costs of pasture, feed and fuel, production costs in the beef industry are well above previous years. The University of Missouri Farm Management Agriculture Budgets are updated every year. According to the Beef Cow/calf Budget for Calves sold in 2008, the total cow/calf operating costs are expected to be over $800 per cow in 2008, an increase greater than 25% since 2005.
For many years now, we have been heralding the virtues of stockpiled tall fescue pasture for feeding beef cows during the fall and winter. The management techniques are well known by now, so I’m not going to go through all of that again.
(CLINTON, MO – JULY 21) - Today’s farmers and ranchers wear a number of different hats. Producing a quality crop or animal requires that they from time to time be scientists, mechanics, veterinarians, nutritionists, business managers, and even weather forecasters. Another of the most common, and in recent times most frustrating, jobs of a farmer or rancher is that of commercial vehicle operator. With everything else going on, it can sometimes be difficult to keep up with the ever-changing regulations affecting the usage of farm trucks.
Henry County Farm Bureau and the University of Missouri Extension are proud to offer a program designed to take the frustration out of operating a commercial vehicle. A meeting on farm truck regulations and legislation will be held on Monday, July 28th at 6pm in the Friends Room of the Henry County Library. Representatives from the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement division will be here to discuss current farm truck regulations and Garrett Hawkins from Missouri Farm Bureau will be here to discuss legislation affecting these regulations. The program is free to attend and a light meal will be provided. Call the Henry County Extension Center at (660)885-5556 to register or for more information.
Heavy rains and flooding have caused plenty of problems for Missouri farmers trying to plant crops this year. They haven’t been friendly to the land, either. But the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) says that signs left behind by the water can provide valuable information about vulnerable areas that need better natural resource protection.
Maybe one of these days, the hay season will be in full swing. Therefore, it is not too late to think about our winter feed costs. Dr. Justin Sexton, our MU Beef Cattle Nutrition Specialist, provides some tips for minimizing hay waste.
The following information was taken from articles by Dr. Justin Sexten, Extension Beef Specialist at the University of Missouri and a newsletter article by Dr. Glen Selk at Oklahoma State University. With the expense and difficulty we’ve had getting hay put up this year, taking steps to reduce hay storage losses will be important in reducing cow herd feed costs.
Livestock Specialist
Benton County Extension Center
Internal parasites are a major health problem affecting sheep and goats. Because worms have become resistant to many of the dewormers producers use, a more integrated approach to internal parasite control is necessary.
A program is being held on Monday, June 23, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Versailles Fire Station Meeting Room located at the corner of Hwy. 52 & Rt. D in Versailles, MO. This program is designed to help producers develop integrated parasite management programs for their herds and flocks. Producers will also receive hands-on FAMACHA training. FAMACHA is a clinical on-farm system classifying animals into categories based upon level of anemia due to high worm load.
This program will be conducted by Gene Schmitz, University of Missouri Extension Livestock Specialist. Class size is limited to 30 participants. Registration fee is $12 per person to cover FAMACHA materials. To register or for more information, contact the Benton County Extension Center at 438-5012. University of Missouri Extension is an equal opportunity / ADA institution.
The cost of commercial fertilizer has been increasing for the past several months and there are no signs that prices will decrease anytime soon. This has led many farmers to either cut back on the amount of nutrients they apply to fields or seek alternative sources of nutrients. One of these alternative sources is poultry litter.
Alfalfa weevils have been found in central and northern Missouri alfalfa fields according to Dr. Wayne Bailey. In fields he scouted in central Missouri the week of May 7th, he found foliar damage on 100 percent of the plants. Most larvae were in early stages of growth, meaning that damage was limited to the upper whorls. Fields had alfalfa weevil at two to three times the economic threshold. The economic threshold is one larva per stem, plus 30 percent of plants showing signs of feeding damage.
The upcoming summer season brings along a number of cattle management issues such as fly control. Fly control measures include ear tags, dust bags, backrubbers and oral larvicides. The following information on fly control was taken from an article by Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist at the University of Kentucky.
This winter and spring has caused many challenges for rural landowners here in Missouri. They have included ice, tornados, wind and floods along with the long winter we’ve had. All of these problems Mother Nature has dealt us have had an adverse effect on fences in many areas of the state. Let’s discuss what you can (and can’t) do when repairing or replacing fences along a property line in particular. Many landowners in our state are facing the problem of repairing boundary fences (between 2 or more neighbors) as well as water gaps too, sometimes on a regular basis this spring.
Many cow-calf producers purchase new bulls in March and April. Managing these young bulls between now and the beginning of the breeding season is critical to their longevity in your herd. My colleague, Chris Zumbrunnen in Milan, wrote a newsletter article on bull management. Below are a few ideas from his article.
Asparagus is one of those vegetables that people either love or hate “If you haven’t tried asparagus in a while, you may want to reconsider, because asparagus is loaded with healthy nutrients,” shares Susan Mills-Gray, Nutrition/Health Education Specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
Asparagus is a good source of folate (folic acid) which is a powerful nutrient that helps to prevent birth defects and heart disease. Asparagus also contains vitamins A, B and C, as well as iron. It is also known as a natural remedy: it can help relieve indigestion and act as a mild laxative and sedative. The only caution for this vegetable is that if you are prone to kidney stones or gout limit your consumption because it contains purines. Asparagus can also make your urine have a strong grassy scent which some may find aggravating.
According to the calendar, spring has officially arrived. However, the weather indicates that winter is still trying to hang around. Once the sun shines, then the grass will really start growing and grass tetany can become a concern in our cowherds. With grass tetany, an ounce of prevention is well worth more than a pound of cure.
Pastures and hay fields are beginning to green up in Central Missouri. The management practices imposed on these fields in the next few weeks are critical to forage yield and forage quality later in the growing season.
Many warm-season perennial grasses were once an important part of the plant community throughout Missouri. But crop rotations, overgrazing, lack of regular fire, and increased competition from cool-season grasses and legumes have caused these grasses to disappear from much of the state. However, these grasses can complement cool-season grass pastures if managed properly. They are highly palatable to livestock prior to heading and can produce beef animal gain more than 2 pounds per day during summer.
University of Missouri Extension Agronomy Specialist Travis Harper will discuss “Warm-season Grasses for Hay and Pasture” on Thursday, March 27th at 7 pm in the Friends Room of the Henry County Library. Topics covered will include variety selection, establishment, fertilization, and harvest management. The Henry County Library is located at 123 E Green St. in Clinton, MO. Parking is available on the west side of the building. This program is free to the public and producers are encouraged to call in reservations to the Henry County Extension Center at (660)885-5556 by March 26th.
It is not yet time to plant corn in Henry County. Should farmers already be thinking about whether they have to replant corn this year? Yes, they should. No matter how well farmers prepare, each year many are faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to replant sparse stands of corn. This difficult decision often has to be made in a very short amount of time so farmers should be prepared before they ever plant their first field. Record-high grain prices may lead one to believe that the decision to replant is an easy one. However, farmers are also facing record-high costs for inputs such as seed, fuel, and herbicides. Making the decision to replant will probably me more difficult this year than ever before.
High prices of fertilizer have many beef producers reconsidering their pasture fertility programs. Dr.’s Rob Kallenbach and John Lory at the University of Missouri offer the following suggestions for fertilizing pastures.
Fence Law ITV
I’ve scheduled Wednesday, March 19, 2008 to host a downlink site on Missouri’s fence law. Joe Koenen, MU Ag Business Specialist at Unionville, is presenting the program on the Missouri fence law changes enacted in 2001. Some of the changes Joe will highlight include: 1) modification and clarification on who pays for construction and repairs, and 2) legal adoption of the “right hand rule”.
COLUMBIA, MO Individuals and communities in portions of Missouri that sustained flood damages in May 2007 might be eligible for additional federal assistance from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Roger Hansen, state conservationist, said Missouri has been approved for an additional $1.5 million under NRCS' Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program to repair levee breaks, remove logjams and debris from streams, remove sediment and debris from drainage ditches, and to stabilize streambanks. Federal funds may cover up to 75 percent of the costs of eligible repairs.
A pesticide is any chemical that is used to control or suppress a pest in plants or animals, including weeds, insects, and diseases. Chemical pesticides are the most important consciously-applied form of pest management. The use of chemicals to control pests in crops, livestock, and around the home became common around the time of World War II. The United States, recognizing a need to regulate use of pesticides, passed the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act in 1947. This act calls for the Environmental Protection Agency to classify and regulate pesticides and their uses. It also allows each individual state to govern pesticides and their uses with their own laws. The organization that governs pesticides in Missouri is the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
COLUMBIA, MO Missouri landowners interested in participating in the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) should apply by February 22 to be eligible for the next round of funding, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced.
The Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Development Program (SMS) continues to be one of the premier beef heifer development programs in the country. At the recent annual meeting of the SMS membership, an added feature to the program was outlined.
As the state of Missouri is a leading agricultural producer and an important link in the nation’s food supply chain, the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) is taking steps to help farmers and ranchers prepare for potential agricultural emergencies, including livestock disease outbreak.
Last year was one of the most challenging for wheat producers in west-central Missouri. 2007 started out with unusually warm weather in March that promised record wheat yields. A hard freeze in early April severely damaged most of the wheat crop in the area. Yields were further limited by insect and disease pressure in May and June. While 2008 promises to be a better year, following proper management techniques is essential to producing a good crop. University of Missouri Extension Agronomy Specialist Travis Harper will discuss “Spring Management of Winter Wheat” on Tuesday, January 22 at 6 pm in room 114 of the Clinton Community Center.
Topics covered will include spring nitrogen application and management of weeds, insects, and diseases in winter wheat. The Clinton Community Center is located at 1004 E Sedalia Avenue in Clinton, MO. Parking is available on the west side of the building.
This program is free to the public and producers are encouraged to call in reservations to the Henry County Extension Center at (660)885-5556 by January 18.
Ethanol production has certainly had an impact on farms and ranches in the U.S. This past fall, I had the opportunity to hear Dr. John Lawrence from Iowa State University discuss the impact of the ethanol boom on the livestock industry in the U.S. I have scheduled Dr. Lawrence to present his talk via Interactive television (ITV) at two locations in central Missouri in January.
As the state of Missouri is a leading agricultural producer and an important link in the nation’s food supply chain, the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) is taking steps to help farmers and ranchers prepare for potential agricultural emergencies, including livestock disease outbreak.
Legumes are an extremely important component of forage production. They provide a number of benefits to producers who are utilizing forages for grazing or haying. The most important of these benefits is the overall increase in forage quality. Legumes are higher in protein and lower in fiber than most grasses. Grazing on or feeding hay from a field that has a quality stand of legumes will usually result in cattle that gain weight faster and produce more milk.
The University of Missouri Extension Agricultural staff is introducing a new conference bringing the latest crop production information to the farmers in the state. The Central Missouri Winter Crop Conference is scheduled for January 7, 2008, at the Best Western, Sedalia.
The Winter Crop Conference provides tools to manage the uncertainty of change. Record prices, rents, seed, fertilizer and fuel costs along with climate uncertainty are moving farmers into unknown management territory. Quality information is the lifeblood of a successful farmer. Knowing where to use new technologies and when to change existing practices requires information that is tested under Missouri cropping conditions. The Winter Crop Conference is for farmers looking for informed recommendations based on research information gathered by researchers doing work with Missouri production systems. To make a reservation or for more information contact – Morgan County Extension Center at (573) 378-5358
Hay supply for the upcoming winter months appears to be greater than a year ago, but supplies will be tight for most cattle producers. Many producers had little to no carry over and reduced production do to our variable weather conditions (early freeze, flooding, late summer drought, etc.). Therefore, producers need to take steps to minimize hay loss during storage and feeding. On a large round bale (6 feet in diameter), the outer 4 inches represent 25% of the bale, 6 inches represent 33% of the bale and outer 12 inches represent 50% of the bale. How often do we feed bales with at least 4 to 6 inches of spoilage? Probably more often than not, if we really think about that question. But that are management practices that a producer can take to minimize those losses.
The importance of soil testing cannot be stressed enough. It does not matter whether a person is growing row crops, grass for cattle, vegetables in the garden, or just a small patch of lawn in front of his house. Every successful plant growing endeavor starts with a soil test. Trying to grow plants without first having a soil test is like being dropped off in the middle of nowhere and told to drive to New York City. Sure, the average person would probably be able to find his way, but not without making a few wrong turns and wasting valuable time and money. Most people can grow plants without having a soil test, but they are probably wasting time and money. A soil test provides a location; it identifies what current nutrient levels are in the soil. A soil test also provides a map; it indicates the amount of fertilizer or lime that needs to be applied to provide optimal nutrients for the plant.
December is generally a time when famers and ranchers begin thinking about next year’s business decisions. Farm land and pasture leases are typically considered for the following year. We generally field several questions on this topic so a discussion on some resources to help with the decision making process is in order.
Droughts in recent years have left many of Missouri’s cattle and hay producers short of forages in July and August. Adding legumes to an existing stand of grass should be one of the first solutions farmers consider. In addition, the rising costs of commercial fertilizer have left many farmers wondering whether they can afford to adequately fertilize their forage fields. Establishing legumes can provide an effective and inexpensive source of nitrogen. University of Missouri Extension Agronomy Specialist Travis Harper will discuss Forage Options: Establishing Legumes on Monday, November 26 at 7 pm at the Friends Room in the Henry County Library. The Henry County Library is located at 123 E. Green Street in Clinton, MO. Parking is available on the west side of the building.
This program is free to the public and producers are encouraged to call in reservations to the Henry County Extension Center at (660)885-5556 by November 21.
I recently participated in an interactive television (ITV) meeting concerning short feed supplies going into the winter months. The program featured several University of Missouri Extension specialists. The main points that were made during the presentations reinforced the notion that even if you have plenty of feed, using it wisely is one key to reducing overall expenses in a beef operation.
“Producing Quality Beef in the Ethanol Era” is the theme for the November 7 & 8, 2007 Beef Quality Summit in Omaha, NE, and the University of Missouri Extension is offering Missouri’s cattlemen the opportunity to attend. Beyond ethanol, Missouri’s cattlemen will learn about filling the demand for quality beef from representatives of Ruth Chris Steakhouse, Certified Angus Beef and Greater Omaha Packing Co. “This Summit is a great opportunity for Missouri’s progressive and forward-thinking cattlemen to hear from industry experts and to learn from each other traveling to and from the Summit,” said Wendy Flatt, University of Missouri Extension Livestock Specialist from Howard Country.
One of my favorite memories in my Extension career is about a series of events that occurred with a producer in north Missouri about 10 years ago. At the time, I had a access to a satellite market and weather service. One spring day, he asked me to look at the 7-day forecast. He was wanting to mow hay and was obviously in need of a stretch of dry weather. I looked at the information available to me and the 7-day forecast looked dry. I reported this back to him. He mowed down hay and sure enough, it turned damp and wet for about a week. The rest of the story is that the exact same series of events happened about six weeks later. Needless to say, he never called me back for a weather forecast.
Cattle producers who are in a position of short forage supplies will want to attend a meeting in Lincoln, MO on Wednesday, September 12, 2007. This will be an interactive television (ITV) event. A short introductory presentation will be made by University of Missouri Extension State Forage Specialist Dr. Rob Kallenbach. Producers will then have the opportunity to ask questions based on concerns they have on their own operations.
It seems that no sooner does the calendar change from one season to the next than we begin discussing management issues for the upcoming season. Staying true to the trend, below are a few things to begin thinking about for the upcoming late-summer, fall and winter seasons.
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