http://sheep.osu.edu/2012/01/06/ohio-sheep-improvement-association-and-ohio-state-university-extension-announce-sheep-and-goat-webex-series/

As livestock managers anticipate the beginning of the spring calving season, it’s vital that they make sure their cows and heifers are getting the proper nutrition.

Rory Lewandowski, agricultural and natural resources educator for Ohio State University Extension, discussed the issue in a recent Ohio Beef Cattle newsletter, available online at http://beef.osu.edu/beef/beefDec2811.html.

“We have some poor-quality hay out there this year, and that’s not what you should be feeding cows in late gestation — or if you do, you need to supplement it,” Lewandowski said. Unusual weather in 2011 is the most likely cause of so much hay with lower-than-optimal crude protein and total digestible nutrients (TDN) values, but first cuttings often have lower-than-desired nutritional values, he said.

Lewandowski drew upon information from a presentation done by Ohio State animal scientist Francis Fluharty last February, in which Fluharty warned that nutritional deficiencies during late gestation can have long-term impacts on a calf’s health and productivity. During the last trimester, the fetal calf needs to gain an average of about 0.9 pounds per day. This is when the majority of fetal growth occurs, including the number of skeletal muscle fibers the calf will have at birth.

This means that during the last seven weeks of gestation, cows and heifers need feed with crude protein levels at 9 to 10 percent and TDN at 57 to 60 percent or higher, especially with adverse weather.

Lewandowski strongly encourages livestock managers to collect hay samples and send them to a lab for testing. If results show that the feed doesn’t meet the crude protein or TDN standards required for late gestation, Lewandowski said supplementation should be considered. Also, he offers some additional strategies to reduce waste, stretch any limited supplies of higher-quality hay and other ideas to provide for the cow’s needs in late gestation. 

January 26: Economic Considerations in Beef Cattle Production, presented by Kevin Dhuyvetter, Extension Specialist, Farm Management, Kansas State University

February 9: Targeted Markets and Marketing Alternatives; presented by Dan Frobose, retired OSU Extension and Sam Roberts, United Producers

February 16: Genetics, Reproduction Efficiencies, Calving Season Alternatives, etc.; presented by Dr. Les Anderson, University of Kentucky Beef Extension Specialist and John Grimes OSU Beef Program Coordinator

March 1: Meat Industry Perspective – Looking to the Future; presented by Nevil Speer, PHD, MBA, Western Kentucky University

Click here for more information: http://williams.osu.edu/topics/agriculture-and-natural-resources/news/2012-ohio-beef-school

“It’s a great time to be in agriculture.”

“We have more people to feed and a growing global economy. I don’t know of a better industry to be involved with than agriculture because the underlying fundamentals are strong.”

“If you’re in the cow-calf business you’ve got what everybody else wants. Prices will continue to move higher next year.”

Those words came from Randy Blach, president of Cattle-Fax, at the recent Kansas Livestock Association annual convention. More specifically he said 2012 and 2013 should provide excellent profit opportunities because declining inventories of stocker and feeder cattle will continue to support prices and keep cow-calf producers in the driver’s seat.
Read more here: http://beef.osu.edu/beef/beefDec0711.html

Ohio cropland values and cash rental rates are projected to increase in 2011. According to the Western Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rents Survey bare cropland values are expected to increase from 3.1% to 7.4% in 2011 depending on the region and land class. Cash rents are expected to increase from 7.19% to 10.11 % depending on the region and land class.  Click here for the rest of the story http://aede.osu.edu/resources/docs/pdf/WD5LOB2E-XZT3-RL8O-RVPM020U3UJV5G4M.pdf

 It is no surprise that most of the complaints around livestock operations is related to spreading maure especially in the spring and summer months. This is the time that people are outside, enjoying their backyards and farmers are in the field.

 Following common sense, best management practices can decrease your probability of having a complaint and increase your popularity in the neighborhood.

 •Don’t spread when wind is blowing towards people, parks or yards.

•Avoid spreading on weekends and holidays in nice weather, when people are likely to be outdoors. This is probably one of the best ways to avoid odor complaints.

•Mornings may be a better time to spread than afternoons because the air is rising and may carry the odor with it.

•Really turbulent breezes will dissipate and dilute odors; however, hot humid weather will hold odor near the surface. Use this information wisely!

•Take advantage of woodlots and windbreaks. They can filter and dissipate odor.

•Out of sight, out of mind – plant shrubs and conifers as windbreaks and visual screens.

•Incorporate manure into soil during, or as soon as possible after applications. Options include injections or incorporations within 48 hours, weather permitting.

•When incorporation is not feasible, such as no-till, pasture or alfalfa, pay special attention to where the odor will travel and who it may impact.

In addition to these best management practices, many farmers use a little imagination when building neighbor relations. Some of the more creative ideas are providing close neighbors a gift card to go out to dinner the day of the application. Others have opened a park-like setting on their farm for neighbors to enjoy. Another farmer grows extra sweet corn and distributes to the neighbors. All of these are ways to be seen as a good neighbor and not just the unwelcome guest (odor) at an outdoor party.

In conventionally managed no-till corn or soybeans, glyphosate is the preferred product of choice for burning down cereal rye. Gramoxone can also be effective, but paying attention to growth stage and using an effective tank-mixture is important.

 Factors to consider in order to achieve effective control include:

 1. If harvesting rye for forage, glyphosate is usually the product of choice. Delaying application following harvest for several days to allow adequate regrowth can improve control. This may not be a concern if cutting height and the presence of healthy basal leaves at application time ensures adequate control with glyphosate.

 Manure application prior to herbicide application would likely reduce rye control by reducing foliar contact by the herbicide. If given the choice, apply the herbicide a day or two before manure is applied to increase the likelihood of success.

 2. Glyphosate rate — most glyphosate labels recommend increasing the rate of product as the cereal rye matures. With a standard 3 lb acid/gal product where 32 fl oz is a standard rate, recommended rates range from 16 fl oz for rye that is less than 11 inches tall to 32 fl oz for rye that is greater than 18 inches tall.

 On a side note, annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is different than cereal rye and is more difficult to control. Higher glyphosate rates and application at shorter ryegrass maximum heights are necessary for effective ryegrass control.

 3. With glyphosate, include appropriate adjuvants in the spray tank — include 1 to 2 qt/100 gal nonionic surfactant (unless fully loaded formulation) plus 8.5 to 17 lb/100 gal AMS or equivalent. The AMS helps alleviate hard water problems and also can reduce antagonism if tank-mixing with other herbicides such as 2,4-D. Be sure to add the AMS first to the spray tank and agitate before adding the glyphosate.

 4. With Gramoxone Inteon, use the 3 pt rate and remember that it is better on smaller cereals or after they have reached the boot stage and beyond. Include an appropriate adjuvant (nonionic surfactant or crop oil concentrate) and an atrazine or other photosynthesis inhibitor product (i.e. metribuzin) in the tank to increase Gramoxone activity.

 5. Use a clean water source that does not contain soil or other sediment that can reduce glyphosate or Gramoxone activity.

 6. Use flat fan nozzle tips that produce a uniform spray pattern and thorough coverage.

 7. Spray in sufficient carrier to achieve good coverage (usually between 10 and 20 GPA for glyphosate and a minimum of 20 GPA for Gramoxone).

 8. Make sure the sprayer is accurately calibrated (output, pressure, pattern, speed, etc.) to deliver the appropriate rate uniformly.

 9. Air temperature before, during, and after application can influence control. Cold nights (<40 F) will reduce activity, particularly for glyphosate, and especially when followed by cool (<55 F) cloudy days.

                                                                                                                                         April 25, 2011

Greetings

This is becoming another crazy spring with cold wet weather patterns definitely having an effect on getting early planting done.  According to CORN newsletter from OSU the long range forecast is for a cool spring with close to normal rainfall after a wet start. Hopefully the weather will start turning around after Easter. 

 Just wanted to mention several things before we start the 2011 planting season.  First, as you are looking at herbicide programs for corn and soybeans be sure to think about what cover crops you want to plant after harvest.  For most of us, when it comes to planting cover crops following corn or soybeans the choices are limited to one of the grasses.  Even then you will want to be sure there are no lingering herbicide residues that will kill grasses.  This may become a greater issue if corn and soybean planting keeps getting delayed.

If you are planning on using post emergence herbicides for wheat, be sure to read the label.  Make sure there are no herbicide residues that will affect your plans for cover crops.  For example the labels on products like Olympus Flex or Powerflex mention waiting 5 months between application and soybean planting.  So planting oil-seed radish, Austrian peas, or cowpeas wouldn’t be workable until late September or early October, and that is not feasible. 

Soil testing is still needed even with cover crops – especially soil pH.   If you’re experiencing poor cash crop growth it could be related to soil pH and this will also show up in cover crop growth.  A low soil pH will cause stunted crop growth due to iron and aluminum toxicity or magnesium being tied up and not available.  A high soil pH will cause zinc and manganese to be tied up and not available for plant growth.

You will want to make sure phosphorous and potassium are in the maintenance level ranges, especially with nutrient recycling with cover crop/no-till systems. Possibly in the near future you will need a soil test which verifies you have a need for phosphorous before you will be able to purchase and apply it.  This is already happening in the turf industry and farming will probably be next on the list.      

Finally, just to mention a little bit about the Great Lake Cover Crop Initiative Grant.  The purpose of the grant is to gather information about how many acres are being put into cover crops and what success or failures are happening.  Cover crops are not new but a different farming philosophy.  So your information is very important in answering questions such as: Are you seeing improved yields with a reduction of inputs?  Are you seeing improvement in drainage and soil erosion control?  What equipment are you using to plant the different cover crops?  Realize researchers can’t get answers to these questions with small plots. 

As you start this planting season I wish you a safe and successful season.  I’ll be trying to set up appointments and stopping by when things aren’t so busy. If you have questions feel free to give me a call at 419-636-5608.  

Sincerely

Florian Chirra

Extension Educator and Lake Erie Watershed Coordinator

The goal of the webinars is to help those interested in the grain market understand how world events and world grain supplies affect local markets, said Stan Ernst, Ohio State University Extension program leader in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics.

“Basically, what we are doing every month is looking at the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report in-depth and seeing where the markets may be going,” he said.

Carl Zulauf, senior economist and Ohio State agricultural economics professor, will present the webinars and challenge producers’ traditional thinking about grain markets.

“Hopefully, the listeners will get an idea for marketing opportunities and do some planning as they look ahead into planting season,” Ernst said.

The webinars are scheduled for March 15, April 12, May 12, June 13 and July 13 at 9 a.m. Ernst recommends viewers have access to a high-speed Internet connection. Participants can ask questions throughout the presentation through telephone calls and online chat.

The program is open to the public, and Ohio State will continue the webinar series after July if there is enough demand.

“We generate a lot of interest from bankers, educators, agribusinesses and elevator operators,” Ernst said. “This is available for anyone trying to keep up-to-date with grain markets.”

Participants can register at http://aede.osu.edu/programs/outlook/.

For more information, e-mail econograms@osu.edu. Additional information may be available from county offices of OSU Extension.

Related information is released through Ohio Ag Manager Newsletter, online at http://ohioagmanager.osu.edu. Writer(s): Audrie Koester
765-496-2384
aekoeste@purdue.edu Source(s): Stan Ernst
614-292-6421
ernst.1@osu.edu
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