The Pandemic Upped My Cooking Game

Bill would label livestock rivals as ‘imitation’ or ‘lab-grown’ meat

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 02:45:25 GMT

Successful Farming

With U.S. approval of cultivated chicken grown in fermentation vats, farm-state lawmakers filed companion bills in the House and Senate on Tuesday to require alternative proteins, such as plant-based foods, to carry the words “imitation” or “lab-grown” on their labels. Sponsors said they wanted to prevent confusion in the supermarket between “real farm-raised meat” and its rivals.

Plant-based meats accounted for 2.5% of retail packaged meat sales in 2022, according to the Good Food Institute, a think tank and network of organizations “working to accelerate alternative protein innovation.” Only a trickle of cultivated chicken is on the U.S. market at present. Upside Foods said last September it would build a commercial-scale plant to produce cell-cultured meat products in suburban Chicago.

The USDA is working on label regulations for cultivated meat. In the interim, it decided Upside Foods and Good Meat, which were cleared last summer by USDA to sell cultivated meat to consumers, would label their products as cell-cultivated chicken.

“The American consumer deserves to know what they are eating and feeding their family,” said sponsor Rep. Mark Alford, Missouri Republican. “It’s only fair that all products are labeled fairly.” Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall said, “Distinguishing between a black-bean burger and an actual beef burger shouldn’t be hard.”

Under the legislation, foods made with plant protein and that are sold with a name associated with products from a food-bearing animal or that are created to taste or look like them would be required to carry the word “imitation” on the label or a word to show the source of the protein. “Meatless chicken tenders” would be one possibility, according to a summary of the bill.

Similarly, labels for cultivated meat would include “cell-cultured” or “lab-grown” immediately adjacent to the name of the food.

The bill was backed by the largest groups speaking for cattle, hog, sheep, and chicken producers, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Livestock producers have argued for years for restrictive labels to prevent alternative proteins from using names associated with animals.

A one-page summary of the bill is available here .

To read the text of the legislation, click here .

Prevention and Treatment of Tick Bites

Tue, 23 May 2023 12:47:55 GMT

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Livestock and Animal Antibiotic Changes are Coming Soon

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 17:07:46 GMT

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in June 2021 that all medically important antimicrobials for food-producing animals and pets will move from over-the-counter (OTC) to prescription (Rx) effective June 2023 . A prescription is already required for most antibiotics delivered to livestock, and the remaining three categories of injectable antibiotics available over-the-counter will soon be joining the list of medically important antimicrobials that require a veterinarian’s prescription.

To add to the stress of raising livestock, now things will change again which is going to influence the ag industry overall. I hope that this list of medications will give people a chance to read it and become familiar with the situation before the change comes in June of 2023.

Changes Coming are as follow:

In 2018, the FDA established a 5 year plan for supporting antimicrobial supervision by veterinarians. The plans purpose to address antimicrobial resistance using only medically necessary drugs as necessary to prevent, treat and control disease. It has to be determined by a licensed veterinarian if it is necessary, but you won’t have to order the prescriptions from the vet directly. You will, however, need to establish a Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) if certain animals are not examined regularly.

Popular Products Will Require Prescriptions

Following a recent penicillin shortage, soon producers will get hit with this change that once again impacts access to antibiotic therapy for animals. When you’ve used them for so long as OTC meds to treat pneumonia or shipping fever in your livestock, Now, the change will be to establish the relationship with your veterinarian to get the prescriptions for these meds.

Here is the list by active ingredients.

The following are some products that will be seeing label changes to prescription-only status:

Oxytetracyclines
Injectables: Liquamycin LA-200, Noromycin 300 LA, Bio-Mycin 200, Agrimycin 200, etc.
Boluses: Terramycin Scours Tablets, OXY 500 Calf Boluses
Penicillins (Penicillin G procaine, penicillin G benzathine)
Injectables: Penicillin Injectable, Dura-Pen, Pro-Pen-G, Combi-Pen 48, etc.
Intramammary tubes: Masti-Clear, Go-dry, Albadry Plus
Sulfa-based antibiotics (Sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethazine)
Injectables: Di-Methox 40%, SulfMed 40%
Boluses: Albon, Sustain III Cattle & Calf Boluses, Supra Sulfa III Cattle & Calf Boluses
Tylosin
Injectables: Tylan 50, Tylan 200
Cephapirin, cephapirin benzathine
Intramammary tubes: ToDAY and ToMORROW

Additionally, several swine medications fall under the new guidance:

Lincomycin
Injectables: Lincomix 100, Lincomix 300, LincoMed 100, LincoMed 300
Gentamicin
Injectables: Garasol, Gentamicin Piglet Injection

ToDay Mastitis Treatment for Lactating C ows

How to teach your kids about cybersecurity

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 15:32:26 GMT

www.kaspersky.com

With October being National Cyber Security Month we wanted to share this article with you to help keep your children safe. There is a lot of good information out there, take the time to check it out.

Thanks to the sudden rise in remote schooling , it’s become harder than ever for parents to manage their children’s digital activity. Kids are online more frequently than many parents would like. And most parents can’t always find the time to keep an eye on the children’s digital activity.

It’s a stressful time for parents who want to keep their kids safe. Recent research by Kaspersky shows the enormity of the challenge. Here’s what’s going on with today’s youngsters:

73% of teenagers can’t imagine life without a smartphone, and half of them take their phone to bed
44% of kids aged 8 to 16 are online constantly, with a preference for entertainment and social media apps
40% of children reveal sensitive information online, including their home address
A third of young people lie about their age online
37% of kids have experienced online dangers, including bullying, financial threats, and inappropriate content

As a parent, you can’t watch every single thing that your kid does on their smartphone and your laptop. Even if you could, should you? Technology will play an important role in their lives from childhood into adulthood. These early years are a chance for them a chance to develop the skills that they need to stay safe online.

The ideal approach is to educate and empower your kids so that they learn how to keep themselves safe.

Educate yourself so you can help protect your kids

If you want to keep your kids safe, you first must understand the dangers they face when they go online. When you’re fully educated, you can help steer them away from risk, so they can have fun while staying safe.

There are lots of great resources online that will explain the main threats, even if you’re not a natural techie. You can start by browsing the Kaspersky Resource Center . This is a free resource that is with user-friendly articles about internet safety. Here, you’ll find definitions of the most important terms and infographics you can share with your kids. You’ll also find news of the latest threats and advice on how to keep your family safe.

In general, there are three categories of threat that children face when they go online:

Strangers : Predators do lurk on sites that attract children, such as social media and online games. These predators will often pretend to be children themselves, a technique known as Catfishing . There are also hackers and cybercriminals who will target anyone with poor security, whether they’re a child or an adult. They may also try to trick the child into sharing passwords or payment details.
Peers : Your child may experience bullying or harassment from kids they know. This can often happen on private chats in social media and messaging apps. Sometimes, other children may share private information about your child, which can cause great distress. If this data is sexual in nature, such as intimate pictures, this might constitute a criminal offense.
Self : Unsupervised children are themselves a risk online. They often click buttons or install software without understanding the consequences of their actions. They might also publicly post private information, such as their date of birth or address.

Some of these are social threats , which means that they involve extortion or manipulation. Often, someone will gain your child’s trust and then take advantage of that trust. To safeguard against these threats, your child will need to know how to have safe interactions with other people.

Others are digital threats , which means that someone uses technology to access your data. This could involve malware (malicious software that steals your data) or phishing (tricking someone into visiting a fake website.) To protect against this type of danger, you need to encourage proper internet usage and install robust antivirus software .

5 essential tips for talking to kids about cybersecurity

Every child is unique. They all want different things from their online experience, and they all deal with danger in different ways. There’s no universally correct way to talk to your children about online safety. Instead, you have to find ways to engage in a conversation with them and help them understand what to do. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started.

Use child-friendly educational resources

It’s often hard to talk to kids about their internet safety. It’s especially difficult with younger kids who simply don’t understand a lot of the concepts involved. How do you explain to a third-grader that there are cybercriminals and sexual predators online? More importantly, how do you explain these ideas without scaring them?

Parents across the globe face this problem. Thankfully, there are some tools you can use to help get the message across.

One excellent free resource is the ebook Kasper, Sky and the Green Bear . This is a captivating story about a boy and his best friend who make friends with a magical bear called Kuma. Each of these stories helps to explain a fundamental concept of cybersecurity. Lessons include how to manage your privacy, how to pick a good password, and what to do when you’re being bullied.

The book is free to download. If your kids prefer to learn by watching, there’s an animated series on YouTube that covers the same lessons. Stories like this can help kids to understand the basics of cybersecurity without making them needlessly anxious. When they have this knowledge, it’s easy to teach them how to stay safe online.

Set up some basic internet rules

The internet is a vast, confusing place. It’s good to have a few basic ground rules that help you understand how to stay safe.

Sit down with your kid and agree on a few foundational rules about their internet usage. For smaller kids, you will want to keep these rules simple and easy to follow. For instance, the rules might be:

I won’t go online without permission from an adult
Only 30 minutes of screen time per day
I am only allowed to use certain apps (such as YouTube with Safe Search or a filtered web browser)
If I want to install a game, I will ask for permission

You can write these rules down somewhere and have a refresher session every now and then.

Once your child gets older, they will probably want some additional freedom. You can expand the rules a little so that they include things like:

I will never give my real name and address online
I won’t authorize any in-app payments without permission
I will avoid low-quality apps
I won’t share any private information about myself or intimate pictures
If someone is trying to get me to do something I don’t want to, I’ll talk to an adult

As your child moves into their teenage years, you’ll need to build rules that support their digital life. With older kids, you can work with them to create rules that are helpful without being restrictive.

These rules are just examples of rules you might choose to implement. Each child is different and has unique needs, so you’ll need to build rules that suit them.

Focus on empowerment, not fear

The digital world doesn’t have to be scary for kids or for their parents. Instead of worrying about what might happen, focus on teaching children the skills they need to protect themselves online.

You can create a checklist and work with your children to ensure they have everything they need. Your checklist might include items like:

I know what to do if someone makes me feel bad.
I know what information I can tell people online and what I’m only allowed to say offline.
I know that I should only talk to my friends, not to strangers.
I know how to check if a website is real or fake.
I know why I should stay away from bad websites.
I know how to make a strong password and use my phone for two-factor authentication.
I know that I should always ask a parent for permission before making an online payment.
I should be careful about posting my secrets or my pictures on the internet.
I know that if I’m ever not sure about something, I should talk to a grown-up and ask for help.

These are cybersecurity skills that adults need too. If you teach this proactive approach from an early age, you’ll help your kids develop into adults who know how to stay safe.

Create a trusting, respectful environment

In an ideal world, your kids will always come to you and ask for help when they have questions about online security. But it doesn’t always happen.

Sometimes, children may feel that they will get in trouble if they ask for help. For instance, say your child breaks one of their rules for online behavior, and during that time, they fall for a phishing or catfishing scam. Your child then faces a tricky dilemma: if they ask for your advice, they might get in trouble for breaking the rules.

That’s why it’s important to let them know that you’ll always have their back when they need you. Let your kids know that the most important thing is their safety. If something goes wrong, try to find positives that you can both learn from.

Kids might also worry that they’ve brought trouble on themselves or that you just won’t understand. This can happen with harassment and bullying – problems that can occur in both the physical schoolyard and the digital world. For issues of this kind, it’s always important to let your kids talk about their feelings and to take their concerns seriously. Even if it sounds trivial, it might be a big deal to them.

Most important of all, parents have to be great role models for their children. Make sure that your own online behavior is safe and responsible at all times. And try to limit your screen time when you’re around your kids.

Use the right tools to help keep them safe

Online security is a challenge for adults, never mind children. There are so many sophisticated threats out there that your child may run into issues even if they follow all the rules.

So, how do adults stay safe online? By using tools to help them avoid the main threats that they face when using digital services. Every device in your household should have tools such as:

Anti-virus: This is the cornerstone of internet security. It runs in the background and protects you from viruses, including trojans, spyware, and ransomware. When a malicious program tries to infect your device, your anti-virus will stop it.

Anti-phishing: Phishing is one of the most popular cybercrime techniques because it is so simple yet so devastating. You need additional protection to help prevent your or your child from accidentally clicking a phony link.

Webcam protection: If someone gains access to a webcam, they may be able to spy on you or your children. In the age of Zoom school, you can’t simply disable the webcam. Instead, you need something that will keep you safe from this hazard.

Content blocker: The best way to avoid hackers and viruses is to stay away from unsafe content. You can use content blockers to permanently prevent kids from visiting the bad part of the internet.

VPN: A VPN essentially safeguards your data when moving from one place to another. This is especially important if your child is using a public WiFi connection, like the one at school.

Password protector: Kids have a very hard time following strong password processes. A password protector will create a robust password for them and keep it safe for the next time they log in.

This kind of software can help prevent the kind of accidental danger that might befall anyone online. Check out the Kaspersky range of products for a solution that meets your family’s needs.

How to safeguard your kids’ cybersecurity

Being a parent is the greatest responsibility any of us will face. You want to let your kids explore the world, find themselves, and seek out exciting opportunities. But you also have to make sure that they’re safe and that they avoid danger as much as possible.

That’s why it’s so scary sometimes to see your kids using an electronic device. Is that device a gateway to learning and positive growth? Or is it exposing them to worrying situations?

The tips above should help you have a productive conversation about cybersecurity with your kids. You’ll keep them safe, and you’ll help them develop the skills they need to look after their own security.

But sometimes parents need a little extra help. Kaspersky Safe Kids is one of the leading cybersecurity platforms for families. The package offers a suite of essential tools, such as:

GPS tracking: Monitor your kids’ locations at all times. You can set a safe zone on your local map and receive a notification if they travel outside of it.
Screen time controls: Automatically manage your child’s device usage. You can use this to limit the hours they spend each day on games and social media or force them to turn off their device at bedtime.
Content filters: Protect them from unsafe content. These filters will hide unsuitable content in web searches and on YouTube. You can manage the restriction levels to suit your child.

Kaspersky Safe Kids is like the training wheels on your kid’s bike. It helps them learn without worrying about tears and scraped knees. In the unpredictable world of the internet, every kid needs that little bit of extra protection.

September is Honey Month

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 20:11:00 GMT

Those who love any and everything that is related to honey, bees and beekeeping should get ready because it is time to celebrate National Honey Month!

National Honey Month is a celebratory and promotional event that is held annually during the month of September. Its purpose is to promote US beekeeping, the beekeeping industry and the use of honey as a natural and beneficial sweetener.

The journey of honey, of course, begins with the humble honey bees. Whether buzzing in their hives or foraging for nectar in wide open fields, honey bees are a critical component of today’s agricultural market. They perform the vital function of pollination, or the transferring of pollen from plant to plant, thus fertilizing the plants and enabling them to bear fruit.

In fact, about one-third of the average person’s diet in the United States is derived from insect-pollinated plants. And honey bees are responsible for about 80 percent of that process. That’s a lot of reliance on such tiny little creatures!

Major crops that depend on honeybees for pollination consist of almonds, apples, avocados, blueberries – the list goes on and on.

History of National Honey Month

September typically marks the end of the beekeeping season in most climates, which means that the bees are beginning to prepare for winter by securing their hives.

Initiated by the National Honey Board in the US in 1989, National Honey Month is an important time of year for beekeepers and honey makers.

This is the time to pay homage to these little critters that keep making honey, as well as a time for being grateful for the role they play in pollinating crops for human consumption.

Now is the time to celebrate everything that goes along with National Honey Month!

How to Celebrate National Honey Month

Celebrating National Honey Month is a vital step in raising awareness for these little creatures that are so important to the environment and the ecosystems. Celebrate with these fun ideas or come up with some other creative ideas:

Enjoy Eating Some Honey

Honey is a natural sweetener that has been linked to health benefits including improved heart health and wound healing. It is important to remember that honey is packed with sugar, however, so it should always be consumed in moderation.

Honey comes in two categories, raw and processed. Processed honey is heated and then bottled in a factory which some people believe removes some of the health benefits and nutrients. Raw honey is more natural, but also can contain certain spores of bacteria, which means it should not be given to children under one year old.

Taste a Unique Kind of Honey

Many people are accustomed to the taste and texture of acacia honey, which is one of the most popular varieties. However, honey comes in dozens of different types, depending on the variety of bees as well as the types of flowers the bees are using for nectar.

Try these interesting types of honey in celebration of National Honey Month:

Beechwood Honey. Also known as Honeydew Honey, this is sourced from the South Island of New Zealand. It comes from the sap produced by the bark of the Beechwood tree.
Eucalyptus Honey. Originating in Australia, this honey is now also produced in California. It has an herbal flavor and is appreciated for its medicinal uses.
Blueberry Honey. Extracted from the white flowers of the blueberry bush, this honey is produced in New England and Michigan.
Orange Blossom Honey. Native to Mexico and Spain, the popularity of this honey has increased and it is now produced in many warm climates. It has a fruity, citrusy taste that mimics the fruit of the orange tree.

Learn More About Bees

Dedicating time and energy to learning more about bees is an important part of National Honey Month, especially as the number of honey bees in existence seems to be rapidly declining.

Now is the time to head over the library and check out some books about honey bees or hop on the internet and do some research regarding the topic. Better yet, look up some beekeepers in the local area and see if they would be willing to allow a visit to their bee farm!

During National Honey Month, try these fun facts about bees and honey on friends and family:

The ‘world’s oldest honey” was discovered in 2012 in the country of Georgia. It was found in ceramic jars and is believed to date back more than 5000 years!
One worker honey bee produces around 1/12 teaspoon in its lifetime! That means more than 20 thousand bees are needed to make just one jar of honey. That’s a lot of teamwork!
Honey is completely self preserving and never actually spoils. It might get granulated or hard, but it creates an environment that is inhospitable to bacteria, so it doesn’t actually ever go bad.
While most honey ranges somewhere in the golden hue, certain bee farmers in the southeastern United States have produced a honey that is deep purple–but scientists can’t even figure out why!

Become a Beekeeper

Most people who have just a small amount of land can find the space to host some bees. Get more information and access to resources from the American Beekeeping Federation , which hosts a network of beekeepers who are making the world a better place for bees and, in turn, a bit sweeter due to the honey they produce!

Home Canning Meat - Plain and Simple

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 19:59:02 GMT

https://ladyleeshome.com/how-to-can-meat/

One of the best canning guides on line comes from Lady Lee's Home! I hope that you will take the time to look at her website and try some of her canning recipes. I have canned meat for years, my mother in law taught me when I was just married when we would have two pigs and a beef butchered every year. We spent a lot of time in her kitchen canning, those were the good old days. To this day, I currently can meat, fruits, vegetables along with jams, etc. This year I even tried zucchini bread - epic failure!

Below you will read the instructions, they are perfectly written. If you have any questions go to Lady Lee's website. There is something to

amazing about having your own canned meat. We don't raise our own but when I find a good sale or can buy off of an area farmer, I do it. I currently have beef, pork, chicken, meatloaf, and taco meat in my cellar. It is so convenient and I don't have to worry if my power goes out because it is ready to eat.

I love canning, it's a lot of work but it feels good to feed your family wholesome goodness out of a jar.

How to Can Meat

A step by step tutorial on how to can meat using the raw pack method. You can follow these steps when canning meat like beef, pork, venison, moose, caribou, elk, or bear.

Prep Time 30 minutes

Processing Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 2 hours

Ingredients

Meat: elk, pork, venison, beef, bear, moose, or caribou
Salt and other seasonings (optional)
Water or bone broth

Instructions

Trim and clean your meat of any unwanted parts and cut into 1'' cubes.
Wash your jars, lids, and rings with soapy, warm water.
If you'd like, add a teaspoon of salt to each pint jar and two teaspoons of salt to each quart jar (you can add additional seasonings like peppercorns or chili flakes if you'd like).
Pack each jar with the cubed meat. Make sure to leave one-inch headspace.
If you are canning venison or caribou, for example, I recommend adding a little bit of water or bone broth (2 tablespoons or so) to each jar. Pork and beef probably don't require any additional liquid.
Clean the rim of your jars with a clean, damp paper towel.
Cover the jars with the lids and close with the rings to fingertight.
The following canning instructions are for a Presto pressure canner. If you have a different pressure canner, make sure to follow your manufacturer directions. Add jars to the canner (place them on the rack) so they don't touch each other.
Fill the canner with enough water to reach just below the bend in the jar.
Close the canner and turn the heat on high. Once steam starts to come out of the vent set your timer to 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, cover the vent with the weight and watch the dial. Once it reaches 11 psi (you can find the adjustment table in the notes below) adjust the temperature to hold the pressure.
Process pint jars for 75 minutes and quart jars for 90 minutes.
Once the time is up, turn off the heat and let your canner cool slowly.
When the canner is cool, open it and let the jars rest in the hot water for 5-10 minutes. Then, use the jar lifters to remove the jars. Set your jars on a kitchen towel on the kitchen counter for 12 hours to cool completely.
Make sure to check that the jars sealed and remove the rings before storing the jars.

Notes

You can follow the same process when canning venison, elk, caribou, moose, bear, pork, or beef.

Some people always add salt but it's optional and is only added for taste. If you choose to add salt, add one teaspoon to each pint jar or two teaspoons to each quart jar before you pack the meat in the jar.

Good Luck!

Bagged Feeds Summer Time

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 19:26:46 GMT

It is amazing to visit different locations and see bags still in plastic when it's in the 90's with high humidity and not much air flow. When I first got into the feed side of the ag business I had a lot to learn. I had a stack of horse feed that the plastic was left on it because well, it may get dusty. My clean bags were ruined. I'm sure my manager wasn't happy. And another time when I placed the feed up against the wall to make more room to get the dolly through. I didn't realize that the wall of the building held so much heat. Let alone being able to clean that area. I have spent some time putting this together. Whether you're a 4-H member, a new animal owner or new to the retail side of feed, I hope this helps.

BAGGED FEED

1. Store feed in a cool, dry, well ventilated area if possible.

2. Rotate stock to use old feed first . Rotation is the name of the game.

3. Keep bags stacked on pallets or something to keep them off of the damp floors. You need a vapor barrier, feed bags will absorb the dampness which will result in spoilage.

4. Bags should be stacked to allow at least 18 inches between walls and supports. This allows for better cleaning, air circulation and placement of traps or bait boxes.

5. Keep different types of feed separate and clearly marked. With all bags looking the same, be sure to mark your stacks and especially careful to not get medicated feeds mixed in with non medicated.

6. We can't emphasize this enough, if your skids are wrapped in plastic. Remove the wrap as soon as you can. Before storing in your warehouse or barn. This allows better air flow and reduces the chance of mold. Believe it or not, these bags need to breathe.

7. Rodent/insect control:

• Keep exterior doors closed when not in use.

• Position bait boxes/traps around interior and exterior walls. Glue boards or automatic traps on either side of warehouse doors are effective for preventing entry of rodents.

• Clean up spilled feed immediately and remove torn bags as soon as possible.

• Regularly fog warehouse area with approved insecticide during warm months.

• Regularly spray problem areas with good residual crack and crevice type insecticide.

• Periodic fumigation of entire storage area may be required for severe problems, but is expensive and requires a qualified applicator.

• Keep weeds and brush away from exterior of storage area.

• Eliminate poor drainage areas which serve as breeding grounds for most insects.

8. Do not handle bags more than necessary and handle with care. Pelleted diets are designed to be durable, but they are not indestructible. Abusive handling will destroy the pellets which will result in poor quality feed.

Grain Mites, Uggh!

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 18:23:33 GMT

Those Pesky Critters!

Have you ever looked at your feed and saw white dust and wondered how it got there. You look closer and it’s moving! You wonder how did it get there. How could this happen to you! Those critters come in when it is hot and humid, welcome to the Dog Days of Summer. They're looking for food and more little and a bit of reproduction time.

Acarus siro L-Grain mites are common and exist in all grains, but only thrive and appear when the conditions – temperature and humidity – are just right for reproduction and growth. Their ideal environment is warmer than 77 degrees F, and over 85% humidity. Temperature changes, condensation, and poor ventilation may produce areas with enough moisture to encourage mite infestation. If the infestation is heavy, it is best to discard old grain and clean up your feed storage area. Heavily damaged grain has a reduced nutritional value.

Flour or grain mites are pale, pearly or grayish white, with legs varying in color from pale yellow to reddish-brown. Each leg has one claw at the end. As with all mites, they are smooth, wingless, soft-bodied creatures. Female grain mites may lay up to 800 eggs, which are deposited on the surface of food material at the rate of approximately twenty to thirty per day. That’s a lot of eggs! The eggs may be deposited singly or scattered at random over the food material. Grain mites primarily attack the germ, however they will feed on other parts of the grain as well. As well as mold growing on grain.

Prevention is the best strategy to avoid during an infestation in stored grains. Proper sanitation before the introduction of feed into the bin helps to minimize the need for pesticides. Remove all old grains and dust in and around in grain bins.

There are few pesticide solutions to this problem. If infestations are extremely heavy, infested products should be destroyed.

Moderate infestations can be handled a couple of ways, depending upon the value of the commodity, type of commodity, and end use. Fumigation (either methyl bromide or aluminum phosphide) can be effective, but its effectiveness will depend on the product and the product's moisture content. Fumigants will have a difficult time penetrating tightly packed materials (e.g., meal) and moist environments. Remember that only certified applicators can purchase and apply fumigants and that all label directions must be followed.

Conditions that aren’t as severe, you can take care by spraying a pyrethrin. Synergized pyrethrin such as LD-44Z which is a quality farm spray. Bin walls may also be treated as well as feed storage room walls. Tempo 2, a common insecticide will provide a protective barrier for storage areas.

One of the best common practices would also be to purchase only two weeks worth of grain this time of the year.

Keep your hogs heat-stress free

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 15:10:01 GMT

Madelyn Ostendorf

6/14/2022e for your new post

As temperatures rise across the United States, keeping livestock cool and stress-free is critical. Hogs are more susceptible to the effects of heat stress than other farm animals. They produce a lot of metabolic heat — the internal heat an animal produces from feeding and growing — and do not have sweat glands to aid in cooling off.

Heat stress has a lot of hidden costs, and while it is difficult to quantify lost productivity coupled with the mortality rate in barns, Matt Romoser, Iowa State Extension swine specialist, says the losses from heat stress are very comparable to some of the worst disease challenges the industry deals with.

What does heat stress do to hogs?

In the short term, heat stress reduces the feed intake of a hog. As the pig is unable to lose excess heat, it is less likely to want food and more likely to want water, which reduces its rate of gain. Additionally, sows will experience reduced fertility evident by smaller litters and lower conception rates during the warmer months of the year.

In the long term, Romoser says heat stress can lead to increased intestinal permeability, resulting in a condition commonly referred to as leaky gut. When a hog gets too hot, the blood in its circulatory system can redistribute to the skin to try and cool the animal off. This reduces blood flow to the digestive tract. The proteins in the intestines can break down the lining and expose the hog to bacteria and pathogens.

“Now there is increased body temperature from two sources: the weather and a fever response due to bacteria,” Romoser says. “The combination of those makes it more difficult for the hog to dissipate heat away from their body.”

This occurs more frequently in older hogs, but hogs of any age can potentially experience heat stress. Experts theorize that it has a huge impact on seasonal infertility, Romoser says.

What should I look for?

Brett Ramirez, assistant professor of agriculture and biosystems engineering, says the easiest way to tell if a hog is experiencing heat stress is to monitor its breathing. Labored, elevated breath rates are a good hint that the animal is too hot. Other indicators are a lack of eating, drinking, and movement.

“Additionally, if they're all lying down, they're probably pretty warm,” Ramirez says. “They're trying to dump some heat into the concrete and reduce how much heat they produce internally.”

The hogs may also seek out areas of the confinement that are naturally cooler, such as breezeways, under water troughs, or under sprinklers, Romoser adds.

Seasonal maintenance before it gets warm is critical while watching the forecast — if there is a heat wave — is a good way to get ahead of heat stress.

What can I do?

The larger the hog, the more susceptible it is to overheating. As the animal gets closer to market weight, producers should make sure ventilation systems are properly functioning. Belts should be tight, fan shutters clean, and curtains should be properly functioning.

Controlling the environment hogs live in is the best way to mitigate heat stress, Ramirez says. Ensuring there is a sufficient amount of airflow in the confinement is key.

“When the temperature starts to get into the 80s, we like to use some form of evaporation, whether it's an evaporative cool pad or direct wetting on the pig skin,” he says. “Also, we want to make sure their water is accessible. Those are easy first steps.”

Romoser also suggests doing barn chores in the coolest parts of the day. Feeding, watering, and vaccinations all require the hogs to move and activate their metabolic heat, so minimizing the external heat can help reduce stress.

July is National Blueberry Month

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 12:58:53 GMT

HISTORY OF NATIONAL BLUEBERRY MONTH

https://nationaltoday.com

Blueberries have been consumed for a very long time — more than 13,000 years, according to some reports — but the Native Americans were the first to recognize the versatility of this fruit. They used blueberries for medicinal purposes and as a natural flavoring agent.

The Native Americans were using wild blueberries, which have been around for an incredibly long time, but the ones we eat are different. The blueberries we get in the supermarket are the result of one person’s long commitment to cultivating blueberries. Elizabeth White, the daughter of cranberry farmers in New Jersey, wanted to expand her family’s business with other crops, particularly blueberries. While studying at Drexel University in Philadelphia, her main interest centered around figuring out how to grow the best blueberries. She eventually partnered with botanist Frederick Coville to cultivate blueberries at her farm. Before these efforts, blueberries could not be grown on any farm — the only way to have them fresh was to pick them in the wild. Now, blueberries are available in 35 U.S. states and some other regions around the world. British Columbia is the largest blueberry growing region in the world, with Canada coming in third behind the U.S. and Chile.

For many years, the National American Blueberry Council wanted to have July as National Blueberry Month. Eventually, the United States Department of Agriculture officially recognized this month, and it has been celebrated ever since. The body content of your post goes here.

Elizabeth White Notices Blueberries in 1893

After harvesting cranberries, Elizabeth White decides to experiment with blueberries on her family farm

A Partnership that Changes Everything in 1911

Elizabeth White and USDA botanist Frederick Coville become partners after she reads his publication, ‘Experiments in Blueberries’ — they work together on her family farm.

First Blueberry Crops in 1912

Elizabeth White and Frederick Coville successfully grow blueberries on her farm

First Commercial Blueberry Crop Sold in 1916

Elizabeth White and Frederick Coville's team harvests and sells its first commercial crop of blueberries.

Blueberries Go to England in 1930's

Highbush varieties of this fruit are introduced in Europe.

Elizabeth White Gets Her Due in 1932

New Jersey awards Elizabeth White for her outstanding contributions to agriculture.

Blueberry Cultivation Spreads from 1942-1962

Blueberry cultivation spreads around America, appearing in 13 U.S. states.

Our Day is Official in 2003

The United States Department of Agriculture officially declares July as National Blueberry Month

Blueberries are Healthy for the Heart in 2019

The American Heart Association launches the Heart-Check Food Certification Program to help shoppers identify heart-healthy foods — blueberries are certified as one such food.

Blueberry Emojis! 2020

Smartphones around the world are introduced to the blueberry emoji.

Nominations Open Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year 2023

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 14:40:50 GMT

(AFBF)

By Industry Press Release July 1, 2022

Farmers are invited to submit nominations for the 2023 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, supported by Purina. This is the fifth year of the contest, which celebrates farm dogs and the many ways they support farmers and ranchers in producing nutritious food for families and their pets across America.

The contest opened in January and the nomination deadline has been extended to July 15. The grand prize winner – Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year – will win a year’s worth of Purina dog food and $5,000 in prize money. The winner will be recognized at a Farm Dog of the Year award ceremony at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in January 2023. Up to four regional runners-up* will each win $1,000 in prize money.

*The 2023 Farm Dog of the Year will also be featured in a professionally produced video. The profile of 2022 Farm Dog of the Year Fit can be viewed at https://www.fb.org/land/fdoty .

Scientific research insights from a collaboration between Mayo Clinic and Purina reveal that interacting with pets can provide health benefits. For example, after spending just 20 minutes with a dog, people experienced a significant increase in levels of oxytocin, a hormone that plays a role in moderating stress. This was also associated with a decrease in heart rate and an increase in self-reported sense of well-being. Following the interaction with the dog, people were in a more positive emotional state.

Desired attributes for the Farm Dog of the Year include helpfulness to the farmer and his/her family, playfulness and obedience.

Farm dog owners must be Farm Bureau members to enter their dogs in the competition. Prospective applicants who are not Farm Bureau members can visit fb.org/join to learn about becoming a member.

Eligibility guidelines and submission requirements are available at https://www.fb.org/land/fdoty . Farm Dog of the Year nominations, which include written responses to questions, at least one still photo and a video clip (optional).

The Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest is sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The third annual social media contest, People’s Choice Pup, was a popular element of the Farm Dog of the Year competition in 2022 – reaching 133,000 people – and will return for 2023.

Profiles of several dogs nominated for the contest will be shared beginning in October, with the public invited to vote. Bragging rights and a year’s worth of dog food from Purina will be awarded to the People’s Choice Pup.

Purina is part of Nestlé, a global leader in Nutrition, Health and Wellness.

Canning Milk at Home - A New Trend

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 15:37:09 GMT

As a tribute to National Dairy Month, We wanted to share with our friends on how to can milk.

How to Can Milk – Raw or Store Bought

By Lee

Why Would You Want to Can Milk?

There are many reasons to can milk. If you keep a reserve stash in your deep freezer, this is a way free up space, and not worry about it when the power goes out.

I also thought that it would be great to learn how to can milk so I am not dependent on electricity to preserve it as I would be if I froze it.

If you live off the grid, keeping food without electricity is something you are familiar with.

But even if you are on the grid, it’s still nice to save some energy, or save room in the freezer for other things, or not needing to worry about food spoiling if the electricity goes out (for example, if you live in areas with many storms and power outages).

Another reason to can milk is if you don’t want to need to go to the grocery store often. Some of us live far in the country or are a single person and often a gallon of milk spoils before we can use it all. So canning is a great option.

Another great reason is canning for travel…

If you are packing for a camping trip, going to spend the weekend at the lake, or going on a road trip across the country, canned milk is a great ingredient to pack.

Tools That We Are Going to Need…

Before we start with the tutorial, let’s gather all the kitchen tools that we are going to need…

Jars – I think that the best size of jars for canning milk are the quart jars but you can follow the same tutorial with any size of jar that you choose to use.

Lids and bands – you can reuse bands but make sure to use new lids so we know that the seal is in great condition.

Canning utensils – we’ll use most of them.

Ladle – to help us fill the jars.

Pressure canner – I use my Presto pressure canner. The All-American canner is also popular.

That’s all we need. Let’s learn how to can milk…

How to Can Milk, Step-by-Step… Before we start with the tutorial, let’s gather all the kitchen tools that we are going to need…

That’s all we need. Let’s learn how to can milk…

How to Can Milk, Step-by-Step…

We start by taking the milk out of the fridge to warm up a little bit.

Preparing the Jars and Canner…

While the milk is warming up a bit, wash your jars in warm water and check that there are no cracks or chips around the rim. Let them dry for a few minutes.

Next, it’s time to sanitize your jars. You can do this by placing them in a water bath and boiling them for 10 minutes or so, placing them in the dishwasher, or using the oven.

I like the oven method. I place my jars on a baking sheet and heat the oven to 320F. Once the oven is hot I place the jars in there for 10-15 minutes.

After 10-15 minutes, remove the jars from the oven and use the jar lifter to remove them from the baking sheet. Place them on a towel and let them cool down.

We want the jars and the milk at a similar temperature so the jars don’t break.

Place your lids and rings in a pot of water, bring to a boil and hold that boil for 5 minutes or so.

You can reuse rings but make sure you use new lids each time so that you know for sure that the seal is good.

Let’s also fill the pressure canner with some water. I have a Presto pressure canner that I love! You will have to follow your canner’s instructions but if to be honest, I could not find any instructions in the manual on canning milk so I went with 2.5” of water.

Filling the Jars With Milk…

Once the jars cooled a bit and the milk warmed a bit and the difference in their temperature is not too great, I fill the sanitized jars with milk.

Make sure to leave 1/2’’ headspace.

2. Make sure you do not touch the rim or the inside of the jar with your fingers! I used a canning funnel to make sure the milk goes in the jar and not all over the place.

3. Use a paper towel to clean the rim of the jar, again, DO NOT touch it with your fingers!

4. Use the magnetic lid lifter to lift the lid from the pot of hot water and place it on your lid. Do not touch the bottom of the lid with your fingers.

5. Now, use the ring to close the jar (not too tight, finger tight), and we are ready for processing!

Processing the Milk in the Pressure Canner…

Use the jar lifters to lift the jars and place them inside the pressure canner.

Close the canner and turn the heat to high.

Now we are watching the little nozzle for steam. It took my canner 18 minutes to reach the point where I can see steam coming out from the nozzle.

Once the canner starts to steam let it exhaust steam for 10 minutes before placing the gauge on the nozzle.

Before placing the gauge on the nozzle.

Now watch your pressure gauge, once it showed you 11 psi (it will take some time…), turn the heat off immediately and let the canner cool completely (this may take an hour or two).

Wait until the dial shows 0 pressure and then remove the weight If steam doesn’t come out anymore, it is safe to open the canner. Please be careful when you remove the weight.

Place a towel on the counter and use your jar lifters to remove the jars from the canner and place them on the towel. Now let the jars rest and cool completely for 24 hours.

We are done!

How to Store Canned Milk…

After the milk has cooled completely store it in a dark and cool place like in the pantry or a kitchen cabinet for example.

You will see the cream separating from the milk and that is normal and completely fine. The milk also turns a bit of a yellowish color.

It seems like everyone agrees that you can use it for cooking but not everyone agrees with drinking it. Many do though. If you do use it for drinking I think it tastes better if chilled.

Once you open a jar you do have to make sure to store it in the fridge and use it within a couple of days.

June is Dairy Month - a Time to Say Thanks to America's Milk Producers

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 17:51:15 GMT

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HAS SPRING SPRUNG?

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 23:00:26 GMT

SPRING GRASS SOMETIMES MEANS GRASS TETANY

As they say “spring has sprung!" But it really doesn’t feel like it with these cooler temperatures and gloomy wet days we have been having lately. As we know it, summer is on its way. Small calves, baby sheep, new colts even the birds are singing. While this paints a beautiful picture in our minds are we ready for the problems that come with this scene. Grass Tetany also known to some as Grass Staggers. It is caused by a deficiency in Magnesium in a cow’s body that may cause them to stagger, look alert and involved and often death.

In soils the fertilizer protocol can affect the mineral availability to the cattle from the grasses grown in that pasture. Some times higher levels nitrogen and potassium and lower levels of phosphorous in the soil can hinder the absorption of magnesium uptake in the plant. It is suggested that soil samples are taken to determine where your nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK) levels stand and always keep an eye on the pH of your soil. Anything under 7 on the pH scale means that your soils are acidic. Acidic soil causes deficiencies in several critical nutrients with magnesium being one of them.

Manure can also be a problem if it is over accumulated from previous grazing seasons. This can also result in decreased magnesium in the grasses produced. Manure is going to add nitrogen, organic acids and long chained fatty acids to the soil which will also result in a decrease absorption of magnesium.

Plants deficient in magnesium tend to be rapidly growing cool season grasses. Many of those cool season grasses with magnesium deficiencies tend to be the grasses we use for pasture that we are commonly using such as orchard grass, rye grass, timothy, and fescues. Suggestions of using legumes in your pasture mixes at a seeding rate of greater than 30%. Alfalfa is not normally deficient in magnesium.

Mature cattle who have produced 2 or more calves in prior calving seasons may have more issues with Grass Tetany and be more at-risk during lactation due to the magnesium uptake. Cattle require 20 grams of magnesium per day which can be acquired by consuming 3-4 ounces of mineral that as 12-15% magnesium. Monitoring of mineral will ensure that your herd is consuming the correct amount of mineral.

At Gerber & Sons, Inc. We have a few ways to work that extra magnesium into your cattle’s diet. South Eastern Ohio Mineral with Magnesium that was formulated for soil nutrient deficiencies in this area. We also have tubs, and blocks for your convenience. Contact our Sales Team if you have any questions. 330-897-6011

Non-GMO Coming Soon

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 21:26:20 GMT

Non-GMO Chicken Feed Coming Soon

by Jaynie Norman

Announcement

At Gerber & Sons, Inc. we are committed to giving our customers a choice. We have been asked for some time about a Non-GMO chicken feed and we are happy with our decision to announce that we are going to give The Harvest Company Hiland Naturals the opportunity to work to work with us, in turn we can provide you with good quality feed that is not genetically modified.

While we are happy with our current rations of Poultry Feeds that we offer. The inclusion of Hiland Naturals will give our customers a better selection for what they want.

The inclusion of the Hiland Naturals Non-GMO Feed will take place the week of March 6. If you are interested in any of the other quality feeds from Hiland Naturals, call the office at 330-897-6011.

The beginning

Just like all feed companies they have a beginning, who knew that the beginning of Hiland Naturals was started in the rolling hills of Holmes County, just in our back door. From the same area with the same goal in mind. Producing a high quality, top of the line feed to reach their full potential. Not only that, but these healthy animals will in turn produce healthy people. That is the goal of the Hiland Naturals Feed.

What’s happening today

Today Hiland Naturals has become one of the largest (and first) nationwide producers of premium, high quality Non-GMO Project Verified livestock feeds in the nation. Our bagged feed products are available in retail locations in nearly every state over the country and through our online store around the world. Hiland Naturals is owned by The Harvest Company : a business started by farmers, for farmers, with a focus on providing the highest quality nutritional products possible.

Quality

All of the feeds undergo rigorous quality inspections to ensure that you’re only receiving the best. All feeds are:

· Non-GMO Project Verified

· Animal Welfare Approved

· Mycotoxin tested

· Herbicide and pesticide tested

· Preservative free

Our plans for the future

Hiland Naturals has big plans! They want to continue to help spread the idea that better feed makes better animals and healthier people. They also want to help people get closer to the food they eat. So, they will continue to grow our national distribution network until Hiland Naturals feed is available within a reasonable distance for every person in the nation. They make the best, highest quality feed you can buy on the market today, and we can prove it. Give it a try and we know you will see the difference!

At Gerber & Sons, Inc. we just to clarify that we will continue to produce our current poultry lines. Our poultry feeds have proved themselves over time again and again. When we started this company, the decision was made to work with nutritionists and today we continue to work with nutritionists to keep our levels of nutrients sound and with in the recommended guidelines. We take pride in the fact that we are a multi generation family-owned feed mill with our beginnings in 1905.

The main thing we do know and humbly proclaim that we wouldn’t be where we are today without the continued support from our customers. We appreciate what each and every one of our customers bring to light. Working with Hiland Naturals is a prime example.

For more info:

https://hilandnaturals.com

https://www.gerberandsons.com

Bob Evans plans FFA fundraiser

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 13:45:31 GMT

The $1 from every Farmer’s Choice Breakfast on Feb. 24 to support ag education

NEW ALBANY, Ohio — Bob Evans Restaurants announces the return of their annual fundraising efforts to support agricultural education and innovation with the second annual “Egg Crack, Give Back” promotion. On Thursday Feb. 24, guests can help their local Bob Evans Restaurant** raise funds for agricultural education by ordering a Farmer’s Choice Breakfast. For every Farmer’s Choice Breakfast sold on Feb. 24, Bob Evans Restaurants will make a $1 donation to the National FFA Organization (FFA) up to $15,000.*

The signature Farmer’s Choice Breakfast includes two fresh-cracked eggs cooked-to-order, your choice of premium breakfast meat, hash browns or home fries, and three hotcakes or two slices of Brioche French toast. Other varieties of the Farmer’s Choice Breakfast, such as The Double Meat Farmer, Homestead Farmer and Banana Berry Farmer, also qualify for the fundraising event.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the FFA and help underwrite supervised agricultural experience (SAE) grants that give FFA students critical hands-on learning opportunities ranging from agricultural internships and research experience to entrepreneurship opportunities. The second annual “Egg Crack, Give Back” is an extension of the Bob Evans partnership with the FFA, paying homage to founder Bob Evans’ roots as a farmer and the long-term goal of inspiring agricultural leaders for generations to come.

The “Egg Crack, Give Back” promotion coincides with “Give FFA Day,” a 24-hour fundraising campaign held during National FFA Week (February 19-26, 2022). National FFA Week helps spread awareness about what FFA is, how it impacts the education of high school students across the country, and ultimately prepares them for careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture. Give FFA Day is Thursday, February 24, 2022, and its purpose is to encourage people to donate to the FFA to help support the student members and their local chapters.

“At Bob Evans, nourishing our communities – whether through serving farm-fresh food or empowering the next generation of farmers – is at the core of what we do every day. It truly means a great deal to be continuing this fundraiser for a second year,” said Bob Holtcamp, President and CMO for Bob Evans Restaurants. “The SAE grant program is one that is admired and monitored closely every year at Bob Evans. With our continued fundraiser and partnership with the FFA, we are in a position to not only support the next generation of farmers, who will help ensure the integrity of what’s on our plates but also allow our guests to make an impact themselves.”

For more information and for local restaurant hours, visit BobEvans.com . For more information on Bob Evans Restaurant’ commitment to the FFA, including information about how to get involved in National FFA Week, please visit BobEvans.com/FFA . For more information about FFA, please visit FFA.org .

*Disclaimer: Up to a maximum $15,000 will go to the National FFA Organization to support the National FFA and future SAE grants. Purchase is not tax deductible as a charitable contribution as the customer will receive goods or services equivalent to the purchase price for each item purchased.

**Disclaimer: Available in all states where Bob Evans Restaurants is located except for North Carolina and New Jersey.

About Bob Evans Restaurants, LLC
Bob Evans Restaurants is chain of family-style restaurants founded and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, which owns and operates nearly 450 locations in 18 states, primarily in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. Guests have been enjoying signature farm-fresh meals like the Farmer’s Choice Breakfast, made with fresh-cracked eggs, and the slow-roasted, hand-carved turkey dinner among other classics for over 70 years. True to his humble farmer roots, founder Bob Evans believed in treating strangers like friends and friends like family, and this hospitality is still on display at every Bob Evans Restaurant location. As a private company, Bob Evans Restaurants is focused on bringing America’s Farm Fresh to its guests at every meal, each and every day. For more information and restaurant locations, visit BobEvans.com , or follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 735,000 student members as part of 8,817 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

About National FFA Foundation

The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations, and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders, and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees composed of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA Alumni, the foundation is a separately registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give .

Plant-Based Chicken Plucking

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 15:23:34 GMT

By GREG HENDERSON

Ahead of this month’s Super Bowl, a group known as Compassion in World Farming (CWF) issued a news release claiming over 160 million plant-based chicken wings would be eaten in America during the game. Which, wow, sounds like a lot.

For the sake of full disclosure, I don’t usually get on a soap box to defend chicken wings, but this seems like a good place to start.

America produces 9 billion chickens annually, which would be 18 billion chicken wings, give or take a deformity or two. Therefore, my math suggests that 160 million plant-based wings amounts to less than 1% of the chicken wing market. (For context, Americans are anticipated to devour 1.42 billion wings from real yard birds during the Super Bowl, according to the National Chicken Council.)

Plant-based chicken pluckers, of course, are not satisfied with a 1% market share. That’s where the marketing and PR teams become important. Their task – difficult as it may seem to cowboys – is to convince folks this new concoction of pea protein, soy protein, flour, oils and sodium tastes just like chicken.

“Meat alternatives represent the future of food.” So says the release from CWF. That seems like a stretch at this point, but when you’re trying to disrupt an industry as big as meat you start with bold statements. More important for cowboys and real-world chicken farmers is how plant-based proteins are being pitched to consumers.

“Healthy” is the claim found in any description of plant-based proteins. Indeed, there’s research suggesting vegetarian and vegan diets can be healthy. Some studies have found lower rates of heart disease and type 2 diabetes when compared to diets high in meat and animal products.

Medical research also suggests plant-based diets carry some risk of inadequate protein, vitamin and mineral intake. Such risks can be overcome with choosing the right foods and with supplements. But other risks may be present for vegans. A British study, for instance, found that vegetarians may have an increased risk of stroke.

While the increased risk was small, the British researchers said the “findings will complicate the way we look at plant-based diets.”

For fast-food companies like McDonald’s, however, “healthy” continues to be a sales challenge. Last month the McPlant burger was introduced under the Golden Arches, and the logic for healthy menu items makes sense as some people want to eat healthy food. But McDonald’s has tried healthy before and it failed. The McPlant may be different, but the reality has proven that people don’t go to McDonald’s to eat healthy.

A similar hurdle will face plant-based wings during football games. Hard to imagine fans drinking beer, eating chips and being concerned about “healthy” wings.

Copy of The 6 Best Ways To Boost Egg Production During Winter

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 13:37:27 GMT

Egg Production

Ashley Hetrick Off The Grid News, Ideas for Off The Grid Living

1. Plenty of Good Light

Chickens need at least 14 hours of daylight in a day to trigger their internal clocks to lay. By supplementing light, as is done in commercial production houses, you can trick a chicken’s internal clock to think it’s spring so that they keep laying all winter long. Be sure to turn your light off at night when you go to bed to give them rest, but even a few extra hours of light in the evening can make a huge difference in production.

2. Nutritious Food

In the winter months, chickens are using a lot of the calories they get from food for warmth. In order to lay eggs and stay warm at the same time, they need more protein than they normally would during the summer. Add in the fact that they don’t have ready access to bugs or grass in the winter, and you’ll need to supplement their food to keep them happy, entertained and productive throughout the winter months.

Generic egg-laying feed generally contains 16 percent protein, while in the winter to increase egg production you’ll want to aim for 18 to 20 percent. A small amount of high protein scratch feed every day or every other day will get the ladies up and moving and provide them extra calories. Homesteaders have reported that once given adequate light, adding in scratch feeding doubled their daily egg production.

3. Liquid Water

Egg production takes a lot of water, both in the metabolic process for the chicken and in the egg itself. In order to keep laying, chickens will need a ready source of fresh, liquid water. While they can technically survive on an ample supply of fluffy snow, they won’t lay with that as their only water source. Chickens will eat snow to survive, but it’s not in their best interest. In warmer climates, keep the water liquid by bringing in fresh warm water every day and placing it up above the ground by 6-8 inches. In colder climates, heated water sources can help but might be impractical for those living off-grid. Try bringing them small amounts of warm water several times a day if possible, and giving them at least one wet meal a day by soaking some of their food in water or milk.

4. Sprouted Green Fodder

Growing your own small scale animal fodder has increased in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. When seed grains are sprouted, they shed their protective enzymes and convert otherwise inedible starches to sugar. Feeding your chickens fresh sprouted fodder will not only endear them to you, but it also will provide nutrients they’re otherwise lacking outside of the growing season.

To sprout barley seeds, pop a few holes into an aluminum baking tray (or plastic tote) and spread an even thin layer of barley seeds. Water them daily, ensuring that the extra water drains out the holes (to prevent mold and mildew). Place them in a warm sunny spot, indoors, until the grains have grown a thick lawn, about four to five inches high. At that point, you can peel out hunks of fresh barley “sod” for your chickens each day. Lacking fresh green fodder, try throwing them a chunk of alfalfa hay each day, which will provide many of the same results, though be slightly less appealing to the birds.

5. The Right Breed

While heritage breeds may be attractive if you’re looking for dual-purpose birds worth culling out for the dinner table, in truth the best egg production comes from modern compact bodied commercial hybrid birds. There are many breeds that are available to the home farmer that tend to be more productive than others, including Rhode Island Reds and White Leghorns. For a good general list of productive breeds, read “ The Eight Best Egg Laying Breeds of Backyard Chickens .”

6. Stagger Bird Ages

Egg production peaks in most breeds of chicken somewhere between six and 18 months of age. At 18 to 24 months, chickens will naturally take a break from laying to molt and replenish their feathers. They’ll come back to laying at a slightly lower rate for another year or two, and then egg production will drop off dramatically as the chicken ages. To keep a consistent supply of eggs, you’ll need birds of staggered ages to ensure that some are in their peak laying period while others are taking time off to molt. For most breeds of chicken, they’re ready for egg laying retirement at the age of three. While they’ll often keep laying one to two eggs a week throughout their lifespan (often six to eight years), you’ll be feeding them the same ration for 1-2 eggs a week as you feed your younger ladies for 5-6 per week.

Gibberella Ear Rot and Stalk Rot in Corn

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 17:02:10 GMT

www.hubnerseed.com

Gibberella stalk rot and ear rot are caused by the fungus Gibberella zeae, the same pathogen that causes head scab of wheat (Fusarium graminearum). The fungus overwinters on the residue of corn and wheat. Gibberella ear rot produces mycotoxins in corn, including deoxynivalenol (DON, also call vomitoxin).

What to Watch For

Gibberella ear rot occurs when Gibberella zeae enters kernels through the silks. Cool, wet weather during and after silking increases the chance of the disease infecting and colonizing ears. ¹ Wounds from birds or insects can also create openings for the disease to enter ears.

Once infected, mold develops often moving from the tip to the base of the ear. Severely infected ears can look mummified when the ear husk and cob fuse together. Mold color can begin as white, but characteristically turns a dark-red or pink color (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Gibberella ear mold displaying typical pinkish kernels.

Gibberella stalk rot infects stalks following pollination via wounds in the stalk and through the roots and causes the lower stalk to soften and become straw-colored as plants die. Pith tissue disintegrates leaving the vascular strands intact. The insides of a rotted stalk has a pink to red discoloration (Figure 2). Small, blue-black fungal bodies called perithecia form on the surface of the lower stalk and can be easily scraped off. Spores are produced during wet weather and can be spread by wind and rain splash.

Figure 2. Gibberella stalk rot infects stalks following pollination. While outsides of stalks may have blue-black perithecia, the inside has pink coloration and disintegrated pith tissue.

Perithecia are produced between temperatures of 41 and 86°F and relative humidity ranging from 75.5% to 100%. However, they do not mature and produce spores until temperatures are between 68 and 77°F with relative humidity between 85% and 100%. ³ The spores can be spread by air or rain splash.

Impact on Corn

High yield scenarios favor Gibberella development; however, there are differences between corn products and their susceptibility to the disease. Disease pressure is influenced by the timing of silking, weather, and insect pressure. Therefore, it is likely to see field to field variability in disease pressure.

Stalk quality is compromised when Gibberella infects stalks, and early harvest may be necessary if there is the potential for substantial lodging. Conducting a push test can help determine if stalk rots are likely to cause lodging, requiring early harvest. A push test is done by pushing corn stalks to a 30-degree angle from vertical at eye level. A stalk fails the push test if it does not spring back to upright when released. ⁴

Deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin or DON) levels in grain can reduce feed quality and prices at elevators. A mycotoxin test can be used to check DON levels in harvested grain. DON levels should be 10 ppm for beef and feedlot cattle older than four months. DON levels are to be 5 ppm for swine, young calves, and dairy animals. ⁵ Mycotoxins are concentrated in the dust and lighter, shriveled kernels, and contaminated grains should be cleaned to remove these fine particles. If the corn is to be used for silage, it is recommended to have a mycotoxin test as well.

Management Options

Corn Product— Researchers have identified two types of resistance to Gibberella: silk resistance and kernel resistance. Silk resistance should help protect against the fungus growing rapidly down the silk to the kernels. Kernel resistance helps to protect by keeping the fungus from spreading from kernel to kernel. ⁶ Bayer products are rated for tolerance to Gibberella on a scale of 1 to 9 (with a rating of 1 being low infection and 9 being high levels of infection). Characteristics that resist animal and insect damage are also desired. Different corn products are likely to have different silking dates and silking dates aligned with stormy humid weather increases the risk of infection.

Insect Protection— European corn borer (ECB) and western bean cutworm (WBC) are insects that feed on kernels and open up ears to infection. Traits protecting against ECB and WBC should be selected when planting into a field with previous heavy pressure from Gibberella or Fusarium head blight.

Fungicide—Fungicide application can help protect silks from infection. Application should occur between silk emergence (R1) and brown silk (R2) stages. Bayer’s Proline® 480 SC fungicide is an option to help manage Gibberella ear rot. Always use fungicides according to label directions as some fungicides can increase toxin levels if applied at the wrong timing.

Combine Adjustments to Reduce DON—When Gibberella is more limited to ear tips, the affected smaller and lighter kernels can be blown out of the combine and left in fields using the following adjustments:

Replacing doors with screens on bottoms of clean grain and return elevators. Bottom door can be taken completely off to leave light, infected kernels in the field.
Add a screen on the unload auger if possible.
Set the concave wide with the rotor/cylinder speed set slow.
Closing the back portion of the chaffer (sieve) increases the wind blast forcing additional light kernels out the returns and over the back of the sieve. Some good kernels may be lost; however, this may be acceptable for fields with high DON levels. ⁷

Fall Field Work—Fall tillage in combination with shredding plant debris may help assist in plant residue breakdown, reducing inoculum.

Sources:

1 Willyerd, K.T., Paul, P. A., Mills, D. Thomison, P. 2010. Giberrella ear rot and mycotoxins in corn: sampling, testing, and storage AC-52. Ohio State University Extension.

2 OMAFRA. 2014. Identifying corn moulds. Crop Talk. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/field/news/croptalk/2014/ct-1114a9.htm .

3 Manstretta, V. and Rossi, V. 2015. Effects of temperature and moisture on development of Fusarium graminearum perithecia in maize stalk residues. Plant Microbiology. Vol. 82. pgs. 184-191.

4 Freije, A., Wise, K. 2016. Diseases of corn: Stalk rots BP-89-W. Purdue Extension. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/ .

5 2017. RG-8 Regulatory Guidance: contaminants in feed. Canada Food Inspection Agency. https://inspection.canada.ca/animal-health/livestock-feeds/regulatory-guidance/rg-8/eng/1347383943203/1347384015909?chap=0

6 Ali, M.L, Taylor, J.H, Jie, L., Sun, G., William, M., Kasha, K.J., Reid, L.M., Pauls, K.P. 2005. Molecular mappings of QTLs for resistance to Gibberella ear rot, in corn, caused by Fusarium graminearum. Genome 48(3): 521-33. DOI:10.1139/g05-014

7 RealAgriculture Agronomy Team. 2018. Corn school: fine tuning the combine to reduce DON levels. https://www.realagriculture.com/2018/11/corn-school-fine-tuning-your-combine-to-reduce-don-levels/ .

Web sources verified 06/17/21. 6005_S8

CELEBRATE NATIONAL FARMER’S DAY

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 17:23:59 GMT

By Lisa Foust Prater

10/12/2021

If you visit websites like National Today , you’ll find that every day of the year is designated to celebrate something, from World Plumbing Day on March 11 to National Mustard Day on August 2. Today, October 12, is National Farmer’s Day, and that’s definitely worth celebrating.

The origins of this day of honoring American farmers isn’t known, but there are records of it as far back as the 1800s; it was once called Old Farmer’s Day. October 12 was chosen to coincide with the harvest in many parts of the U.S.

In honor of this day, here are just a few highlights of the history of American Agriculture:

1793: The cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney.

1797: Charles Newbold patents the cast-iron plow.

1820: The Agriculture Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives was established, followed by a Senate committee in 1825.

1834: The McCormick reaper was patented.

1840: The first Census of Agriculture was completed.

1840s: Commercial farming grew in popularity, coinciding with the growing use of factory-made machinery.

1862: The U.S. Department of Agriculture was established. President Abraham Lincoln called it the "people’s department."

1865-70: The slave plantation system in the South was replaced by the sharecropping system.

1856: The two-horse straddle-row cultivator was patented, allowing horses to pull plows instead of people.

1868: Steam tractors are tried for the first time.

1874: Barbed wire fencing became available.

1892: John Froelich invents the gas-powered engine that could be driven backwards and forwards. The Froelich Tractor inspired John Deere’s two-cylinder tractor.

1900-1910: George Washington Carver found new uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans, helping to diversify Southern agriculture.

1902: Edwin Thomas Meredith began publishing Successful Farming magazine.

1932-36: Drought and dust-bowl conditions developed.

1933: The Agricultural Adjustment Act and subsequent New Deal laws provided farm subsidies.

1933: After three decades of experimentation, hybrid corn varieties became widely available.

1944: Norman Borlaug used cross-breeding to develop disease-resistant, high-yielding dwarf wheat varieties, which would expand access to food and save more than a billion lives.

1945: The change from horses to gas-powered tractors begins.

1980: John Deere produces a four-row cotton picker, increasing productivity by up to 95%.

1982: Monsanto Company scientists became the first to genetically modify a plant cell.

1994: Satellite technology allows farmers to see their farms from above.

1997: The first weed- and insect-resistant soybeans and cotton became available.

2000: Scientists sequenced the first genome of a flowering plant, allowing the more efficient development of new varieties of crops.

Invest now in a safe and successful harvest

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 16:14:11 GMT

Grain Central, October 11, 2021

LIKE many on the land, third generation sheep and cropping farmers Peter and Annette Lambert understand the dangers that can come with the job.

To help reduce those risks and grow their business, the Lamberts were keen to seek expert advice to put safety at the centre of the day-to-day operations at their farm and engineering consultancy in Meringur, far north-west Victoria.

Victorian sheep and cropping farmers Peter and Annette Lambert.

At the suggestion of close friends, the Lamberts called WorkSafe’s OHS Essentials program, where independent consultants provide free, confidential and personalised safety advice for small to medium businesses.

Mr Lambert said the decision not only gave them confidence that they were doing everything they could to keep themselves, their workers and their family safe, but had also helped to diversify and grow their business.

“You’re getting advice and you’re getting support and it steers you in the right direction because there are some things you just don’t know, or don’t see, or you’re not aware of,” Mr Lambert said.

“There’s a level of danger involved in much of the work we do around the property but you can help eliminate or control those risks by following the right procedures and doing things the safest way.”

As farms across the state prepare for a busy harvest season, OHS Essentials consultant Paul Livingstone said consultants like him were there to explain OHS regulations and help farmers develop safety systems suited to their business that could be put into practice every day.

“The OHS Essentials program is available for all farmers whether they have WorkCover insurance or not. It provides simple methods for protecting themselves and their employees,” Mr Livingstone said.

“The benefits for farmers are fewer injuries, less downtime and greater efficiency in generating their product.”

Fatigue, working alone and with heavy machinery, increased vehicle traffic and working near overhead powerlines are among the common safety risks at harvest time.

Simple safety measures to reduce those risks include:

Adequate breaks after each day so that you, your contractors and your workers have enough time to travel home, eat, relax and sleep before the next day begins.
A system to stay in contact with isolated workers.
Controls on traffic movement and keeping children away from work areas.
Appropriate guarding on machinery and shutting all machinery down before attempting to clear blockages and reinstating all guards before resuming work.
Maintaining a safe distance from all powerlines and not storing, loading or unloading items near overhead powerlines. Inform your workers what to do if they hit a powerline.
Ensuring contractors and seasonal workers have an induction to the property and job, are consulted about safety issues and are competent in operating any machinery and to undertake their role safely.

In the 2020-21 financial year, 1120 businesses signed up to the free OHS Essentials program. Of those businesses, only 45 were in the agriculture sector.

OHS Essentials Consultants can confidentially assist farmers to identify hazards and injury risks on their farms; provide guidance on creating and maintaining a safe workplace; and work with farmers to develop practical safety action plans.

Source: WorkSafe Victoria

Video: WorkSafe’s OHS Essentials program

CONSIDERING CARBON MARKETS? LOOK BUT DON’T LEAP

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 15:00:04 GMT

Farmers would be wise to look into, but not jump into any agreements with companies to be paid for conservation measures that remove carbon from the air.

That’s because the pay to farmers for those measures isn’t much right now, but it’s expected to increase in the next 10 years, said Brent Sohngen, a professor of natural resources and environmental economics at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).

Contracts to start no-till farming or plant cover crops pay $2 to $15 per acre annually, Sohngen said. And both measures come at a cost. Cover crops can be expensive, and no-till farming can reduce yields on a corn crop. So, the expenses or potential crop profit loss would have to be weighed against the carbon payments to farmers.

“Carbon is now a commodity, and there is great potential,” Sohngen said. “But at the current prices, I have trouble seeing a huge impact in the farming sector right now. The best option seems to be to get prepared.”

Carbon markets is the topic of a panel discussion Sept. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. during this year’s Farm Science Review at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center near London, Ohio. “Carbon Markets: From All Sides Now” will include Sohngen along with Peggy Hall, a CFAES agricultural and resource law field specialist; Luke Crumley, director of public policy and nutrient management for the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association; and Jessica D’Ambrosio, Ohio agriculture project director for The Nature Conservancy.

“Farmers are always looking for ways to diversify their income, and carbon markets are one way of doing that,” said Ian Sheldon, a CFAES professor and the Andersons Chair of Agricultural Marketing, Trade, and Policy who will moderate the Sept. 21 discussion.

“Carbon markets will only work if it’s profitable for farmers to participate, and the prices they receive reflect the true benefits from companies offsetting their carbon emissions,” Sheldon said.

If farmers’ conservation measures lead to better water quality along with less carbon in the air, farmers should be fairly compensated for generating those environmental benefits as well as the carbon benefits, he said. Although farmers may want to wait before entering any carbon market contracts now, farmers can start figuring out how much carbon they can retain in their soil, what practices for carbon capture would work on their farm, and how much they’d have to spend, Sohngen said. That would help them evaluate future carbon contract options.

Planting trees, another conservation measure farmers can be paid for, will bring in more than cover crops or no-till farming, in the range of $55 to $110 per acre annually, Sohngen said.

Carbon markets have emerged in recent years as large international companies have vowed to offset the carbon dioxide they put out in emissions from producing and transporting products. That can be done by paying farmers and foresters to take measures that store more carbon in plants and soil. When plants grow, they take up carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, and the carbon is stored in the plant. After the plant dies, it breaks down and the carbon from that plant goes into the soil, where it can enrich the soil.

Farms and forests across the United States already remove over 770 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, or about 10% of the country’s emissions, from the atmosphere, Sohngen said.

When carbon market prices rise, more farmers will sign on to agreements, he said.

“I think it’s something that’s emerging,” Sohngen said of carbon markets. “Within a decade, I wouldn’t be surprised to see 20% to 40% of Ohio farmers involved in a contract.”

The carbon markets panel discussion will be at 426 Friday Avenue at Farm Science Review. Hours for FSR are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 21–22 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23. Tickets are $7 online, at county offices of OSU Extension, and at participating agribusinesses, and $10 at the gate. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, visit fsr.osu.edu .

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

WRITER(S):

Alayna DeMartini

demartini.3@osu.edu

614-292-983Brent Sohngen
sohngen.1@osu.ed u

614-688-4640

Farm Journal Launches Trust In Beef to Accelerate Beef Industry’s Sustainability Work

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 14:32:47 GMT

By FARM JOURNAL September 8, 2021

Trust In BeefTM is a new effort to empower beef producers on their sustainability journey and provide consumers with real-life proof of the continuously improving environmental performance of American beef. The program is led by Farm Journal 's social purpose initiative, Trust In Food , and its industry-leading beef brand, Drovers .

“This program will work in harmony with our other industry stakeholder efforts,” says Amy Skoczlas Cole, executive vice president of Trust in Food. “The goal is to simplify the process for cattle producers to meet the challenges of a changing world. It will also influence consumer sentiments by highlighting the important role that beef has historically played, and will continue to play, in delivering economic, social and environmental benefits.”

Trust In Beef is working across two program streams to secure a sustainable future for beef:

Empowering producers on their journey
Trust In Beef will connect producers with education, tools and resources to start or accelerate their continuous improvement journey.
At the same time, the program will capture stories and data, documenting the depth of beef producers’ sustainability-related work – both past and present – at a scale never done before.

Connecting consumers to beef’s sustainability story
Trust In Beef will provide partners with a steady stream of consumer outreach and engagement materials in the form of these producer case studies. This will enable consumer-facing brands to expand and improve their efforts to ensure consumers understand beef’s story by shining a light on environmentally-conscious beef producers.
The program will also undertake its own consumer outreach through media initiatives on streaming platforms.

Earlier this year, Trust In Beef undertook a first-of-its-kind research effort to understand the perspectives, beliefs and actions of American beef producers regarding sustainability. More than 900 producers from more than 40 states shared viewpoints.

Key findings indicate many producers know the beef industry is changing and needs more change but are unsure about how to do this.

Key findings include:

Producers recognize change is needed…
79% say producers should change production practices to meet consumer demands.
56% recognize that the average US beef operation is not entirely environmentally sound

Some are already taking steps forward…
58% already have a formal grazing plan in place.
51% already have a plan in place to improve animal productivity.

Many are unsure about their role…
39% are unsure if beef producers will have to implement sustainability-related practices in the next decade to stay in business.

Plenty have not made necessary changes…
64% don’t think that setting year end goals is related to sustainable production.
42% do not have a formal grazing plan in place.
49% do not have a formal plan in place to improve animal productivity.

“Trust in Beef will provide the megaphone and activation mechanism for many of the current sustainability strategies being offered to the nation’s beef producers,” said Cliff Becker, Farm Journal senior vice president and publishing director of Drovers. “Producers want to do the right thing, and our research shows they are committed to improvement. Providing examples of success stories that improving can also align with profitability will help adoption of sustainability practices and enhance the overall longevity and profitability of today’s beef operations.”

For more information about Trust In Beef, go to https:// www.trustinbeef.com/

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Lyme Disease

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 00:31:34 GMT

A friend of mine just found out that she has Lyme Disease which prompted this blog.

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii . It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks.

Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks. Laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated

methods.

Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to preve nt Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tickborne diseases as well.

There is so much information on the website: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html

Planting Wheat for Grazing

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 14:00:27 GMT

By PAUL BECK September 1, 2021

Wheat is a great resource for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, it can be used for grazing only, grain production only, or as a dual-purpose grazing and grain crop. Ideal planting dates are different depending on the intended purpose of the crop.

The best grain crops are usually planted much later in the fall, around mid to late October. Dual purpose (grazing and grain) crops are planted in mid to late September. Because it is a double cropping system, seeding rates, planting dates, and fertilizer management are compromises between the needs for fall forage production and grain production in the spring.

When wheat is used only for grazing through the fall and winter and as a grazing or hay crop in the spring, planting dates are much earlier than if grain production is the goal. Profitability of grazing depends on achieving the earliest forage production and maximizing forage during the fall and winter, so planting dates can be as early and the end of August into early September.

When fields are planted earlier, soil temperatures are higher and soil moisture is usually limiting, therefore…

Higher soil temperatures limit the length of the emerging shoot (coleoptile) of the plant so planting depth should be less than 1 inch.
In clean till fields hard rains can cause the seed bed to crust over hindering emergence of the wheat plant.
Earlier seeding makes it difficult to control cools season broadleaf and grassy weeds, so rotation of crops or seeding dates becomes necessary to clean up these issues.
Insect pests, such as grasshoppers and fall army worms, are a bigger issue for early planted wheat, so scouting and control are important.
Tom Royer with OSU Entomology and Plant Pathology presents Winter Wheat Management for Fall & Winter Pests. This webinar is part of the Thursday Rancher's Series and was presented on Nov, 12, 2020. OSU Extension: Winter Wheat Management for Fall & Winter Pests - YouTube
Seeding rates for early planted wheat are recommended to be higher than later planted wheat at 1.5 (90 pounds per acre) to 2 (120 pounds per acre) bushels per acre.

In no-till with good residue cover, soil temperatures are cooler than clean-till, moisture retention is often better, and there are less problems with soil crusting. The cooler soil temperatures will slow seedling emergence for late fall plantings but can be of benefit for early planted wheat.

Resent research showed that fall forage production in no-till wheat plantings in mid-August and early September were similar to forage production of clean-tilled fields in early September. When planting was delayed until mid-September, fall forage production in tilled fields was better than in no-till. Stocker calf gains were the same for early planted no-till and clean-tilled fields, but no-till had later stocking dates and lower calf gains than clean-till when planted later.

There is a lot of compromise and give and take when planting wheat and other cool-season annuals for pasture. Each year is different, but when aggressively pursuing the earliest planting dates for maximizing fall forage production, producers must be ready to intervene if crusting occurs and control pests or replanting may be necessary.

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USDA updates pandemic assistance for a variety of producers

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 15:46:53 GMT

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) for contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry and producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities. CFAP 2, which assists producers who faced market disruptions in 2020 due to COVID-19, is part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has set an Oct. 12 deadline for all eligible producers to apply for or modify applications for CFAP 2.

“We listened to feedback and concerns from producers and stakeholders about the gaps in pandemic assistance, and these adjustments to CFAP 2 help address unique circumstances, provide flexibility and make the program more equitable for all producers,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “The pandemic has had a tremendous impact on agricultural producers, and we have made significant progress since announcing our plans in March. While additional pandemic assistance remains to be announced in the coming weeks, USDA is also ramping up its efforts to make investments in the food supply chain to Build Back Better.”

Assistance for Contract Producers

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, provides up to $1 billion for payments to contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry for revenue losses from Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 27, 2020. Contract producers of broilers, pullets, layers, chicken eggs, turkeys, hogs and pigs, ducks, geese, pheasants and quail may be eligible for assistance. This update includes eligible breeding stock and eggs of all eligible poultry types produced under contract.

Payments for contract producers were to be based on a comparison of eligible revenue for the periods of Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 27, 2019, and Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 27, 2020. Today’s changes mean contract producers can now elect to use eligible revenue from the period of Jan. 1, 2018, through Dec. 27, 2018, instead of that date range in 2019 if it is more representative. This change is intended to provide flexibility and make the program more equitable for contract producers who had reduced revenue in 2019 compared to a normal production year. The difference in revenue is then multiplied by 80% to determine a final payment. Payments to contract producers may be factored if total calculated payments exceed the available funding and will be made after the application period closes.

Additional flexibilities have been added to account for increases to operation size in 2020 and situations where a contract producer did not have a full period of revenue from Jan. 1 to Dec. 27 for either 2018 or 2019. Assistance is also available to new contract producers who began their farming operation in 2020.

Updates for Sales-Based Commodities

USDA is amending the CFAP 2 payment calculation for sales-based commodities, which are primarily comprised of by specialty crops, to allow producers to substitute 2018 sales for 2019 sales. Previously, payments for producers of sales-based commodities were based only on 2019 sales, with 2019 used as an approximation of the amount the producer would have expected to market in 2020. Giving producers the option to substitute 2018 sales for this approximation, including 2018 crop insurance indemnities and 2018 crop year Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) payments, provides additional flexibility to producers of sales-based commodities who had reduced sales in 2019.

Grass seed has also been added as an eligible sales commodity for CFAP 2. A complete list of all eligible sales-based commodities can be found at farmers.gov/cfap2/commodities . Producers of sales-based commodities can modify existing applications.

Applying for Assistance

Sign-up for CFAP 2 was re-opened in March and remains open to address inadequate initial outreach efforts to reach underserved producers and particularly those who produce sales commodities. Newly eligible producers who need to submit a CFAP 2 application or producers who need to modify an existing one can do so by contacting their local FSA office. Producers can find their local FSA office by visiting farmers.gov/service-locator . Producers can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364. All new and modified CFAP 2 applications are due by the Oct. 12 deadline.

As USDA looks to long-term solutions to build back a better food system as announced in June , the Department is committed to delivery of financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers and businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19 market disruptions. Since USDA rolled out the Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative in March, the Department has announced approximately $7 billion in assistance to producers and agriculture entities. Previously announced pandemic assistance has included:

For more details, please visit www.farmers.gov/pandemic-assistance .

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov .

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

Understanding Pasture Fertility

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 12:30:02 GMT

By WENDIE POWELL - KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSIO N August 19, 2021

Fertilizer ratios indicate the percent of nutrients, by weight, in a particular fertilizer. Ratios are always given as the percent nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), followed by potassium (K), in this order. For example, a 10-10-20 fertilizer contains 10% N, 10% P and 10% K. Pulling out our producer calculator, this means that 100 pounds of this fertilizer will actually contain 10 lbs of nitrogen, 10 lbs of phosphorus and 20 lbs of potassium.

Nitrogen is critical for maximum growth of grasses and associated with plants dark green color. Urea is one of the most common sources of N in our area. It is 46% N, and not very stable so must be applied when rain is expected within several hours. If it doesn't rain within 24 hours, 66% of the nitrogen will be lost to the atmosphere. Applying 100 lbs. of urea to an acre will supply 46 lbs. of N. Ammonium nitrate is a more stable form of nitrogen; it can be applied to the soil surface anytime without an appreciable loss of nitrogen. Applying 100 lbs. of ammonium nitrate supplies 34 lbs of N. However, ammonium nitrate is expensive and is difficult to work with.

Adequate phosphorus ensures stem strength and root growth. A soil test is necessary to determine how much P is needed. Diammonium phosphate, commonly known as DAP can be applied directly to a pasture. Since DAP has a ratio of 18-46-0, applying 100 lbs. supplies 46 lbs. of P per acre, and to complicate fertilizer rate calculations, this same 100 lbs. also supplies 18 lbs. of nitrogen.

Potassium is critical for stalk strength, disease resistance and winter hardiness. Deficiency symptoms are reduced plant strength and growth. A soil test is needed to determine K requirements. Muriate of potash, at a ratio of 0-0-60, can be applied directly to pastures. Potash, as it is commonly known, has a fairly high salt content. Applying 100 lbs. of potash supplies 60 lbs. of K per acre.

Let’s work through an example of phosphorus. Results are presented from K-State Soil Labs in parts per million, abbreviated as ppm. A soil test reveals that there are 2 ppm in a fescue pasture, and optimum is 20 ppm. We use an equivalency factor to get that ppm converted to actual phosphorus, generalized as P2O5. Converting our known 2 ppm to actual P per acre, we find that an additional 55 lbs. of actual P needs to be in the soil. In reality, the fertilizer available is not pure P though, so we use DAP at 46%.

55 lbs / 46% = 120 lbs.

So, we have to apply at least a 120 lbs. of DAP, per acre, to satisfy the P requirement for fescue.

Since we have applied a 120 lbs. of DAP, we have to also account for the 18% nitrogen, as it will impact our urea rate.

18% x 120 lbs. = 21.5 lbs. of N has been applied from DAP

This amount has to be subtracted from the actual nitrogen still needed. Each type of forage has different needs.

Top Tips for Planting Pasture Seed in the Fall

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 15:35:02 GMT

by: Skylar Christensen

naturesseed.com

On average, a pasture-raised animal eats between 1.5 and 4 percent of its weight in forage daily. Providing enough food is the surefire way to ensure the health and profitability for your livestock.

But when the winter months come around, producing enough food can get challenging.

Thanks to freezing temperatures and unpredictable weather, it’s essential that you adequately prepare your pasture for the harsh months ahead. By planting the seed in the fall, your pasture has a better chance at surviving and providing food for the next coming months. You’re also allowing it to rest from constant grazing, giving it an opportunity to re-establish and grow.

The best way to allow rest and prepare for harsh weather is to use cool-season pasture. Cool-season pastures are types of grasses that can seed in the fall and be ready for grazing by early spring.

Some of the most popular cool-season pasture grasses are:

Tall fescue
Kentucky bluegrass
Orchardgrass
Perennial ryegrass
Smooth bromegrass
Timothy

However, there might be problems with fall seedings . By the time September comes around, rainfall can get unpredictable. Because of that, there’s always a chance for lack of sufficient soil moisture and time for growth before frost takes place.

To avoid as many mishaps as possible, check out these tips on planting pasture seed in the fall.

How Much Seed Do I Need?

Before figuring out how much seed you need, you need to know if you have enough pasture for your livestock. The good news is that this part is easy to figure out. The rule of thumb is 1.5 to 2 acres per pair of calves . With other livestock, you can figure out the minimum amount of pasture your animals need with this somewhat lengthy but necessary equation:

On average, a pasture-raised animal eats between 1.5 and 4 percent of its weight in forage daily. Providing enough food is the surefire way to ensure the health and profitability for your livestock.

But when the winter months come around, producing enough food can get challenging.

The best way to allow rest and prepare for harsh weather is to use cool-season pasture. Cool-season pastures are types of grasses that can seed in the fall and be ready for grazing by early spring.

Some of the most popular cool-season pasture grasses are:

Tall fescue
Kentucky bluegrass
Orchardgrass
Perennial ryegrass
Smooth bromegrass
Timothy

To avoid as many mishaps as possible, check out these tips on planting pasture seed in the fall.

How Much Seed Do I Need?

Once that’s figured out, it’s time to determine how much you’ll have to seed. Deciding between a low seeding rate and a high seeding rate will make or break the health of your pasture. The typical rates are:

Normal seeding rate at 20 pounds per acre
Higher seeding rate at 30+ pounds per acre

Our recommended seeding rate is 20 lbs./acre for pasture blends using the broadcast seeding method. For drill seeding, 15 lbs./acre could be used. Single species may require more or less than 20 lbs./acre depending on seed size, planting method, etc.

Top Tips for Planting Pasture Seed in the Fall

Planting pasture seed can be a lengthy process. Many factors go into healthy pasture grass, like soil health, nutrients, water-holding capacity, and a mix of soil and fertilizers to help growth.

But sometimes planting in the fall can be tricky. Rainfall is hard to predict and there’s always a chance for an early frost. That’s why it’s not only crucial to seed at the right time, but also ensure you perform a soil test, use the correct seed variety, utilize proper seeding methods, and finally, wait for seed establishment.

Tip #1: Do An Up-To-Date Soil Test

The best thing you can do to prep for planting pasture seed is to do an up-to-date soil test.

Soil testing is vital in helping define all physical, chemical, and biological health. Knowing this helps determine which micronutrients are needed for your grass to thrive.

Healthy soil can help increase yields, reduce operating costs, improve grass maturity with higher tolerance to disease and pest damage. It can also help answer any questions about why your field is under-performing.

Tip #2: Use The Best Seed For Your Soil Type

Knowing your soil type will save you a lot of time and effort in the long run. Some seeds won’t adapt depending on the type of soil, which directly affects the water, and nutrient, holding capacity.

Choosing the best mixture is based on:

The type of livestock
The time of year
The level of pasture growth
Soil type, fertility, and pH

Your region’s climate plays a significant role in the types of grass that can grow. You wouldn’t expect to develop a coastal grass in the midlands, which is why it’s essential to know which seed variety does well in your area. You can use Nature’s Seed Seed Selector Tool and search by region.

Tip #3: Best Time to Plant

There are a couple reasons you might plant grass seed in the fall:

Your pasture needs time to rest and grow in between grazing periods
You are preparing for freezing temperatures ahead, and want to ensure there’s enough food

When giving your pasture time to rest, the best time to do so is when plants are actively growing . During this time, you should allow two to three months before grazing begins again.

On the other hand, if you plan on planting seed pasture for the winter, the best time to begin seeding is in the fall. You can start as early as July for some grasses, but most recommend between August and September for the best results. The key is giving enough time to establish roots so it can withstand the hardy winter ahead.

Depending on the species, you usually need 70 to 120 days of growth before temperatures drop into the low-20s.

If you’re unsure where to start or how much time certain grasses need, then you can check out the best time to plant the seed by state .

Tip #4: Use No-Till Drill Seeding

Although there are many ways to plant, no-till drill seeding is the most recommended method for overseeding existing pastures. No-till drill seeding is a method that’s been around for hundreds of years and is still used today. Instead of turning over the soil, a drill creates the separate seed furrows.

Tip #5: Allow Time

You should allow your seeds two to three months to root successfully. In doing so, you’re allowing enough good growth to guarantee they survive during winter and lower competition from weeds compared to spring seeding.

“When it’s time to plant, drill the seed and wait for the rain. The seeds will wait. When you get rain, you’ll have grass,” says Rob Kallenback, a forage specialist at the University of Missouri. “I plant every year, and have had only a couple minor failures. That’s thousands of acres.”

During this time, avoid your animals running on any growing seed. Trampling can delay growth or move grain unexpectedly. At this point, all you can do is be patient, wait for the rain, and watch your pasture grow.

This is the final step in planting pasture seed in the fall, so all you can do is wait as your seeds begin to take root.

Conclusion

Everybody knows that having a healthy pasture means healthy livestock — but it’s more than ensuring your animals are fed. By seeding correctly, you’re also reducing work for yourself, building soil fertility, reducing erosion, and helping grow disease-resistant grass.

So, whether you’re preparing for the winter or have a cool-season pasture, fall is an excellent time to begin seeding. Before seeding, make sure you:

Do a soil test
Use the best seed variety
Plant at the best time
Use no-till drill seeding
Allow time for the seed to take

And since every pasture is different, it’s also best to check out different types of pasture seeds based on your climate and livestock needs.

Gibberella Ear Rot and Stalk Rot in Corn

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 15:49:33 GMT

Gibberella stalk rot and ear rot are caused by the fungus Gibberella zeae, the same pathogen that causes head scab of wheat (Fusarium graminearum). The fungus overwinters on the residue of corn and wheat. Gibberella ear rot produces mycotoxins in corn, including deoxynivalenol (DON, also call vomitoxin).

Gibberella Ear Rot and Stalk Rot in Corn

www.hubnerseed.com

What to Watch For

Gibberella ear rot occurs when Gibberella zeae enters kernels through the silks. Cool, wet weather during and after silking increases the chance of the disease infecting and colonizing ears.1 Wounds from birds or insects can also create openings for the disease to enter ears.

Gibberella ear mold displaying typical pinkish kernels.

Figure 2. Gibberella stalk rot infects stalks following pollination. While outsides of stalks may have blue-black perithecia, the inside has pink coloration and disintegrated pith tissue.

Impact on Corn

Deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin or DON) levels in grain can reduce feed quality and prices at elevators. A mycotoxin test can be used to check DON levels in harvested grain. DON levels should be 10 ppm for beef and feedlot cattle older than four months. DON levels are to be 5 ppm for swine, young calves, and dairy animals.5 Mycotoxins are concentrated in the dust and lighter, shriveled kernels, and contaminated grains should be cleaned to remove these fine particles. If the corn is to be used for silage, it is recommended to have a mycotoxin test as well.

Management Options

Corn Product— Researchers have identified two types of resistance to Gibberella: silk resistance and kernel resistance. Silk resistance should help protect against the fungus growing rapidly down the silk to the kernels. Kernel resistance helps to protect by keeping the fungus from spreading from kernel to kernel.6 Bayer products are rated for tolerance to Gibberella on a scale of 1 to 9 (with a rating of 1 being low infection and 9 being high levels of infection). Characteristics that resist animal and insect damage are also desired. Different corn products are likely to have different silking dates and silking dates aligned with stormy humid weather increases the risk of infection.

Replacing doors with screens on bottoms of clean grain and return elevators. Bottom door can be taken completely off to leave light, infected kernels in the field.
Add a screen on the unload auger if possible.
Set the concave wide with the rotor/cylinder speed set slow.
Closing the back portion of the chaffer (sieve) increases the wind blast forcing additional light kernels out the returns and over the back of the sieve. Some good kernels may be lost; however, this may be acceptable for fields with high DON levels.7

Fall Field Work—Fall tillage in combination with shredding plant debris may help assist in plant residue breakdown, reducing inoculum.

Sources:

1 Willyerd, K.T., Paul, P. A., Mills, D. Thomison, P. 2010. Giberrella ear rot and mycotoxins in corn: sampling, testing, and storage AC-52. Ohio State University Extension. https://ohioline.osu.edu/ .

2 OMAFRA. 2014. Identifying corn moulds. Crop Talk. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/field/news/croptalk/2014/ct-1114a9.htm.

3 Manstretta, V. and Rossi, V. 2015. Effects of temperature and moisture on development of Fusarium graminearum perithecia in maize stalk residues. Plant Microbiology. Vol. 82. pgs. 184-191.

4 Freije, A., Wise, K. 2016. Diseases of corn: Stalk rots BP-89-W. Purdue Extension. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/ .

7 RealAgriculture Agronomy Team. 2018. Corn school: fine tuning the combine to reduce DON levels. https://www.realagriculture.com/2018/11/corn-school-fine-tuning-your-combine-to-reduce-don-levels/ .

Web sources verified 06/17/21. 6005_S8

Gerber & Sons, Inc. Expand Goat Feed Selections

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 21:02:20 GMT

Bob White Line of Goat Feed has widened their varieties.

This is where it started in the United States according to Google. This goat thing.....

In 1493, Columbus brought goats to America. In the 1590's the settlers brought Swiss breeds along with Spanish and Austrian goats. A 1630 census of Jamestown lists goats as one of the most valuable assets. Can you imagine traveling on a ship with goats?

Today, goats numbers have grown in alarming rates. It seems like you see more goats than cattle when driving the country side. The areas that people set up for their goats are just pretty amazing too. They look more like a play yard for children instead of a goat pasture. But the hours that you could put in just watching these amazing creatures. How could something that Christopher Columbus brought over in 1493 be such a big market today.

Several years ago, most farms that had goats had them for weed control. It was nothing to see a goat tied to a cement block with a large container of water in the vicinity. My goodness the times have changed.

The fact of the matter is that farming meat goats can be and is very profitable. In fact, meat goats are far more profitable than either sheep or cattle. Remembering that goats can be worth up to $20 per pound on average, whereas cattle goes for much less. The consumption rate of feed is much less.

Raising goats for 4-H projects has turned into a very competitive project and has become more and more popular. There is a lot of responsibility to raising a 4-H goat. How and what to feed, how to care for the goats, name body parts, have an adequate space for your goat, and knowing things that can make your goat sick to name a few.

We have made some welcome updates and changes to our goat feed line:

- 18% Performance Plus Goat Pellet w/Rumensin : 7182102

- Complete pellet with the show goat in mind, added Amaferm to help with gut health, feed efficiency and overall health and immunity of the animal.

- 18% Show Goat Feed (no Medication) : 7179104 (500# special order)

- Same feed just updated formula code.

- 18% Performance Plus Show Goat Tex w/Rumensin : 7176101

- Updated and revised formulation of our Show Goat

- Steam Rolled Grains (Corn, Oats, and Barley) with Amaferm added.

If you have any questions contact Derek Booth or Russ Sprague, they will be glad to answer any of your questions at 330-897-6011.

12 steps to empty, clean and prep grain bins

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 15:08:58 GMT

Put safety first when following every one of these steps.

Tom J Bechman | Jun 04, 2020

Farm Progress Show

Aug 31, 2021 to Sep 02, 2021

Once you haul out the last load of grain from a bin, the real work begins. It’s time to thoroughly clean and prepare the bin for the next crop. Unless you do this correctly, you can put your health at risk and set yourself up for storage issues at the same time.

Gary Woodruff, GSI district manager and grain conditioning expert, offers these 12 tips toward safer, more effective grain bin cleaning and prep:

1. De-energize the site. Before you perform any work or service, turn off and disconnect, lock out and tag, or block off all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic equipment that presents a danger. This particularly includes grain-moving equipment, such as augers and belts.

2. Keep everyone out. Grain should not be emptied or moved into or out of the bin while workers are inside, period!

3. Clean outside. Mow and remove all weeds and debris outside the bin for safety purposes. This also eliminates safe harbors for vermin.

4. Deep-clean inside. Using proper respiratory protection, sweep and clean the interior of the bin. Pay special attention to cracks and any areas such as inside stiffeners and obstructions that may allow debris to build up. They can harbor insects or mold.

5. Spray inside and outside. You will want to wait until shortly before harvest to spray for insects. Following all instructions and using proper respiratory and safety equipment, spray and treat the exterior and interior of the bin. Get under a full or partial floor as you spray to minimize insect infestations and mold. Every few years, check accumulations under the floor and clean, even if that means taking up the floor.

6. Clean and check roof vents. Use proper respiratory protection as you inspect and clean all passive or powered roof vents. Make sure there is free flow of aeration or ventilation air.

7. Inspect the structure. A bin is like any farm structure — it can deteriorate over time. Inspect for leaks, rusting or other deterioration to make sure it is structurally correct. Make needed repairs.

8. Check bottom ring seal. Here’s one people often forget to check. Inspect condition of the bottom ring seal and repair, if necessary, to keep water from entering the bottom of the bin.

9. Inspect fans. Check the condition of the aeration fan or fans. Inspect transition and entrance collars for damage and proper seal.

10. Check for gas leaks. If it’s a drying bin, carefully check the gas supply lines, burner, vaporizer and burner gas train for leaks. Make sure all are clean and free of debris, particularly around the burners. Have a qualified service technician repair any problems found. Make sure any rubber hoses are in good condition. Replace them every 10 years, or according to local gas ordinances.

11. Check door seals. Inspect the entrance door, making sure it’s mechanically correct and shuts and seals tightly. Make sure doors are correctly closed before you start to load the bin. Otherwise, whoever opens the door could be at risk of being covered by grain.

12. Wear respiratory equipment. Always practice proper safety with respiratory equipment. Keep the area free of clutter, and take all steps possible to protect against falls when working around any grain bin.The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Alfalfa tips for 2021

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 15:59:39 GMT

Take advantage of new genetics and rethink your harvest intervals.

Betsy Fre ese, Successful Farming .

Heading into hay season 2021, there are a few trends that farmers should watch, says forage agronomist Dan Undersander, University of Wisconsin.

First, there are new races to some alfalfa diseases, such as anthracnose, and some alfalfa varieties have been developed with resistance to disease, says Undersander.

Second, aphanomyces root rot in alfalfa is getting worse, and some new resistant genetics are worthwhile, says Undersander. When he started research on aphanomyces more than 20 years ago, he focused on race 1. Now there are multiple races, with race 2 becoming more dominant and more virulent. Since race 2 resistance has been available, race 3 is becoming more of a problem. “New genetics is providing some resistance to the new races that are coming forward,” he adds.

The third trend is ever-increasing yields, says Undersander. He credits much of that to Roundup Ready and HarvXtra genetically engineered alfalfa. HarvXtra, by Forage Genetics International, was developed to maximize quality by reducing the amount of lignin in the plant. It also includes the Roundup Ready technology for weed control. By using the HarvXtra trait and switching to a longer harvest interval, yields can go up about 20%, he says. “That’s a pretty big deal.”

New gene editing work with CRISPR technology is also taking place across the country. “Almost all of it is not to market,” says Undersander. “There’s a lot of germplasm that the companies have been slow to bring onto the market because in many parts of the world, those would require the same approval process as a GM trait.” That isn’t the case in the United States, but since alfalfa is exported around the world, the gene marker research is not always coming forward, he explains. He expects the main benefit from new gene editing research to be in improved disease resistance and increased yield.

Rethink Every Cutting At Bud Stage producers should also look closely at every field decision they make this year, he says. When you have longer harvest intervals, you build better plant condition, Undersander explains. “We’ve harvested at the bud stage because that’s what we need for top-quality feed, but we know that has stressed the plant.”

He suggests going back to the old recommendation of 10% bloom at third cutting to rebuild stand condition. “A lot of farmers have forgotten about that. They take every cutting at the bud stage, and that tends to weaken the plant. It has the potential for greater winter kill, and we don’t get as much yield on first cutting the next spring as we might otherwise,” Undersander says. A new alternative with HarvXtra is delaying harvest by seven to 10 days, from a 28-day to a 35-day interval with quality remaining similar to conventional varieties harvested at 28 days. The delayed harvest boosts rebuilding the carbohydrates in the root and rebuilding stand condition. “The shoots are more likely to survive a hard winter, and therefore yield more in the next year,” says Undersander. Consider rethinking your 28-day cutting schedule, he says, if “you end up with two weeks of growing season left after the last cutting. If you can spread it out to a 35-day schedule, you can use a full growing season.”

Another advantage of the new genetics is that alfalfa doesn’t change in quality quite as fast. “So if it’s about ready to be cut, and then it starts to rain and you’re held up a week, it doesn’t hurt the quality as much as with a conventional variety,” he explains.

Weather Issues, changing weather patterns have been hard on alfalfa in a number of ways, says Undersander, and he expects that to continue this spring. In Wisconsin, for example, there have been more warm spells and then freeze backs during winter the past few years. “That’s been detrimental. It used to be cold and snow would stay there until it warmed up for good,” he says. “Now, we tend to have growth periods and freeze back. So that’s one of the reasons for needing more carbohydrates in the root so that the plant can start growing, freeze back, start over, and be in good health.”

In other parts of the country, generally warmer temperatures and drier conditions are affecting the health of alfalfa. “It has to be able to handle those circumstances consistently over several years, and that has been a challenge,” he says.

Feeding Trends, the dairy industry has increased use of corn silage vs. alfalfa, says Undersander. There is a milk component advantage to feeding more high-quality alfalfa, because it is highly digestible, but corn silage has had higher yield and is easier to produce. For one thing, corn is a single-harvest crop vs. alfalfa, which needs to be harvested multiple times.

“Nitrogen has been cheap, so the cost of the fertilizer isn’t as great as it used to be,” he explains. “There is no need for nitrogen fertilizer with alfalfa.” Also, alfalfa provides nitrogen for one to two years after plowdown.

If you feed a lot of corn silage, remember that the grain converts to propionic acid, and the rumen becomes acidic, warns Undersander. “If we feed alfalfa, the compounds are slowly released and we don’t get the acid buildup in the rumen that we do with a high corn silage ration,” he says.

When Buying Seed look for improved disease resistance in the varieties and consider the reduced lignin products. “Not only will it give you greater quality, but it will allow you to increase the yield of your alfalfa,” he says. The new technology in genetics offers three big things: quality, yield, and a little bit of insurance against Mother Nature.

New Tech in Genetics alfalfa genetic discoveries have sped up in the past decade, says Julie Ho, vice president of research for Forage Genetics International, mainly with the release of Roundup Ready alfalfa (fully deregulated in 2011) and HarvXtra alfalfa (2014). The Roundup Ready trait has enabled better stand establishment and weed control and, in turn, higher yield potential, feed quality, and persistence. The HarvXtra trait has delivered 15% to 20% improvements in forage quality (i.e., higher digestible fiber and reduced lignin content) compared with the cumulative 3% improvement over the 30 years prior.

By combining molecular and classical field breeding in the Midwest and Northeast, researchers have made improvements in disease and insect tolerance, including anthracnose, aphanomyces, and potato leafhopper, while continuing to make incremental improvements in winter survival and yield, says Ho. “In the West and Plains, we’ve tackled challenges in water quality and availability by developing varieties with improved salinity and nematode tolerance. It’s truly been an exciting and productive decade.”

The most promising research for alfalfa today centers around farm productivity and land stewardship, says Ho. “The benefits of alfalfa to farm economics, whether hay grower or dairy producer, have not been communicated broadly enough to realize fully grower ROI.”

Swine BlueLite® is the original acidified water soluble electrolyte for pigs of all ages

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 11:31:58 GMT

We carry this product at our locations. With heat stress and fair projects Bluelite is another tool in your tool box.

www.techmixglobal.c o m

Preparing for dehydration stress events ensures that pigs will receive the critical nutrients and hydration necessary. Use Swine BlueLite® to provide additional energy, electrolytes, and acidification. For over 30 years, Swine BlueLite has been proven to help lower gut pH, to reduce problems of dehydration-shrink, and is an effective rehydration product for swine of any age.

WHEN TO USE:

Swine BlueLite

Following shipment or movement
During heat stress
To reduce water pH
At weaning
For nursing or newly weaned pigs to help mask unpleasant taste of water supplements or antibiotics
Following scours

KEY BENEFITS

Swine BlueLite

Easy to administer and extremely palatable
An acidified electrolyte that combines energy sources specifically designed to combat losses in swine due to shrink or dehydration
Acidification helps to lower gut pH, acting as a bacteria inhibitor
Helps to encourage consistent water intake, maintain adequate hydration, and stimulate feed intake during times of stress
Helps to maintain fluid intake by masking unpleasant tasting water supplements or antibiotics

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

SWINE BLUELITE

Water Use

Give Swine BlueLite for 5-7 days or until pigs pig’s hydration status has been restored.

1. Mix one ounce (3 tablespoons) of Swine BlueLite product per 4 gallons (15.2 liters) of drinking water.

2. Mix one pound (2 1/2 cups, 600 ml) of Swine BlueLite product per 64 gallons (242 L) of drinking water.

3. Mix 2 pounds (5 cups, 1.2 L) of Swine BlueLite per gallon of stock solution. Provide 1 fl. oz. (30 mL) of stock solution to each gallon of drinking water (1:128).

Feed Use

Mix 6 pounds (2.72 kg) of Swine BlueLite to each ton of complete swine feed. Use Swine BlueLite in the feed for 5-7 days or until pigs are consuming their normal amount of feed.

National Dairy Month Facts

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 16:15:03 GMT

The National Milk Producers Federation is pointing out some key facts about U.S. dairy in observance of National Dairy Month in June.

https://ocj.com/2019/06/dairy-facts-for-dairy-month/

The state of the industry

Total domestic consumption of milk has risen four of the past five years and reached a record in 2018.
While per-capita milk U.S. consumption has declined, consumption of non-fluid dairy products such as cheese have increased, with butter last year at its highest per-capita consumption in more than 50 years.
U.S. dairy export volumes reached a record in 2018, increasing 9% over the prior year despite stiff trade winds. The value of U.S. exports was $5.59 billion, 2% more than the prior year, despite trade disturbances that to date have cost farmers at least $2.3 billion in revenues.

Sustainability and animal welfare

The U.S. dairy industry contributes approximately two percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions — the lowest average GHG intensity of milk production worldwide.
Fruits and vegetables, grains, and dairy are roughly equal in greenhouse-gas emissions.
Through the leadership of NMPF’s National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, which includes 98% of the U.S. milk supply, U.S. dairy producers are the first livestock animal care program in the world to be recognized for its animal welfare standards. FARM gained that recognition last year from the International Organization for Standardization, founded by the UN.

Consumer choice

Milk is consumers’ dominant choice compared compared to plant-based competitors. In a typical week, U.S. consumers buy more than 65 million gallons of milk, compared to about 6 million gallons of plant-based beverages. Milk also costs about 40% less, according to consumer sales and pricing data.
Milk is a key source of nine essential nutrients crucial to a healthy diet.

And, finally …

Milk is the product of a lactating animal, per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s unenforced rules.

Benefits of Dairy

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 16:00:31 GMT

Decades of research confirm that dairy plays an essential role in your healthy lifestyle, so be sure to get your 3 servings a day and learn more about the benefits below. For more great information, check out this website. https://www.americandairy.com

Everything from health, wellness to sports drinks. Are you getting your three.

Diabetes Prevention

A growing body of research indicates that dairy food consumption is associated with multiple health benefits, including dairy foods are associated with a lower risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). This research provides further support for consuming low-fat or fat-free dairy foods as recommended in the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Heart Health

Dairy foods are associated with multiple health benefits, including decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and reduced risk for stroke. Low-fat and fat-free dairy foods are part of the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and American Heart Association (AHA) recommended healthy dietary patterns for Americans 2 years and older.

Bone Health

Research continues to support the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations to consume three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods for children and adolescents ages 9 year and older as part of a nutrient rich diet, along with adequate physical activity, to help achieve peak bone mass. Reaching peak bone mass is associated with reduced risk of osteoporosis later in life.

Sports Recovery

Milk is nature’s sports drink .

While milk provides many nutrients for overall health, research has shown that milk’s powerful nutrient package has several benefits to sports recovery. Drinking milk – white or chocolate – after exercise helps the body to refuel, recover and rehydrate because of its unique nutrient profile.

Weight Management

A healthy-eating pattern, which includes fat-free or low-fat dairy products provides the foundation for weight management and leading a healthy lifestyle. Dairy foods, like milk, yogurt and cheese, provide high-quality protein. Research has shown that protein helps provide a sense of satiety and fullness which helps with weight management .

Why 3 Servings a Day?

Three servings of dairy foods, like milk, yogurt, or cheese, in those 9 years and older contribute to healthy eating styles and well-being. Milk has a unique nutrient package and contains thirteen essential nutrients important for growth and development.

Resources

Feed-Through Fly Control

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 15:19:15 GMT

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Maybe Pigs Can Fly: Pork “Wings” Rise in Popularity

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 20:00:03 GMT

By SARA BROWN January 21, 2021

www.porkbusiness.com

Food trends are no joke—from bacon-wrapped everything, ranch flavoring and the food bowl craze, consumers’ tastes are always looking for something new, fun and convenient.

In Chicago, Flo & Santos pub and eatery has a new pork-lovin’ spin on a game-day staple—boneless chicken wings. The “flying pork wings” are coated in buffalo, barbeque or teriyaki sauce.

“They’re an easy sell. It’s something unique, something you can share,” Nicki Piersanti, the restaurant’s general manager, told Bloomberg . “Pork wings -- it’s funny -- pigs can’t fly.”

And they aren’t the only one offering a pork spin on boneless, bite-sized protein. U.S. Foods Holding Corp., has been selling pork wings, or cuts from the shank to restaurants for about three years.

While sales are still lower than their chicken counterparts, “pork wings could play an important role” in 2019, said Kathleen Hoffman, chef at restaurant distributor U.S. Foods Holding Corp.

A major plus for pork—it can easily take on flavor profiles such as Korean, Thai and Chinese, opening the uniquely positioned product to a wide consumer market.

Bloomberg reports Bob File is credited to inventing the pig-wing category, specifically cut from the fibula of the hog’s shank.

Bloomberg also reports Maple Leaf Foods sells pig wings in Canada, while Farmland and Sysco also have their own products. Hooters of America, who marketed pork wings a couple years ago have also considered selling them again this year for a limited time. Other niche marketers, such as Pioneer Meats , are offering online sources for the cut.

Want to make “pig-wings” yourself for the big game?

Here’s a few fun recipes to check out:

Blue Cheese Buffalo Pork "Wings"

Pig Wings with Asian Sesame Sauce

HowtoBBQright.com Pig Wings

All Wrapped Up…in Bacon

Wendy’s Spin on Bacon Cheeseburger & Fries is “S’Awesome”

Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame Inductees to be Honored at 2021 Cattle Industry Convention

Mon, 31 May 2021 15:45:03 GMT

By NCBA May 26, 2021

Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame inductees and award winners will be honored on Aug. 9, 2021, during the 12th annual banquet, held in conjunction with the nation’s largest cattle industry gathering. The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame banquet will precede the 2021 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, to be held in Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 10-12.

The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame was established in 2009 to honor the exceptional visionary men and women who have made lasting contributions to the cattle-feeding industry. Inductees for 2021 are Johnny Trotter, president and CEO of Bar-G Feed yard in Hereford, Texas, and Steve Gabel, founder of Magnum Feed yard in Wiggins, Colo.

Dr. Gary C. Smith, visiting professor in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University, will receive the Industry Leadership Award. George Eckert with Green Plains Cattle Company in Garden City, Kan., and Gaspar Martinez with Harris Feeding Company in Coalinga, Calif., will receive the Arturo Armendariz Distinguished Service Award.

“I’m excited we can gather in person to recognize this year’s honorees who have devoted their careers to preserving our mission and improving production practices in the industry,” said Cliff Becker, senior vice president, Farm Journal and Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame board member. “We can’t wait to honor these men who have made extraordinary contributions to the cattle feeding industry.”

Attendees of the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame banquet will find it convenient to stay in Nashville for the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, which starts the next day. That event will feature important industry meetings, motivational speakers, valuable education, music and entertainment, a massive trade show, producer recognition, a Cowboy’s Night at the Opry and much more.

Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame banquet tickets are $200 per person in addition to convention registration. All proceeds from banquet ticket sales and corporate sponsorships benefit future Hall of Fame initiatives. As an added incentive, Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame banquet attendees will receive a $50 discount on their Cattle Industry Convention registration, courtesy of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Information on the 2021 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, including tickets to the 2021 Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame banquet, can be found at http://convention.ncba.org . Ticket sales and convention registration open June 1, 2021. For more information on the Hall of Fame visit www.cattle f eeders.org .

Ohio's Flea-and-Tick Season

Sat, 29 May 2021 16:00:06 GMT

AKC https://www.akc.org/

Although fleas and ticks pose a threat to pets year-round, these pests become most active during the warmer months, starting as early as March in some areas of the United States. Find your state on the map shown here to learn where and when your pets are most at risk for fleas and ticks.

Fleas & Ticks: More Than Just a Nuisance

The Merck Veterinary Manual says, “Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that attach themselves to animals and people. Once attached to a host, ticks feed voraciously. As they feed, ticks can transmit a large number of diseases.” These include Lyme disease , Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and ehrlichiosis (a bacterial infection.) Ticks also cause skin wounds that may lead to bacterial infections and can also cause anemia.

There are more than 200 species of fleas affecting dogs, and these can also transmit disease and cause tapeworm infections and anemia. Some dogs are very sensitive to fleabites and suffer from serious allergic reactions of itchy, red, and scabby skin and even hair loss.

Many people believe that their dogs are safe from fleas and ticks after the first frost, but unfortunately, this is not at all true. Some species of ticks, including the ones that cause Lyme disease, can remain active in fall and winter months, too.

Wingless Acrobats

Most of the fleas found on dogs and cats are Ctenocephalides felis , also known as cat fleas. Fleas require blood from an animal host to be able to live and reproduce. They don’t have wings, so they can’t fly. However, they are serious jumpers with the ability to jump 100 to 200 times their size.

Fleas have four developmental stages: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. When it’s cold or there’s no host on the horizon, flea pupae, which is the stage before adult fleas emerge, have the ability stay in their tiny cocoons nestled in your couch or rug until the weather gets warm or they find a host.

A solitary adult female (and many people say there’s no such thing as one flea) starts laying eggs the day after its first ingestion of blood, producing up to 50 eggs per day and about 2,000 in its lifetime. So it doesn’t take long to have an infestation on your dog and in your house — leading to a costly and time-consuming extermination process.

Hiding Out in Your Yard

Ticks, unlike fleas, don’t need to live on their host. They live in grassy and wooded areas and prefer a humid environment. Then when your dog walks by, they attach themselves to him. The Centers for Disease Control recommends clearing tall grass and brush from your yard to make it less attractive to ticks.

The geographic distribution of ticks is broadening as a result of climate change, deforestation, and the changing migration patterns of deer, birds, and rodents. Ticks are in virtually all parts of the United States, including some urban areas, and many parts of the world.

Some types of ticks can remain alive in the colder months, especially when temperatures are above freezing. For example, the Blacklegged tick, which carries Lyme disease, begin its period of prime feeding near the time of the first frost. Since deer are the main host of the Blacklegged tick and are active in fall and early winter months, this type of tick survives on the warm body of its host – until it drops off and attaches itself to your dog.

Bottom Line on Flea & Tick Season

When temperatures rise, flea eggs are safe to hatch outside, and ticks can thrive in woods and tall grasses. This is also the time of year that you and your dog are more likely to spend hiking and walking and enjoying nature. However, it doesn’t take warm temperatures to put your dog at the mercy of these pests.

The best defense against fleas and ticks is to keep your dog on a year-round flea and tick preventive medication as recommended by your veterinarian. “Be sure to ask your veterinarian for advice about the safest treatment for your dog and your home,” advises Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer.

“Depending on where you live, the age and breed of your dog, the protocol may vary. For example, young puppies or older dogs with weaker immune systems may require special doses or treatments, or if you live in a tropical area, the environmental applications required may be more frequent.”

Water Use and Irrigation Timing for Corn

Thu, 27 May 2021 15:15:02 GMT

Hubner Seed™ | Corn, Soybean & Specialty Seed for Eastern Fields

Crop water use is influenced by weather conditions, crop growth stage, and several other factors. Corn water use rates peak during the early reproductive stages.
When corn does not receive enough water to meet evapotranspiration demands during the reproductive growth stages, significant reductions in yield can occur.
Understanding how corn water use changes throughout the season can help guide more efficient irrigation applications.

Evapotranspiration (ET)

The terms crop water use and evapotranspiration (ET) are used synonymously to describe the movement of water through evaporation (E) from the soil and plant surfaces and transpiration (T) through the plant. Transpiration is the movement of water from the soil into plant roots, through plant stems and leaves, and back out into the atmosphere. Transpiration is an important concept because yield is related to the amount of water a plant transpires. Understanding corn water use and the factors that affect it can help guide more efficient irrigation applications.

Factors that Influence ET

Corn water use will fluctuate throughout the season depending on weather conditions and crop growth stage (Figure 1). Factors that will affect ET and irrigation decisions include:

Crop growth stage .

Corn water requirements change throughout the season. Young plants transpire less than larger plants due to a smaller leaf surface area. Corn requires the most water just prior to and during the reproductive growth stages.

Relative maturity. A full-season corn product will use more water over the course of the season compared to a shorter-season product grown in the same location. While longer-season corn products use more water, they may also have a higher yield potential if heat units and adequate water are available.

Weather conditions .

The ability of the atmosphere to evaporate water is the driving force for soil water evaporation and transpiration. Daily ET is influenced by solar radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, and wind. High air temperatures, low humidity, clear skies, and high winds cause a large evaporative demand.

Soil water holding capacity and soil water content .

Soil type dictates the maximum amount of water a soil can hold and how much of that water will be available to plants. Fine textured soils can hold more water than coarse textured soils. As the soil dries, it becomes more difficult for plants to extract water. When the soil water profile is full (field capacity), plants use water at the maximum rate. As the water content of the soil drops, plants are less able to extract the water.

Residue management / Tillage system .

The soil water evaporation component of ET can be reduced with conservation tillage and increased surface crop residue. Tillage increases the exposed surface area of the soil which increases evaporation and runoff, destroys crop residue that can catch rain and snow, and may reduce water infiltration because of compaction that can be created during the tillage process. Surface residue helps increase infiltration rates by limiting the amount of surface sealing created by rainfall and irrigation droplets. Surface residue also helps reduce runoff by creating obstructions that limit water movement and allow more time for water to seep into the soil profile.

Corn Water Use and Irrigation Requirements by Growth Stage

High yielding corn requires approximately 20 to 30 inches of water per year depending on planting date, maturity group, location, and weather conditions. ¹ Corn requires the most water during the early reproductive growth stages (Table 1), which are also the most sensitive stages to water stress. Significant reductions in yield can occur if corn does not receive enough water to meet ET demands during this critical water use period.

Planting .

Corn uses very little water during the seedling stage. If early-season precipitation and stored soil moisture are adequate for seedling emergence and early plant development, irrigation is not recommended immediately following planting. Without the plant canopy to shade the soil surface, much of the irrigation would be lost to evaporation. Farmers should rely on stored soil moisture and natural precipitation as much as possible during the early growth stages.

Vegetative stages .

The vegetative stages of corn are often considered the least sensitive stages to water stress. If irrigation supplies are limited, the vegetative stages may provide an opportunity to reserve irrigation for the reproductive stages where it will have the most impact on yield potential.

Early reproductive stages .

Corn water use peaks during the early reproductive stages. Water stress should be avoided during tasseling, silking, and pollination. Water stress during silking can have the greatest impact on yield potential due to desiccation of the silks and pollen grains, which will result in poor pollination. ² Corn water demands often exceed precipitation amounts during these critical growth stages. It is important to plan ahead by knowing the capacity of the irrigation system to ensure that adequate water is available to the crop through these stages.

Dough through dent stages .

Corn water use rates steadily decrease from the dough stage through maturity due to a lower evaporative demand (shorter days, lower temperatures, lower solar radiation), a loss of transpiring leaf area as lower leaves begin to die, and changes in plant physiology. ² Corn will still need roughly 30% of its seasonal water requirement at the beginning of the dough stage (Table 2). For optimal grain development and maximum yield potential, corn requires water right up until physiological maturity. Water stress during dough through dent stages can accelerate maturity, prohibiting kernels from reaching their full potential size and weight. ³

Maturity .

Water is no longer needed for kernel growth after physiological maturity (black layer) and no yield benefits can be achieved with additional irrigation. Allowing soils to dry at maturity is a good strategy for avoiding compaction that can be caused by harvesting machinery on wet soils.

Sources:

¹ Schneekloth, J. and Andales, A. Seasonal water needs and opportunities for limited irrigation for Colorado crops. No. 4.718. Colorado State University Extension. www.ext.colostate.edu

² Kranz, W.L., Irmak, S., van Donk, S.J., Yonts, C.D., and Martin, D.L. 2008. Irrigation management for corn. NebGuide G1850. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.

³ Lamm, F.R. and Abou Kheira, A.A. 2009. Corn irrigation macromanagement at the seasonal boundaries – initiating and terminating the irrigation season. Proceedings of the 2009 CPIC. Colby, Kansas, Feb 24-25. Web sources verified 3/31/15. 140421060305

Are periodical Cicadas a threat to field crops?

Tue, 25 May 2021 14:44:09 GMT

Periodical cicadas are going to be found in and around long-standing woodlots, forests and landscapes.

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Are periodical cicadas a threat to field crops? The quick and dirty answer to this question is NO. Are they a thread to the health and welfare of anything? There is no quick and dirty answer to this question.

The best way to answer the second question is to start by looking at what the periodical cicada is, what it feeds on, where one would expect to find them, and its life cycle.

The periodical cicada or 17-year cicada is an insect with an extremely long life cycle that takes 17 years to get from the egg stage to the adult stage. Some people mistakenly refer to this insect as a locust. Unfortunately, locusts and cicadas are not one-in-the-same. Locusts are a type of grasshopper (Order Orthoptera). Cicadas (Order Hemiptera) are not grasshoppers. And the 2 look nothing like one another.

The periodical cicada feed mostly in their nymphal stages and are hosted by trees of many species. And since it takes 17 years of feeding by the nymphs, the trees have to be old and well established, minimally 20+ years old. Therefore, periodical cicadas are going to be found in and around long-standing woodlots, forests and landscapes (homes, parks, and cemeteries), especially those that have been established in or next to woodlots. What does this preclude? We will not find periodical cicadas in crop fields, pastures, landscapes recently established on field crop ground, housing developments where all of the ground was excavated, or basically anywhere where there isn’t long established trees. There are also northern limits to their natural range (e.g. they do not exist very far into the state of Michigan).

The periodical cicada has three stages in its life cycle, eggs, nymphs and adults. Adults present themselves once every 17 years for about 4 to 6 weeks. In Ohio, the time period could start in early May in southern Ohio and mid- to late May in northern Ohio. Not all parts of Ohio will experience periodical cicada. Besides being limited to places where older growth trees are established, there are different populations called Broods that emerge in different years. In Ohio this year, we are expecting Brood X periodical cicadas which are mainly distributed in mid- to western Ohio (see the map). There is currently a Citizen Science projected called Cicada Safari with a reporting application for people to report where they run into populations ( https://cicadasafari.org/ ). This is a smart phone application for reporting to help the scientists verify the true distribution of this insect.

The main purpose of the adults is reproduction, find a mate, mate, and lay eggs for the next generation. This is when damage can occur to trees. Mated females jam their ovipositors (egg-laying structures) into small branches of trees. Multiple jabs can damage the stems to the point that they may die or at the very least be very easily broken called flagging. Mature, healthy trees will easily grow through this damage. Very young trees and newly planted trees may suffer from the damage. Because of the way that orchard trees are pruned and managed, this could cause serious damage and crop loss.

The eggs hatch a short time after they are laid. The newly hatched nymphs drop from the trees to the ground, dig in and find a tree root to attach to for feeding. No research has been done to determine if the nymphal feeding causes and problems for the trees. And that is where they stay for 17 years.

Are they a health concern for humans? No, they do not bite nor sting. Are they a threat to livestock or pets? They are not poisonous, however some dogs and cats stuff themselves with cicadas to the point that they vomit.

Source: Ohio State University, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible fo

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8 Tips for Feeding Hummingbirds

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 19:10:11 GMT

Written by Melissa Mayntz

https://www.thespruce.com/

Hummingbirds feed five to eight times per hour, and birders who are interested in feeding hummingbirds can take advantage of those voracious appetites with a deliciously attractive habitat to entice hummingbirds to visit.

These eight tips for feeding hummingbirds are sure to help you attract hummingbirds by appealing to their hungry attitudes and meeting their unique nutritional needs.

01 Provide Natural Food Sources

A hummingbird’s diet is made up of a variety of food sources. Nectar-producing flowers are a rich and popular option, and colorful blooms will attract many birds. Other hummingbird foods include tree sap, fruit juices, pollen, and insects , including spiders.
Avoid spraying pesticides or insecticides that would remove these natural food sources, and plan a hummingbird garden with the top nectar blooms to attract hungry hummers. The more varied your hummingbird food sources, the more birds you attract and the healthier they will be.

02 Offer Hummingbird Nectar

Feeders filled with a classic nectar recipe can help birders attract more hummingbirds and save money over expensive commercial nectar mixes. A simple sugar water solution is just as attractive to hummingbirds as natural nectar sources. Nectar can be mixed in larger quantities and stored in the fridge or freezer until it is ready to use, or smaller batches can be made fresh whenever feeders need to be refilled.
Avoid using any dyed products, however, including red food dye , colored juices, or other additives, as these chemicals could be harmful to hummingbirds and are not necessary for their diets.1

03 Choosing A Feeder

There are many types of hummingbird feeders to choose from, and birds that dislike one specific shape or size of feeder may be attracted to another. Use a variety of feeders spread throughout your yard to attract the most hummingbirds.
Consider both glass and plastic feeders, as well as designs with just one feeding port or multiple access points. Feeders with and without perches may also appeal to different hummingbirds. Different feeder sizes can also accommodate different feeding preferences.

04 Position Feeders Properl y
To keep hummingbirds safe from window collisions or from getting their delicate bills stuck in window screens, feeders should be positioned either very close to the window (great for visibility) or at least five feet away.
Placing feeders in an area free from breezes and out of direct sunlight minimizes spilled nectar and slows fermentation to keep nectar fresh and safe. To help the birds find your feeders, place them near nectar-producing flowers or other colorful accents in your yard, particularly red decorations that will catch these birds' eyes.

05 Discourage Insects
Bees, wasps, and ants find nectar just as irresistible as hummingbirds do, but you can minimize annoying insects by choosing feeders with built-in insect guards or traps.
Avoid feeders with yellow ports or decorations, since yellow is attractive to bees and wasps. Do not put oil or sticky products on feeder poles, as these products can stick to birds’ feathers and make it difficult for them to preen . Also avoid insecticides that could contaminate feeders and be toxic, even deadly, to these tiny birds.

06 Fill Feeders Appropriately
Hummingbird nectar can ferment in just a day or two in hot weather, so do not fill feeders with more sugar water than the birds can consume in that time in order to minimize waste. Nectar expands as it is heated, and an overly full feeder is more likely to leak and attract insects as well as other unwelcome pests such as mice, rats, raccoons, or even bears . Keep feeders comfortably filled, but not overly full or close to empty.
07 Clean Feeders Regularly
It is important to thoroughly clean hummingbird feeders at least two or three times per week. Even more frequent cleanings may be necessary in hot weather when the nectar can ferment quickly. Fermented nectar can cause mold that is fatal to hummingbirds, and sour food will not attract as many birds.
When cleaning a hummingbird feeder, take great care to thoroughly sanitize all nooks and crannies to get rid of all mold, fungus, old nectar, or crystallized sugar. Soaking a disassembled feeder in very hot water can be an easy way to remove sticky residue.
Provide Migration Meals

08 Provide Migration Meals

Hummingbirds feed excessively just prior to migration in order to build up energy reserves for their long flights. Keep hummingbird feeders clean and filled throughout the late fall and early winter so all migrating birds can be fed, and place feeders out the next year early in the spring to attract the first returning hummingbirds .
Similarly, opt for early and late-blooming nectar flowers for a long-lasting hummingbird garden. You may be surprised at just how early and late these birds will visit, and how much they'll appreciate a nutritious meal to help them refuel!

GARDENING TIPS FOR APRIL FOR WOOSTER, OH

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 16:30:02 GMT

NORTHEAST REGION - The Farmers Almanac

www.almanac.com/gardening/tips/OH/Wooster

Rake or remove mulches from all flower beds.

Plant rosebushes. They often do best if planted before growth starts and buds swell. And if you want to increase their fragrance, surround them with parsley.

Broadcast lime, wood ashes, or a mixture of the two over alkaline-loving perennials such as delphiniums and dianthus. Bring color outdoors to patios, porches, and even the garden with pansy plants, which don't mind cold nights. To encourage constant flowering, routinely remove spent blossoms and keep them from getting bone-dry.

Plant lilies-of-the-valley, violets, and garden lilies. Divide summer- and fall-blooming perennials, including delphiniums, irises, chrysanthemums, daisies, and phlox.

Although we think of this as a rainy month, it can fool us. Remember to water your plants more frequently as the weather warms up and the days lengthen.

When danger of frost has passed, uncover strawberry beds and keep them well watered.

Plant blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and fruit trees.

Start seeds indoors for heat-loving crops such as eggplant, tomatoes, and squash.

To determine whether your garden soil is ready for seeds, grab a good handful of it. If you can form it into a ball, the soil is too wet. If it crumbles through your fingers and reminds you of chocolate cake, it's ready for planting.

If you got your peas in last month, be sure to give them a good fence for support, made of chicken wire, twine, or stubby branches that are at least three feet tall. Otherwise, plant them this month as soon as you can.

Feed your trees. As soon as the frost goes out of the ground, give them a well-balanced slow-release fertilizer. Scatter about six good handfuls per each 10x10-foot area. Store leftover fertilizer in a small plastic trash can or a covered plastic container, and label it.

Rake your lawn to remove all leaves, dead grass, and small twigs. Sow seed for a new lawn, or fill in bare patches by first covering the area with compost or other organic matter. Roll the lawn if the ground isn't soggy.

Don't fertilize strawberries in the spring. This is when the leaves are developing, and you'll get lush growth and meager, soft berries. Wait until blossoms appear and use a light hand.

Don't set tomato plants out in the garden too soon. They hate cold soil and cold nights (under 55 degrees F).

When preparing to transplant seedlings, it is important to harden them off. Water the seedlings less for a week prior to planting. Set the seedlings outside in a wind-protected place when temperatures are above 50 degrees.

Have you considered raised beds? They're a great way to get your garden started faster in the spring. See Almanac.com for articles on how to build a raised bed.

Avoid planting seedlings until you've passed the last frost date for your area. See our Best Dates for Planting Seeds.

Have you tested your soil to see if it's nutrient rich and will allow plants to thrive? Contact your state's cooperative extension service for free or low-cost soil tests.

Once the garden soil is workable, give it a good stirring and let it sit for several days. Then top-dress it with compost or well-rotted manure.

Plant cool-season vegetables outside, such as beets, peas, lettuce, collards, turnips, carrots, broccoli (transplants), brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, kale, kohlrabi, onions, parsley, parsnips, radishes, and spinach. See our Best Dates to Plant chart on Almanac.com/Gardening.

Cover tender plants if late frost is in the forecast.

Plants started indoors should be hardened off outdoors in cold frames.

Plant perennials and shrubs early in the season to make sure they are established by summer. Divide perennials that are overcrowded.

For overwintered geraniums, cut back 4 to 6 inches and remove the bottom leaves.

Fertilize your trees with a well-balanced, slow-release fertilizer.

If scale or aphids have been a problem on trees and shrubs, spray the branches with dormant oil when temperatures are above 40 degrees.

If you have dead spots in the lawn, plan to patch them before the summer heat. Loosen the soil and work in some good-quality compost, sprinkle grass seed, rake lightly, and tamp to assure good seed-to-soil contact. Mulch with a thin layer of straw. Water as needed to keep the soil evenly moist until the grass sprouts.

If you left your ornamental grasses intact last fall, you can go ahead and prune them back to a height of about 6 to 12 inches now, higher for larger clumps.

Time to fertilize lawns, roses, raspberries, and woody plants.

Do you have animal pests? Be sure you put the proper fencing in place before you start the garden. See Almanac.com/Gardening for our pest pages.

Apply horticultural oil to trees and shrubs that had insect issues last year. Spray when temperatures are over 40 degrees F.

Check your apple trees. If new shots seem blacked, you may have blight disease. Prune infected areas several inches below the damage. Dip your pruners in a weak bleach solution between pruning cuts to avoid spreading the disease to other trees.

Remember to provide adequate soil moisture for your fruit trees during April and May for good fruit size.

Once ground thaws, divide any crowded rhubarb stalks. Dig up the whole crown; break off the young side shoots and plant in a full sun location.

Plant bare-root asparagus crowns as soon as the ground thaws. Choose a sunny spot!

Inspect trees and shrubs for broken limbs and prune damaged branches back to unaffected wood. Cut branches back to a branch or bud that's facing outward.

Begin Fertilizing Houseplants again.

Morel mushroom myths

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 16:30:02 GMT

Jodi Henke

4/19/2021

Springtime always finds me in the woods looking for morel mushrooms to toss in the saute pan. I’m not going to divulge my hunting spots so don’t even ask. It’s all part of the madness of hoping to find a motherlode that nobody else knows about.

Because they’re so elusive, hunters hang their hats on misconceptions about morels to help them in their search. For example, many foragers swear the mushrooms “pop” where full-size, fully formed 3-inch morels appear overnight out of the ground.

Walt Sturgeon is a mycologist and author on the subject. He says that doesn’t happen.

"I have them in my yard so I kind of watch them and it takes maybe two weeks for them to reach full size. Now sometimes when you get a little one, they don’t grow to full size. What you see is what you get which is why people think they come up already big. They don’t. But yet I have morel hunters tell me you know, I looked there, went up into the woods for three hours and came back and there it was," says Sturgeon. "It was there before it was just hidden by the leaves so it’s easy to miss them if they’re in vegetation."

A huge hunting misconception is that you should always pinch or cut the mushrooms off at ground level, leaving the fruiting body underground for future propagation. Sturgeon says that’s not important.

"You can cut them, pull them, dig them. The organism is much bigger than the fruiting body, which is what you’re picking. So, it’s like picking an apple from a tree," he explains. "The tree is underground and therefore, it doesn’t matter what you do as far as picking them goes."

Some say you can grow your own morels by buying a kit. There are plenty online to choose from. Should you try? Just remember that these secretive fungi are picky, and it takes a set of very specific conditions to get them to grow.

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EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY FOR FARMERS

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 16:08:11 GMT

By Heather Barnes , Successful Farming

4/22/2020

While today might officially be Earth Day, the reality for farmers is that every day is Earth Day.

One thing I’ve learned since becoming a farm wife is that farmers have a connection to and love for the land like no one else. It makes sense when you think about it. We depend on the land to grow our crops.

Soil is the basis of everything we do. If we don’t take care of it, it won’t take care of us. Some of the things we do to take care of our soil include taking soil samples every year. The results tell us what nutrients are in the soil and what nutrients it needs to grow a crop. This means we are only using as much fertilizer and lime as the soil needs. This is best not only for our soils, but also for our waterways.

We know there are many different types of soil and not all soil is created equal. Soil type has a lot to do with what crops farmers choose to grow. Some crops, like sweet potatoes, grow better in sandy soils found on some of our farms. Corn and soybeans grow well in the rich, black soils of eastern North Carolina, reaching yields the soils in our part of the state can’t match. Blueberries grow best in acidic soils, which means soils that have a low pH. The soils on our farms aren't acidic, which is why you won't find blueberry farms nearby.

We rotate crops, not only to help with pest and disease control, but also for soil health. Soybeans are a legume, which means the plant makes its own nitrogen, one of the main nutrients in fertilizer. By using soybeans in our rotations, we are putting nitrogen back into the soil.

Every year, we have increased the acres we plant cover crop on. For us, that’s wheat, and it grows all winter until we are ready to plant in the spring. Having the wheat helps prevent erosion, and when the cover crop is tilled under, it adds organic matter to the soil.

Farmers have a unique tie to the Earth, one that is often generations deep. That tie to the land means we do our best to care for it, not only because it’s what we should do, but also so that land is here for the next generation. If we love the land, it will love us back.

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Don't Create a Buzz! What To Do If You Find a Bee Colony on Your Property

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 01:00:02 GMT

Ana Durrani, provided byMarch 26, 2021

Updated: March 26, 2021 2:31 p.m.

The sight of one bee alone can send most people running for cover. But an entire buzzing swarm on your property? That's a serious problem—and, for most of us, a bit of a freakout. If you ever encounter a swarm or nest around your home, there are some concrete steps you should take.

“Determining Experts recommend photographing or filming the entrance to the nest or bees hanging in a tree to help identify the insect.what kind of bee or wasp you're dealing with is important," says Brock Harpur, assistant professor of entomology at Purdue University’s College of Agriculture. "Apps like iNaturalist and services like Purdue's diagnostics lab can help you make those determinations."

There are a number of stinging insects that can be found in and around your property. Honeybees, for example, are fuzzy, amber, and brown-striped. They are social insects that live in colonies with a single queen, a few hundred drones, and thousands of worker bees. They do not purposely seek out victims to sting, unless their nest is threatened. However, keep an eye out for more dangerous and unpredictable stinging insects like paper wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets. When their nest is threatened, the colony will launch a coordinated attack. Don't provoke them

If you see bees, avoidance is your best policy. Honeybees will generally leave people alone, unless they are prodded with sticks and stones, sprayed with water, or out of food, which may make them more defensive.

“Do not disturb the colony,” says Harpur. “Don't approach it or disturb it in any way.”

Determine where bees are coming from

Are the bees coming from outside the house—or inside? It's important to know because you might have a colony of bees on your property that can be harmful to you or the structure of your home, such as the siding.

If you hear buzzing sounds in your walls, there’s more than likely a large number of bees that have made their home inside. If you find a nest inside, call a professional insect control expert, pronto.

Avoid using sprays or insecticides

Bees are responsible for nearly 80% of all pollination worldwide. Seventy of the top 100 human food crops, which supply about 90% of the world’s nutrition, are pollinated by bees, according to Greenpeace. So get your hand off the insecticide trigger.

“Do not spray,” says Robyn Underwood, entomologist and an assistant research professor at Pennsylvania State University. “Over-the-counter pesticides are not particularly effective. You could end up poisoning yourself, your family, and your pets. And bees are often living in hard-to-reach places.”

Do not try to remove bees yourself

Even if it's a small, seemingly harmless swarm in your tree, do not attempt to remove it. If you’re not a beekeeper, step away.

Trying to remove bees with DIY hacks you found online will not only disturb the bees but will likely put you in danger and get you stung. And, we beg of you, don't try to emulate expert beekeeper Erika Thompson who set social media abuzz for using her bare hands to transport a colony of thousands of honeybees from a backyard shed to a new hive.

Call a bee removal professional

Handling bee swarms or hives depends on their location and if they are establishing a hive. Experts say swarms will move on without establishing a hive, but if bees establish a colony in a home, then they need to be removed.

“Beekeepers will gladly remove a swarm," says Underwood. "This is generally quick and easy and should be done as soon as possible, so that swarm does not move into a cavity."

Harpur says calling a local beekeeper or beekeeping group can help determine “the best ways to either remove the colony or prevent it from coming back the following year.” Many beekeepers will do it for free or at little cost.

Experienced beekeepers can remove swarm clusters by gently brushing or shaking the bees, placing them into a cardboard box, and taking them away.

If bees have set up their home in a cavity of some sort, a beekeeper will “likely have to open the cavity, which could include some removal of bricks, siding, soffits, drywall, or floor boards," says Underwood.

The post Don't Create a Buzz! What To Do If You Find a Bee Colony on Your Property appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com® .

The 2021 Ohio State Fair will be closed to the public

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 18:40:56 GMT

Ohio Politics

Updated Apr 08, 2021; Posted Apr 08, 2021 w post

By Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio—The 2021 Ohio State Fair will be closed to the public because of coronavirus and financial concerns, fair officials announced Thursday.

However, competitions will still be held this summer for exhibitors, their families, and guests, according to a release on the state fair’s website.

The Ohio Expositions Commission made the decision not to publicly open the fair for a second straight year because of ongoing concerns about spreading the coronavirus, the financial cost of maintaining health safeguards, and the lasting impacts on the fair in the long term, the release stated.

Virgil Strickler, the fair’s longtime general manager, said in a statement that even though vaccination rates are “improving significantly” in Ohio, the fight against the pandemic is still ongoing.

Where we are today in this battle makes it challenging to plan a large-scale entertainment event, not knowing where we will be, or what Ohio will look like, in late July,” Strickler stated. “I wish we had a crystal ball, but we don’t.”

He added that if a fair was held this year, it would likely be financially “devastating,” as attendance would likely be far lower than usual and seating capacities at events would have to be reduced. Youth and senior livestock competitions, along with educational project judging for non-livestock competitions, will still be held this year -- though only exhibitors and family members will be allowed to attend. The livestock competitions are expected to take place between July 19 and Aug. 8, according to the release.

Fair officials stated they expect to hold the 2022 Ohio State Fair with rides, concerts, entertainment, food vendors, and shopping open to the public.

The fair’s announcement comes just two days after Gov. Mike DeWine announced that his administration’s ban on county fairs and other mass gatherings would be lifted so long as visitors take proper coronavirus precautions, such as wearing masks and remaining in small groups that remain apart from each other.

DeWine, a Greene County Republican, said Thursday he still anticipates that all county and independent fairs will be able to fully open this year. But the state fair, he said during a televised briefing, is “unique” because of its size and sources of revenue.

“I’m comfortable with the decision that (state fair officials) made,” DeWine said. The governor said his administration will ask state lawmakers to allow some of the funding provided under the latest federal stimulus package to help subsidize the fair.

Dairy officials are still working to see whether, unlike last year, this year’s Ohio State Fair will have a butter cow -- a fair tradition for more than a century.

“We’re going to do our best to figure out a way to keep that butter display tradition going,” said Jenny Crabtree, senior vice president of communications for the American Dairy Association Mideast, which presents the butter cow every year.

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FARMING 101: HOW TO PLANT SOYBEANS

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 15:02:38 GMT

Terri Queck-Matzie

https://www.agriculture.com/crops/soybeans/farming-101

A versatile legume, soybeans are a common cash crop that produce at least twice as much protein per acre as most other vegetables or grains. As processed meal or oil, soybeans make their way into human and animal foods, as well as an array of nonfood industrial products and fuel.

The soybean is native to East Asia, but today most soybean production takes place in the U.S. and South America. They are generally grown in a crop rotation with corn, creating good risk management for both crops by breaking disease, insect, and weed cycles, as well as managing farm workflow.

CHOOSING SEED

The first step to successful soybean planting and subsequent harvest is seed selection. Beans can be treated with any number of fungicide and pesticide products. Planting date and field history are primary considerations when making your selection.

If the field has a history of disease during seedling emergence, a fungicide treatment may be desirable. The same applies for any known history of Phytophthora, Sudden Death Syndrome, or any other soybean pathogens.

Likewise, insecticide seed treatment may be desirable if the field is known for insect pests. Like any input, the cost must be weighed against yield gains.

Fungicide treatments are especially helpful if planting early in the spring, as wet, cool soil conditions can add to the risk of seedling disease. No-till fields will have cool soils longer into the season than tilled fields and commonly will have more seedling disease problems.

Farmers who have never used a soybean fungicide seed treatment may want to reconsider this spring , says Dean Grossnickle, a Syngenta agronomic service representative based in central Iowa. Phomopsis infested a share of soybeans last year, and the inoculum may carry into this year’s seed lots.

Planting fungicide-treated soybean seed – particularly on seed with lower-than-normal germination – is a way to ensure adequate stand potential, he says.

Soybeans can be, and often are, no-till drilled into previous crop residue, a move that saves on cost without affecting yield. Mark Licht, Iowa State University Extension and outreach cropping systems specialist, says it helps to pay attention to residue distribution at harvest, making it as uniform as possible so there is more residue close to the surface to make planting easier.

WHEN TO PLANT

In determining when to put seeds in the ground, soil condition and weather trump date. The experts will say the earlier you plant, the better the yield, but there must be adequate ground moisture and the weather should be in a warming trend. At least 50˚F. and warming to ensure adequate soil temps is ideal. Be sure there is no longer a risk of late freeze or frost by the time of the crop’s emergence seven to 10 days after planting.

For the upper Midwest, optimal planting time is generally April 25 to mid-May. By late May, producers will see a yield reduction. Planting in early April carries significant risk, but when successful can produce impressive yields.

“With today’s seed treatments we are seeing planting earlier that ever before,” says Licht. “You need to look at your planting window and your harvest window and determine what works best for you. There are weather risks on both ends.”

According to Purdue Extension, 67% of Indiana growers plant soybeans one to three weeks earlier than they did 10 years ago.

Farmers growing both corn and beans often find themselves fighting spring rains to get both crops in the ground on time. Licht says corn timing is more important than beans, as beans are more resilient. “Some are planting beans before corn,” says Licht. “While for others, it’s hard for them to wrap their heads around that change.” For larger farms he suggests running two planters simultaneously.

EQUIPMENT NEEDS

Luckily for multicrop producers, corn-planting equipment also works for soybeans with very few adjustments.

It is important to place the seed into the ground at a precise depth and in firm contact with the soil. A corn planter usually does a better job than a grain drill, though modern drills have much better depth control than older drills.

SEED DEPTH AND SPACING

Seed depth will mostly depend on soil type and soil conditions at planting time. The best soybean yields occur on well-drained, but not sandy soils having a pH of 6.5 or above.

Ideal seed depth for most conditions is 1¼ to 1½ inches, but beans can be planted up to 2 inches deep in sandy soils, or in dry conditions. If planting 2 inches deep to access uniform moisture, make sure the variety has an excellent emergence score.

Recommend seeding rates for seed not treated with insecticide or fungicide is around 170,000 seeds per acre for 7½-inch row spacing, 160,000 seeds per acre for 15-inch rows, and 150,000 plants per acre for 30-inch rows. If an insecticide/fungicide seed treatment is used, seeding rates can be reduced by 10,000 to 20,000 seeds per acre.

“The goal is to get the best results from the potential of the genetics,” says Licht.

Licht says seed placement and spacing are not as crucial with soybeans as with corn. Beans will compensate for plant spacing and other ills. The plants spread and fill in gaps and perfect stands are not required for maximum yields. But gaps of a foot or more between plants mean you need to adjust your planter settings.

The 15-inch row seems to be the soybean sweet spot, especially for the Grain Belt. The yield difference between 30-inch rows and rows 20 inches or less can be as much as 2.9 bushels per acre, but there are other considerations. Soybeans can be susceptible to disease, with their closed canopy creating a humid microclimate. In areas prone to pathogens like white mold, plant spacing of up to 30 inches may be preferable.

Be sure your conditions are such that reduced row width and greater seeding rates justify the increased cost of seed.

WEED CONTROL

Weed control is the primary concern through the early stages of plant growth until the canopy closes around late June.

You may want to apply a residual herbicide that will remain active in the soil for an extended period of time and act on successive weed germinations. Residual herbicides are often weed species specific and can help control weeds that have become glyphosate resistant. Residual herbicides require moisture to activate, but not too much, or the chemicals can break down too quickly, so watch the weather report when planning application.

When planting no-tillage glyphosate-resistant soybeans, such as Roundup Ready, a burn-down herbicide should be used before or at the time of planting if significant weed cover is present. With conventional tillage glyphosate-resistant soybeans, it is recommended glyphosate be applied 24 to 30 days after planting.

FALL PREP

Fall is the time to check soil nutrient levels in preparation for next year’s soybean crop. If the field was previously planted to corn, check phosphorous and potassium levels. If the pH level is less than 6, treat with lime. Licht says beware of two-year applications. The corn can remove more nutrients than anticipated, leaving levels short for beans.

Soybeans are also sensitive to certain herbicide residues, so care should be taken to ensure carryover will not affect next year’s crop.

PLANTING SAFETY

Once planting season begins, it is of utmost importance to follow best practices for safety and environmental stewardship. Time is short. The planting season is hectic. But take time to take extra care.

Using the Corn Growing Degree Day Decision Support Tool to select appropriate hybrid maturities for June

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 14:45:03 GMT

CROP OBSERVATION AND RECOMMENDATION NETWORK

C.O.R.N. Newsletter is a summary of crop observations, related information, and appropriate recommendations for Ohio crop producers and industry. C.O.R.N. Newsletter is produced by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomy Team, state specialists at The Ohio State University and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). C.O.R.N. Newsletter questions are directed to Extension and OARDC state specialists and associates at Ohio State.Author(s): Allen Geyer , Peter Thomison

Corn Growing Degree Day decision support tool allows one to choose any Corn Belt county, enter the planting date and hybrid maturity, and generate a graph that shows projected GDD accumulations through the season, including the date on which you can expect that hybrid, planted on that date in that county, to mature (achieve black layer). One important adjustment missing from this tool is the fact that planting corn late usually lowers the GDD needed to get a hybrid from planting to maturity. In an article on his website, Dr. Bob Nielsen at Purdue includes a calculator that adjusts the GDD requirement downward based on how late planting actually is. This is not a trivial adjustment: planting a hybrid on June 10 (vs. May 10) lowers the GDD requirement by more than 200 GDD. So a hybrid that needs 2,700 GDD to mature if planted on May 1 will require an estimated 2,428 GDD if planted on June 10 (Using Dr. Nielsen’s calculator). The revised GDD number can be manually entered into the GDD tool instead of days RM for the hybrid.

To get started on the tool, click where your farm is located in the county of interest (GDDs are calculated based on longitude and latitude) then select the graph tab. As an example, a 108-day RM hybrid (which the tool estimates will need 2,600 GDD from planting to maturity) planted on June 10 in Wood County, Ohio is projected to mature sometime after Dec 1 (the frost date is estimated at Oct. 29). However, if you manually change the expected layer GDD requirement from 2600 to 2328 (estimated using the calculator above) the GDD tool estimates that hybrid would achieve maturity by about Oct. 8 (nearly three weeks before the first average freeze).

If we change the planting location to Wayne County, OH using the same hybrid and planting date and make the appropriate input changes to the GDD tool regarding reduced GDD requirements for a delayed planting, the GDD tool estimates that the hybrid wouldn’t achieve maturity until November 7 (average frost date of Oct. 27). Changing to a 102-day hybrid there would move projected maturity to October 9.

For more information on late planting issues, check out the following:

Nafziger, E. 2019. Dealing with very late corn. The Bulletin – University of Illinois. URL: http://bulletin.ipm.illinois.edu/?p=4622

Nielsen, R.L. 2019. Some Points to Ponder as You Struggle With Decisions About Late-Planted Corn. Corny News Network. URL : http://www.kingcorn.org/news/Articles_19/LatePlantedCorn.html

Agronomy Dept., Purdue Univ.
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054
Email address: rnielsen at purdue.edu
Twitter: @PurdueCornGuy

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The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 14:30:02 GMT

By BH&G Garden Editors

Weed Identification Guide | Better Homes & Gardens (bhg.com)

This is by far one of the best garden weed identification articles on the web for your garden. Currently at the Dover location of Gerber's Country Farm and Garden we have a good selection of seeds, compost, potting soil, and even some herbicides for your convenience. Supplies are moving fast! Give the girls, Angela and Brittney a call for your seed needs, they would love to help you out.

How to Grow Corn in Your Own Backyard

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 14:15:02 GMT

Your summer cookouts are about to become so much more delicious. your new post

BY THE EDITORS OF ORGANIC LIFE

Corn is more American than apple pie and it’s been cultivated in North American gardens for over 4,000 years. Even though it takes up a large share of garden space, many gardeners make room because of the unbeatable sweet taste of fresh-picked ears.

The sugar in the kernels of ears of open-pollinated sweet corn varieties starts changing to starch almost as soon as you pick the ears. However, plant breeders have developed dozens of new and ever-sweeter cultivars that retain their sugar content for days. If sweetness is your prime goal, choose varieties listed as supersweet (abbreviated as sh2 in seed catalogs), but keep in mind that these may not be as vigorous as other types of sweet corn. If you prefer good old-fashioned corny flavor, pick standard (su) varieties. For a compromise between sweetness and vigor, choose sugary-enhanced varieties (se). If you like to experiment with the latest innovations, try planting a synergistic variety. These varieties produce ears with a combination of sugary-enhanced kernels and supersweet kernels on each ear.

Whichever type you decide to grow, it’s a good idea to check with other local growers or your Cooperative Extension service to see what varieties have a good track record in your area.

If you have lots of garden space, you may also want to try growing some popcorn or ornamental corn, which have similar planting and care needs as sweet corn.

Planting

Corn is very susceptible to frosts. Look out for signs of frost to know if a cold snap will kill your crop. Corn doesn’t transplant well, either, so if you garden in a short-season area and want to start corn indoors, use biodegradable pots to avoid disturbing the roots at transplanting time. It’s better to wait until all danger of frost is past and the soil warms up to the 60 degrees needed for seed germination. If the weather stays cool, spread black plastic on the planting area to warm the soil more quickly.

If you want corn only for fresh eating, plant a minimum of 10 to 15 plants per person. To extend your harvest, sow an early-maturing type every 2 weeks for 6 weeks, or plant early, mid-season, and late types at the same time. To avoid cross-pollination, keep different corn cultivars (especially supersweets) 400 or more yards apart, or plant them so they tassel 2 weeks apart.

Site your corn patch in a sunny, wind-protected area. Corn is an extremely heavy feeder, especially on nitrogen, so it thrives in a place where soil-enriching crops like beans, hairy vetch, or clover grew the previous season, or add 20 to 30 pounds from the compost pile per 100 square feet to the soil as you prepare it for planting.

The best way to promote complete pollination is to plant corn in blocks rather than long individual rows — a block should be at least three rows wide. If you plant only one or two rows, hand pollinate to improve kernel formation.

For early plantings, sow seeds only 1 inch deep; in the hot weather of midsummer, plant them up to 2 inches deep. The average germination rate for sweet corn is about 75 percent, so plant three seeds together every 7 to 15 inches. They should germinate in 7 to 10 days. Thin to one plant every 15 inches. To avoid disturbing remaining plants, remove unwanted seedlings by cutting them off at soil level.

Growing Guidelines

Corn can’t compete with weeds, so be sure to kill weeds thoroughly around the stalks for the first month of growth. After that, corn’s shallow roots will spread out as much as 1 foot from the stalk; be careful not to disturb these roots, because it’s easy to damage them. Instead, apply mulch to prevent weeds from sprouting.

Corn needs about 1 inch of water a week, particularly when the stalks begin to tassel. Water stress during pollination will result in ears with lots of missing kernels, so don’t skip watering your corn patch. Apply water at the soil surface by using a soaker hose or drip irrigation. Avoid spraying plants from above, which could wash pollen off the flowering tops.

When the stalks are 6 inches tall, side-dress them with blood meal or diluted fish-based fertilizer and repeat the feeding when they are about knee-high. Don’t remove any side shoots or suckers that appear; they won’t harm production, and cutting them might damage roots.

Problems

Cutworms sometimes attack corn seedlings and flea beetles may chew holes in the leaves of young plants.

Corn earworms are one of the best-known corn pests. They also attack tomatoes and are most prevalent in the southern and central states. Earworm moths lay eggs on corn silks and the larvae crawl inside the husks to feed at the tips of the developing ears. The yellow-headed worms grow up to about 2 inches long and have yellow, green, or brown stripes on their bodies. To prevent earworm problems, use an eyedropper or spray bottle to apply a mixture of vegetable oil, Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), water, and a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the tip of each ear several days after the silks emerge. Or you can try pinning a clothespin to the tip of each ear once the silks start to turn brown to prevent the worms from crawling through to the ear.

European corn borers are 1 inch long, flesh-colored worms marked with tiny black dots that feed on foliage, especially near the top of the stalk where the leaves emerge. They also bore into the developing ears. Bt and spinosad are effective controls if applied early, before the borers tunnel into the stalks. Corn borers overwinter as full-grown larvae in weed stems and old cornstalks. Pull up and destroy such winter refuges to break their life cycle.

Cucumber beetle larvae, also known as corn rootworms, feed on corn roots, causing plants to weaken and collapse. Adults are yellow beetles with black stripes or spots. To kill the rootworms, apply Heterorhabditis nematodes to the soil.

Seed-corn maggots attack kernels planted too deeply in cool soil. These yellowish white maggots are ¼ inch long, with pointed heads. If they attack, wait until warmer weather to plant another crop at a shallower level.

Animal pests can seriously reduce your corn yields. Birds may be a problem at both seeding and harvesting time, while raccoons are fond of the ripening ears.

Clean garden practices, crop rotation, and planting resistant hybrids are the best defenses against most diseases, including Stewart’s wilt, a bacterial disease that causes wilting and pale streaks on leaves.

Corn smut makes pale, shining, swollen galls that burst and release powdery black spores. Cut off and dispose of galls before they open. If necessary, destroy affected plants to keep smut from spreading. It can remain viable in the soil for 5 to 7 years.

Hand Pollinating Corn

In order to produce kernels, wind must deposit pollen from the tassels (plant tops) onto each of the silks on the ears. Every unpollinated silk results in an undeveloped kernel. If you’re planting only a single or double row of corn plants, you can improve pollination by transferring pollen from tassels to silks yourself. Collect pollen as soon as the silks emerge from the ears and the tassels have a loose, open appearance. Wait for a morning when there’s no breeze, and shake the tassels over a dry bucket or other container to release the pollen. Collect pollen from several plants. Immediately transfer the pollen into a small paper bag and sprinkle the powdery material onto the silks of each ear in your corn patch. Repeat once or twice on subsequent days for best results.

Three weeks after corn silks appear, start checking ears for peak ripeness. Pull back part of the husk and pierce a kernel with your thumbnail. If a milky liquid spurts out, the ears are at prime ripeness — rush those ears to the table, refrigerator, or freezer. Ears on the same stalk usually ripen a few days apart. A completely dry silk or a yellow or faded-green sheath means the ear is past its prime.

Leave ornamental corn and popcorn on the stalks to dry until the first hard frost. If the weather is cloudy and wet, cut and stack stalks in a cool, dry place until the corn dries.

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April a great time for planting alfalfa

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 14:02:31 GMT

Spring Alfalfa Crops

April is a good month to plant and establish a new stand of alfalfa. In fact, the sooner, the better, says an Ohio State University Extension educator.

Once an alfalfa plant has germinated, that new plant needs 6-8 weeks to establish a good root system that enables it to handle warmer and drier summer weather, said Rory Lewandowski, an OSU Extension educator in Wayne County. Planting too late in spring can result in plants that can’t tolerate summer weather, possibly causing stand loss.

At about 8-10 weeks after emergence, the plant pulls the growing point below the soil surface, a process called contractile growth.

“Once contractile growth occurs, the alfalfa plant is considered a true perennial,” Lewandowski said. “The protected growing point below the soil surface is the reason why the alfalfa plant can survive winter temperatures, close cutting and grazing.”

Some of the most common questions regarding successful alfalfa establishment include soil fertility, planting depth and weed control, he said.

“All three factors need to be addressed to successfully establish an alfalfa stand,” Lewandowski said. “The basis for any decisions regarding the application of lime, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer is a soil test.”

The recommended soil pH for an alfalfa stand is 6.8. If lime needs to be applied, growers should keep in mind that it can take 6-9 months after lime is incorporated and mixed into the tillage zone before the target pH is reached. If soil pH is below 6.5, it is probably wise to apply lime this spring and aim for a late-summer planting, Lewandowski said.

“A soil test can also help determine if phosphorus and/or potassium need to be applied before planting,” he said. “Phosphorus is a critical element to aid a new plant in establishing a good rooting system.

“Lime and fertilizer can represent a significant dollar investment, and guessing as to the need and quantity can be expensive. So, don’t guess, soil test.”

But it is important to note that weed control in an alfalfa stand needs to begin before the crop is planted, Lewandowski said.

“Herbicide options in an established alfalfa stand are limited,” he said. “Perennial broadleaf weeds and grasses should be managed and controlled in the crops previous to the alfalfa rotation.

“The general rule of thumb is that at least 95 percent of the weed control in a forage crop is provided by developing a dense, healthy stand that will not allow weeds to invade.”

Specific herbicide recommendations for an alfalfa seeding are available in the 2012 Ohio and Indiana Weed Control Guide. Herbicide use on forage crops such as alfalfa can involve harvest and grazing restrictions, in addition to specific limitations regarding the timing of the herbicide application, Lewandowski said.

“Incorrect planting depth has been responsible for many poorly established stands of alfalfa or seeding failures,” he said. “Alfalfa is a small seed and should not be seeded too deep.

“The recommended seeding depth for alfalfa is one-quarter to one-half inch deep. It is better to err on the side of planting shallow rather than too deep. Early planting time combined with good soil fertility, weed control and correct seeding depth are the keys to spring alfalfa establishment.”

Stay safe as you enter fields

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 15:13:47 GMT

Morning Ag Clips - Americas #1 Daily Ag News Source

Cody Conrady’s life changed in an instant when sprayer tips made contact with a power line. (Courtesy Photo)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Farm equipment has become more massive and technologically advanced over time. While these welcome improvements help farmers cover more ground in less time, taller equipment and longer extensions may bring added challenges around power lines.

As farmers prepare to enter the fields for planting, Safe Electricity urges everyone working in the agricultural field to be alert to the dangers of working near overhead power lines, poles and other electrical equipment.

Cody Conrady’s story

Before you think it could never happen to you, consider electrical accident survivor Cody Conrady’s experience. He shares what happened to him in an effort to help increase power line awareness:

It was Cody Conrady’s next-to-last day as an assistant manager for an ag fertilizer company. They were understaffed that day, and Cody jumped in the truck to get ahead of the sprayer. Once the sprayer was in position, he hopped out to fill the tank with fertilizer.

What happened next changed everything. He and his coworker inside the cab were unaware that the sprayer boom had either made contact or gotten too close to a power line. Suddenly, 7,400 volts of electricity traveled through the boom and electrified the equipment and ground where Cody was standing. Unfortunately, the unyielding stray voltage considered Cody’s body as part of its electrical path to ground.

In the minutes and hours that followed, Cody was brought back to life, rushed to a local hospital, and then transferred via medevac to a Level 1 trauma center. That was the starting point to a very long and arduous road to recovery that included many surgeries, rehabilitation, and prosthetics fittings.

Hindsight is 20/20: Cody’s advice to others

“Pay attention a little more [when working near power lines],” Conrady says. “Keep an eye on your surroundings. Take an extra second to look at things to see how your situation is going to unfold.”

Conrady drives by fields buzzing with activity during active farm seasons and wonders if others see what he sees — if they realize the potential dangers of getting too close to power lines.

His wife, Bailey, says this type of accident could happen to anyone. Unintended contact happened in an instant, but its impact lives on long after an accident. “We knew life wasn’t going to be the same,” Bailey says. “We knew that the ‘normal’ before was not going to be the ‘normal’ after.”

Follow the 10-foot distance rule

To stay safe around overhead power lines, follow safe work practices at all times to help prevent serious, and even deadly, accidents. Start by making sure everyone knows to maintain a minimum 10-foot clearance from power lines.

This 10-foot rule applies not only to the area underneath the power line, but to the full 360 degrees around it. Not only can electricity change paths if direct contact is made, it can also happen when someone or something gets too close to a power line and the current jumps, also known as arcing.

Other precautions

In addition to the 10-foot rule, take these steps to help decrease the chances of an electrical-related incident:

If your machinery or vehicle comes in contact with a power line, do not get out of the cab because you could be electrocuted. Instead, stay where you are and call 9-1-1 to dispatch the appropriate utility to deenergize the power.
If it is not safe to stay in the cab due to fire or smoke, make a solid, clean jump with both feet landing at the same time. Hop away with feet together as far as you can.
If you come across an accident or incident near a downed power line, alert individuals (from at least 50 feet away) to stay in the cab or vehicle as long as there is no imminent danger. Call 9-1-1 and do not approach the scene.
Have a daily meeting with staff to go over possible hazards. Map out and review routes where equipment will be moved and ensure it will clear power lines.
Teach anyone working with or for you (including family members and seasonal employees) about power line awareness and proper clearance distance.
When working around power lines, always use a spotter who has a broader vantage point than the person in the cab.
Visually inspect overhead lines, which may not meet height codes due to age or pole damage. If a wire is hanging low, never try to move it; instead, contact your electric utility for assistance.
Lower extensions to the lowest setting when moving loads.

“Even though planting season is a busy time filled with stress and tight deadlines, take time for safety, including electrical safety,” says Erin Hollinshead, executive director of Safe Electricity. “It could save your life or the lives of others.” For more information about electrical safety, visit SafeElectricity.or g .

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Conservation Stewardship Program deadline

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 15:59:40 GMT

— USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The next deadline for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Ohio Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for funding this fiscal year is March 31, 2021. Agricultural producers wanting to enhance current conservation efforts are encouraged to apply for the CSP.

Through CSP, agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for actively managing, maintaining, and expanding conservation activities like cover crops, ecologically-based pest management, buffer strips, and pollinator and beneficial insect habitat – all while maintaining active agriculture production on their land.

“CSP is designed to help farmers take their conservation activities to the next level,” said Acting State Conservationist for Ohio John Wilson. “Our committed staff can help Ohio farmers and forest landowners identify natural resource concerns and provide technical and financial assistance to solve those problems or attain higher stewardship levels in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner.”

CSP encourages the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and new management techniques such as precision agriculture applications, on-site carbon storage and planting for high carbon sequestration rates, and new soil amendments to improve water quality.

While applications for CSP are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by March 31, 2021, to be considered for 2021 funding period.

CSP, the nation’s largest conservation program in terms of participating land, is designed to help farmers have more robust conservation activities. Producers interested in CSP should call their local Ohio USDA service center or visit Ohio NRCS CSP webpage to learn more details.

https://www.morningagclips.com/

Profit Tracker: Cattle Margins Crumble, Hog Margins Solid

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 20:04:19 GMT

By GREG HENDERSO N March 2, 2021 - DROVERS MAGAZIN e

BEEF PRODUCTION

Cattle and hog finishing margins were headed in opposite directions last week, with lean hog prices enjoying a three-week rally while cattle prices were stuck in neutral for a second week.

Despite average cash fed cattle prices steady with the previous week, cattle feeding profit margins crumbled last week. Average feedyard margins ended the final week of February at $14 per head, down $68 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . Cash fed cattle prices averaged $114 per cwt., steady with the previous week and nearly $1 lower than last year.

Average closeouts show increasing costs, with $8 more per head for feed and $40 per head more for feeder cattle. The result is total costs for finishing a steer above year ago at $1,538 per head compared to $1,498 last year.

Packer margins increased $33 per head to an average of $430. The result was a packer/feeder margin spread of $416 per head, up $110 from the previous week’s $306.

Beef packer capacity utilization was estimated at 91.8%, up 15.7% from the previous week, with an estimated 666,000 head slaughtered. A year ago packer capacity was estimated at 88.3% with a weekly kill of 643,382 head. Carcass weights this year are running 13 pounds heavier at 844 pounds.

Beef packer margins saw gains based on a $4 per cwt. gain in the beef cutout to $239.19. A year ago the cutout average $205.35. A year ago packer profits were $69 per head. The Beef and Pork Profit Trackers are calculated by Sterling Marketing Inc., Vale, Ore.

Farrow-to-finish pork producers saw their margins gain significantly with positive margins for the fourth consecutive week, with profits of $30 per head. Lean carcass prices traded at $78.90 per cwt., an increase of $6.64 per cwt. from the previous week, and $20 per cwt. higher than a month ago. A year ago pork producers lost an average of $17 per head.

Pork packer margins averaged a profit of $21 per head, down $9 per head from the previous week, but $5 per head higher than last year. Pork packer capacity utilization was estimated at 86.5% compared to 96.5% a year ago.

Sterling Marketing president John Nalivka projects cash profit margins for cow-calf producers in 2021 will average $123 per cow. For feedyards, Nalivka projects an average profit of $1 per head in 2021, and packer margins are projected to average $303 per head.

For farrow-to-finish pork producers, Nalivka projects 2021 will produces losses of $12 per head. Pork packers are projected to earn $49 per head in 2021.

Beef Is, and Always Will Be Sustainable

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 16:28:09 GMT

By JERRY BOHN February 23, 2021

The following opinion/editorial is from Jerry Bohn, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President.

There is an ongoing conversation in consumer spaces about beef’s contribution to climate change. In many circles, beef is being painted as a villain that can be minimized and/or eliminated to help solve global climate issues. On the ground, as cattle producers, we know this isn’t accurate.

In fact, we know it’s an outrageous lie that’s being used to sell consumers a fake meat product they don’t want or need and one that won’t do anything to solve climate problems. The reality is that we know cattle can be a part of the solution. We know that pasture and rangeland, through proper management, can actually reduce the amount of carbon and more than offset the short-lived methane emissions of our cattle.

Jerry Bohn, NCBA President

Climate and environmental stewardship matter to farmers and ranchers, we feel the impacts of our stewardship decisions every day and we are the first, and most affected portion of the population, when it rains too much or too little. We are the first to be impacted when the weather is too hot or too cold and we’ve seen time and again the consequences of a changing environment.

Because of this, most of the farmers and ranchers I speak with are committed to protecting the resources we manage and doing our part to make improvements. However, to make real change, Americans and decisionmakers around the world must recognize that cattle farmers and ranchers are part of the solution. Every food has an impact so simply swapping out beef for alternative proteins or lab-manipulated fake meat will never be an effective solution.

The reality is that consumers in the United States and elsewhere are going to continue to consume meat and there is no nation better at raising cattle and beef in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner than we do right here at home. U.S. cattle producers don’t clear forests for pastures, we don’t plow up land that shouldn’t be farmed and we ensure that our animals are cared for through every phase of their life.

On our feedlot in Kansas, we make certain that animals have fresh feed and clean water every day. We take pride in management practices that both care for our cattle and produce the best quality beef possible. By ensuring the beef we produce meets consumer demand we’re also helping to reduce food waste when our products reach the consumer.

On our farms and ranches, cattlemen and women are controlling invasive weeds and maintaining the pastures that feed our animals. Our farms and ranches provide open spaces that create habitat for wild animals that would otherwise be pushed out by housing developments and urbanization. We do these things because it makes our operations better but also because it is the right, sustainable thing to do. Our families depend on our lands year-after-year, generation-after-generation.

If consumers choose alternative proteins rather than beef, they should know the facts about those products and not just the sensationalized marketing that some activists are using to sell a product that has historically been ignored by consumers. In the past, consumers have largely rejected these products as a highly processed, expensive and inferior alternative to real beef. There are people who have invested in fake meat companies seeking to profit from legitimate consumer concerns about climate change and the environment.

The science disputes the claims of alternative protein companies. The fact is, even the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that U.S. beef production has a minimal footprint when it comes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Beef production is responsible for only 2 percent of U.S. GHG emissions. Even when the production of animal feed, fuel and electricity necessary for beef production is factored into the equation, it is still responsible for just 3.7 percent of GHG in the United States, according to EPA. In contrast, emissions from electricity generation account for 28 percent of U.S. emissions and transportation accounts for 29 percent of U.S. emissions.

It's likely that you’ve heard individuals like Bill Gates claim that U.S. livestock’s contribution to climate change is immense. However, these claims are flat out wrong. Some activists and others like Gates often cited old claims made in the United Nation’s debunked report titled Livestock’s Long Shadow. They also use global numbers about U.S. cattle production to back their marketing claims and sell their products.

It’s critical that Americans understand that global GHG emissions are skewed higher because they include emissions from nations whose cattle and beef management systems are far less efficient than the those in the United States. Global numbers also include countries like India, which have large bovine populations but where harvest is very low or non-existent because of cultural or religious practices. In global terms, U.S. beef cattle production counts for just .5 percent of global GHG emissions, so even if every American stopped eating beef in favor of fake meat substitutes, there would be virtually no discernable impact on our changing climate.

The U.S. beef production system is among the most productive and efficient in the world and it continues to improve over time. Between 1975 and 2017, beef cattle emissions declined 30 percent. Today, the U.S. produces 18 percent of the world’s beef with just 6 percent of the world’s cattle numbers. This is possible through commitments to animal welfare, better animal nutrition and advancements in genetics.

Those statistics are often overlooked or ignored by individuals like Bill Gates, the writers at OZY and others who are working to advance an agenda that drives people away from eating meat using scare tactics and unsound science to advance their cause and line their pockets with grocery money from well-meaning, concerned consumers who have been sold something they don’t want and never needed in the first place.

https://www.drovers.com/authors/jerry-bohn

10 reasons your child should join FFA

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:29:32 GMT

By Michelle Hochstein

Confident and capable. Healthy and knowledgeable. FFA helped shape me into the person I am today. It opened many doors for me. Oh, and did I mention, made me realize my calling? I participated in agricultural communications, a career development event (CDE), hosted by the FFA. I enjoyed it so much, I decided to pursue a degree in it.

FFA has been positively influencing future generations, like me, for more than 85 years. Here are 10 things I believe your children will gain by getting involved in this program.

Leadership skills. We all want our children to be successful. Public speaking, group projects and running for offices. All activities that contribute to leadership skills. All found in FFA.

Knowledge of agriculture. How do tractors run? What exactly is a cotton boll? What’s the proper way to handle an animal? Just ask anyone involved in FFA. They’ll tell you.

Healthy living. This organization provides the building blocks toward a healthy lifestyle. Members learn about food, where it comes from and how to keep it safe and environmentally friendly.

Confidence. Many children today have no social outlets. Giving them a chance to meet people, complete projects and enter contests will spur a self confidence in them that many children lack.

Good sportsmanship. We live in a world where “every child is a winner.” But the truth is they aren’t. What they need to learn is competition. Stock shows, skills tests and speaking contests are all outlets in which children can participate in healthy competition.

Work ethic. FFA members complete a wide variety of projects throughout the year. These projects require dedication, time management and hard work.

Community service. “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.” That’s the FFA way. Enough said.

Lifelong friendships. All things aside, your children will make friends who share the same passion for agriculture. These friends become peers. Then colleagues.

Scholarship opportunities. We all want our children to get a college education. But face it. College comes with a big price tag. Let FFA help you.

And many other skills. Entomology. Communication. Horticulture. Food quality inspection. Economic and business development. The opportunities are endless and expand outside agriculture.

Everyone should take advantage of what this organization has to offer!

A version of this blog was originally posted on Texas Agriculture Talks on June 11, 2015. Michelle Hochstein was the Texas Farm Bureau Communications intern at the time.

February 21, 2019|Categories: Featured , Texas Agriculture |Tags: FFA , FFA skills , healthy livin g , join FFA , leadership skills , texas ffa | 4 Comments

Building A Better Pasture & Hay Fertility Program

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 20:45:01 GMT

By Dennis Brown of Byron Seed

byronseeds.net

As the title suggests we need to look at our forage fertility as a program. The definition of a program is “a planned, coordinated group of procedures for a specific purpose.” Our purpose is to get the most kilocalories per acre. This includes forage quality and yield. Producers wonder why does the nutrient levels of their pasture and hay ground appear to be so lacking, when fertilizer is being spread and/or manure is constantly being applied or (deposited) there? This is a common question from those growers who have soil tests pulled on their pasture and hay ground. For the ones that don’t have soil test they are not sure why the yield is not there, why the cows won’t milk, or why the stock just won’t eat the hay or grass as well. How many producers assume that due to stocking rates they will have adequate fertility because of all the manure being deposited on their pasture and all the money spent on fertilizers on hay acres? And how many livestock producers spend large sums of money to purchase excellent animals and then put them on pastures or feed hay that receive an occasional fertilizer top-dressing, and expect it to suffice for maintaining top herd health and excellent pasture fertility. Cattle will utilize minerals from forages up to 30% more efficiently than free choice fed minerals. Unfortunately, it seems that so many who have livestock on pasture, incorrectly make this type of assumption. There are those who have successfully accomplished growing grass this way, to point and, consequently, too many consider that testing pasture and hay fertility levels is completely unnecessary. But there are times and circumstances when a high price must be paid for thinking like that. It can ultimately result in costly losses in terms of plant and animal health, and even needlessly limit potential forage production. Most pasture and hay soils treated this way will never come close to attaining their top production potential, especially the improved forage genetics that Byron provides. The forages are only as good as your soils. Same as your cows are only as good as your feeding program. Most soils need more than N-P-K.

N-P-K should be added in sufficient amounts if required, but not at the expense of neglecting other required nutrients for top performance such as Calcium, Boron, Sulfur, and Zinc. Furthermore, the two nutrients most affected by manure in terms of an increase in soil fertility levels are phosphorous and potassium. Nitrogen is harder to measure because of the leaching effect and microbial tie up in the organic matter of the soil. In other words, two of the three macro nutrients most often supplied as fertilizer are the most likely nutrients to be supplied from manure. The producer needs to be careful not to over apply manures or over apply P and K in any form.

Excess nutrients can have just as a negative affect as a deficiencies of nutrients. Our goal is to have a balance of nutrients in the soil. However, we should keep in mind: because manure that is produced on pastures that are already lacking one or more of these needed nutrient will likely also be short when it comes to supplying hose same nutrients. On dairy farms calcium is the #1 nutrient that lacking, this is due to milk has a percentage of calcium per volume and it leaves the farm daily. Such deficiencies occur in far more forage acres than most producers seem to suspect.

Many producers are not comfortable enough to make fertility recommendations with or without a soil test. Here is a general rule of thumb on making recommendations if you know how much nutrients are removed with each ton of forage. With this knowledge you can recommend enough nutrients to replenish what was removed or the nutrients needed to start a new seeding.

Soil fertility is just a piece of the puzzle. Mother Nature has a larger hand in forage production than what we do. But if she decides to play nice and have favored on us, these levels will give you the optimum forage. Although if we can keep the fertility levels adequate it will help the forages go through stressful situations and will greatly increase the total persistence of the forage stands.

SAFE FEED | SAFE FOOD

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 20:29:06 GMT

From United Animal Health

unitedanimalhealth.com

Feed and Food Safety Mission

United Animal Health is committed to providing safe, high quality animal nutritional products and services that exceeds the expectation of our customers.

All corporate-owned feed manufacturing plants adhere to State/Federal regulations. United Animal Health, Inc. facilities are certified to the American Feed Industry Association’s Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program.

The Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program is intended to demonstrate and ensure continuous improvement in the delivery of a safe and wholesome feed supply for the growth and care of animals. It is United Animal Health’s interest to demonstrate our pledge to food safety and enhancing consumer confidence in the products that United Animal Health provides.

Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program

To demonstrate proactive food safety leadership, United Animal Health feed facilities adhere to, and comply with the Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program requirements.

The Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program is a voluntary, independently-certified program designed for the total feed industry. It establishes comprehensive standards of excellence that go beyond existing regulations, to maximize feed and food safety.

Companies who meet the requirements of this program continually improve by constantly evaluating possible risks, and taking steps to reduce and control those risks along the way.

The Safe Feed / Safe Food Certification Program is administered by the Safe Quality Food Institute. The Safe Quality Food Institute’s mission is to deliver consistent, globally recognized food safety and quality certification programs. These are based on sound scientific principles, consistently applied across all industry sectors, and valued by all stakeholders.

Weed Management in Soybean Following Winter Wheat

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 19:33:10 GMT

Clint Black, Agronomist www.hubnerseed.com

Where geography permits, planting a soybean crop after wheat harvest can provide another revenue source for farming operations

Several agronomic factors and Mother Nature play important roles in the potential yield success of double-crop soybean (DCS). To help achieve maximum yield potential, the DCS crop should be planted as soon as possible after wheat harvest.

Weed control is an important agronomic factor that must be addressed to help produce a successful double crop (DC). Other agronomic factors include but are not limited to soybean seed selection, seeding rates, planting method (drill, row crop planter, aerial seeding), amount of residue to plant (cut) through, and seeding depth. Mother Nature plays an important role for DCS success because planting-time soil conditions may be too wet or too dry, temperatures are usually hotter, rainfall may be reduced, and a killing frost can occur before the soybean crop is mature.

After wheat is harvested, existing weeds can grow rapidly because of increased light penetration and the removal of the competitive crop. Prior to planting the DC, the existing weeds must be controlled by tillage, herbicides, or fire.

Tillage can be an effective weed control method; however, weeds may not be completely killed as deep-rooted perennials may grow back, other weeds may re-root, and tilled-in weed seeds can germinate. Burndown and residual herbicides can provide current and long-term weed control. A less recommended option to manage existing weeds is to use fire to burn them off prior to planting. However, this option may impact soil nutrients, reduce organic matter, destroy beneficial insects and wildlife, add pollutants to the atmosphere, increase soil erosion, reduce roadway visibility (smoke), and may become an unmanageable fire that can spread to buildings, timber, and other crops.

Prior to planting the DC, consideration should be given to the planting method. Narrow rows can help produce a quicker crop canopy to help suppress weed emergence and growth. Pennsylvania smartweed (Persicaria pensylvanica laevigata), horseweed or marestail (Conyza canadensis), johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), pigweeds (Amaranthus species), ragweeds (Ambrosia species), foxtails (Setaria species), and volunteer wheat are typical weeds that may present a challenge during wheat harvest and into the DCS crop when not properly controlled.

Herbicide Weed Management

Pre-Wheat Harvest Herbicide Applications: Prior to wheat harvest, herbicide weed control options may be available. Roundup PowerMAX® herbicide, Roundup WeatherMAX® herbicide, and certain 2,4-D formulations are labeled for preharvest applications to wheat. Respective herbicide labels must be read and followed regarding applications to an existing crop and plant-back intervals. Herbicide treatments applied preharvest can injure wheat or reduce seed germination/vigor and are not recommended for wheat raised for seed production.

Post-Wheat Harvest Herbicide Applications: Burndown strategies after wheat harvest depend on the weed populations identified during harvest and the herbicide tolerance (if any) of the soybean product to be planted. XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology, a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP), may be a burndown option in some geographical areas providing state cut-off dates to spray/apply XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology have not been met. If a non-dicamba tolerant soybean product is to be planted, prior to planting, 1-inch of rain or overhead irrigation is required and a minimum of 14 days or 28 days must pass if applications of 11 fl oz or 28 fl oz of XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology were applied, respectively. The herbicide label and individual state notifications MUST be read and followed.( h ttp://roundupreadyxtend.com/stewardship/education/Pages/default.aspx ).

Roundup PowerMAX® or Roundup WeatherMAX® herbicides can be used as a burndown on most small weeds and may be the best herbicide option on non-glyphosate-resistant or perennial weeds because of systemic activity.2 Paraquat, another burndown option, is a contact, non-selective, photosynthesis disrupting herbicide that can be applied to small annual weeds. To adequately control annual weeds, complete plant coverage is required. Perennial weeds can regrow because paraquat is not translocated throughout the plant. Spray coverage for post-harvest applications can be difficult in no-till systems; therefore, it may be useful to mount a spray bar under the combine to spray small vegetation before the straw exits the combine.2

For control of horseweed and giant ragweed, an option is Liberty® (glufosinate) herbicide tank-mixed with metribuzin.2 For control of Palmer amaranth, an option is Gramoxone® brand herbicides tank-mixed with metribuzin. Metribuzin can provide residual control of Palmer amaranth.

Weed Management in the Double Crop:

Prior to applying any herbicide to the DC, it is extremely important to know the herbicide resistance, if any, that the planted soybean products may possess. Applying the wrong non-selective herbicide can result in crop injury or death.

Postemergence herbicide applications should be applied as needed to the soybean crop. Many postemergence herbicide options are available; however, waiting until the soybean crop has emerged to control weeds is not the best option because germinating weed seeds and seedlings compete with germinating soybean seeds and seedlings for moisture, nutrients, and sunlight. Delayed weed control can allow weeds to grow too large for effective control.

If the DCS product(s) planted are Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® Soybeans, the use of XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology may be an in-crop option in some geographical areas providing state-imposed cut-off dates for spraying XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology have not been met. The herbicide label and individual state notifications MUST be read and followed ( http://roundupreadyxtend.com/stewardship/education/Pages/default.aspx ). XtendiMax® with VaporGrip® Technology applications may only be made by dicamba-trained certified applicators.

If the DCS product(s) planted are Roundup Ready 2 Yield® Soybeans or Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® Soybeans, Roundup PowerMAX® or Roundup WeatherMAX® herbicides are recommended burndown products. For other approved tank-mix products with XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology, please visit XtendiMaxapplicaitonrequirments.com ( http://www.xtendimaxapplicationrequirements.com/Pages/default.aspx ).

Residual herbicides should be included as part of a pre-and postemergence herbicide program because they can aid in weed resistance management by incorporating different sites of action. When selecting residual herbicides, it is important to be familiar with the field and know weed pressures. Some residual herbicides that can be tank-mixed with Roundup PowerMAX® or Roundup WeatherMAX® herbicides include Warrant®, Valor®, Valor® XLT, Authority® Assist, Authority®, Authority® First, and Authority® XL herbicides. If the primary target weed is glyphosate-resistant marestail, FirstRate®, or Authority First, are key residual herbicides to consider.

Another option is to split spring residual herbicide applications. One recommendation is to apply Roundup PowerMAX® or Roundup WeatherMAX® plus Sharpen® herbicide, followed by an application of Warrant® herbicide plus Roundup PowerMAX® or Roundup WeatherMAX® applied at the V2 to V3 growth stage.

Summary

Any weeds in a harvested wheat field should be controlled prior to planting DCS. Special consideration must be made when selecting herbicides due to the later planting date of the DC and cropping plans for the following year. Carefully refer to product labels for all plant-back restrictions prior to applying herbicides to DCS.

Planting Soybean as a Double-Crop After Wheat

Northeast Cover Crop Removal

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 19:15:01 GMT

Clint Black, Agronomist for Hubner Seed.

www.hubnerseed.com

Cover crops can increase soil organic matter, decrease soil erosion, and depending on the species, supply nitrogen for the next cash crop.

Timely removal of a cover crop can help maximize benefits and minimize any potential negative impact on the yield potential of the following crop.

Removal timing and method is specific to the cover crop species planted.

Cover crops are mostly planted for their beneficial qualities and are not harvested for their seed, fruit, or forage. Cover crops are terminated before planting production crops, so they are not permitted to function as weeds and/or hinder crop production.1

Cover Crop Removal

Timing of removal is specific to each cover crop species and varies by farming conditions. Cover crop termination four to eight weeks prior to commercial crop planting can allow soil warming, soil water replenishment, and residue drying and decomposition.2 Termination that occurs less than four weeks before commercial crop planting may provide the benefits of increased cover crop biomass, soil and water conservation, and possible nitrogen sources.

Nitrogen release and commercial crop yields can be affected by the timing of cover crop removal. Early termination of small grain cover crops can result in more rapid decomposition of the residue due to the narrow carbon to nitrogen ratio of young plant tissue. Carbon to nitrogen ratios of 30 to 1 and greater are reached at the flowering stage of small grains.3

Figure 1. Annual ryegrass growth in the spring should be controlled as the first node is just starting to form.

This wider ratio may be desirable for increasing above ground biomass production and residue coverage. The crop being planted following a cover crop should be considered when terminating cover crops. For example, termination of winter-hardy cereals including cereal rye, triticale, and wheat should be timed to allow at least a two-week window prior to corn planting to avoid a yield reduction.4

Termination Methods

Cover crops may include grasses, broadleaves, legumes, or any combination of these. The four methods used to terminate cover crops are: winterkill, tilling, mowing, and applying herbicides. A survey of farmers in 2006 found that approximately 54 percent of cover crop growers applied herbicides, 33 percent used tillage, and 13 percent used both methods of cover crop termination.5 Winterkill is a method in which the cover crop is left until it is terminated by a hard freeze. This method is only possible in northern climates and for certain cover crops that are susceptible to the first hard frost (temperatures below 25°F) such as turnip and radish.3

While tillage is the second most common method of terminating cover crops, the use of tillage can be expensive and reduce the benefits of cover crops.

Mechanical. Aside from tillage, other mechanical methods of cover crop termination include use of a roller-crimper or mower. Roller-crimpers (mechanical rollers) can be used to kill tall-growing cover crops by breaking or crimping the stem. This method can be effective when used on cover crops at the flowering stage or later.3 Mow-kill is a method of cover crop removal that is effective on some species. Cover crop regrowth and residue distribution should be evaluated when mowing is used for termination.

Herbicide. Generally, the herbicide burndown application is often more successful when the cover crop is small and actively growing. Cover crops that are bolting or jointing can be more difficult to control with standard herbicide rates as higher, labeled rates may be warranted under these conditions. Herbicide applications should be made after three to four days of daytime temperatures in the high 50sto low 60s with nighttime temperatures greater than 40°F. Avoid spraying in early morning or late afternoon or evening as plant growth is slower during these times in the spring. Always include ammonium sulfate (AMS) at 8.5 to17 lbs per 100 gallons of spray solution with glyphosate applications.

Here are some tips for various cover crop species:

Winter Kill (temperatures below 25°F). Radish, turnips, buckwheat, oats, and annual ryegrass. Apply Roundup PowerMAX® Herbicide (44 oz/acre) + AMS in 10 to 15 gallons of spray mix per acre. Target grass heights of 8 to 12 inches (prior to jointing), and spray mid-morning to early afternoon for best results. Avoid the use of residual herbicides with Roundup PowerMAX Herbicide as this tank mix may cause a reduction in control. Scout fields after application to confirm complete death of the cover crop.
Cereal Rye. Apply Roundup PowerMAX Herbicide (32 oz/acre) + AMS in 10 to 15 gallons of spray mix per acre. Spray before plants are 18 inches tall. In general, this cover crop is easier to kill than annual ryegrass. Avoid the use of residual herbicides with Roundup PowerMAX Herbicide as this tank mix may cause a reduction in control.
Winter Wheat. Apply Roundup PowerMAX Herbicide (32-44 oz/acre) + AMS in 10 to 15 gallons of spray mix per acre. Spray prior to joint stage. Target application timing for early spring during a period of warm weather. Avoid the use of residual herbicides with Roundup PowerMAX Herbicide as this tank mix may cause a reduction in control.
Legumes (Crimson Clover, Red Clover, Hairy Vetch, Peas). Apply Roundup PowerMAX Herbicide(32-44 oz/acre) + 2,4-D LV4 (16 oz/acre) or Sharpen® Herbicide (1 oz/acre) in 10 to 15 gallons of spray mix per acre. Consult 2,4-D LV4 and Sharpen Herbicide labels for soybean replant intervals and recommended adjuvants. Target spray applications from the mid-April to first of May time period for optimum plant activity and herbicide effectiveness.

Summary

Cover crop species differ in their ability to survive winter conditions.
Herbicides are often the preferred removal method compared to tillage for an overwintered cover crop, as tillage can decrease some of the benefits of the cover crop.
Generally, cover crop removal prior to seed set is desired to help manage the seed bank.

Sources

1Legleiter, T., Johnson, B., Jordan, T., and Gibson, K. 2012. Successful cover crop termination with herbicides. Purdue University. WS-50-W.

2Schomberg, H. and Balkcom, K. 2009. Cover crops. Soil quality for environmental health. http://soilquality.org/ .

3Sustainable agriculture research and education. 2012. Managing cover crops profitably (3rd edition). https://www.sare.org/ .

4Singer, J. 2006. Cover crops in the Corn Belt: Survey finds underused potential as conservation tool. Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Iowa State University. https://www.leopold.iastate.edu/ .

5Singer, J. 2008. Corn belt assessment of cover crop management and preferences. Agronomy Journal. Vol. 100:1670-1672.

Loux, M. 2007. Burndown herbicide activity—Can we kill anything when it’s this cold? C.O.R.N. Newsletter 2007-08. The Ohio State University. https://agcrops.osu.edu/ .

Web sources verified 09/02/2020.

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Winter Storm Disaster Assistance Available to Livestock Producers

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 18:52:47 GMT

By JENNIFER SHIKE February 17, 2021

As winter weather conditions rage across the country, USDA reminds livestock farmers affected by the winter storms that assistance is available.

USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices are prepared with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to residents, agricultural producers and impacted communities, a USDA release said.

Risk management and disaster assistance
USDA provides several risk management and disaster assistance options to help producers recover after they are impacted by severe weather, including those impacted by winter storms and extreme cold.

Although livestock producers often have more limited risk management options available, USDA notes there are several disaster programs they can look into such as the Livestock Indemnity Program and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybee and Farm-raised Fish Program. These programs reimburse producers for a portion of the value of livestock, poultry and other animals that were killed or severely injured by a natural disaster or loss of feed.

Keep accurate records to document the losses and illnesses following this devastating cold weather event, USDA advises. Livestock producers must document beginning livestock numbers by taking photos or videos of any losses. Other documentation options include purchase records, production records, vaccination records, bank or other loan documents and third-party certification.

Financial resources are also available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help with immediate needs and long-term support to help recover from natural disasters and conserve water resources, USDA said. Assistance may also be available for emergency animal mortality disposal from natural disasters and other causes.

Veterinarian help available
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) veterinarians are ready to work alongside partners to conduct on-site assessments to document the needs of affected producers, USDA said. To learn more, visit APHIS’ Protecting Livestock During a Disaster page.

Additional staff are on stand-by to provide support if the weather situation escalates or the number of affected livestock operations increases. If necessary, APHIS has the expertise to assist with carcass removal and disposal as well, USDA notes.

Read more:

Feedyards, Packers Disrupted By Weather a n d Energy Shortage

Peel: Winter Storm Impacts Cattle, Cowboys and Market

State budget proposal includes funding for ag priorities

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 20:00:58 GMT

By Matt Reese, Ohio's Country Journal

Governor Mike DeWine recently released his proposed budget which includes funding for several Ohio agricultural priorities.

“The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s budget increased overall and individual line items have also increased. One of them is H2Ohio funding. Overall, $240 million was set aside for H2Ohio funds over the biennium and $49.3 million of that goes to agriculture each fiscal year. The rest of that funding is split up between Ohio EPA and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources,” said Jenna Reese, director of state policy for Ohio Farm Bureau. “We also saw a significant increase in funding to farmland preservation. That line item increased by about $7 million for just fiscal year 2022. We are excited to see the DeWine Administration continuing to support farmland preservation. The coronavirus relief for county fairs line item was created last year to get $4.7 million to county fairs and this fiscal year it has allocated $1 million to the Ohio State Fair under that line item.”

There is also significant funding for the expansion of rural broadband.

“The Governor’s budget currently contains $290 million for broadband expansion, which is the biggest amount of funding we have ever seen the State of Ohio pour into this issue,” Reese said. “Of that, $250 million is a one-time expenditure for broadband and $40 million is for funding for the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Program.”

At the same time, the Ohio General Assembly has been hard at work on a broadband bill, Senate Bill 8. SB 8 passed the Senate unanimously on Feb. 10.

“There has been a lot of movement on this in a short period of time. We are encouraged and excited about the action we have seen so early on this year,” Reese said. “ After 4 and a half years of work on this piece of legislation, the Senate has introduced, conducted hearings on and passed SB 8. It creates the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Program and sets up $20 million in grant funding that Internet service providers can apply with the state to receive to expand broadband access to our unserved areas.”

Now the governor’s proposed budget goes for consideration in the Ohio House of Representatives. State legislators have until June 30 to get the budget passed.

Home/Country Life/State budget proposal includes funding for ag priorities

The 6 Best Ways To Boost Egg Production During Winter

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 15:30:01 GMT

Egg Production

Ashley Hetrick Off The Grid News, Ideas for Off The Grid Living

1. Plenty of Good Light

2. Nutritious Food

3. Liquid Water

4. Sprouted Green Fodder

5. The Right Breed

6. Stagger Bird Ages

REPAIR PASTURE DAMAGE CAUSED BY HAY FEEDING

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 19:47:33 GMT

Gary Bates, University Of Tennessee Extension

It is a pretty safe bet that you have some areas in your pastures that are a muddy mess. The excess rain during fall, coupled with having fed hay for the last several months has caused areas in many pastures to be destroyed, with very little grass left. This type of thing happens every year, but it seems like this year is especially bad. The question is, what can you do to get these areas back into shape?

The first thing to realize is that there are no magic bullets. We can’t solve this problem overnight. But there are some options in the short and long-term that can reduce the problems that will arise from these areas. Points to Ponder It is difficult to feed hay in a single area without having large amounts of pasture damage. If you have the problem every winter, you might need to consider changing your hay feeding method. Some producers have moved to unrolling hay in different areas of the pasture, this spreads out the cattle over the winter, reducing pasture damage. To minimize hay waste in this type of feeding system, you will need to unroll only the amount of hay that will be consumed in a single day. You may also want to consider putting in some type of heavy use area that can be used to feed hay. Putting down geotextile fabric, then covering it with rock can create a much more stable area, and almost eliminate mud issues. These areas can be useful, but expensive. Contact your local NRCS office for options and plans for this.

Option 1 – Seed a winter annual after hay feeding is complete. Once you have finished hay feeding, smooth this area back up with a harrow or disk. Seed some type of winter annual to provide some ground cover. Annual ryegrass or oats can work well in this situation. In mid to late May, you can graze this out and broadcast crabgrass to provide some summer grazing and cover. In September the area can be replanted with tall fescue. If you are going to feed hay on the same area again, you might choose to plant wheat or rye instead of tall fescue.

O ption 2 – Skip the winter annual and just seed crabgrass in May. If hay feeding lasts until late March, you might be better off to wait until late April and seed crabgrass, skipping the seeding of the winter annual. Seeding a winter annual in April may not provide enough growth to make is worth the effort.

Antibiotics on the Farm

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 17:30:55 GMT

Supporting animal health and safe food

Antibiotics on the Farm - Pork Checkoff

With growing global concerns about antibiotic resistance, people may ask how antibiotic use in animals could affect their health and the health of their families. While many understand that antibiotics used as medication are needed to protect animal health and produce safe food, it’s not always an easy topic to understand or discuss. Some people today ask what farmers are doing to ensure antibiotics are used responsibly to minimize the selection for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and to protect these valuable medications for both human and animal health.

The U.S. pork industry has been engaged in the antibiotic conversation for many years. Today’s pig farmers are committed to helping consumers understand how and why antibiotics are used to keep our food safe and animals healthy through continuous improvement of best practices on the farm, including working closely with their veterinarians. By being open, collaborative and taking a science-based approach, antibiotic stewardship can be improved along with the health of people, pigs and the planet.

Antibiotics are an essential tool for ensuring healthy livestock and safe food

Antibiotics are critical to treat, control, and prevent disease – in humans and animals. Without the responsible and timely use of antibiotics, sickness can spread rapidly on a farm, endangering the health and welfare of animals and the safety of our food.

Our view is simple: Produce healthy livestock, produce safe food.

With a focus on continuous improvement, real change is occurring on farms across the United States. The pork industry is committed to ensuring responsible antibiotic use in animals to protect the efficacy of antibiotics for humans and animals. The industry tests and implements alternative ways to keep pork safe and healthy. Antibiotics are just one of the many approaches in a comprehensive strategy to keep animals healthy and produce safe food. The National Pork Board has adopted a three-point antibiotic stewardship plan that is proactive, collaborative and aggressive in its strategy and scope. Using education, research and communication tactics, the plan will ultimately work for the betterment of people, pigs and the planet.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the use of medically important antibiotics in pigs for treatment, control and prevention of disease. New regulations – FDA Guidance 209 and 213 – were enacted January 1, 2017.

Mitigating disease

Antibiotics are a tool used to uphold Good Production Practices (GPP) to raise healthy farm animals. They are used to prevent, control or treat illness in pigs. Animals on farms, just like people in homes, get sick and without antibiotic treatment many of these animals would suffer needlessly.

In some instances, outbreaks of treatable animal health issues are detected or expected in certain groups of animals or at certain times in their lives. In these cases, use of drugs approved for prevention or control of the disease can dramatically reduce the extent of the disease outbreak. Preventing or controlling the spread of disease is critical to keeping animals safe and healthy—and to prevent suffering or unsafe conditions.

Other disease mitigation strategies include vaccination as well as maintaining good biosecurity practices and an overall sanitary environment. Administering vaccinations is a necessary and important step in maintaining the health of not only individual animals, but all of the pigs on the farm. Combining the use of vaccines along with strict biosecurity measures is very effective in maintaining pig health.

Using antibiotics to care for sick pigs

America’s pig farmers work closely with veterinarians to ensure that their pigs stay healthy. However, at times pigs need medical attention, which may require the use of antibiotics to treat illness. Responsible antibiotic use means using only what’s necessary for pig health. This sensible approach means doing what’s best for animal well-being, food safety and the environment.

When farmers use antibiotics as prescribed by a veterinarian, pigs tend to give birth to larger, healthier litters, get sick less often and recover faster, and suffer less premature death due to illness.

It is inevitable that in every swine production system, animals may become injured or ill.

Antibiotic principles outlined in PQA Plus

When deciding to use antibiotics for treatment, control, and prevention, the National Pork Board encourages producers to implement the following principles:

Principle 1: Take appropriate steps to decrease the need for the application of antibiotics.

Principle 2: Assess the advantages and disadvantages of all uses of antibiotics.

Principle 3: Use antibiotics only when they will provide measurable benefits.

Principle 4: Fully implement management practices described for responsible use of animal health products into daily operations.

Principle 5: Have a working veterinarian/client/patient relationship and follow the responsible antibiotic use guidelines.

Soybean Fertility during the Planning Season

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 15:47:39 GMT

16 nutrients removed, available, and taken up.

Clint Black, Technical Agronomist for Hubner Seed

It has been a traditional practice to apply extra fertilizer prior to planting corn to sustain the following year’s soybean crop. However, as soybean yields climb through genetic, biological, and crop protection advancements, it is increasingly important to analyze and maintain soil fertility to maximize soybean yield potential. This is not only due to increased soybean production but also increases in corn production, environmental concerns, and financial considerations.

Soybean Nutrient Requirements

As with any crop, nutrients are needed to sustain biological functions, help protect the plant from disease and other stresses, and ultimately create yield (Table 1).1 Soybean plants require 16 elements for growth and seed development. Essential or macronutrients required by soybean include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Secondary and micronutrients that aid soybean growth include calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), boron (B), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), chlorine (Cl), and sulfur (S). Soil pH levels for soybean should be maintained between 5.5 and 7.0 to help maintain overall soil nutrient availability; however, the optimal range is between 6.3 and 6.5. Figure 1 shows how pH, which is a measure of soil acidity or alkalinity, affects the availability of various elements.2 Research has also shown that soybean cyst nematode (SCN) populations at harvest are likely to be higher when pH exceeds 6.5.3

Applying extra fertilizer to corn ground for the next season’s soybean crop may not supply the appropriate amount of nutrients for the soybean crop. Each harvested soybean bushel removes about 4.02 lb of N, 0.4 lb of P, 1.25 lb of K, and 0.2 lb of S (Table 2). Since soybean plants produce N, P and K have the most potential to be deficient. Each bushel of corn removes less P (about 0.15 lb/bu) and K (about 0.21 lb/bu) than each soybean bushel; however, as corn yields climb, total nutrient needs increase and more respective nutrient pounds are removed.4 This could potentially leave a soybean crop deficient of P and K. In recent years, 100 plus bu/acre soybean yields have been recorded making it necessary to be more aware of corn nutrient removals.

Environmentally, if “extra” P is applied for a current crop to fulfill the needs of a future crop, any loss from runoff or soil erosion from geographies in the Mississippi River drainage basin can ultimately feed the hypoxia issues in the Gulf of Mexico. Therefore, it is important to be environmentally responsible with P applications. Financially, dollars are lost when nutrients are lost to runoff or leaching, and budgets can be pinched when extra nutrients are applied to sustain another crop.

Deficiency symptoms may appear on soybean plants if any of the nutrients are limited. Generally, deficiencies and symptoms are rare unless stress from drought, compaction, prolonged saturation, root disease(s), soil insect feeding, pH imbalance, fertilizer burn, or chemical injury to roots cause symptoms to occur. Iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) is a common deficiency appearing in high pH soils (above 7.0) and soils with high Na and Ca content. Symptoms of IDC include yellowing between the veins of the newest leaves and reduced nodulation and N fixation. Seedling soybean plants may show P deficiency symptoms (stunting, smaller leaves, interveinal reddening or purpling on lower leaves) when soils are cool and wet, compaction restricts roots, or roots are injured by insects, fertilizer, or chemicals.

Because of the high demand for K in soybean, it can often be the most common deficiency. Potassium deficiency symptoms can occur in the early growth stages and can be confused with IDC. The contrast between the two is the chlorosis or yellowing of the leaf tissue is at the leaf margins with a K deficiency and with IDC, the yellowing is between the veins and under extreme conditions necrosis or browning of the interveinal area. Potassium deficiency symptoms can also become visible during the reproductive growth stages and while the reason for this is not entirely clear, it may be due to the amount of K translocated from the middle or upper leaves to the developing grain because of higher yields.8

Soil Nutrient Testing

The first step to determine the availability of soil nutrients is to collect soil samples for nutrient and agronomic testing. Ideally, a test should be conducted every two to three years and sampling should be completed near the same time of the season for consistency.6 If maintenance fertilizer is not annually applied, soil testing should be completed every other year.2 Soil tests should include an analysis for macro and micro nutrients, soil pH, buffer pH, organic matter, and cation exchange capacity (CEC).

To learn more about Identifying late season soybean fertility deficiencies, please read https://www.hubnerseed.com/en-us/agronomy-library/late-season-soybean-nutrient-deficiency-identification.html

Lime and pH

Based on the soil buffer pH test, lime, if needed, adds Ca and helps neutralize soil acidity. When soil pH is maintained between 5.5 and 7.0, a) nutrient availability is enhanced, b) microbial residue breakdown increases, and c) N fixation is maximized.7 Lime dissolves slowly; therefore, applications should occur about 3 to 6 months before planting. Additionally, it should be applied one month or more before other nutrients are applied because lime can interfere with the availability of other nutrients, especially P. Lime sources should be evaluated as lime products differ in their neutralizing efficiency based on calcium carbonate equivalency and particle size.

Nitrogen

As a legume, soybean plants produce or fix N from the air into ammonia in their root nodules because of the presence of the rhizobia bacteria, Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Ammonia is a form of N that can be readily used by the soybean plant and is the primary N source for soybean. On average, about 55% of the required N is supplied by fixation. However, residual nitrate and mineralized N from soil organic matter are also utilized, particularly in the first three to four weeks after emergence because nodules are just forming. The soil must contain a healthy supply of the bacteria for nodules to form and produce N.

If a soybean crop has not been grown in a field within three to five years, been flooded, or the field has a course soil texture consideration should be given to inoculating the seed with living B. japonicum. Inoculated seed and inoculants are living organisms and should be handled and stored with care because they can be killed by desiccation, direct sunlight, heat, caustic fertilizers, and pesticides. If a field has high residual N, nodules may be slow forming because the plants are using the residual supply. In some cases, such as hot dry weather, the rhizobia may not colonize the soybean root and N may be limited, thus reducing yield. Additional N can be added if there are fewer than 7 nodules per plant, only nodules that are about 1/16 of an inch and are pink or red on the inside should be counted.

Research has shown that applying 60 to 70 pounds of actual N per acre can correct the N deficiency and provide an economic return, up to 10 bushels per acre, if applied timely. Ideally, the supplemental N should be applied between the R1 growth stage (one open flower on 50 percent of the plants) and the R2 growth stage.9

Foliar Applications

In nutrient-limited conditions such as sandy soils or in high yielding irrigated fields, macronutrient foliar applications at early vegetative growth stages may be beneficial and have increased yield by 15 to 20% in Iowa studies.5 Some studies suggest soybean yield can be increased by foliar applying deficient nutrients between beginning seed (R5) and full seed (R6) growth stages.5 However, many on-farm trials showed that foliar applications produced inconsistent results, and even decreased yield in some areas.5 Foliar applications should be applied at low rates and during cooler day-time temperatures to help avoid damage to plant tissues.

Sources:

1Stowe, K.D. 2018. Soybean fertility basics. N. C. Field Report. North Carolina Producers Association. https://ncsoy.org/.

2Fernandez, F.G. and Hoeft, R.G. 2009. Managing soil pH and crop nutrients. Chapter 8. Illinois Agronomy Handbook. http://extension.cropsci.illinois.edu/.

3Staton, M. 2012. Managing soil pH for optimal soybean production. Michigan State University. https://www.canr.msu.edu/.

4IPNI Estimates of nutrient uptake and removal. International Plant Nutrition Institute. http://www.ipni.net/.

5Pedersen, P. 2007. Soybean nutrient requirements. Iowa State University Extension. https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/.

6Mengel, D.B. and Hawkins, S.E. Soil sampling for P, K, and lime recommendations. Agronomy Guide AY-281-W. Purdue University. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/.

7Wortmann, C.S., Krienke, B.T., Ferguson, R.B., and Maharjan, B. 2018. Fertilizer recommendations for soybean. NebGuide. Nebraska Extension. University of Nebraska. http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/.

8Mallarino, A. 2018. Soybean potassium deficiency symptoms during early and late growing stages. Iowa State University Extension. https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/.

9Staton, M. 2014. Identifying and responding to poor nodulation in soybeans. Michigan State University Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/ .

Web sources verified 10/3/19. 1006_S1

Benefits of Secondary Macronutrients for Corn Production

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 15:34:21 GMT

Essential elements in corn

Calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) are essential plant nutrients for corn production. They are called secondary macronutrients because plants require them in smaller amounts than primary macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). Long-term cropping practices have removed measurable amounts of these nutrients from the soil. Consequently, secondary macronutrient deficiencies are becoming an increasingly important factor in intensive corn production systems, especially in soils fertilized only with primary macronutrients.

Johnston, A. and Dowbenko, R. . Farmwest. https://farmwest.com

Calcium

Calcium is an integral part of plant cell walls. Without adequate Ca, cell walls can collapse and plants would not remain upright. Ca helps improve the absorption of other nutrients by roots and their translocation in plants, and it can help improve disease resistance in plants. The nutrient contributes to soil fertility by maintaining a favorable soil pH, and it has a positive effect on soil properties. It improves soil structure thereby increasing water penetration and providing a more favorable soil environment for growth of plant roots and soil microorganisms.

Calcium exists in mineral soils as the Ca ²⁺ divalent cation which can be taken up by plants. When soil is limed to maintain an optimum pH level, there is usually adequate Ca available for the crop. Soil tests can estimate available Ca by measuring the cation on the soil CEC (cation exchange capacity).

Calcium deficiency is most likely to occur in acid, sandy soils from which Ca has been leached by rain or irrigation water. It may also occur in strongly acid peat and muck soils where total Ca is low. It is not likely to occur when soil is properly limed to adjust soil pH to optimum levels for corn production. Deficiency symptoms on corn show new leaves failing to emerge from the whorl because of a sticky, gelatinous material on the edges of the leaves. Symptoms appear on the new leaf growth since Ca is immobile within the plant. Young leaves can become distorted and small, the leaf margins often irregular, with spotted or necrotic areas and chlorotic leaf tips (Figure 1). Ca deficiency can be prevented by soil testing on a regular basis and correcting soil acidity with proper liming.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a component of the chlorophyll molecule and is essential for photosynthesis. It is also a phosphorus carrier in plants. Plants without Mg would not be able to take up phosphorus. It is essential for phosphate metabolism, plant respiration, and the activation of enzyme systems in plants.

Magnesium is taken up by the plant as the Mg ²⁺ divalent cation. As Mg-containing minerals in the soil slowly weather, some Mg is made available to plants. The supply of available Mg can be lost or deleted through leaching, plant uptake and removal processes. The availability of Mg to plants is often related to soil pH, with supply decreasing in both low and high pH soils. Soil tests can estimate available Mg by measuring the cation on the soil CEC.

Magnesium deficiency in corn is characterized as interveinal chlorosis. The loss of a healthy green color can be the first indication of deficiency. Since Mg is mobile in plants, older leaves are affected first. As the deficiency becomes more severe, the area between the veins of the leaves becomes yellow while the veins stay green (Figure 2). To correct for Mg deficiency in the soil, dolomitic limestone can be applied broadcast before planting. Soluble sources of Mg can also be provided in fertilizer. Irrigation water can contain a substantial amount of Mg which is readily available to the crop. Small amounts of Mg can be applied through foliar fertilizer to correct or prevent developing deficiencies, but the preferred approach is to soil-apply the required amounts before planting.

Sulfur

Corn requires greater amounts of S because it is a high dry-matter production crop. Sulfur is essential in plants for protein synthesis, chlorophyll development, and photosynthesis. The nutrient is often overlooked in many soil fertility programs and has become an increasing limitation to corn production due to expanding yields.

Most of the S in soil is bound by organic matter and cannot be used by plants until it is converted to soluble sulfate (SO ₄ ^-2 ) by soil bacteria through the process of mineralization. Sulfate is mobile in the soil and can easily leach with rainfall or irrigation. Sandy soils that are low in organic matter and clay particles are more likely to be deficient in S.

Sulfur deficiency symptoms are often confused with nitrogen deficiency. Both deficiencies can appear as stunted plants with a general yellowing of leaves. Since S is immobile in the plant, deficiency symptoms first appear in younger leaves (Figure 3). In contrast, nitrogen deficiency symptoms first appear on the older leaves. Sulfur deficiencies have become more common with continued use of high analysis fertilizers with little or no S and reduced deposition of atmospheric S with efforts to reduce acid rain.

Rainfall and irrigation water can supply a significant amount of S. Air pollution abatement efforts have reduced S emissions from industry and decreased the amount of S added to the soil by precipitation. Sulfur can also be provided through application of manure and fertilizers. Most fertilizer sources of S are sulfates (ammonium sulfate and calcium sulfate) that are moderately to highly soluble in water. Corn can respond to supplemental S on sandy soils low in organic matter. There is generally not a response to supplemental S applied to fine-medium textured soils with organic matter greater than 2%. Sulfur can be included in preplant or starter fertilizers. Plant analysis is the best tool for monitoring S in the crop as soil tests are not very reliable.

Sources:

Beegle, D. 2013. Soil Fertility Management. The Agronomy Guide. Penn State University.

Oldham, L. 2019. Secondary plant nutrients: calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Mississippi State University information sheet 1039. http://extension.msstate.edu .

Vitosh, M. 2015. Secondary and micronutrients for vegetable and field crops. Michigan State University Extension publication E486. https://www.canr.msu.edu .

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What will future corn hybrids look like?

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 22:04:54 GMT

Dave Nanda | Ohio Farmer Feb 02, 2021

Predicting the future is difficult, but here is one veteran breeder’s best guess.

More than 20 years ago, when Tom Bechman, editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer, visited my research nurseries at Stewart Seeds near Greensburg, Ind., he asked me what future corn hybrids would look like and how much they would yield. I remember telling him plants would be shorter and shaped like Christmas trees to capture greater amounts of sunlight, with potential yields of 500 bushels.

I think corn plants of the future will be much shorter, 5 to 7 feet. Total number of leaves may vary from 12 to 16, depending on the relative maturity. That is fewer than the normal number of leaves per plant today. The distance between leaves will be smaller.

Corn plants will not produce tillers. Plants at the five- to seven-leaf stage will decide whether to produce one or more ears based on their micro- and macroenvironments. However, most hybrids will be genetically programmed to produce only one ear. By the eight- to 10-leaf stage, plants will decide the number of kernel rows to produce, depending on relative maturity of the hybrid. Most hybrids of the future will have girthy ears with 20 to 24 rows of kernels.

More decisions

By the 11- to 13-leaf stage, corn plants will decide the number of ovules, or potential kernels, per row. At pollination, if there are plenty of nutrients and enough water available, plants may decide to add a few more kernels at the tips. Each plant already tries to maximize its viable progeny based on its genetic potential and environment — that won’t change in the future.

If it turns hot and dry, plants may decide to abort the last-pollinated kernels near the tips and try to produce fewer but very healthy, viable progeny.

Each plant will try to maximize its progeny based on its genetic potential limited by its macro- and microenvironments. I had the good fortune of developing some widely adapted hybrids that could flex both in number of kernel rows as well as ear length.

When plants enter grain fill, and if weather conditions are favorable in late summer, they may increase kernel depth. Cool and moist weather is favorable for this phase. As plants move into the half milk-line stage of kernel development, they may add test weight to kernels. This is somewhat limited by hybrid genetics. Some hybrids have a heavier test weight than others.

It is very important to protect leaves from diseases earlier in the season by spraying foliar fungicides if the hybrid is susceptible to prevalent fungal diseases.

Future plant density, spacing

Ear size of future hybrids will be smaller so they can be supported by thinner but stiffer stalks of 5 to 7 feet tall. Plants will be grown at 70,000 to 80,000 plants per acre in equidistant spacing of 9- to 10-inch, diamond-shaped rows. This will occur rather than the square spacing between plants in adjacent rows common today.

How can this happen? Progressive manufacturers and innovative companies and farmers are already making strides. If the demand for equipment capable of delivering this planting pattern increases, someone will build it!

The ideal ear type of future hybrids will have the ability to vary both number of kernel rows as well as number of kernels per row, depending on the environment at various stages of growth.

Nanda is director of genetics for Seed Genetics Direct, Jeffersonville, Ohio. Email dave.nanda@gmail.com or call 317-910-9876.The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

The Pandemic Upped My Cooking Game

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 00:06:19 GMT

By JENNIFER SHIKE January 26, 2021

Although there are many reasons why I can’t wait for this pandemic to end, one thing I will miss is the increased time our family has spent sitting around the table together. I always knew we had a crew of talkers, but 2020 reinforced this at our home. It also brought me closer to my roots – spending more time in the kitchen preparing family favorites and discovering some new ones, too.

I have to admit – I certainly upped my cooking game last year, and research shows I’m not alone. In fact, data in the HUNTER Food Study Special Report Wave Two: America Keeps on Cooking shows 51% of Americans are cooking more and 41% are baking more than they did at the same time last year.

This study assessed how attitudes and behaviors regarding purchasing, preparing and consuming food have evolved nine months into the pandemic (December 2020) as compared to at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis (April 2020). HUNTER says this gives us a lens into which of these habits are likely to continue into the new year and beyond.

"The study results gave us some interesting data to consider as we enter into a new year and endeavor to predict how it will unfold," said Heddy DeMaria, chief insights officer at HUNTER. "As restrictions from the pandemic remain in place, it's inspiring to see how resilient Americans have become. They continue to channel their energies into the kitchen, adopting habits that bring joy, spark creativity and strengthen family bonds. As we eagerly look forward to a post-COVID era, the data suggests these new habits will stick around and become part of our new normal."

The study’s top findings include:

1. Americans are more confident and creative in the kitchen.
Respondents said the main reason they are cooking at home more is to save money (67%), eat healthier (56%) and feel good (56%). Those cooking more at home also report increased confidence in their abilities (50%) while another quarter of consumers say they are learning more and building greater confidence, the report said. An increasing number report branching out to try new ingredients (47%), brands and products (52%) and many continue to rediscover old favorites (24% ingredients, 16% brands and products).

2. Americans still find joy in preparing meals.
Despite anecdotal evidence of pandemic cooking fatigue and baking burnout, HUNTER reports these activities remain a source of joy for consumers. More than three quarters of survey respondents that are cooking more say that they find enjoyment in cooking (81%), an eight-point increase over the Wave One / April 2020 findings. As many cooks can attest and the data shows, home cooking also helps brings families together. 45% of consumers report eating together more as a family and the number climbs to 55% among households with kids.

3. Food waste and healthy food consumption are trending back to pre-pandemic levels.
Although the pandemic has impacted many consumer habits, data shows that while many Americans are wasting less food (42%) than pre COVID-19, this number is significantly down (-16 points) since April. HUNTER reports this may be attributed to American's response to the decreased threat of food shortages. A similar shift took place with regard to consumers' consumption patterns. In addition, one-third of Americans claim to be eating more healthy foods, but the same claim to be eating more indulgent foods as compared to the same time last year. More than half of respondents (56%) report that their healthy/indulgent food consumption is similar to pre-COVID levels, a 14-point increase since April which suggests we are moderating over time back to pre-COVID consumption patterns.

4. Snacks and spirits are on the rise in single-member households.
In the wave one study in April 2020, HUNTER found that households with kids were initially the most challenged with change – showing the greatest increase in snacking, drinking alcoholic beverages and gaining the most weight. The latest study shows that this has reversed as these households are starting to moderate back to pre-COVID levels, while single-member households are starting to show the biggest uptick in all of these factors.

5. Takeout and delivery experience major surge after April decline.
With the restaurant industry facing unprecedented challenges in 2020, HUNTER reports it may be heartening to learn that takeout and delivery orders are up significantly when compared to the onset of the pandemic. In fact, 40% of Americans are now claiming to order more takeout and delivery versus the same time last year and only 20% are doing so less, resulting in a net increase of 20% (versus a net decline of 8% in Wave One / April 2020).

Read the full report here .

Texas Tech Claims 15th Intercollegiate Meat Judging Championship

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 21:03:12 GMT

GEORGE WATSON NOVEMBER 3, 2020

The abbreviated judging season concluded Sunday at the High Plains Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest in Hereford, which served as the 2020 national championship meet.

Normally, Texas Tech University 's Meat Judging Team in the Department of Animal & Food Sciences has to travel three states away to compete for – and claim – a national championship.

This year, in the age of COVID-19, Texas Tech claimed its second straight and 15th overall national crown in its home state by winning the High Plains Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest hosted by Caviness Beef Packers.

The national championships are typically held every year in mid-November in Dakota City, Nebraska. But since the coronavirus pandemic began in March, many of the American Meat Science Association (AMSA) judging events held throughout the fall were canceled as colleges and universities experienced travel restrictions.

This fall, only three contests were held, the South Plains Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest hosted by Texas Tech on Oct. 4, the American Royal Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest in Omaha, Nebraska, on Oct. 18 and the High Plains contest on Sunday (Nov. 1). Only three teams competed at the South Plains meet – Texas Tech, Oklahoma State University and Kansas State University – while those three were joined by Texas A&M University and South Dakota State University for the last two events.

Prior to the start of the competition on Sunday, the AMSA held a vote among the participating coaches, who agreed to count this competition as the 2020 national championship.

"I am so proud of the team and coaches who humbled themselves in the pursuit of excellence," said Mark Miller , coach of the Meat Judging Team and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Distinguished Chair in Meat Sciences. "They became a close family and unselfishly loved one another which gave them the faith and confidence to win the National Championship. God gave this team the victory. They dedicated themselves and worked so hard to achieve this."

After a second-place finish at the American Royal, Texas Tech's performance at the High Plains contest outdistanced Big 12 Conference rival Oklahoma State at the national championships by 30 points, 4,237 to 4,207. Texas A&M finished third with 4,177 points, with Kansas State in fourth with 4,156 points and South Dakota State in fifth with 3,928 points.

For the High Plains national championship event, each team designated four individual competitors for the team title competition, while the other members of each team competed in the alternate division. Leading the charge for Texas Tech was Plainview native Katie Mahagan, who totaled 1,079 points, just seven points ahead of teammate Kamlynn Thomas from Jacksboro with 1,072 points.

Tatum Whitewood of Sanger rounded out Texas Tech's top 10 individual finishers, coming in eighth with 1,056 points.

Mahagan dominated the individual judging competition, taking top honors in six of the eight categories. She claimed the title in beef grading, beef judging, overall beef, lamb judging, specifications and total/placing, while finishing seventh in reasons/questions and 10th in pork judging.

Thomas was right on her heels the whole competition, finishing second in beef grading, lamb judging, overall beef and specifications. She was fifth in beef judging and sixth in total placing and reasons/questions.

Whitewood finished second in total placing, third in beef judging and fourth in pork judging while taking fifth in reasons/questions, sixth in specifications and eighth in overall beef.

Texas Tech's fourth competitor, Hondo native Devin Gonzales, finished third in lamb judging while also taking fifth in total placing, sixth in pork judging, seventh in specifications and eighth in beef judging and reasons/questions.

In the alternate division, Texas Tech placed three teams in the top four, including first and second, while sweeping the top seven individual spots. Brecklyn LeCompte from Perryton led the alternate individual competitors, finishing first with 1,077 points, just two points ahead of Shaelynn Suttle from Idalou and Alli Morgan from Howe in third with 1,072 points.

Other members of the Meat Judging Team are:

Kara Belt from Houston
Caleb Blackwell from Van Alstyne
Megan Burgess from Marion
Sierra Forlano from Eldorado
Emily Franko from Valley Center , California
Jayna Grove from Corpus Christi
Blake Medders from Quinlan
Alex Moore from Socorro, New Mexico
McKenzie Owen from Morris, Oklahoma
Alex Norwood from Katy
Ashley Richardson from Corpus Christi
Lauren Ritchie from Nipomo, California
Sheridan Shallene from Bridgeport
Adrian Sinclair from Bosque, New Mexico
Riley Sloan from Haskell
Darbi Williams from Lubbock

Along with Miller, coaches for this year's team are graduate students Ben Mills from Shallowater and Kyle Mahagan from Plainview.

$26B in COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Slated for Agriculture Sector

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 14:41:45 GMT

by EMILY ASHCRAFT - LAWSTREETMEDIA.COM

According to a report from the House Agriculture Committee , $26 billion was allotted for agriculture programs through a COVID-19 pandemic relief package agreed upon by Congressional leadership late Sunday. The committee said that half of the funds it receives will go towards providing nutrition assistance, specifically increasing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit by 15 percent, and the other half will go to agricultural assistance programs, including $300 million which will be given to the Commerce Department for use in aiding fisheries.

The report detailed where each section of the funds allotted for agriculture would be sent, and which department would oversee the funding. The House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Rep. Collin C. Peterson (D-Minn) said in a press release that the aid will also help those in the agriculture sector who were not included in earlier assistance programs, like the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). This will include contract livestock and poultry growers, livestock and poultry producers who depopulated herds due to the supply chain issues stemming from the pandemic, and ethanol producers based on a decrease in demand.

“The effects of this pandemic are still being seen all along the food supply chain,” Peterson said in the press release. “Folks are still struggling to get enough to eat, and farmers are still reeling from disruptions to the marketplace. This bill isn’t perfect, but it reflects a compromise and goes a long way toward getting us through this hard time and back to normal. I urge my colleagues to support it.”

The bill would also provide grants to state departments to run farm stress programs and other animal health work. Funding is allocated for dairy farmers and for smaller livestock processors to allow them to obtain the permits necessary to increase their production.

Over $11 billion will reportedly go to the Office of the Secretary to provide support for agricultural producers, including growers and processors. Among other things, these funds will supplement the CFAP and make more payments available, help with crop insurance programs, purchase food and agricultural products, make loans, and conduct a review of impacts on agricultural producers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ohio Farm Bureau kicks off 2020 online annual meeting

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 17:11:32 GMT

For the first time in more than 100 years, Ohio Farm Bureau’s annual meeting will largely be held remotely in across the state Dec. 7-11, 2020.

“We know for so many of our members the annual meeting is much more than just a meeting. It’s a celebration of our organization,” said Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau executive vice president. “This year will be much different than our delegates and members have enjoyed over the past century, but like many things happening this year, we had to adapt to today’s challenges.”

The virtual event kicked off Monday Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. with comments from Frank Burkett, III, Ohio Farm Bureau President and Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President. The event wraps up on Friday with the business portion of the annual meeting where Farm Bureau policy will be set for the coming year.

“While the delegate and business sessions will be done remotely through secured systems, we will work hard to have full engagement with everyone involved through this crucial democratic process for our organization,” Burkett said. “Even though this approach is not meant to be the new normal, Ohio Farm Bureau looks forward to a successful 2020 annual meeting, and our membership will be stronger on the other side of these adverse times.”

In his remarks, Burkett outlined the 2019 formation of the Membership and Financial Strength Task Force. Some of the recommendations of the task force are being presented in the coming days.

“At last year’s annual meeting I announced the formation of a task force. The task force was charged to look at the many challenges that we have as an organization and bring recommendations back to our Ohio Farm Bureau Board of Trustees and eventually to our delegate body,” Burkett said. “Having a long term plan in place for the direction of our organization and to meet the needs of our membership is paramount. We have a strategic plan that serves as that very foundation.”

Burkett pointed out how important federal assistance was in 2020 in a variety of programs including the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and the Paycheck Protection Program, though they are not long-term solutions.

“These programs are not sustainable. Farmers want to recover their money from the marketplace, not from government programs,” Burkett said. “In the future, we will continue to advocate for programs that emphasize risk management and market development on behalf of our members.”

Burkett also mentioned how Ohio Farm Bureau coordinated with other Ohio agricultural organization to address the challenges of mental stress in rural Ohio in 2020 and described the extreme importance of improving rural broadband access in a post-COVID world. He also pointed out how important agriculture really was in 2020.

“After 2020, those not involved in agriculture learned just how essential farms are,” he said. “As I look at the compassion shown by individual members, or collectively by county farm bureaus across the state of Ohio, I’m proud. I’m proud of our county farm bureaus, our Ohio Farm Bureau and I’m proud of our American Farm Bureau. We can do collectively what we can never accomplish individually. Our members continue to rise to the occasion time after time.”

In his comments to kick off the meeting, Sharp pointed out that there were some non-COVID success stories in 2020 as well, including the preservation of $50 million in H2Ohio funding for water quality efforts in northwest Ohio and the legal dismantling of the Lake Erie Bill of Rights (LEBOR) proposed by Toledo voters.

For more from the 2020 Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, visit https://ofbf.org.

Everyday Herd Health

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 20:19:16 GMT

Sometimes in the cattle business it pays to keep things simple. Most herd health problems, for example, aren't going to be the result of a rare disease or a genetic defect. They are more likely about management and prevention of ailments everyone's already heard of.

Veterinarian Ken McMillan, is a large-animal practitioner out of Cropwell, Alabama, and a Hereford cattle producer. After more than 30 years in the business, McMillan won't say he's seen it all, but he admits he's seen a lot.

He says the single most important thing most cattle producers can do to improve their herds, is to have an annual visit with their local veterinarian. It's a good chance to discuss concerns and ask your local professional who has seen lots of operations, how yours might be improved.

That said, there are any number of ways producers can treat and prevent some of today's most common health issues.

ANAPLASMOSIS

This infectious disease destroys red blood cells and can lead to death if not treated. It is transmitted animal to animal through blood-sucking insects, as well as on contaminated needles or surgical instruments, like castrators.

Visible signs. Weakness and a refusal to drink water or eat often signal an infection. As it progresses skin around eyes, lips and teats becomes pale. Rapid weight loss is common. Animals may fall and not be able to get up.
Treatment. After the first signs of anaplasmosis, cattle will either begin to recover in about 4 days or they will die. This disease is best not treated once it's past the early stages. Cattle that recover can be carriers for the rest of their lives. A blood test can identify carriers. A year-round control program using antibiotics is to keep outbreaks from occurring is not uncommon. Your veterinarian will have to show there is anaplasmosis in the herd to be able to write a prescription for a medicated feed or mineral containing chlortetracycline. Other treatment options include vaccinations for non-carriers, or oxytetracycline to temporarily clear up the disease in carriers.
COMMON MISTAKES. McMillan says one of the biggest issues with anaplasmosis is that a lot of producers don't think it affects them. "No matter where they are in the U.S. cattle can be affected by this," he says. "It is a ubiquitous disease. Cattle move so much and there are so many ways it can spread, that it can become an issue quickly. If it's not on a producer's radar they may never realize what they're dealing with."

He says the cases that tend to get producers' attention are those with clinical symptoms. But he notes subclinical cases are stealing from producers every day.

"It's an anemia and it effects cattle more than most producers realize," he notes. "It's really important to trace this back so you how it got in your herd. This may help you avoid it moving forward."

BLOAT

A build-up of gas doesn't sound so serious, but in a cow it can mean death in as little as one hour. Bloat can occur when cattle graze lush forage, low in fiber and highly digestible. It's most common on immature legume pastures, including clover and alfalfa.

Visible Signs. Things can go wrong as little as 15 minutes after turnout to a bloat-producing pasture. The cow's rumen becomes distended (left side), she urinates and defecates frequently, bellows and staggers. Death results from restricted breathing and heart failure.
Treatment. As soon as signs of bloat are evident, remove animals from the pasture and offer dry hay. Force bloated animals to walk to cause belching. Move calmly, remember breathing is already impaired. If the cow continues in distress, stomach tubing to release the gas may be necessary. Other options may include a dose of vegetable or mineral oil to rupture foamy gas bubbles (10 to 12 ounces per 1,000 pounds); or use of a trocar, as a last result. This is best done by a veterinarian.
COMMON MISTAKES. "Don't let creep feeders run out," says McMillan. He notes this is often the first step to bloat. Really any change in diet can cause a problem. "Feeding on an infrequent basis, putting out too much food at one time or feeding the wrong things. . .these can all result in digestive upset," he says. "The key is a balanced ration. People feed cattle things they get for free all the time, and they have to be aware this can cause some real problems."

Beyond this, McMillan notes it's important to think before turning a bunch of hungry cattle out into lush pastures.

"Try to fill them up on some feed, or hay, before you turn them in. Free choice feeding, especially on legumes that have dew on them in the morning, can be a recipe for disaster. Instead, wait till the dew dries and limit-graze them. Make sure you have bloat blocks, a mineral or a salt ionophore out too. And even with precautions, watch them until you're sure there isn't a problem."

FOOT ROT

A common ailment, foot rot is an infectious disease, often due to the bacterium F. necrophorum. Once infected, animals spread the bacteria in their environment. It is an issue in high heat and humidity, where the ground is hard or covered with rocks or even stubble. Standing in mud or water can further spread the disease.

VISIBLE SIGNS. Look for decaying, swelling and lameness in the interdigital skin. Foot rot can cause fever, weight loss, decreased milk production and a reluctance to breed.
TREATMENT. Clean and examine the foot and apply a topical treatment for mild cases. Most cases will need antimicrobial therapy, and an anti- inflammatory may help with pain. Keep affected animals in a dry area until healed. If there's no improvement in three to four days, a re-evaluation is called for. Some animals will need to be culled.
COMMON MISTAKES. Think about foot rot and mineral nutrition isn't likely the first thing that comes to mind, but McMillan says it is critical. "With foot rot you have to make sure you have adequate zinc in your feed or your minerals. Copper and selenium are also very important," he explains.

In addition, McMillan says it's critical to consider sanitation in areas where cattle congregate. Letting them stand in mud can soften their feet and provide the perfect habitat for bacteria to live and reproduce. Rotate pastures, and avoid these wet, muddy messes as much as possible.

Another issue with foot rot, is with any injury that opens the foot up and allows bacteria in. Be especially cautious putting cattle in a pasture with stubble; on cutover timber land; in rocky areas; or on hard, icy frozen ground.

HARDWARE DISEASE

The name sounds like your cow just ate a bag of nails, and the reality isn't that far off. Old tires, often used to hold feed or water, are a common source of this ailment. Some tires contain wire and as they erode and rot, cattle ingest that wire. Cattle will also pick up any number of odds and ends around the farm, so it's important to be vigilant about keeping metal scraps picked up.

VISIBLE SIGNS. Wire can get trapped in the cow's reticulum. If it punctures the wall, the contents of the cow's stomach leak through and cause peritonitis. This leads to infections and overall poor health. Sudden death can occur if the foreign matter pierces areas around the heart.
TREATMENT. Prevention is the key here. Keep feeders and feeding areas free of any exposed wire or metal. Consider using magnets in feed mixers to pull out any hazardous material.
COMMON MISTAKES. On the whole, McMillan says he's seeing less hardware disease as the years progress. "I do think we are probably doing a better job of keeping places clean, with less hardware around, but it still happens."

He recalls baling wire being a horrible problem at one time, and notes he's pulled thin electric fencing wire and nails out of dead cows.

"Hardware disease is something people don't tend to think of when they have a cow that isn't doing well," he notes. "They want to treat her for worms and see her get better, but she just never does. Maybe she's losing weight, is walking stiffly or appears sore or cramped up. Hardware disease can be a severe and quick end; or something that is chronic and goes on for a long time."

PINKEYE

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) is one of the most common diseases in beef cattle. It's contagious and spreads from animal to animal, often by flies. Tall weeds or grasses that rub the eyes can be a source as well, along with dust. Some breeds are more sensitive to the condition.

VISIBLE SIGNS. Early in the course of the disease, look for tearing and light sensitivity. As pain increases, cattle will tend to eat less and seek shade more. Look for an ulcer in the center of the cornea, it appears as a small, white spot. The eye will look cloudy. The disease continues to progress to the point that this ulcer extends completely through the cornea.
TREATMENT. Treat pinkeye early and adopt preventive management practices. Tetracyclines are often effective early in the progression. With regards to management, keep fly populations down, keep pastures cut and try to have enough feeders so there is less crowding together.
COMMON MISTAKES. Environmental control and vector control are places McMillan says producers tend to miss the boat on when it comes to pinkeye management. In addition, he stresses the need for biosecurity when bringing new animals onto the premises.

"First, keep pastures cut, so cattle aren't getting hit in the eyes with seedheads as they graze. That is a common problem. Next, it's all about the flies. They carry the infection from animal to animal."

He notes that even in animals with no signs of pinkeye, they can still be carriers.

"That's why we really need to be isolating new animals for a few weeks, so we can be sure they aren't going to expose the rest of the herd to something like pinkeye. Biosecurity often overlooked, and it could prevent a lot of problems for the average producer."

SCOURS

Scours is diarrhea, caused by viruses, parasites or bacteria. Young calves are most susceptible. Changes in feed, or even quantity, can lead to this condition.

VISIBLE SIGNS. Watery stools in calves under a month old are a warning sign. Scours is most common within the first 15 days of life. The loss of water and electrolytes is serious for these young animals. Look for weight loss, depression and weakness, to the point the calf does not having the strength to nurse. Calves may even stagger. Death, without treatment, is not uncommon in less than 24 hours.
TREATMENT. Start with prevention, keeping calving areas clean and dry. Be aware that calf boxes, common in cold climates, can be breeding grounds for the bacteria and viruses that cause scours. Isolate scouring calves and dams if possible. Replace fluids and electrolytes as soon as there is a problem. If scours is caused by a bacterial infection, an antibiotic may help. Most important, make absolutely sure all newborn calves receive adequate colostrum from their dams. If that doesn't happen, administer replacement colostrum to the calf shortly after birth.
COMMON MISTAKES. We may be talking about calf scours, but it starts with the cow. McMillan says the passive transfer of immunity, given through that first milk (colostrum) is critical to keeping scours out of the calf herd.

"She should be in good body condition, have excellent nutrition, minerals, be current on vaccinations," says the veterinarian. "Anything we can do to make that dam stronger, and her colostrum better, is worth it if you're worried about scours."

He advocates use of a calving system that relies on the basic tenets of what is commonly called "the Sandhills System". "This is basically about trying to make sure calves are born into a clean environment," he says. "In this system cows are moved through a system of pastures, so that calving areas remain clean for each group."

TOXICOSIS, FESCUE

There are a lot of positives about Kentucky 31, but this common forage also has a dark side. At certain times the endophyte in this grass produces a toxin that can effect grazing cattle in several negative ways.

VISIBLE SIGNS. This toxicosis has a long list of signs. Some of the more troubling include heat stress, lameness (fescue foot), losing the tips of tails or ears, rough hair coats, poor growth and reduced calving rates.
TREATMENT. Forage management comes first. Some producers replace endophyte infected fescue pastures with other forages; others dilute the effects with other types of feed. Manage the problem by not letting the fescue develop seed heads, which is where the toxins are at their highest levels. If the forage gets ahead of the herd's ability to keep it grazed down, consider haying some of the area.
COMMON MISTAKES. If you've got toxic fescue, you already know it. So plan ahead. "The most toxic parts are the seedheads, so keep those clipped," says McMillan. "In the Southeast these toxins can be compounded by low temperatures and we can see fescue foot or fescue tails."

The key to managing around toxic fescue is dilution. "So interseed with other forages and feed hay," says McMillan. "In some cases producers have transitioned over toxic fescue pastures to endophyte-free pastures."

Watch Your Crop K Applications

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 20:19:15 GMT

Too Much Potassium Can Sometimes Ding Corn, Soybean Yields

ROCKVILLE, Md. (DTN) -- North Dakota State University Extension soil specialist Dave Franzen wasn't looking for a problem when he set up a field study on potassium in 2014.

But he found one.

During the experiment, initiated to help farmers correct potassium levels in soils depleted by the growing amount of corn and soybean acreage in North Dakota, the scientist noticed something surprising.

Too much potassium, it turned out, was almost as bad as too little.

In multiple sites, corn yields decreased significantly when more than 200 lbs of potassium (in the form of potassium chloride 0-0-60) was added to the field. "It was kind of astonishing," Franzen recalled, as he summed up his research for attendees of the University of Missouri's virtual Crop Management Conference on Tuesday. "We thought it was a fluke, but I've just kept on seeing it and I don't think it's a fluke."

When Franzen went on to scrutinize the economic return of potassium applications, he found the tipping point was even lower for North Dakota growers, with profits maxing out at 140 lbs of potassium (0-0-60), based on $3 corn and 20 cents/pound fertilizer costs.

As a result of his research, North Dakota State University has now published formal recommendations for the state's corn farmers to cap 0-0-60 potassium applications at 200 lbs (which translates to 120 lbs of potassium oxide, or K2O), Franzen said. "The reason we put on fertilizer is to make money, so why put on these higher rates if they aren't making us money?" he said.

While scientists haven't completely confirmed why potassium rates might sometimes ding yields, chloride toxicity might be at play, said Dan Kaiser, a University of Minnesota soil scientist who presented alongside Franzen.

Kaiser hasn't seen the same corn yield drop-offs in Minnesota from potassium applications, but he has seen situations where the application of potash decreased yields in soybean fields, which are more sensitive to chloride in the soil. He currently suggests growers limit their potash application ahead of soybean to around 100 lbs of potash per acre directly ahead of the soybean crop if a soil tests show medium or higher potassium levels.

Shaun Casteel, a soybean and small grains agronomist at Purdue University, reported similar effects from studies in Indiana where untreated soybean fields sometimes significantly out-yielded fields with 60 to 120 lbs of added potassium (K2O) near planting time.

"That was in fields with adequate soil test levels of potassium," Casteel noted. "We didn't see yield suppression in fields with very low potassium."

Casteel is recommending that growers in corn-soybean rotations move away from adding high rates of potassium directly before soybean planting. "I'd rather have growers adding potassium ahead of their corn crop, which should give them high enough levels that they can just use soil potassium for the following year's soybeans," he said.

It Took a Pandemic to Give Ag Its Due

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 20:18:58 GMT

It's been a few generations since the average American knew, or for that matter cared, who their local farmers and ranchers were. This year, for the first time in many people's lives, grocery store shelves and meat counters were empty as COVID-19 disrupted supply chains across the nation.

People started to think about farmers. They started to think about ranchers and anyone with a flock of layers, a herd of milk cows, poultry or hogs. And, no big surprise here, they started to look for ways to connect.

These consumers drove their shiny cars out of town, down a few dusty roads, all to find their nearest farmer. They came to buy food for their families. No middleman. No buying clubs. Just one on one, buying from the guy who grew the sweet corn and vegetables, who raised the livestock, who milked the cows or gathered the eggs.

Funny thing, no one seemed to care back in March if that side of beef was organic or grass-fed. They didn't worry if the chickens that laid their eggs were free-range. For a moment, all the marketing mantras in the world didn't mean a thing.

More than that, farmers were no longer faceless cogs in some industrialized system. Farmers had names, they had families, and they felt like friends now, because they cared if you could feed your kids. They were willing to share, to help. While the rest of the world panicked, they followed the seasons and let nature dictate what they would do rather than some cable news channel.

They tilled the ground, planted for the harvest, put the bull in with the cow herd and showed a faith that reminded those new friends, the ones who drove out and met them for the first time, that agriculture has a face, a heart and a near limitless amount of strength and resiliency.

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How to teach your kids about cybersecurity

www.kaspersky.com

With October being National Cyber Security Month we wanted to share this article with you to help keep your children safe. There is a lot of good information out there, take the time to check it out.

Educate yourself so you can help protect your kids

5 essential tips for talking to kids about cybersecurity

Use child-friendly educational resources

Set up some basic internet rules

Focus on empowerment, not fear

Create a trusting, respectful environment

Use the right tools to help keep them safe

How to safeguard your kids’ cybersecurity

Further Reading

September is Honey Month

History of National Honey Month

How to Celebrate National Honey Month

Enjoy Eating Some Honey

Taste a Unique Kind of Honey

Learn More About Bees

Become a Beekeeper

Home Canning Meat - Plain and Simple

Bagged Feeds Summer Time

Grain Mites, Uggh!

Those Pesky Critters!

Keep your hogs heat-stress free

﻿

6/14/2022e for your new post

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Understanding Pasture Fertility

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How Much Seed Do I Need?

Top Tips for Planting Pasture Seed in the Fall

Tip #1: Do An Up-To-Date Soil Test

Tip #2: Use The Best Seed For Your Soil Type

Tip #3: Best Time to Plant

Tip #4: Use No-Till Drill Seeding

Tip #5: Allow Time

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Gerber & Sons, Inc. Expand Goat Feed Selections

Bob White Line of Goat Feed has widened their varieties.

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Alfalfa tips for 2021

The most promising research for alfalfa today centers around farm productivity and land stewardship, says Ho. “The benefits of alfalfa to farm economics, whether hay grower or dairy producer, have not been communicated broadly enough to realize fully grower ROI.”

Swine BlueLite® is the original acidified water soluble electrolyte for pigs of all ages

WHEN TO USE:

Swine BlueLite

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https://www.agriculture.com/crops/soybeans/farming-101