Month: September 2005

“Why throw your oats from a perfectly good airplane” . . . an update

– Stan Smith, OSU Extension PA, Fairfield County

Many have asked about the success and early results of the oats that were flown into standing corn on Fairfield and Licking County farms in August. The photos below were taken 9/23/05, thirty one days after aerial seeding 100 pounds per acre of oats over the corn. Katrina delivered about 3 inches of rain 7 days after the seeding, and corn silage was harvested 4 days later in the left photo, and is yet to be Continue reading “Why throw your oats from a perfectly good airplane” . . . an update →

Buying and Selling Cattle on the Slide

– Stephen Boyles, OSU Extension Beef Specialist

Using a ‘slide’ when selling cattle adds flexibility to marketing cattle. Ohio calves are traditionally marketed in the fall and thus it is also a traditionally low point in calf price during the year. By marketing cattle during peak prices, well in advance of shipping date, producers may get a higher price. With forward contracts becoming more prevalent, sliding price adjustments in contracts provide a tool for marketing cattle at some future delivery date. A “sliding scale” adjusts price for variation between estimated and actual selling weight. A producer must have an understanding of Continue reading Buying and Selling Cattle on the Slide →

Difficult Times are Seeds for Innovative Alternatives!

– Stan Smith, PA, OSU Extension, Fairfield County

Despite the major “green-up” we experienced last week across the Ohio Valley as a result of Katrina, forage supplies remain very tight. As we’ve visited with area cattlemen this summer discussing the alternatives that might be considered, we’ve occasionally heard “reasons” some of these ideas simply won’t work. Well . . . as Dr. DeBruin mentioned back in 1999 when we experienced similar concerns, a cow can digest most anything that we can burn with a match if she has too, we just need to figure out how to get it to her.

Two weeks ago we flew about 260 acres of oats, cereal rye, and/or annual ryegress onto standing corn and soybeans. The photos below exhibit the start the oats were off to 12 days later. Continue reading Difficult Times are Seeds for Innovative Alternatives! →