Month: April 2016

Corn and Soybean Market Update: Acreage Sets the Market’s Tone

– Brian R. Williams, Assistant Extension Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University

The USDA released their annual Prospective Plantings report and their quarterly Grain Stocks report on March 31, 2016. The Prospective Plantings report uses the results of producer surveys from late February through early March to estimate acreage allocation of various crops in each state (and the nation). The stocks report summarizes the level of grain inventories in terminal elevators and on farm grain bins. These two reports typically set the tone of the corn and soybean markets at least through the spring months.

The plantings report revealed that Continue reading Corn and Soybean Market Update: Acreage Sets the Market’s Tone →

Spring Alfalfa Stand Evaluation

– Rory Lewandowski, OSU Extension Educator, Wayne County

The 2015 season was hard on some alfalfa stands.  We had an extended period of rainy weather from the later part of May until about July 19.  During this time many alfalfa fields were harvested under wet soil conditions resulting in soil compaction and damage to alfalfa crowns.  Plant roots that I dug in some fields during that time period exhibited root rot symptoms and Continue reading Spring Alfalfa Stand Evaluation →

How many clean-up bulls are needed after estrus synchronization and AI?

– Hazy Nielson and Rick Funston, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

One of the benefits of estrus synchronization and AI is purchasing and maintaining fewer bulls. However, an idea has been circulating that synchronized females not becoming pregnant to AI will return to estrus at the same time and require the same number of bulls as natural service without AI.

Research has indicated cows not conceiving to AI will return to estrus over a Continue reading How many clean-up bulls are needed after estrus synchronization and AI? →

Final Weights and Finishing Holstein Steers

– Bill Halfman, University or Wisconsin Extension (originally posted on the WI Beef Information Center blog)

Finish weights on Holstein steers have been increasing for a variety of reasons. Some of the reasons are:

  • increasing size of Holstein cows
  • management and rations used to feed the steers
  • feed costs compared to sale prices of the cattle
  • and others

Continue reading Final Weights and Finishing Holstein Steers →

Livestock Loss to Fires

– Glynn T. Tonsor, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University

One of the issues receiving significant attention in KS and OK is the broader impact of widespread fires impacting multiple counties, thousands of acres, and a yet to be tallied number of livestock. While the adverse impact on those directly affected is certainly real in both financial and emotional ways, it is also important to Continue reading Livestock Loss to Fires →