Month: October 2016

Forage Management Considerations After Frost

– Rory Lewandowski, OSU Extension Educator, Wayne County

We have had a few, light scattered frosts in the area that have generated some questions about forage use after a frost.  The two most common questions concern the use of warm season grasses in the sorghum family and grazing alfalfa.  The issue with grasses in the sorghum family, which includes sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, sudangrass and Johnsongrass in addition to sorghum, is that they contain cyanogenic glycosides and Continue reading Forage Management Considerations After Frost →

Corn Ear Rots

– Rory Lewandowski, OSU Extension Educator, Wayne County

As corn harvest continues across our area, I have received a few questions about corn ear rots and mycotoxins.  Across the state, particularly from the central part and west there have been lots of reports of diplodia ear rot.  In recent weeks, Pierce Paul, OSU Extension Corn and Wheat Extension Pathologist has received corn samples with Trichoderma, Fusarium and Continue reading Corn Ear Rots →

Producer Input Sought for 2016 National Beef Quality Audit

Beef producers all across the country, from every segment of the industry, are being encouraged to participate in a survey that will help establish a benchmark and course for the beef industry for 2017 and beyond. The Producer Survey of the checkoff-funded 2016 National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) will collect producer information and opinions, which will be added to the audit’s traditional production research to form an in-depth look at where the industry stands and what Continue reading Producer Input Sought for 2016 National Beef Quality Audit →

Trade Continues to Move in the Right Direction

– David P. Anderson, Professor and Extension Economist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Two interesting trade reports have been released by USDA in the last two weeks.  One is the monthly beef trade data.  The other is from the Foreign Ag Service and is a bi-annual report on world markets and trade.  With all the talk about Brazil and China in the beef news lately it’s a good chance to look over trade trends.

Beef imports in August (the latest data) was 16 percent lower than in August 2015.  Imports from Australia continue to Continue reading Trade Continues to Move in the Right Direction →

Prepare for the Fall Breeding Season

– John F. Grimes, OSU Extension Beef Coordinator

The 2007-2008 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Animal Health Monitoring System’s (NAHMS) Beef Study indicated that roughly 18% of all cow-calf operations had all or part of their calving season in the months of September through October. Based on my personal observations while working for OSU Extension over the years, I believe the calving information from the 2007-2008 NAHMS study accurately represents cow-calf operations in Ohio.

Since the vast majority of Continue reading Prepare for the Fall Breeding Season →

Request a ‘Depredation Permit’ Before Black Vultures Attack

– Stan Smith, OSU Extension PA, Fairfield County

black-vulture

Black vulture

Over the better part of at least the past 15 years, Ohio livestock producers have increasingly experienced problems with black vultures. Unlike its red headed cousin the turkey vulture that feeds only on the carcasses of dead animals, black vultures are an aggressive bird that will, on occasion, kill other animals for food. It’s not an uncommon occurrence for a black vulture to attack a cow in the pasture while in labor in an effort to Continue reading Request a ‘Depredation Permit’ Before Black Vultures Attack →

Next Options for Fall Calf Crop

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

In the midst of this year’s fall calf crop marketing process it is useful to step back and note marketing prospects and options available to buyers and sellers of calves.  For context note the current projected price of selling a 550 lb calf in Salina, KS on October 19th is $137.28/cwt.  The main marketing alternatives available include Continue reading Next Options for Fall Calf Crop →

NOW is a Great Time to Control Next Year’s Poison Hemlock

– Stan Smith, OSU Extension PA, Fairfield County

As described regarding cressleaf groundsel by Mark Loux last week in this publication, and as is the case with nearly all biennial or perennial weeds, late fall is a great time to control poison hemlock. There are a couple of good reasons but perhaps the best is that while those plants are presently storing energy in their root systems to survive the winter, it is also a time when herbicide is very easily transferred into that root system. The ability to more effectively use 2,4-D or similar products to kill broadleaf plants now, eliminates the possibility of killing Continue reading NOW is a Great Time to Control Next Year’s Poison Hemlock →

Grazing Bites for October 2016

– Victor Shelton, NRCS State Agronomist/Grazing Specialist

I’m writing this the last week of September. It is surprising how warm most of September was and even at the end of the month, even warm weather loving people were wondering how long this Indian summer will last. This type of weather, along with more than adequate moisture in a lot of the Indiana, means more opportunity and time to grow forage. Usually by this time of year, we are living on borrowed days if we are relying on a lot more forage growth. Too often, the first Continue reading Grazing Bites for October 2016 →

Could My Cow Have Cancer?

– Michelle Arnold, DVM, Ruminant Extension Veterinarian, UKVDL and JD Green, PhD, Extension Professor, Weed Scientist, UK Plant and Soil Sciences Department

bovinecancer1

Multiple, firm white tumors may be present in any organ on post-mortem examination. This tumor is lymphosarcoma in the abomasum. Photo courtesy of the UKVDL.

Malignant Lymphosarcoma is the most common neoplastic (cancerous) disease identified in cattle slaughtered in the United States and largest single reason cattle are condemned during postmortem inspection.  A 2009 report sites malignant lymphosarcoma for 13.5% of beef cattle condemnations and 26.9% of dairy carcass condemnations.  The bovine leukemia virus (BLV) initiates the cancer and this virus routinely spreads through Continue reading Could My Cow Have Cancer? →

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