Month: April 2017

Poison Hemlock: Time to Take Action!

– Stan Smith, PA, OSU Extension, Fairfield County

Poison hemlock plants in Seneca County, Ohio in January of 2017

As we’ve discussed a couple of times in the past, poison hemlock is a biennial member of the carrot family that can be fatal to livestock if ingested in sufficient quantities. That said, while much of the poison hemlock we’re seeing today has been alive but dormant much of the winter, those plants are now in the early stages of bolting across much of Ohio, and also positioned nicely to be controlled at this time.

While the taste of poison hemlock leaves to livestock is unpleasant and toxic quantities are seldom consumed, if grazing animals are turned out in early spring onto pastures with less than adequate forage, the risk Continue reading Poison Hemlock: Time to Take Action! →

Final Reminder: Seedstock Improvement Sale is Saturday

– John F. Grimes, OSU Extension Beef Coordinator

The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) will hold its annual Seedstock Improvement Sale this Saturday, April 8 at noon at the Union Stock Yards Company in Hillsboro, Ohio.  This year’s sale features 44 bulls from one year to five years of age.  Breeds consigned include Angus, Simmental, Hybrid Continue reading Final Reminder: Seedstock Improvement Sale is Saturday →

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Beef Prices Near Sustainable Levels

– Steve Suther, Director, Industry Information, Certified Angus Beef LLC

Depending on which side of the gate you’re on, it was heartening or worrisome to see cattle and beef prices recover coming into spring. Cattle markets are widely reported in farm and ranch media, but beef and competing protein prices underlie it all.

The Choice boxed-beef price recovered nearly 20% from its January low by the end of March, to the neighborhood of $2.20 per pound. Some analysts say that’s Continue reading Beef Prices Near Sustainable Levels →

Calf Price Rally and a Crop Production Report

– David P. Anderson, Professor and Extension Economist

The Spring rally in fed cattle price, Choice, and Select beef cutout values has extended into the calf and feeder market.  Number 1, 5-600 pound steers in the Southern Plains have crept up from about $148 in early January to over $165 by the end of March.  Calves of these weights typically rise in the Spring.  Much of this seasonal increase is a supply driven phenomenon in that there are fewer Continue reading Calf Price Rally and a Crop Production Report →