Month: April 2023

Enhanced Soil Carbon Farming as a Climate Solution: Pastures and Hayfields in Ohio

How do perennial forages vs annual crops affect soil carbon stocks and sequestration?

The Sustainable Agroecosystems Lab at The Ohio State University, Departments of Horticulture & Crop Science and Animals Sciences is seeking farmers to participate in an on-farm soil assessment to evaluate soil carbon sequestration under perennial pasture fields and annual crops fields.

Project description: This is a multi-state and multi-institution $15 million project led by researchers at the Carbon Management and Sequestration Center (CMASC) at The Ohio State University.  Different soil management practices and uses are being assessed in 17 states for their impact on soil carbon stocks. This research will provide on-farm data to farmers, stakeholders and policymakers on the importance of soil carbon farming practices to mitigate climate change.

As part of the project, our lab is focusing on how perennial forages, for grazing or hay, and annual crops, such as corn and soybean, affect soil carbon stocks and sequestration. We are looking to compare fields under long-term use as perennial forage or to . . .

Continue reading Enhanced Soil Carbon Farming as a Climate Solution: Pastures and Hayfields in Ohio

USDA Announces Grassland Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment is Open

On April 17, 2023 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners could begin signing up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Applications will be accepted through May 26, 2023. Among CRP enrollment opportunities, Grassland CRP is a unique working lands program, allowing producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while conserving grasslands and promoting plant and animal biodiversity as well as healthier soil.

Find more details Grassland CRP Program linked here or by contacting your local USDA Service Center.

Backgrounding Cattle in 2023

– Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist, OSU Extension (originally published in Farm and Dairy)

Know that not all cattle are designed to be backgrounded.

As I do chores each day after work it has become evident that grazing season will be here directly. With stocker cattle prices near or at record highs, there has never been a better time to evaluate pastures and grazing systems to optimize the value of livestock in a grazing system. Let’s discuss some management practices for backgrounding stocker calves on grass in 2023.

Calf Quality

Looking at the livestock futures there is a lot of opportunity in the cattle market for 2023. That said, I know there are concerns about calf prices as producers start to buy stockers to graze this spring and summer.

Remember that not all cattle are designed to be backgrounded. High growth, high performing calves are often best suited for delivery straight to the feedlot. The ideal calves for backgrounding are lean, green, grazing machines that may not be ready for finishing and will benefit from added Continue reading Backgrounding Cattle in 2023 →

Stocker Outlook for 2023

– Dr. Greg Halich and Dr. Kenny Burdine, Extension Professors, Livestock Marketing, University of Kentucky

Spring has officially arrived in the Commonwealth, which always brings questions about stocker profitability. Calf prices typically increase seasonally as we move into spring but have increased at a larger-than-normal rate since the end of 2022. On a state average basis, a medium / large frame #1-2 steer in March has sold for over $40 per cwt more than that same steer in December. While it is likely that some stocker operators purchased calves early, to get ahead of the seasonal spring price increase, most will place calves into stocker programs in the coming weeks. At the time of this writing (March 21st), fall 2023 CME© feeder cattle futures were trading around $220 per cwt, which is roughly a $25 per cwt premium over the April contract. It’s hard to remember a year with this much carry on the feeder cattle board between spring and fall. This suggests that heavy feeder cattle prices should increase throughout 2023, which partially explains the sharp increases being seen in calf prices. Still, high calf prices have many stocker operators questioning whether profit opportunities will exist for 2023.

The purpose of this article is to assess the likely profitability of summer stocker programs for 2023 and establish target purchase prices for calves based on a range of return levels. While it is impossible to predict where feeder cattle markets will end up this fall, producers need to estimate this and not rely on the current price (March) for 750-850 lb feeder calves. The fall CME© feeder cattle futures price (adjusted for basis) is the best way to Continue reading Stocker Outlook for 2023 →

Wholesale Beef Prices and Cattle Prices

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

While fed cattle prices have jumped again, hitting $170 per cwt in some markets for the last week of March, wholesale beef prices have not increased along with cattle prices. The Choice beef cutout averaged $280.51 per cwt the last week in March, up about $14 per cwt compared to the same time last year. The cutout has declined about $8 per cwt over the last 5 weeks.

Wholesale prices for a few cuts reveal some interesting ups and downs. Ribeyes, strip loins, and full tenderloin prices have all declined over the last month. Boneless ribeyes averaged $9.83 per pound the last week in March after hitting $10.69 earlier in the month. Ribeyes have often hit a seasonal peak in recent years around the Memorial Day holiday as a grilling feature. While a little early for that peak, tight supplies in the first quarter of the year probably contributed to some higher prices. Strip loins have fallen back to $7.57 per pound, about equal to last year, after reaching $8.77 a few weeks ago. The peak in strips is also a little earlier than usual and likely due to Continue reading Wholesale Beef Prices and Cattle Prices →

Weekly Livestock Comments for April 7, 2023

– Dr. Andrew Griffith, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee

FED CATTLE

Fed cattle traded $3 to $4 higher compared to last week on a live basis. Prices on a live basis were mainly $170 to $174 while dressed prices were mainly $275 to $279.

The 5-area weighted average prices thru Wednesday were $172.33 live, up $3.69 compared to last week and $278.10 dressed, up $7.74 from a week ago. A year ago, prices were $138.72 live and $222.28 dressed.

There remains a large discrepancy between cattle prices in the North and the South, but the five-area weight average price this week appears to be one for the record books. The previous record high price for the five-area weighted average steer price was $171.38 set in November 2014, but the market surpassed that price by nearly $1 this week. The $170 price mark was the price point that had been discussed previously in this article, and the market finally achieved what had been discussed several months ago. Can the market maintain this price level or even move higher? The simple answer is Continue reading Weekly Livestock Comments for April 7, 2023 →

Fed Cattle Supplies

– Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, Ness School of Management & Economics, South Dakota State University

Despite last quarter’s record high heifer placement numbers, feedlot placements in recent months have been lower than a year earlier, especially of heavier feeder cattle. Steer and heifer weights in 2022 set record-high levels. Recent slaughter weight patterns are sending mixed signals about available beef supply. On a monthly average, the carcass weights are slightly higher than a year ago; however, the most recent weekly average carcass weight is slightly less than a year ago. On an absolute measure, the weights are still high, and the first quarter slaughter totals should provide some clarity of the short-tun supply.

Another aspect of supply is the pace of beef cow slaughter. Federally inspected cow slaughter was almost 7 million head last year. After a steady start, slaughter this year has fallen back to a more average level. Prices are showing some seasonal strength. Slaughter weights continue to be suppressed. The point is that cow slaughter was very high, and it seems to be slowing. The heifer mix on feed was at a record high level to begin 2023. What about the pace of heifer placements? The heifer mix in Continue reading Fed Cattle Supplies →

Prospective Plantings – 2023 Hay Acreage

– James Mitchell, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Arkansas

Last week, Kenny wrote about the implications of the March Planting Intentions Report for cattle producers. Most of the attention was on corn and soybeans and the effects on feed prices. The report also includes updates about hay acreage, which are worth discussing, given our tight hay supplies over the past few years.

First, it is worth mentioning that the data in the Planting Intentions report is just that, producer intentions. Expect revisions from USDA as we get further into the year. Specifically, revisions in the June and September reports from Continue reading Prospective Plantings – 2023 Hay Acreage →

Spring Hayfield Scouting

–  Allen Gahler, Extension Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Sandusky County and Jason Hartschuh, Dairy Management and Precision Livestock Field Specialist, Ohio State University Extension (previously published in Ohio’s Country Journal on-line)

Assessing winter damage is a primary reason to be scouting forage fields now.

While things are muddy with hints of green in northern Ohio, we are hearing from colleagues in central and southern Ohio that spring is definitely here and bringing things to life, including pasture grasses and hayfields. After green-up happens in your part of the world, it’s the ideal time to be scouting hayfields and pastures for winter damage, legume crown health, heaving of the root systems, and pesky winter annual weeds. Over the next few weeks, it may be necessary to re-scout fields as they receive additional frost freeze events and ponding rain fall.

Depending on where you are located and what type of forage fields you have, winter damage may be one of the most significant reasons to be scouting for now. In northern Ohio, where we do not have a lot of grass hayfields or pastures, but alfalfa fields are plentiful. This is yet another year for major concern. There was never a period of more than 5 to 6 days where the ground was frozen in most of the state, and the same can be said for snow cover. Both of these things can be good for an alfalfa field if they last. But when they do not and leave behind standing water, or provide for constant freeze-thaw cycles throughout the winter, alfalfa and other legumes can suffer and Continue reading Spring Hayfield Scouting →

Cressleaf Groundsel Scouting

– Alyssa Essman and Ricardo Ribeiro

This plant is toxic to livestock.

Much of the state is still wet and waiting for dry conditions to resume field activities. Scouting for weeds now can help spot any issues and plan for spring burndown programs. By late spring, it’s not uncommon to see many fields covered in yellow flowers of an increasingly common winter annual weed. This weed can appear in winter wheat and ahead of corn and soybean production but can be a deadly concern in managed systems where livestock are fed. Scouting for cressleaf groundsel, also called butterweed, at this time can prevent unexpected issues for livestock production later in the season.

Depending on the level of infestation cressleaf groundsel can be toxic to livestock fed with hay or grazing pastures, causing liver disease and losses on animal performance. Although toxic properties are higher in more mature plants, the best time to control this weed is when plants are small. Waiting until plants have bolted and flowers are visible reduces . . .

Continue reading Cressleaf Groundsel Scouting