Month: June 2025

Maximize Forage Quality – Strategies for Wet Spring Harvests

– Ted Wiseman, OSU Extension, Perry County (originally published in Ohio Farmer on-line)

It’s been a challenge to make quality hay this year.

Harvesting first-cutting forages during a wet spring is always a challenge, but timing remains critical for maintaining forage quality. Studies have shown that the ideal harvest window is narrow grasses should be cut at the boot stage, while legumes are best harvested at late bud to early bloom. In mixed stands, the timing should be based on the grass component, as grasses like orchardgrass mature more quickly than legumes. Missing this window by even 10 days can result in significant losses in both total digestible nutrients (TDN) and crude protein. For example, an alfalfa-grass mix harvested at the right stage can contain 65% TDN and 18% protein, while the same stand cut at half bloom or later may drop to just 48–50% TDN and 12% protein or less.

To make the most of limited drying windows, mowing should begin mid-morning after the dew has evaporated. Although Continue reading Maximize Forage Quality – Strategies for Wet Spring Harvests →

Hampered Hay Days & Hope for a Good One

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Join us July 18 at Hay Day!

“Hello, Mother Nature? Are you there? Am I coming in clear? I’d like to request a few hay days please.”

Does this sound familiar? If you have been putting in calls to Mother Nature and prayers to the heavens for better hay making weather, you certainly are not alone. My, what a ride it has been from June 2024 to June 2025. From extreme drought to excessive rain, we’ve been on a pendulum swing of weather conditions that seem to be working against the process of making high quality hay.

While we can’t control the weather, there are many things we can influence when it comes time to put up hay. Many of these factors have to do with Continue reading Hampered Hay Days & Hope for a Good One →

Putting Poison Hemlock into Perspective (Again)

– Mark Loux and Stephanie Karhoff, CCA, OSU Extension

Figure 1: Once in bloom chemical control is difficult. Photo credit: Joe Boggs.

Poison hemlock is in full bloom across the state and continues to make the news, unfortunately. Poison hemlock is in the Apiaceae or parsley plant family, which also includes wild carrot (Queen Anne’s lace), wild parsnip, cow parsnip, and giant hogweed.

All these species share characteristics with poison hemlock to varying degrees and inhabit both disturbed and undisturbed sites such as roadsides, ditches, pastures, forest edges, and fence lines. Key identifying characteristics of poison hemlock include finely divided leaves (though lesser so than wild carrot, for which it is often confused), hollow stem, and . . .

Continue reading Putting Poison Hemlock into Perspective (Again)

Cattle and Beef Prices Push Higher

– Josh Maples, Assistant Professor & Extension Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University

Cattle prices have continued to push higher over the past few months. Auction prices for feeder steers are up 5 to 10 percent since mid-April depending on location. Live steer prices averaged $238.68 last week – another record and 13 percent above mid-April prices. Prices across feeder cattle and live cattle are 20 to 25 percent above year-ago levels.

Beef values are also pushing higher. The Choice boxed beef cutout value was $382.11 per cwt on Monday, June 16. This is a 19 percent increase above year-ago levels. The weekly choice cutout has been increasing each week since mid-April. The continued weekly increases have already Continue reading Cattle and Beef Prices Push Higher →

Meat is Having a Moment

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

Consumer desire for meat protein is strong.

One of the most intentionally repeated phrases I have used in recent months is “meat is having a moment.”  This reflects multiple signals that consumer desire for meat protein is strong and perhaps broader macroeconomic factors most risk near-term derailment of elevated meat demand supporting higher livestock prices.

This was discussed extensively at the World Pork Expo including an exchange with Tyne Morgan as captured in the Continue reading Meat is Having a Moment →

Fly Control in Livestock for Summer

– Ted Wiseman, OSU Extension, Perry County (originally published in Farm and Dairy)

Horn flies feed on blood from the backs of cattle 20–40 times per day.

As summer temperatures rise, so does the pressure from biting and nuisance flies on livestock operations. According to university research, fly infestations cost U.S. producers an estimated $700 million to $1 billion annually in lost performance. With today’s strong livestock markets, minimizing these losses through effective fly control is more important than ever.

Understanding the Impact of Flies on Livestock
Flies reduce productivity by interfering with feeding, causing stress, and transmitting disease. The primary culprits include Continue reading Fly Control in Livestock for Summer →

When You’re Hot, You’re Hot!

– Dr. Les Anderson, Beef Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

Consumption of red clover can aid cattle during heat stress.

Last summer was a challenge for livestock. Kentucky recorded over 35 days with temperatures that exceeded 90⁰F and our temperature-humidity index was in the dangerous category for livestock for most of June and July. The impact of heat stress on livestock has been extensively studied over the last several decades. Heat stress reduces growth rate, can shorten gestation, increase lameness, disease, and death rates. Perhaps the most dramatic impact of heat stress is the marked reduction in reproductive efficiency.

Now is the perfect time to start planning to overcome heat stress. When I first got to UK, our Angus cows were involved in a variety of trials examining the impact of consuming endophyte-infected fescue on reproductive rate. For several years, these cows were synchronized for AI around June 10 and then exposed to a bull for 70 days. Cows consuming only endophyte-infected fescue had 55-62% pregnancy rates at the end of the breeding season. Similarly, Dr. Burris at Princeton demonstrated that the conception rate of cows decreased from 70% in early spring (April 1 – June 1) to 35% in the summer (June 20 – August 1) resulting in a pregnancy rate decrease from 90% to 58%. Heat stress reduces pregnancy rate by Continue reading When You’re Hot, You’re Hot! →

The Impact of Heat Stress and Fescue Toxicosis on Beef Cattle Reproduction

– Tyler Purvis, Les Anderson, Darrh Bullock, Kevin Laurent, Jeff Lehmkuhler, and Katie VanValin, University of Kentucky Animal and Food Sciences

Heifer experiencing heat stress resulting from fescue toxicosis.

Heat stress is a common problem facing beef-cattle producers throughout the United States, and in 2003 was estimated to cost the U.S. beef industry $369 million dollars annually. Heat stress occurs when an animal is creating and absorbing more heat than they can dissipate, which increases core temperature and physiological stress. Common symptoms of heat stress include increased respiration rates, panting, or standing in water such as ponds or puddles. Heat stress results in negative impacts on growth, health, and reproduction. Cattle can have reduced conception rates, growth rates, and milk production during the summer. During severe heat stress, conception rates can fall to 10%-20% or lower compared to 40%-60% conception rates observed in cooler months.

The severity of heat stress is impacted by both temperature and humidity. The temperature humidity index (THI), which combines temperature and humidity into one value, is used to evaluate the risk of heat stress. THI levels are classified as: normal (<75), alert (75-78), danger (79-83), and emergency (>84), according to the University of Nebraska Lincoln Beef Cattle Temperature Humidity Chart (Figure 1). This means that . . .

Continue reading The Impact of Heat Stress and Fescue Toxicosis on Beef Cattle Reproduction

Rethinking Basis Behavior in a High-Price Cattle Market

– James Mitchell, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Arkansas

When we reach either extreme of the cattle cycle, it changes how we interpret and forecast price relationships. One challenge is understanding relative prices for cattle in different weight classes and basis, particularly when traditional models rely on historical averages. This article focuses on the role of the cattle cycle, the changing relationship between calf and feeder cattle prices, and the implications for basis.


Figure 1 shows the annual average ratio of Arkansas calf to feeder cattle prices with national January 1 cattle inventories. Tight calf supplies following Continue reading Rethinking Basis Behavior in a High-Price Cattle Market →

Weekly Livestock Comments for June 13, 2025

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

The Choice boxed beef price is nearly $60 per hundredweight higher than the same time one year ago.

FED CATTLE
Fed cattle traded $4 to $5 higher in the South and steady in the North compared to last week. Prices in the South were mainly $233 to $235 while dressed prices were mainly $379 to $381.

The 5-area weighted average prices thru Thursday were $237.50 live, up $3.34 compared to a week ago and $380.14 dressed, up $0.37 from last week. A year ago, prices were $191.65 live and $305.40 dressed.

Southern prices made up a little ground this week when compared to Northern cattle prices. It is common for prices in the North to exceed those in the South, especially during grilling season. However, the price difference the past several months has been a little wider than typically expected. Regardless of marketing location, feedlot managers rarely complain when prices are increasing and at record levels. The continued strength in finished cattle prices has resulted in Continue reading Weekly Livestock Comments for June 13, 2025 →