Pasture

Help! I have hemp dogbane

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

Dogbane is poisonous to livestock.

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve had several inquiries about hemp dogbane concerns and requests for help with keeping it under control in agricultural systems.

Both hemp dogbane and milkweed are easy to find this time of year and are often growing in the same habitat, which can be anywhere from roadsides, creek edges, open fields, forest edges, and flower beds. These two plants are related but have some distinct differences that can help landowners identify them and implement control measures when needed.

Similarities between the two plants include that they have creeping roots; leaves that appear on opposite sides of the stem; and they produce a milky sap. Differences include that young milkweed leaves have fine hairs and hemp dogbane are nearly hairless; milkweed stems are generally thick and green, but hemp dogbane stems are usually red to purple and thinner in comparison; hemp dogbane frequently branches in the top canopy, while milkweed will typically Continue reading Help! I have hemp dogbane →

Managing ‘Untimely’ Pasture Grasses

– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist

Grazing the best and laying down the rest has benefits.

I was recently at a pasture ecology workshop in Southern Indiana and there was a lot of discussion about the weather and its impact on pastures this year. For most of the area east of the Mississippi River there was a lot of forage growth, and it came on fast.

Most of those same areas have had a lot of rain. Prolonged rainfall and saturated soils create anaerobic conditions, leading to nitrogen losses through denitrification, leaching and reduced uptake.  Grasses are highly affected, while legumes may lose some nitrogen-fixing ability.

Saturated soils and nitrogen loss place significant stress on cool-season forages, weakening root function, reducing nutrient uptake, and slowing growth. In response to this stress, many cool-season grasses may Continue reading Managing ‘Untimely’ Pasture Grasses →

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

Cover Crop ‘Forage’ an Option for Prevented Planting Acres

– Stan Smith, PA, Fairfield County OSU Extension

Cover crops aren’t only good for soil health but may also be feed.

1973, 1981, 2007, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2022 . . . we each recall one or more years in our past when an extraordinarily wet Ohio spring prevented us from planting corn and soybeans in a timely fashion, if at all. Many around Ohio are now adding 2025 to the list.

According to USDA’s June 9 Crop Progress Report only 89% of Ohio’s corn had been planted. At the same time soybean planting progress stood at 84% complete. Today, as we sit here on June 11, we know a few things for certain Continue reading Cover Crop ‘Forage’ an Option for Prevented Planting Acres →

You can’t manage what you don’t measure . . . including pasture!

– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist

You can’t manage it if you don’t measure it!

In many parts of the Midwest, the spring of 2025 has brought above-normal rainfall, leading to saturated fields, delayed planting and rapid pasture growth. Early June is a critical time for managing pastures and forage systems as it sets the stage for the remainder of the growing season.

Precipitation often balances out over time, but timing is unpredictable.  Weather and climate can be so unpredictable that even after a wet season or year, it’s hard to predict if a drought will follow. Each year introduces new variables, keeping you on your toes. That’s why having a Plan B (or even C) is essential.  Being prepared for different scenarios—whether wet or dry—helps you stay ahead and ensures you’re not caught off guard.

One key principle for managing forage is using early June as a gauge for stocking rates. This period usually marks Continue reading You can’t manage what you don’t measure . . . including pasture! →

Plentiful Pastures, a summer pasture walk

RSVP by the 10th and join us!

Plentiful Pastures is a summer pasture walk organized by the Crawford SWCD in collaboration with local producers and industry experts and you’re invited! Join us at Brad and Christine Stahl’s Farm (2099 Temple Road, Bucyrus, OH 44820) on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

ODA State Grazing Specialist, Jarrod Hittle and Nutrient Management and Grazing Technician for Crawford, Marion and Wyandot SWCD, Hannah Ziegler will lead the discussion. Topics include rotational grazing strategies for all levels, equipment (fencing, chargers, etc.), forage identification, importance of water sources, AND SO MUCH MORE!

A light meal and materials for your reference will be provided. Thank you to our supper and water sponsors Crawford County Cattlemen’s Association and James Farms!

Submit your RSVP by June 10, 2025, by contacting Crawford SWCD at 419-562-8280 ext. 3 or by emailing Hannah Ziegler at hannah.ziegler@oh.nacdnet.net.

An Update on Ticks and Tick-borne Disease in Ohio, plus the Buckeye Tick Test Lab

– Tim McDermott DVM, OSU Extension Educator, Franklin County (originally published in Farm and Dairy)

The Buckeye Tick Testing Lab at OSU is up and running.

It seems in Ohio it is never too early to start scouting animals for ticks. While we commonly think of summer as tick season, we actually see tick activity and positive detections of tick-borne disease all 12 months of the year in Ohio. One of the ticks of the biggest concern impacting livestock, especially cattle, in Ohio is the invasive Longhorned Tick(LHT). This tick was first discovered in Ohio on a dog in Gallia County in 2020 and has rapidly increased its range in Ohio since then. As of the beginning of 2024 we had positively identified LHT in 11 counties in Ohio including Franklin, Delaware, Ross, Gallia, Vinton, Jackson, Athens, Morgan, Monroe, Belmont, and Guernsey county. Since that point we have added Pike, Lawrence, Noble, Coshocton, Wayne, Muskingum, Washington, and Licking bringing our total up to 19 affected counties. We anticipate adding to that list in 2025.

The Longhorned tick can be a tremendous problem for cattle being able to cause mortality through blood feeding as well as through the Continue reading An Update on Ticks and Tick-borne Disease in Ohio, plus the Buckeye Tick Test Lab →

Pastures for Profit will be offered in-person this June in Logan County

Plan now to join us in June

Pastures for Profit is a collaborative program between Ohio State, Ohio Forage and Grassland Council, Ohio Department of Agriculture, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Curriculum for Pastures for Profits has been evolving since the 1990s, and it includes topics such as grazing management, plant physiology, fencing & water infrastructure, economics, and more. Participants in 2025 PFP programs will receive a new manual that includes revised goal setting worksheets, new soil management information, and other changes.

If you are interested in participating in an in-person Pastures for Profit series, join us in Logan County on June 10th and 12th at 5:30 pm. Presentations on Tuesday night will cover goal setting, growth habits of perennial forages, soil fertility, and other topics, and speakers will be present from ODA, OSU, and NRCS. Thursday night will take place on-farm, and participants will get experience with fencing tools, pasture evaluation, plant identification, and other topics.

Dinner is provided, and registration information is available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/logan-county-pastures-for-profit-grazing-course-tickets-1306810227569?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Water, the forgotten nutrient?

– Dr. John Yost, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Wayne County, Ohio State University Extension (originally published in Progressive Cattle)

Figure 1: Mobile Vytelle SENSE (TM) weigh system with water as attractant used to record animal weight and water intake.

I have a riddle for you. If you have too much, or too little, you worry about it constantly but if you have the right amount you don’t think about it.

The answer is water.

We understand that water is the single most important nutrient to sustain life, yet most of the time we take it for granted. After all, have you ever been standing in front of the kitchen sink, watching your neighbor get a rain shower that you wish would move a half mile to the north to help your crops out? Our crops in the field don’t care about the quality of the water, as long as they get it. For our livestock, water availability and quality are crucial to their health and performance.

There are several factors that determine how much water cattle will need to consume. A cow’s body is estimated to be comprised of 58% to 81% water. If Continue reading Water, the forgotten nutrient? →

Controlling Buttercup – A Persistent Challenge

– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist

From a distance buttercup and cressleaf groundsel can appear similar.

This spring, I’ve received multiple inquiries about a yellow-flowered plant appearing in pastures and fields—seemingly more problematic than usual.  That plant is buttercup (Ranunculus sp., not to be confused with Cressleaf Groundsel, Packera glabella; syn. Senecio glabellus), and while its bright yellow flowers might seem pretty to some, it’s definitely unwelcome in pastures and hay fields, especially if you’ve recently seeded hay fields or are trying to establish new forages.

Despite its seemingly sudden appearance, buttercup’s growth is due to a buildup of its seed bank, often accumulated over time.  This buildup can happen through hay equipment contamination or, more commonly, from bringing in hay containing buttercup seeds and spreading manure from that hay.  These seeds can lie dormant for years—typically 3 to 5, but sometimes Continue reading Controlling Buttercup – A Persistent Challenge →