Five new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1451 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

Not only has first cutting hay been a challenge to get made this year in Ohio, but it matured a week or more early throughout much of the state. Does that mean quality is even worse than might be expected for late cut hay in what we used to know as a ‘normal’ year? We can’t mange what we don’t measure, and we won’t know the quality of our forages without first testing them. That said, find announcement of a reduced cost forage testing program in this week’s postings. (PS: This is hot off the press so give your local Extension office a minute to get up to speed on this new program!)

Articles this week include:

• Cover Crop ‘Forage’ an Option for Prevented Planting Acres
• OSU Extension Offering Hay Testing Program
• Pregnancy evaluation = good return on the investment
• Record High Cattle Prices
• Imports and Exports in April

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1450 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

This week its all about managing weather, and pasture!

Articles this week include:

• Weather Damage
• You can’t manage what you don’t measure . . . including pasture!
• Plentiful Pastures, a summer pasture walk
• North American Manure Expo comes to Wauseon, Ohio
• Help shape the future of Extension communication!
• Beef Cow Slaughter on Pace for Ten Year Low

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1449 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

While we commonly think of summer as tick season, this week Tim McDermott explains we actually see tick activity and positive detections of tick-borne disease all 12 months of the year in Ohio.

Articles this week include:

• An Update on Ticks and Tick-borne Disease in Ohio, plus the Buckeye Tick Test Lab
• Concerning parasites, are you controlling what you think you are controlling?
• Estrus Synchronization Success Hinges on Compliance
• Enhancing Pre-Veterinary Education: The Value of Animal Sciences at Ohio State ATI
• Pastures for Profit will be offered in-person this June in Logan County
• May Cattle on Feed: Dressed Weights, Drought, and Disruptions to Trade

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1448 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

While this is the time of year when we traditionally concern ourselves with hay quality, this week John Yost reminds us that water remains the single most important nutrient to sustain life.

Articles this week include:

• Water, the forgotten nutrient?
• Controlling Buttercup – A Persistent Challenge
• Forage Resiliency Webinars are posted on YouTube
• Address Lameness Cases Sooner Rather Than Later
• Southeast Pasture Conditions
• Early Tariff Impacts on Beef Exports

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1446 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

Is timeliness the greatest challenge we face on the farm? Some might suggest it is. This week we focus on our rapidly maturing forages, and an alternative that may allow a more timely harvest.

Articles this week include:

• Using Baleage to manage your hay quality
• Forage Maturity Across Ohio
• Be Aware of Frothly Bloat Risk in Spring Pastures
• Body condition scoring for beef cattle
• Changes to Livestock Risk Protection Part 1
• Pasture and Range Conditions Off to a Mediocre Start

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Five new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1445 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

This week’s focus is on early spring pasture management, and the valuable considerations involved in herd expansion. And . . . don’t forget to join us this evening for the fourth and final session of the 2025 Virtual Ohio Beef School.

Articles this week include:

• Springtime Decisions
• Spring pasture management; Plan now to optimize the entire grazing season
• Investing in Herd Expansion: Time Value of Money and Opportunity Cost
• Larger Carcasses and More Prime
• Prices Continue to Pop

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1444 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

Frequently in recent years we’ve heard growing concern for tick populations in Ohio and the disease they carry and spread. Today, Ohio State University is pleased to announce the opening of their Buckeye Tick Test Laboratory. Find more details in this week’s postings.

Articles this week include:

• Revisiting Custom Grazing
• Effectively Using Summer Annual Grasses
• Virtual Beef School, session 4; Heifer Development and Implementing Genomic Testing on Your Farm
• Buckeye Tick Test Laboratory is now open for business
• April Cattle on Feed Points to Higher Placements, but fewer Heifers
• How can a person afford to pay $???? for an animal and expect to make a profit?

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1443 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

This week Ted Wiseman cautions against encouraging too much lush, spring pasture growth by over fertilizing!

Articles this week include:

• Fertilizing Pastures After a Drought: Ensuring Adequate Mineral Intake and Preventing Grass Tetany
• OSU’s Forage Quality Analysis Service
• Good Practices for the Prevention of Anaplasmosis
• Spring Fencing Clinic, April 25^th
• 2025 National Feeder and Stocker Receipts and Percentage of Heifers
• Cautionary Note on Beef Demand – Public Financial Sentiment Matters

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Five new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1442 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

While it may be tempting to turn out, this week Garth Ruff explains why we may be better off in the long run to not get in a hurry.

Articles this week include:

• To graze or not to graze?
• Alfalfa Weevil Scouting and GDD
• That First Calf Heifer is not a Mature Cow – So why would we treat her like one?
• Investing in Herd Expansion: Time Value of Money and Opportunity Cost
• Oh, Let’s Talk about the Prospective Plantings Report

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1441 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

This week, if stored forages are short as spring arrives, Kendra Rose and Jason Hartschuh offer suggestions for optimizing the yield when harvesting winter annuals for forage.

Articles this week include:

• Spring Nitrogen Fertilization for Winter Annual Cereal Grain Forages
• Practice patience before turning out!
• Virtual Beef School, session 3; focused on Managing Open Cows and Culls
• Don’t Chase Price per Pound at the Expense of Value per Head
• Selling vs Marketing
• Using Livestock Risk Protection insurance (LRP) to hedge cattle for sales

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County