Zanesville, OH—Adventures in hay making come and go every year and for the most part, those who pursue the adventure enjoy it, though problems arise from time to time. For the past two years there have been many reports of poor quality hay in inventory and in Extension we hear the stories of underperforming animals and even situations of death due to starvation. Unfortunately, these situations can creep quickly upon managers with little warning before it is too late. A good practice to stay ahead of these challenges is to know what the energy quality of hay is and to work with a nutritionist to provide extra supplementation. Hay sampling in neighboring counties this summer has revealed many hay samples with lower than adequate Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) to meet the needs of beef cows. Inadequate energy in hay can lead to thin cows and difficulty breeding cows which will hurt the bottom line. Rain, snow, mud, and cold weather in winter will all increase the energy demands of the animals. If you are a hay producer or will be depending on hay this winter to carry your animals through the season, then be sure to take time to inventory your hay and be prepared to supplement nutrition if your herd requires it. (http://u.osu.edu/beef/2019/10/30/hay-just-how-bad-is-it/)
Save the date this winter for an Ohio Beef Cow/Calf Workshop and Ohio Beef Cattle Nutrition and Management School. OSU Extension will be offering two different events on January 30 and February 13. Daytime sessions run from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and evening sessions run from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Dr. Francis Fluharty returns to Ohio in January to teach the first sessions. Watch for more information from OSU Extension in the coming weeks. (http://u.osu.edu/beef/2019/10/30/ohio-beef-winter-programs-save-the-dates/)
A check on the weather shows 1.73 in of rain at the Zanesville Weather station (Zanesville Municipal AP) in the past seven days. 30-day rainfail total is 4.53 inches and a total of 36.61 in is recorded for the year. (https://mrcc.illinois.edu/CLIMATE/general/stnMoreInfo.jsp?hiddenInfo=14520)
The next Muskingum County Ag Breakfast is Tuesday, Nov 5, 8:00 AM at the Friendly Hills Grange.
The 2019 Agricultural Policy And Outlook Conference is Nov 12, 2019. This conference can be viewed online and information is available at aede.osu.edu. Topics are Ag Policy, U.S. and World Trade, Farm Financial Conditions, Land Values, Economic Output, and Commodity Markets. Presentations will be recorded and posted online succeeding the event.