CFAES experts know the challenges Ohio growers and producers face due to a variety of reasons. A Rapid Response Team was created to quickly address current events and offer the best science-based recommendations to protect livestock, crops, and farm operations due to weather impacts, tariffs, commodity prices, and extreme events.
Check out this link to the https://kx.osu.edu/page/early-drought-response
Farm Science Review tickets are on sale now at the Paulding County Extension Office!
🚜FSR is the premier agricultural education and industry expo in the area. With new ag technology, hands-on exhibits, field demonstrations, conservation practices programs, commercial exhibitors, and research showcases, it is one of the biggest agricultural events of the year!
📲FSR dates are Tuesday through Thursday, September 16, 17, and 18, and are located at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center, 135 SR 38 NE, London, OH 43140.
🎟 Single-day tickets are $10 presale, $15 at the gate, and children 5 and under are free.
Presale tickets are on sale until 4:00 pm on September 15 and are in limited quantity. Stop by the office today!
Are you raising a backyard flock? This survey is for you!
Since March 2024, 70 cases of avian influenza A(H5) (H5 bird flu) have occurred in humans in the United States, mostly among workers exposed to infected dairy cows and commercial poultry farms. However, cases have also occurred among people exposed to birds kept in non–commercial, backyard flocks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) are interested in learning more about backyard flock owners and their flocks to improve H5 bird flu prevention messaging.
The anonymous survey asks about:
• Characteristics of backyard flock owners, their families, and their flocks.
• Knowledge of H5 bird flu and signs and symptoms of H5 bird flu in birds and humans.
• Perceived risk of and concern about H5 bird flu to their backyard flock and themselves/families.
• Attitudes towards reporting sick or dead birds and protective measures like vaccination of their flock.
• Practices they use to protect their flock and themselves from H5 bird flu.
CDC will use the survey results to help make sure that backyard flock owners have the information they need to protect themselves from H5 bird flu. Questions about this survey can be sent to h5flustudy@cdc.gov.
For questions about steps backyard flock owners can take to protect themselves from H5 bird flu, please visit odh.ohio.gov/hpai or contact your local health department. For questions about protecting your flock, please visit the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA)’s HPAI Poultry webpage or contact ODA at 614–728–6220.
QR code to the survey:
URL link to the survey:
https://redcap.link/backyardflock
Article was taken from Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter and was written by Josh Maples, Assistant Professor & Extension Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) was signed into law on July 4th and included many provisions for agriculture. The nearly 900-page bill includes changes to programs affecting beef cattle producers, and I’ll highlight just a few of those updates in this newsletter.
Increased Payments from Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP)
The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) was modified to allow more financial relief during periods of severe drought. Some producers often refer to LFP as the “FSA drought program.” Previously, LFP provided one monthly payment for a D2 drought lasting eight consecutive weeks. Under the new updates, livestock producers are now eligible to receive two monthly LFP payments if their county experiences D2 drought conditions for 7 out of 8 consecutive weeks. Additionally, the program now triggers a single monthly payment after just 4 consecutive weeks of D2 drought during the grazing season. These changes are aimed at providing a faster drought response for producers relying on grazing. The chart above shows the length and severity of drought at the national level over the past 25 years. LFP is triggered at the county level.
Permanent Estate Tax Exemption
The OBBA makes permanent a federal estate tax exemption of $15 million per individual or $30 million per married couple. This offers relief to family-owned farms where the value of land, livestock, and other assets can often exceed cash in the bank. This helps to address the issue of heirs sometimes being forced to sell livestock or land just to cover estate tax bills when the farm is transferred to the next generation. This removes or lessens a major barrier to families wanting to keep farms intact across generations. Additionally, the OBBA makes the 20% small business tax deduction permanent.
Poultry Insurance Pilot Program
While this one is not cattle focused, I’m including it here because there are many cattle producers in the southeast who are also poultry growers. The bill directs the creation of a pilot insurance program for contract poultry growers which would allow producers to opt into index-based insurance covering extreme weather-related utility surcharges (gas, electricity, water, etc.). The program must be developed in consultation with poultry industry stakeholders and deployed across enough counties in top producing states to effectively test demand, feasibility, and design. A formal policy or insurance plan must be approved within two years and would establish the first federal insurance framework protecting poultry operations from rising utility costs.
Article was taken from Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter and was written by Bernt Nelson, Economist, American Farm Bureau Federation
New detections of new world screwworm (NWS) in Mexico led Sec. Brooke Rollins to close Southern ports of entry to livestock imports. USDA had previously announced a phased re-opening of Southern ports, beginning with the furthest port away from where NWS has been detected in Mexico and moving East as continued progress is made on sterile fly production. However, the re-opening was halted, and livestock imports once again paused, when NWS was detected 160 miles North of the sterile fly dispersal locations in Veracruz, Mexico–only 370 miles from the U.S. border.
An isolated outbreak of NWS occurred in Texas in 1976 resulting in about $330 million in losses. A recent ERS study evaluated what it might look like if NWS would reach Texas now. According to the study, after adjusting for inflation, market conditions, etc. the impact would be around $1.9 billion. This study did not account for the record setting prices in 2025 along with some other market changes which means the impact could be greater.
One question being asked is how much of an impact will the Southern port closures have on markets? The U.S. imports 1.2-1.5 million head of cattle from Mexico every year. These are mostly feeder cattle destined for feedlots and ultimately beef production. U.S. cattle slaughter was about 31.9 million head in 2024. In terms of production, 1.5 million head would be about 4% of 2024 slaughter. This is a significant portion of the market and while other fundamental factors like strong demand are currently having a bigger impact, this drop in supply will put upward pressure on cattle prices. According to USDA’s latest WASDE report, 2025 production is forecast down 170 million pounds due to smaller production for the second half of the year. Higher feedlot placements are expected in the second half of 2025, leading USDA to increase 2026 production by 540 million pounds or 2% from last month to 25.815 billion pounds. This forecast assumes that cattle imports from Mexico will remain banned for the remainder of the forecast period.
Article was taken from Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter and was written by James Mitchell, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Arkansas
Cattle and beef prices are sharply higher through the first half of 2025. Oklahoma City steer prices for 500-600 lb calves have averaged $347/cwt year-to-date, up 21% from the same period in 2024 and more than double the 2019-2023 average. Feeder prices (700-800 lb) are averaging $281/cwt, a 17% year-over-year increase. Fed cattle prices in the five-area region are averaging $215/cwt, up 16% from last year, while the Choice boxed beef cutout has averaged $342/cwt—13% higher than 2024 and close to 31% above the five-year average.
Cattle inventories remain the fundamental driver. The January 1 Cattle report showed total U.S. cattle inventories at 86.7 million head, the smallest since 1951. Beef cow numbers declined again to 27.9 million head, and calf crop estimates suggest fewer feeder cattle will be available for the rest of the year. These supply constraints are supporting prices across market segments.
Trade policy and animal health have added new layers of risk to markets. There were disruptions to cattle imports from Mexico last fall and again in May following detections of New World screwworm in regions beyond previously established biological barriers. These detections triggered new restrictions and surveillance measures. The U.S. announced a phased border reopening late last month, but feeder cattle trade flows are still subject to further changes. Markets have had to sort through the Trump administration’s 10% baseline tariff and the back-and-forth on additional tariffs and retaliatory measures. The lack of clarity around future trade policy has made it difficult for market participants to plan around future trade expectations.
Geopolitical tensions are also contributing to market risk. The recent escalation between Israel and Iran has implications for global energy markets and volatility, which can spill over into agricultural markets. The potential for related price shocks remains a concern as we head into the second half of the year.
The outlook for the remainder of 2025 remains positive. Cattle supplies are historically tight, and demand has remained resilient despite broader macroeconomic concerns. Trade restrictions with Mexico will impact feeder cattle availability for feedlots. Cattle and beef markets will be sensitive to trade policy, global conflicts, and broader economic conditions. These factors underscore why it is important to manage price risk even when prices are historically high.
Continue reading Mid-Year Review: Cattle and Beef Markets in 2025
Article was taken from Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter and was written by Dean Kreager, Licking County Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator
Downed cherry trees pose a health risk for livestock.
Many people are aware of the danger when grazing animals consume wilted leaves from black cherry trees. These leaves contain prussic acid which can result in cyanide poisoning. If this sounds familiar, it is also the compound that causes toxicity issues with some warm season annuals after a frost.
Signs of toxicity can set in within 15 minutes of ingesting wilted leaves. You may notice excess salivation, labored breathing, and convulsions. Symptoms set in quickly so often you may find dead animals without seeing signs. The lethal dose for cattle has been reported as 1.2 to 4.8 pounds of wilted black cherry leaves for a 1,200-pound cow and .18 to .72 pounds for a 180-pound sheep.
Wilted leaves are toxic to grazing animals.
There are several factors that determine the toxicity level of the leaves including season, dry and wet conditions, and how long the leaves have been wilting. The toxicity of leaves decreases as the leaves dry. Once they are completely dry, risk from consumption is greatly reduced.
Black cherry trees are relatively fast growing in fence rows and forest edges. This results in upper limbs that are weaker than many slower growing trees. In addition, it is a shallow rooted tree, potentially leading to toppling in windstorms. It is also susceptible to internal decay, leading to breaking off in storms.
Check for downed cherry trees first thing after a storm. I have had two to clean up this summer already.
To learn more about the toxicity issues of black cherry see this previous article from 2010. https://u.osu.edu/beef/2010/06/09/summer-storms-and-wild-cherry-trees/
Article was taken from Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter and was written by Dr. Chris Teutsch, UK Research and Education Center at Princeton
Figure 1. As plant maturity increases, yield increases and forage quality (digestibility and crude protein) decreases. The single most important factor impacting forage quality is stage of maturity at harvest.
In many parts of Kentucky first cutting hay was delayed. Although yields were good, forage quality is another story. As the grass plant reaches maturity (gets mature seed) yield goes up, but quality decreases (Figure 1). This year we were on the right side of this figure, good yield but lower quality. We have already got our hay testing results back from the lab for our first cutting and that is exactly what they show (Table 1).
I wish we could have been more timely in our hay harvest this spring but weather conditions were just not conducive to dry hay harvest. In fact, weather records indicate that we are seeing a trend toward fewer baling days in May (baling day = 3 curing days + 1 harvest day). It is just getting tougher to be timely with our first cutting harvested as dry hay. So, the question becomes what do we do? The list of practical solutions is short; in fact, there is really one viable alternative and that is baleage. High quality baleage can be made with a curing window as short as 2 days (one day to mow and wilt and a second day to bale and wrap). This provides more opportunities to harvest at the correct stage of maturity (late boot to early head).
Table 1. Forage quality of 2025 first harvest hay at UK Research and Education Center in Princeton. †CP, crude protein, ADF, acid detergent fiber, NDF, neutral detergent fiber, TDN, total digestible nutrients.
Hay Testing Even More Important in Wet Years
In years like this one, hay testing becomes even more important. Since most of Kentucky’s first cutting hay was put up at an advanced stage of maturity, testing is going to be a critical part of making sure that we meet the nutrient requirements of our cows this winter. The single most important factor impacting rebreeding in cow herds is body condition at calving. To design an effective supplementation program for our lower quality hay we must know what the quality it. If you have never tested your hay, this is the year to start!
EDITOR’s NOTE: Until the end of July OSU Extension is offering a forage testing program with the goal of providing timely education regarding forage quality and winter supplementation. To find more detail and participate follow this link: https://go.osu.edu/testyourhay
Article was taken from Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter and was written by Stan Smith, PA, Fairfield County OSU Extension
Once again when discussing hay harvest, we find ourselves in the midst of a conversation about timeliness and resulting quality concerns. It’s beginning to sound like a broken record or at very least an annual event. About all I can say is what most any Midwest farmer might say . . . been there, done that . . .
Yet again, in what’s seemingly become this annual occurrence of delayed hay harvest, quality forage, especially dry hay is in short supply throughout Ohio. This time it results largely from drought last summer, followed by wet, poor hay making spring weather of 2025. Combine that with spring pastures that matured quickly and became trampled due to wet grazing conditions and now, in mid-2025, we find the inventory of quality hay in much of Ohio remains critically low.
Unfortunately, it seems this may have become the norm for Ohio. With the National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) estimating Ohio hay making progress was less than half of normal at the end of May, after a similar lack of favorable hay harvest conditions continued throughout June, it’s apparent that Ohio cattlemen will again be faced with finding ways to make “feed” from hay that was harvested way past it’s prime.
As an example of the hay quality we’re seeing, a summary of six recent forage analysis’ from mixed grass hay made in June from throughout Ohio shows TDN of only 52% and an average Relative Feed Value of less than 90 on a dry matter basis.
I could tell you that’s not good, but perhaps a better way is to compare it to wheat straw. When you look up the “book values” for the feed nutrient content of straw you find that for the most part, this late made hay is little better than typical wheat straw. With so much first cutting Ohio hay being made in late June and beyond again this year, it leads me back to the same thought . . . been there, done that.
Feed of the quality referenced in the example above and being fed as long stem hay, even when offered in unlimited amounts, simply won’t satisfy the daily nutritional requirements of a cow most any time during the year. This include during her time of least nutritional need which is when she’s dry during mid-gestation. Without amendment, feeding this quality of forage for very long eventually results in cows with lesser body condition, delayed return to estrus, lower conception rates, lighter calf weaning weights, lower quality colostrum, and perhaps even weak calves at birth.
Continue reading Hay Quality 2025 . . . Been there, done that!
OSU Extension Presents the Buckeye Dairy Network Feeder School at the Ohio State University Wooster Campus in Wooster, Ohio!
This event covers topics of Dairy Nutrition, Forage Safety and Management, Evaluation of Forages, Feed Mixing 101, TMR Program Implementation, and more! A special panel will be available for participants to ask any questions and offer real-life experiences and stories.
It will be held at the Farm Shop on August 8th, 2025 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Scan the QR code to register or go online to this link. For questions, contact krogstad.6@osu.edu or call 330-264-8722. This event is limited to 20 participants.
The Hancock County Ohio State University Extension Office along with the Hanock and Putnam County SWCD offices will be hosting a Livestock Mortality Composting Certification Training at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2nd at the Hancock County Agriculture Center meeting room located at 7868 County Road 140, Findlay, Ohio.
This training session will certify an operator to compost all approved livestock species and is available to all Ohio livestock producers. Composting is a natural process where bacteria and fungi decompose organic material in a predominantly aerobic environment. During the composting process, microorganisms break down organic materials into a stable mixture called compost. The compost resembles humus, and is spread on farming fields.
To legally compost dead livestock in Ohio from normal farming practices, producers must attend a certification program.
All who are interested in attending are asked to pre-register by April 1st by phone at 419-422-6569 or e-mail h2ohio@hancockswcd.com. There is no cost to attend. Check out the Livestock Mortality Composting Workshop Flyer.
🌱 Join Us for Field to Finance – Growing Success! 🌾
Are you a new or beginning farmer looking to sharpen your skills in agronomy and farm management? Whether you’re 18 or 80, the Field to Finance – Growing Success monthly series in Paulding County, OH, is here to support you!
📅 Next Session: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
🕘 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
📍 Paulding County Extension Office, 503 Fairground Drive, Paulding, OH
💲 FREE to attend!
🔥 This Month’s Topics:
🌽 Agronomy (9:00 AM): Using the Corn, Soybean & Wheat Budgets
📊 Farm Management (10:00 AM): Technology in Agriculture (QGIS) & The Value of Farm Meetings in Transition
Each session features expert speakers, hands-on learning, and valuable networking with experienced farmers. RSVP is appreciated to ensure we have enough handouts and refreshments!
👉 Register here: go.osu.edu/FarmForward25
For questions, contact Sarah Noggle at (419) 399-8225 or noggle.17@osu.edu.
👩🌾👨🌾 Don’t miss this opportunity to grow your farm, your finances, and your future! Tag a friend who should join you!
Join CFAES and the College of Veterinary Medicine for the next webinar on March 5, 2025, from 3:00 – 4:00 PM (Central Time) in their next installment of the Dairy Cattle Webinars titled “Adoption Technology and AI in the Dairy Industry”.
Precision technology is transforming dairy farming by providing practical, data-driven solutions to optimize efficiency and productivity. This webinar will explore (1) the latest technologies available for farm operations, (2) present data about the perception and adoption of precision technologies, and (3) highlight valuable resources to help dairy farmers, students, and industry professionals make informed decisions and optimize dairy farm management.
Ohio State Extension announced plans to host a Small Farm Conference in Wooster, OH on March 8th. The theme for this year’s Small Farm Conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”
Conference session topics are geared to beginning and small farm owners as well as to farms looking to diversify their operations. There will be five different conference tracks including Horticulture and Crop Production, Business Management, Livestock, Natural Resources, and Diversifying Your Enterprise. Check out the official program guide here. Continue reading Join OSU Extension at the Small Farms Conference in Wooster, Ohio
Putnam County will be the host for the region for those of you needing to certify or recertify for Beef Quality Assurance. The event will be held on Wednesday, January 22 from 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM at the OSU Extension Office in Putnam County, 1206 East Second Street, Ottawa, OH 45875.
Join us for the annual Beef Quality Assurance Certification/Recertification program. Open to all and no cost to attend. RSVP to Beth Scheckelhoff at scheckelhoff.11@osu.edu or by calling (419)523-6294. Light refreshments will be provided by the Putnam County Cattlemen’s Association. Please call to sign up so we have an accurate food count!
Tim McDermott, DMV, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources in Franklin County, will be co-hosting an informative webinar on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) alongside Dr. Kristy Shaw, DVM from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, and Jenna Gregorich from the Ohio Poultry Association.
📅 When: Wednesday, January 15th, at 12:00 PM
💻 Where: Online (link provided upon registration)
🎟 Cost: FREE and open to the public
This webinar is designed to provide valuable updates and insights into HPAI, covering critical topics such as:
HPAI remains a significant concern for poultry owners, farmers, and anyone involved in agriculture. This webinar is an excellent opportunity to:
Registration is required, and you can sign up HERE.
We encourage you to share this opportunity with your network! Attached are flyers in PDF and JPEG formats for easy sharing on social media or email. Let’s spread the word to ensure everyone has access to this essential information.
We look forward to seeing you on January 15th!
By: David Marrison, OSU Extension Field Specialist, Farm Management
Figure 1: September 17, 2024 Drought Monitor
Drought conditions continued to degrade across Ohio. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor report on September 17, 59.56% of Ohio is experiencing severe or greater drought conditions with 9.5% classified as D4 or exceptional drought conditions (Figure 1). It is important to remember that D4 conditions only occur once every 50 to 100 years. Approximately 98% of the state is experiencing at least abnormally dry conditions. One silver lining is the current seven-day forecast shows the potential for rain in many areas of Ohio next week which should help slow the progress of drought should it occur.
The drought conditions have impacted both pastures and hayfields across Ohio. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) administered under the USDA Farm Service Agency permits emergency haying and grazing on certain CRP practices in a county designated as D2 or higher on the U.S. Drought Monitor, or in a county where there is at least a 40 percent loss in forage production. Continue reading Emergency Haying and Grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Acreage Available for 70 Ohio Counties
Exploring Crop and Livestock Integration Field Days
Article taken from https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2024-25/two-august-field-days-explore-barriers-and-benefits-crop-and by Cassandra Brown
Over the last 50 years, both crop and livestock production systems in the U.S. have become increasingly specialized and separated. A two-year Ohio State project has partnered with 31 working Ohio farms to examine the economic, ecological, and social impacts of specializing or integrating these farming systems. During this event, attendees will consider soil health results and other on-farm data from our two-year study, join in discussion with study participants about the benefits and barriers to integrating crop and livestock systems, and hear about specific strategies or issues from area farmers.
There is no cost to attend, but registration is required to receive the meal provided during the event. This project is supported by a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Two options to attend “Exploring Crop and Livestock Integration: Barriers and Benefits”
Cull or keep this mature cow?
Article is taken from https://u.osu.edu/beef/2024/07/10/is-it-time-to-cull-the-mature-female-and-replace-her-with-a-heifer/#more-16653 by Dr. Andrew Griffith, Assistant Professor, Livestock Marketing Specialist, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee
I had a discussion last week concerning selling older cows and replacing them with bred heifers. This is an important decision for most cow-calf producers including myself as I have bred heifers for sale and I have some older cows whose useful life in the breeding herd is extremely short. Thus, there are multiple questions to answer.
The first is if and when a mature female should be marketed. The second is if she should be replaced with a younger breeding female now or at some later date.
From the market price perspective, it is extremely important to compare the value of the mature female with the value of replacing her. As an example, boning utility cows in Tennessee had an average price of $143.50 per hundredweight last week and had an average weight of 1,210 pounds, which results in a value of $1,736 per head.
The decision at this point is to develop and breed a female or to purchase a bred female. Bred females are guaranteed bred and will generate revenue more quickly which makes them more valuable than one to be developed and bred.
Register today, space is limited.
Article is taken from https://u.osu.edu/beef/2024/07/10/beef-cattle-a-i-workshop-hosted-in-muskingum-county/
OSU Extension Muskingum County will host an introduction to artificial insemination of beef cattle on July 30 and August 1, 2024 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at the Extension Office in Zanesville. This two-night workshop is a classroom event starting on night one and concluding with hands-on-practice on night two.
Topics that will be covered during this workshop include: Advanced Reproductive Tract Anatomy and Physiology, Estrous Synchronization, Pasture Considerations, Expected Progeny Differences (EPD’s), and Tools, Equipment, & Techniques. Program cost is $20 per person and RSVP’s are due July 25. The classroom location is the meeting room at the Rural Services Building, 225 Underwood St, Zanesville, OH.
Please RSVP and register using the online webform and payment portal found at go.osu.edu/muskingumbeef.
Direct questions to Clifton Martin, Extension Educator, Muskingum County (740-454-0144), or to Dean Kreager, Extension Educator, Licking County (740-670-5315), or see this flyer.