Month: August 2023

Pricing profitably: Direct-to-consumer meat sales have the potential to increase farm revenue

By Brianna Gwirtz, OCJ field reporter
(Previously published online with Ohio’s Country Journal: August 27, 2023)

The input costs to farm have been continually rising for many years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) February 2023 Farm Sector Income forecast projected total farm production expenses in 2023 at nearly $500 billion, up 4% from the prior year, but up $87 billion, or more than 28%, from 2020. For those raising livestock, looking outside of the typical commodity markets and focusing on direct-to-consumer meat sales may be an opportunity to increase revenue.

Garth Ruff, Ohio State Extension Beef Cattle Field Specialist, noticed the trend of direct-to-consumer sales increase in the wake of COVID in 2020. Many people turned to their local livestock producers for protein, instead of going to the grocery store.

“During COVID, we had quite a few calls and a high amount of people interested in selling directly to consumers. It’s leveled out since then. That’s been our big question the last few years, how many of these direct-to-consumer sales will be maintained?” Ruff said. “As long as the customer has Continue reading Pricing profitably: Direct-to-consumer meat sales have the potential to increase farm revenue →

What’s so Critical about Fall Cutting?

Amber Friedrichsen, Associate Editor, Hay and Forage Grower
(Previously published in Hay & Forage Grower: August 29, 2023)

The critical fall period for alfalfa has been said to start about six weeks before the first killing frost, which is roughly around the first week of September for most of the Midwest. This hard stop in harvest schedules is supposed to ensure plants store enough energy in their roots to survive the winter, but with improved alfalfa varieties, variable stand conditions, and warmer weather patterns, how critical can this period really be?

Despite heat indices recently reaching the triple digits in some parts of the Central U.S., temperatures will likely calm down as we flip the calendar from August to September. The sun is also setting noticeably earlier each day, and the combination of milder temperatures and shorter day lengths sends a signal to alfalfa to prepare for fall dormancy.

Alfalfa will begin Continue reading What’s so Critical about Fall Cutting? →

Small Ruminant Workshops: FAMACHA and Integrated Parasite Management Workshops Announced

Dan Lima, OSU Extension Educator, Belmont County

Learn about parasite management in sheep and goats and receive your FAMACHA certification.

• DATE & TIME: Thursday, August 31, 2023 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• LOCATION: 48544 Centerville-Jacobsburg Rd., Jacobsburg, OH 43933
• COST: $25.00 per person
• Class has a 20 person cap- light refreshments will be served

For those interested in the course, please view the event announcement here for registration details.

Shearing Preparations

Before we know it fall will be knocking on our back door. Fall is also a time that is full of management tasks in all areas of livestock production that need to be accomplished prior to the new year. For the small ruminant industry, shearing is one of those important tasks. In this episode of Forage Focus, OSU faculty and staff emphasize the importance of pasture management when preparing for the shearing of fleeced livestock. The presence of pasture weeds and time spent grazing prior to shearing can negatively impact the value and quality of your wool clip. For more tips on how to appropriately preparing for shearing day, be sure to take a listen to this short clip. For those interested in participating in our up-coming sheep shearing courses, please register using the following link (2023 Statewide Ohio Sheep Shearing School).

Don’t Bet on Wet Hay

Mike Rankin, Hay and Forage Grower Managing Editor
(Previously published in Hay & Forage Grower: August 8, 2023)

It seems drought has dominated the agricultural news feed for several years. Extended dry weather can dramatically reduce hay yields, but wet weather or simply baling hay that is too high in moisture can destroy a hay crop.

In a recent University of Nebraska BeefWatch newsletter, Extension Educators Hannah Smith, Ben Beckman, and Connor Biehler outlined some of the concerns and remedies for hay that is too high in moisture.

Top on the list of concerns is hay combustion. When hay is baled above 20% moisture, microbes begin to break down plant tissue, and mold starts to form. This same biological activity creates heat and the possibility of combustion.

“Bale combustion can begin at Continue reading Don’t Bet on Wet Hay →

2023 Statewide Sheep Shearing School – A Few Spots Still Remain

Dr. Brady Campbell, Assistant Professor, OSU State Small Ruminant Extension Specialist

A few seats still remain – register today to secure your spot!

Event Registration Link

The Ohio State University departments of Animal Sciences and Extension are pleased to announce the dates of the 2023 Fall Statewide Ohio Sheep Shearing School to be held on September 22-23, 2023 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Dave Cable Farm in Hebron, Ohio (10491 Canal Rd., Hebron, OH 43025).

During this two day schooling event, attendees will be given the opportunity to learn how to properly shear a sheep using the Australian shearing method. Those in attendance will be taught by veteran shearers as they walk through each step and demonstrate how to properly position the sheep and shearing hand piece in the correct location. Attendees will also learn to appreciate fleece quality by ensuring that their work station is clear of debris and how to keep the animals fleece all in one piece. This shearing session is open to any and all sheep producers, regardless of your shearing experience. Even if you are an experienced shearer, you are bound to learn something new or to improve upon from the school! Who knows, maybe it could help you shear off a couple of seconds on each sheep that you shear. Continue reading 2023 Statewide Sheep Shearing School – A Few Spots Still Remain →

Gene Editing Could Rid Sheep of Problematic Long Tails

Devin Rokyta, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University
(Previously published online with Washington State University: June 26, 2023)

Take a look at what a former Buckeye is doing to improve the efficiency of on-farm sheep production practices!

Longer tails have long given sheep producers across the globe problems — but a research project spearheaded by Washington State University graduate student Brietta Latham could eliminate the trait.

While breeds in other regions naturally have short tails, most domestic sheep have longer tails that can lead to hygienic concerns and health issues, including fly strike, a painful and potentially deadly condition caused by blowflies that lay their eggs on sheep. Industry standard has been to dock the animals’ tails, which can be painful for the sheep and time-consuming and costly for producers.

Latham was recently awarded a three-year fellowship by the United States Department of Agriculture for her proposal to Continue reading Gene Editing Could Rid Sheep of Problematic Long Tails →

2023 Statewide Sheep Shearing School Announced – Sept. 22-23

Dr. Brady Campbell, Assistant Professor, OSU State Small Ruminant Extension Specialist

Event Registration Link

The Ohio State University departments of Animal Sciences and Extension are pleased to announce the dates of the 2023 Fall Statewide Ohio Sheep Shearing School to be held on September 22-23, 2023 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Dave Cable Farm in Hebron, Ohio (10491 Canal Rd., Hebron, OH 43025).

During this two day schooling event, attendees will be given the opportunity to learn how to properly shear a sheep using the Australian shearing method. Those in attendance will be taught by veteran shearers as they walk through each step and demonstrate how to properly position the sheep and shearing hand piece in the correct location. Attendees will also learn to appreciate fleece quality by ensuring that their work station is clear of debris and how to keep the animals fleece all in one piece. This shearing session is open to any and all sheep producers, regardless of your shearing experience. Even if you are an experienced shearer, you are bound to learn something new or to improve upon from the school! Who knows, maybe it could help you shear off a couple of seconds on each sheep that you shear.

New this year, attendees will have the opportunity to try their hand at shearing using a variety of tools including electric hand pieces, drop shaft units, or an attendees personal equipment. We encourage everyone to bring their own shearing equipment as doing so will allow you to become more comfortable with the tools that you own. Additionally, questions about comb and cutter placement as well as maintenance will be discussed. Please note that class space is limited to the first 16 participants with registration due by Friday, September 15th. The cost to attend is $100 which includes a boxed lunch for each day. For those interested in Continue reading 2023 Statewide Sheep Shearing School Announced – Sept. 22-23 →

Forage Management and Heavy Rain Events

Victor Shelton, NRCS State Agronomist/Grazing Specialist

Moisture, or rather the lack of sufficient amount of moisture, is still an issue for quite a bit of the Midwest. Some areas have certainly been blessed with more rain than others, but I must remind you and myself that we’re only about two weeks away from a drought from about any time period. We should always strive to take advantage of and conserve any moisture we receive.

I’ve been repairing some fence lines along wooded areas that seem to be testing my patience. Windstorms with dying or dead ash trees don’t make a good combination.  That has caused me to dig and replace a few fence posts that were in the line of spoilage. On a somewhat positive point, it allowed me the opportunity to evaluate the soil moisture in the depth of the post hole. Even though I’ve had rain, soil moisture was a little less than normal as I dug deeper – but it could have been a lot drier.

You can’t change the amount of Continue reading Forage Management and Heavy Rain Events →