Management

Evaluating Farm Resources and Sheep Production Systems

Erin Massender, Small Ruminant Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Delma Kennedy, Sheep Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
(Previously published online with Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: March 1, 2024)

Theuse of imperial and metric measurement in this fact sheet reflects the way information is reported by the original source for the sheep industry.

Introduction
When a new producer enters the sheep industry, or when existing producers contemplate a change in their farming enterprise, selecting a sheep production system is one of the most important considerations. The resources that are available to the farm must be evaluated and the proper production system used, to maximize the available farm resources.

This fact sheet describes how to select the optimal sheep production system given the impact of various farm resources, including:

  • land
  • buildings
  • labour
  • machinery
  • available markets

The optimal production system will be the one that best utilizes available resources, thereby improving the profitability of the operation.

Continue reading…

May Weed Report

Christine Gelley, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Noble County

(Cressleaf Groundsel)

(Poison Hemlock)

Warm temperatures and steady rainfall have accelerated the maturity of grass, legume, and weedy species in the landscape and on-farm so far this spring. Two main species of concern that have been actively growing quickly around the county include poison hemlock and cressleaf groundsel.

Poison hemlock is a biennial weed that does not flower in the first year of growth but flowers in the second year. It blooms on stalks 6-10 feet tall. All parts of the plant are toxic to all classes of livestock if consumed and it is prevalent along roadsides, ditches, and crop field borders. The earlier you can address poison hemlock with mowing and/or herbicide application, the better your control methods will be.

Poison hemlock is related to Continue reading May Weed Report →

Spring Pasture Management; Plan Now to Optimize the Entire Grazing Season

Victor Shelton, NRCS State Agronomist/Grazing Specialist

I’m glad that May has finally arrived.  For me, it’s been a wet and somewhat stormy spring so far. If you haven’t done it already, it’s a really good idea to walk your pastures before grazing them for the first time. You can use your ATV if you prefer, but I’d rather see you walking and observing closely rather than taking quick glances and a joyride. It wouldn’t hurt to take some pictures to compare current conditions to other time periods.

First, assess how much new growth is actually present in each paddock or field. The amount can be deceiving unless you actually step into it. Ideally, take a yardstick with you and measure the average height of the new forage. For most cool-season forages, I like to see at least 8-10 inches of growth prior to grazing. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but it’s important to rebuild green vegetative “solar panel” and ensure energy is returning to the roots, as much of the initial spring growth has already used it.

You’ll typically notice Continue reading Spring Pasture Management; Plan Now to Optimize the Entire Grazing Season →

Don’t Jump the Grazing Gun

Amber Friedrichsen, Managing Editor, Hay and Forage Grower
(Previously published in Hay & Forage Grower: April 8, 2025)

Managing the spring flush of forage growth often involves flirting with the fine line between grazing too early and being swallowed by the surplus. As cool-season grasses start to green up, it may be tempting to turn cattle out on pasture as soon as possible, but green doesn’t always mean “go.”

Victor Shelton, a retired Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) agronomist and grazing specialist, warns farmers about cool-season grass growth that appears to be extra green. He says a brighter shade of grass isn’t necessarily a good sign. Moreover, it doesn’t indicate that forage is ready to graze.

Shelton explains these “greener” plants may actually have Continue reading Don’t Jump the Grazing Gun →

Check for Contaminants in Hay

Christine Gelley, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Noble County

Use senses of sight, smell and touch to help evaluate hay quality.

Making and feeding hay can be tricky business. After a long season feeding hay, livestock producers are getting a lot of experience judging hay by its appearance. The way hay looks and feels can be helpful for making assumptions about hay, but appearance, smell, and texture are just a few indicators of quality. It takes these factors plus a laboratory analysis to truly understand the nutritional value of hay.

Even with a hay test in hand, we should still use our senses of sight, smell, and touch to help evaluate quality because sometimes we can spot an unwanted contaminant in hay that a lab test would miss.

The following are Continue reading Check for Contaminants in Hay →