The drought this summer has created havoc for livestock producers who are preparing to feed cattle this winter with little forage and hay on hand. The Taney County Extension Center and Branson Bank are partnering to offer a program on Tuesday, September 18, near Taneyville, Missouri for farmers who want to discuss this issue and gain tips for surviving the drought. The program will begin with a tour at Rick Turner’s farm located in Taneyville so please bring your own lawn chair.
The program will focus on how to deal with high nitrate levels in feeds, precautions for nitrates and prussic acid, how to stretch hay supplies, renovation of pastures, fall forage alternatives, supplementing pasture and hay and ammoniation of low quality hay. A focus on the farm we will be visiting will be the ammoniation technique used on wheat straw to improve palatability and the use of cereal rye in warm-season grass pastures for winter grazing.
“The drought has taken a major toll on beef and dairy farms in the area,” said Tim Schnakenberg, an agronomy specialist with University of Missouri Extension based in Galena. High nitrates and short hay supplies will continue to plague these farms as we go into winter. Farmers need to know the precautions to take and take extra steps to stretch their feed supplies.”
Tim Schnakenberg and Eldon Cole, livestock specialist, will be on hand for the discussion. The program will be held at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 18, at the Rick Turner farm. The farm is located on highway 76, east of Forsyth 3.5 miles on the left, or 2 miles west of Taneyville on highway 74 on the right. Watch for signs at the farm.
The dinner is hosted by Branson Bank and will follow the tour set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Participants should preregister by calling Halley Fleming at Branson Bank (417) 334-9696 or email [email protected] by Wednesday, September 14.
Contact the Taney County Extension Center at 417-546-4431 for more information regarding content of the program.
