Farm Help

Necessary forage requirements for dairy cattle and their nutrient needs will depend on the lactational stage of the cow. “On well-managed pasture, a mature lactating cow can consume more than 40 pounds of dry matter in forage in a day,” said Dr. Andrew Fidler, instructor for the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Arkansas. “Even with that amount of intake, however, the cow may not be ingesting all the nutrients required to maintain body condition and fertility in the face of high milk production. Energy in the form of easily digestible carbohydrates is usually the limiting factor, and is most often provided in the way of supplemental grain by most American dairy grazers.”

Imagine one-third of all of our food production being severely impeded, if not completely destroyed. In the face of colony collapse disorder, north American beekeepers knew this scenario was not just a scary idea, but a true reality. Greene County beekeeper, Mike Meyer, explained, one-third of all plants are directly impacted, and another third is indirectly impacted by honeybee pollination. Bee pollination is responsible for $15 billion in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds and other nuts, berries, fruits and vegetables. In southwest Missouri, they’re pollinating alfalfa, clover, soybeans and other forages and crops.

Many of Missouri’s early farmers and ranchers planted tree breaks to shield soil, cattle and homesteads from the wind, harvested black walnuts and wood to supplement their income and planted rows of corn in available land between trees. One hundred years ago this was known as making the most of what you had, and being as productive as possible. Today, it’s known as Agroforestry – the science and practice of intensive land use management combining trees and plantings with crops and livestock.

When it comes time to work cattle on the farm, whether for sorting, tagging, vaccinating and so on, most producers admit it is can often be a stressful time for both humans and bovines.

The U.S. Farm Bill impacts agriculture and other matters under the United States Department of Agriculture’s scope of authority. It also has effects on immigration, trade and commerce, energy and social welfare, to name a few. To Ozarks' farmers, the biggest impact is in direct payments, and the funding available through programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP).

Cattle producers know the importance of keeping feed for their cattle, but overweight females can cause reproductive issues, but too little feed can result in a thin, under performing cow.