Marbling – A Closer Look
To start a lively discussion amongst a group of cattlemen, just utter the word, “marbling.” It’s been called one of the most provoking words in the beef industry. From those who dismiss it as unimportant to the staunch defenders, opinions will vary.
Percent Angus and You
Successful producers have always tried to raise high-quality, high-performing cattle, but may have felt compelled to choose one ideal over the other. That’s not necessary, according to a recent analysis of data from the Iowa Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity (TCSCF).
Applying Litter? Regulations To Know
Poultry litter is a complete fertilizer. It contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that can also be found in commercial fertilizer, but in litter they...
Supplementing Your Weanlings
Building a strong horse starts from the moment the foal is born. The first few hours in a foal’s life are crucial because they...
Cost Share Assistance
Balancing profitable and efficient farming with water quality is a delicate act. Best management practices (BMPs) assist farmers in striking the right balance. Some...
What Late Season Hay Means to You
There continues to be several fescue hay fields harvested for hay this summer. Late-cut hay can lead to low quality forage for feeding this...
Warm-Season Grasses An Alternative to Fescue
Comparing warm season grass grazing is worthy when fescue toxicosis prompts cows to stand in the pond this August. The grazing season for switchgrass...
Cattle and Corn: Working Together
We got a letter a few weeks ago, signed by Jeff Windett, Executive Vice President for the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) and Gary Marshall, Chief Executive Officer for the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council (MCMC). This letter was addressed “Dear Producer,” and it let Missouri farmers and agriculturalists know the efforts being taken by these two associations to better understand, and alleviate, the higher input costs for fuel, fertilizers, seed and feed.
Late-Season Hay And You
There continues to be several fescue hay fields harvested for hay this summer. Late-cut hay can lead to low quality forage for feeding this winter and most likely will require supplementation to meet the nutritional needs of livestock. Tim Schnakenberg, Agronomy Specialist with the University of Missouri Extension noted that the ideal time for balancing maximum quality of hay with production yield is when grass hay is in the boot to early heading stage. “We are well past this stage at this point,” Schnakenberg said.
Biomass for Fuel
If switchgrass has piqued your interest of late as a crop to grow on your farm for grazing, hay and fuel, you'll also find interest in the recent announcement from the National Biomass Producers Association (NBPA), a Missouri-based organization of farmers and investors interested in producing fuel from cellulosic feedstocks, such as switchgrass.