Farm Help

Farmers tend to skimp on fertilizer when costs are on the rise. Proper fertilization, though, is necessary for quality pasture forage. Spreader calibration is a great way to save money and is a best management practice.

Producers’ decisions as to when and how to market their cattle can greatly impact the net profits.  Cattlemen have many marketing alternatives available.  In the cash (spot) market producers may sell their cattle through live auctions, video auctions, direct or through terminal markets.  Cattlemen also have the ability to use forward contract or hedging with futures and options. Although the commodity futures and options markets serve as an important risk management instrument, only a small number of cattlemen directly use them. In order to better compare the traditional cash sale to forward contracting or hedging with futures, cattlemen need to recognize the relationship between cash and futures prices.

Producers use a rotational grazing system to keep pastures in better condition, and electric fencing is often used to effectively keep animals in specific areas.

1. Compare the price of turkey litter to commercial fertilizers or to other products producers are using.


Turkey litter and broiler litter have similar content of N, P2O5 and K2O. Variability of nutrient content can be quite large between samples so it is always a good idea to get a lab test showing the nutrient content. A rule of thumb is that about 40 to 50 percent of the N in poultry litter is lost or is unavailable to crops when the litter is surface applied so that must be factored in for fertilizer application. If the litter is incorporated, little N loss can be expected. Another important point is to know what current soil fertility levels are in fields where litter is to be applied. Even though the combined value of N, P, and K in litter can be as much as $80/ton (as shown in Graph 1.1) that value is less if soil test levels of P and K are high. In soils with high P and K levels, no crop response would be expected from additional P and K so then the value of litter would only be for the nitrogen content. Table 1.1 (page 39) shows the nutrient content of various fertilizer materials.

The hype is definitely around us. The idea of being “green” is in ad campaigns and merchandise sold everywhere. No doubt, as farmers, we love the land as much, or more than anyone. But in hard economic times, where is the value in “going green?”

Depending on whether you’re looking at a new hay barn, a machine shop or a livestock shelter, you will be analyzing totally different types of structures and the location can vary greatly. Analyzing use and need must be the first step when planning a structure. If the “barn” will be a hay barn in the back, a machine shop in the front, and could even end up as a bottle calf shelter in harsh weather, doors, windows and preservation factors must also go into the planning process.

Farmers tend to skimp on fertilizer when costs are on the rise. Proper fertilization, though, is necessary for quality pasture forage. Spreader calibration is a great way to save money and is a best management practice.

According to the National Cattlemen’s magazine, CattleFax® analyst Mike Miller has projected that in the next year the price per pound for a 550 pound calf will move towards that of the 750 pound yearling due to high corn prices.  The response to this is cow/calf producers are considering keeping calves longer and putting additional pounds on them using pasture based forage systems.  But, will the extra time the animals spend on the operation present producers with unique challenges from an animal health standpoint?

As producers begin turning their cattle out on the green pastures of the Ozarks this spring, they should be aware of the harmful effects too much of the lush ground cover could have on their cattle.

1. Compare the price of turkey litter to commercial fertilizers or to other products producers are using.