Ozarks Farm & Neighbor Newspaper – written for, by & about farmers

Balancing profitable and efficient farming with water quality is a delicate act. Best management practices (BMPs) assist farmers in striking the right balance. Some BMPs are commonly known and used, while others are not as well known.

Steven LaVal, Resource Forester for the Missouri Department of Conservation, says while traditional southern tree farming calls to mind long lines of pine trees, closely spaced together, Ozark farmers can also find ways to make money off the trees on their land.  “Most of the land in this part of the state was clear cut by the railroads and then after that, people burned, overgrazed, and the dust bowl era came. It was the 1920’s when most of our stands of black and red oaks were established. They mature at about 80 years and that makes most of those stands in this area, to be the same age, mature, and ready for harvest. If people have those on their property or particularly valuable trees, like walnuts, then they have an extra source of income available. You usually need to have at least 20 acres in a stand to get a professional logger interested, but it’s definitely something to look into.  To ignore it or neglect it means that stand of timber will begin to die off. The choice is to harvest it or it’ll die. You can take it or nature will and that’s an income source that will be lost to disease, insects or age.”

Creep feeding beef calves was a topic addressed by Dan Faulkner, Extension Specialist in the Beef Department of Animal Science at the University of Illinois, when he presented at the MFA Beef Innovators conference July 22, 2008.

When it’s time to wean the spring calves, the most important thing we can do to keep them healthy is to minimize stress. Tom Troxel, Professor and Associate Department Head for Animal Science, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, is a believer in fence-line weaning. He said the calves will actually gain through the weaning process. Ideally the calves will stay in familiar pasture and still have the comfort of knowing Mama is just across the fence. He said they will wean themselves in three to four days.

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.

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).