Equines and Alfalfa: Fact and Fiction
For most farmers and horse owners, deciding whether or not to feed their horses alfalfa is a tough row to hoe. Although alfalfa is a high quality horse feed, so many myths surround it that horse owners either underutilize or misuse it.
Profits in the Pastures
No doubt, every farming operation manages their production with the idea of returns being greater than the costs. But to manage this effectively, and to truly know what your bottom dollar will be, it’s essential to establish and maintain an accurate budget sheet for your farm.
Alternative Fertilizers
As the time to start planning spring plantings, farmers must consider what types of fertilizers to use. Many farmers have an abundance of animal waste at their fingertips, and considering the prices of commercial fertilizers, they would be wise to weigh those alternative options.
Ag Law
Do I have a legal claim against my veterinarian?
You notice some of your cattle have been ill for the pass few days; a few with diarrhea and some standing apart from the herd. You phone your veterinarian to come out. The next morning, your veterinarian arrives, examines part of your herd and he detects that a few have a moderate fever but no other signs. He takes a few blood samples and then tells you that he does not believe that there is anything to worry about, though he wants the results of the blood specimens before he can say for sure, one-way-or-the-other. The next morning, you find three dead, a cow that had aborted and before your veterinarian returns, another dies. Your veterinarian now suspects acute pasteurellosis. A disease that he heard about in veterinary school but has never encountered in his years of practice.
You notice some of your cattle have been ill for the pass few days; a few with diarrhea and some standing apart from the herd. You phone your veterinarian to come out. The next morning, your veterinarian arrives, examines part of your herd and he detects that a few have a moderate fever but no other signs. He takes a few blood samples and then tells you that he does not believe that there is anything to worry about, though he wants the results of the blood specimens before he can say for sure, one-way-or-the-other. The next morning, you find three dead, a cow that had aborted and before your veterinarian returns, another dies. Your veterinarian now suspects acute pasteurellosis. A disease that he heard about in veterinary school but has never encountered in his years of practice.
On Call
It is that time of year when clients start asking me if they should start feeding extra magnesium to avoid grass tetany. Over the years, my advice has been that most people should just supplement on a year-round basis. I know most people are familiar with grass tetany, but I thought this to be a good time for a refresher course on the cause, treatment and prevention of this condition.
Farm Finance
As we begin a new year many rental agreements are renewed for what we hope will be a successful relationship between landlord and tenant. However, creating a good lease is not easy and requires some careful thought by both parties. In general, a good lease is one in which both parties agree it’s fair and both completely understand each other’s expectations.