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Short forage supplies require producers to make tough decisions
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Dry weather and short pastures have reduced forage supplies, prompting livestock producers to ponder “could have, would have, should have” scenarios, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eric Meusch.Producers should try to match their herd needs to anticipated forage supplies, Meusch says. This requires planning before a drought. Many factors will be out of your control if you wait until drought…
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Nitrate, prussic acid poisoning follow drought
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nitrates and prussic acid build up in forages to levels dangerous to livestock during drought.Livestock face severe illness and even death after eating affected forages, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Jamie Gundel.Nitrates tend to concentrate in the bottom third of the plant. It shows in the plant’s stem and stalks more than leaves, Gundel says.
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Tough culling decisions come with drought, forage shortages
COLUMBIA, Mo. – With dry weather and short pastures, Missouri cow-herd owners face tough culling decisions. One way to match cows’ needs to available grass is to sell cows.Give careful thought to which grass eaters go first, says Eric Bailey, University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist. Under drought stress, identifying those cows becomes urgent.
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Corn silage as a forage
COLUMBIA, Mo. – An emergency feeding situation is shaping up for Missouri’s beef producers because of the drought. University of Missouri Extension recently hosted University of Wisconsin agronomist Joe Lauer on the MU Extension Forage and Livestock Hour to discuss his research on corn silage as a forage.
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Silage-making reminders
SEDALIA, Mo. – While it is still too soon to sound the alarm on “drought,” parts of the state are becoming severely dry, said University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Gene Schmitz.
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Wheatlage or grain? New decision tool helps find the 'sweet spot'
New tool helps farmers decide if harvesting wheat for silage or grain gives the best value based on yield and costs.
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Forage - Mission Possible?
Learn how baleage makes spring forage harvest faster and easier, turning tough haymaking into a manageable task.
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Evaluating costs and benefits of renovating endophyte-infected pastures
Learn how to assess the economic pros and cons of renovating endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures for better livestock health and forage yield.
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Converting from Kentucky 31 begins in the spring
GALENA, Mo. – Ernest Newton Fergus, a University of Kentucky forage specialist in the 1930s and 1940s, did the livestock industry a great favor when he propagated Kentucky 31 fescue, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg.
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Get 'nearly free' fertilizer by frost seeding legumes
COLUMBIA, Mo. – High nitrogen prices make it especially important to consider frost seeding legumes this winter, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts. “2022 is different because fertilizer costs have tripled,” Roberts says. “Consider legumes as nearly free fertilizer.” (See the Farm Progress article “Seasonal Fertilizer Prices” at bit.ly/33h4YD5.)
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With high fertilizer prices, are you better off buying fertilizer or supplemental hay?
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Increases in fertilizer prices add to the cost of growing forage for grazing. This leads farmers to ask if they should buy hay or fertilizer, says University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist John Lory. Comparing the benefits of buying hay vs. applying fertilizer for better yields is complicated, but it is crucial to the bottom line, says Lory.
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As temperatures drop, watch for fescue foot
Beef producers should watch for signs of fescue foot as cold weather sets in—limping, swelling, skin breaks, or cool lower legs are early warnings.
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MU Extension agronomist offers tips to offset high nitrogen prices
GALENA, Mo. – If there was ever a time to do a soil test, this is it, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg. Rising fertilizer prices make it too expensive to guess on how to apply nutrients, says Schnakenberg. Soil tests can prevent buying and applying fertilizer where not needed. See the MU Extension publication “Soil Sampling Hayfields and Row Crops” at extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9217.
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Grow now, graze later to reduce winter feed costs
Stockpile fescue pastures now to cut winter feed costs and improve cattle nutrition.
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Be on lookout for ergot
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri livestock and forage specialists are reporting ergot infestations that can cause major losses in livestock, said MU Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts.
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Rising feed prices call for cutting the fat in cow-calf operations
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist Eric Bailey says beef producers can offset rising feed prices with changes in their operations. “It’s time to literally cut the fat from cow-calf operations,” says Bailey. Rising corn and soybean commodity prices are making their way downstream to feed prices, putting a pinch on profits.
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Legumes improve pastures, grazing and profits
STOCKTON, Mo.- Add legumes to grazing pastures to improve cattle performance and forage production, says University of Missouri Extension regional livestock specialist Patrick Davis. Frost-seed clovers and lespedeza now, Davis says. They grow well with cool-season grasses in Missouri and improve spring and summer pastures.
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Frost seeding improves yield, quality
Frost seeding legumes boosts pasture yield and quality, reduces fertilizer needs, and supports livestock health and grazing profits.
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Without forage test, hay by any other name is just hay
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mature hay is hay. It may be brome hay, prairie hay or any other type of hay. But in the end, it’s just hay until it’s been tested. Forage tests tell the tale of whether hay is of good quality and nutrient-rich, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Gene Schmitz.
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Corn residue: cheap grazing for cattle
Grazing corn residue provides cattle with low-cost, nutritious forage while extending the grazing season and reducing feed costs.
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Hay: Weigh, test and sample before you buy
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – Weigh, test and sample hay before buying or selling, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole.
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Begin stockpiling fescue mid-August
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Start stockpiling fescue mid-August for healthier and more profitable cattle, says University of Missouri Extension forage specialist Craig Roberts.Stockpiling fescue saves time and money by reducing the need to feed hay.
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Drought increases risk of forage poisoning
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Drought increases the chance of nitrate poisoning and prussic acid poisoning. High concentrations in plants and water can harm or even kill animals. High nitrate, mostly concentrated in grass stems, causes quick death, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Jill Scheidt. Nitrate in the blood blocks oxygen uptake. Without oxygen, cows die quickly.
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Conditions ripe for ergot this year
High heat and humidity after a wet spring increase ergot risk in tall fescue, posing dangers to livestock and humans.
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MU research: Sunn hemp benefits rotational grazing systems
Sunn hemp boosts rotational grazing by providing high-protein forage, improving soil health, and enhancing cattle gain while reducing summer slump.