News Update

September 14, 2017

The Source

“Hello? Hello? What? I can’t understand you.”

Every time I get in a tractor my brother calls with another “chore” that needs done, but cell service in our area is hit and miss most days, and he refuses to text. He reminds me of a few producers.

“I can’t see it made me any money the time I enrolled, so why waste my time?” is a common complaint I hear.

Do you vaccinate and pour your cows? I do, because I don’t want to take the risk of disease, parasites or decreased weight gain. However, some find the investment not worth it.

I attend a few calf sales every year and talk to a variety of producers. Some are every bit as progressive as any registered Angus breeder, and there are others who throw out some hay in a corral once a year and catch what calves they can get in the trailer.

All producers have one thing in common. They want to purchase something they can see and feel will make them money every time. I’m just as guilty.

Continue reading this Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.

— Adapted from a column by Ginette Gottswiller, American Angus Association.

Florida’s Farm Families Are Recovering
from Losses Inflicted by Hurricane Irma

The resiliency of Florida’s farmers and ranchers is on full display in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. They are working to restore food and fiber production for the state and the nation, despite the widespread destruction of crops, buildings, fencing and other property lost to wind and water damage.

Like many other Floridians, farm families are contending with significant failures in the electric power grid. Many face weeks of rebuilding and replanting before full operations can resume.

The entire peninsula suffered major damage. The most severe overall destruction occurred in Southwest Florida. Early estimates indicate that in some areas of the primary citrus belt, at least 60% of green fruit was knocked off the trees, raising the likelihood that the 2016-2017 crop will be much smaller than expected. Those farmers who had already planted fall vegetables, including tomatoes, report a near-total loss.

Agriculturists throughout the region and elsewhere face the general task of either repairing or restoring irrigation systems, machinery and other equipment.

Scattered assessments among ornamental plant growers indicate that many greenhouses and shade covers are either partially standing or unusable.

Read the full Florida Farm Bureau news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Florida Farm Bureau.

MU Extension Receives USDA Tech Grant for Pastures

University of Missouri (MU) Extension has received a $444,000 grant to create a mobile application to help farmers manage forage better.

The Conservation Innovation Grant from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) is one of 33 nationwide. It provides seed money to implement new ideas and techniques for conservation on private lands, says NRCS state conservationist J.R. Flores.

MU Extension specialist Stacey Hamilton said the goal of the three-year grant is to help farmers make better decisions about forage using affordable technology.

Hamilton says MU is a national leader in measuring the height and mass of forage in pastures using sonar technology on an all-terrain vehicle. An onboard computer collects and sends the sensor data to the MU Grazing Wedge website, (https://grazingwedge.missouri.edu), an online tool that translates the data into estimates of the amount of forage in pastures.

“The Grazing Wedge website helped forage managers for years, but required a lot of time walking across pastures to take measurements and then manually enter the data on the website every week. We needed to improve that aspect,” said Ryan Lock, one of the researchers on the project.

Learn more in the MU news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Linda Geist, University of Missouri Extension.

Ranching Events Scheduled for Huntsville and Hempstead

The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) will host ranch gatherings in Huntsville and Hempstead this September. For both events, registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by a complimentary beef dinner. The events are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017 Sam Houston Memorial Museum 1402 19th Street Huntsville, TX 77340

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 Hempstead Recreation Center 635 Business 290 East Hempstead, TX 77445

TSCRA will give an update on recovery efforts following Hurricane Harvey, discuss the impact of the storm on area cattle raisers and make producers aware of relief resources that are available.

TSCRA Special Ranger Brent Mast will also be on hand for both events to provide a law enforcement update and offer ranchers information on how they can keep their livestock and equipment safe and secure. Attendees will receive an update on the 85th Texas Legislative Session and recent government affairs activities, such as private property rights initiatives. Other areas of interest to cattle raisers and the community will be discussed, as well.

For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.

— Adapted from a release by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

Regional Hay School Offered Oct. 14 in Linn

Livestock producers and horse owners can learn how to make “Hay That Pays” at the MU Extension regional hay school Oct. 14 in Linn, Mo.

The event runs 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at Community Christian Church, 1598 U.S. Highway 50, Linn.

Attendees will be able to decide if making their own hay and balage is right for their farming operations, says MU Extension livestock specialist Anita Ellis.

This seven-hour noncredit course covers many aspects of hay and balage production, she says. The course focuses on cattle producers who may already have their own hay equipment or have hay custom-harvested on their land.

Topics include nutritional requirements for hay for livestock, supplements to hay, hay tests, the economics of fertilizing hayfields, reducing loss when storing, what makes good balage and more. Attendees will learn how to cut, rake, ted and bale hay.

Ellis says forage growers will learn how to reduce losses when storing and feeding hay. They will discuss whether making hay is profitable for their operation.

An implement showcase will display the latest hay equipment, Ellis says.