Pasture-Forage

Normal La Niña Pattern to Return By Thanksgiving

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:25:32 GMT

What are the primary weather events being watched by the leading ag meteorologists right now? Here’s a round-up.

A Bit of an Oddball La Niña

“We need to be really careful about making big assumptions about this La Niña. It is not a classic La Niña,” says Drew Lerner, World Weather, Inc. He points to two large rain events in the southern U.S. Plains this past week.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey adds southern California has also received a lot of precipitation. He says it’s the timing and strength of the La Niña bringing a different pattern than could be expected.

“The big thing we’re watching is the fact that we’re in a La Niña during the month of September for the fifth time in six years,” Rippey says. “And with that, November’s been a little bit strange so far. We haven’t fully kicked into what you would expect to see with a La Niña regime.”

More Precipitation on Its Way

“We also have a lot of warm ocean water between Hawaii and California, so watch for more heavy rain, like we saw this week coming into California a little later in the winter,” Lerner says.

Rippey says people across the Great Plains can expect more storms through this week.

“Given the fact that we are heading into a La Niña winter, we need the moisture across the southern Plains now,” Rippey says. “It looks like more of a La Niña regime setting in for the latter part of November and certainly by Thanksgiving. By that I mean stormier, colder weather across the north, and some of that warm and dry weather should become more established across the South. It’ll be a while until we get there.”

The week of Thanksgiving is showing some increased chance for winter storms and perhaps travel-impactful weather events.

Droughty Conditions Bring Concerns

Dry weather persists in key grazing areas, which Matt Makens from Makens Weather says is his biggest concern for the rest of this year and early into 2026.

Lerner adds: “The northern Plains and neighboring areas of Canada’s prairies won’t see much precipitation. There’s still a big, bad drought up there, and they’re hoping for better moisture. But in the meantime, our wheat that’s in the soft wheat that’s in the lower Midwest bowl will get a nice drink of water.”

Pacific Storm Season Brought More Action Than the Atlantic

Reflecting on the ongoing hurricane season, Rippey says while it was indicated we could have an active season, there have been only 13 named storms and only five hurricanes.

Without any major storms making landfall in the U.S., Rippey points to a few factors:

“We had the African feeder storms, the thunderstorms that come off the African coast, came off a little further north than they normally would. And that put some of those thunderstorm complexes into a more hostile environment as they developed or tried to develop,” he says.
“We had a protective jet stream across the eastern United States, a little dip along the East Coast of the United States that really forced any developing storms to recurve before they ever reach the United States,” he says.

“A lot of that moisture ended up in the western United States eventually, remnant tropical moisture, and that certainly has helped to chip away at the drought across the western United States, courtesy of the active eastern Pacific season with 18 overall named storms,” Rippey adds.

Planting Season Outlook

While planting season is about five months away for many, the weather trends are tipping the scales to a slow start.

“I still have some confidence in saying that some of the northern areas of the country — northern plains, upper Midwest — could face a spring with a delayed warm-up,” Rippey says. “We could see some snowy cold conditions lingering into the early to mid-spring across some of those northern production areas. Typically coming out of La Niña, we do see a later planting season in the north, and we will have to watch drought in the south.”

La Niña Will Flip to El Niño

As for what’s ahead in the new year, Maken says while we might start with a La Niña, toward the end of the year, we’ll flip into an El Niño.

“And when you do this flip, it depends on how quickly it flips, because it can mean a lot of rainfall for a lot of folks,” he says. “And not that La Niña and El Niño are the end-all, be-alls, but they’re the major players in the room. Some really like hearing El Niño. Others really do not like the person saying that.”

Rust in the Ration: How to Combat Southern Rust’s Impact on Corn Silage

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:04:48 GMT

With the warm and wet conditions this season, southern rust is on the rise in Midwest corn crops. It may be time to start considering the impact that could have on corn silage and preparing to adjust rations accordingly. While southern rust is not a direct threat to herd health, it has been shown to lower the nutritional value of silage and can compromise feed quality.

Southern rust, a fast-developing fungal disease caused by Puccinia polysora, does not itself produce toxins, but it weakens the plant and provides the opportunity for other diseases to move in. These opportunists include various Furasium species, which produce mycotoxins (fumonisin and deoxynivalenol) that can be harmful in feed.

Southern Rust and Corn Silage Quality

Southern rust is known to impact corn silage quality. A study from the University of Florida showed increasing rust infestation resulted in increased dry matter and fiber fractions, but that dry matter digestibility decreased by 13%. Further, high rust silages had lower neutral detergent fiber digestibilities than medium and no rust silages. Southern rust also affected the concentrations of lactate and volatile fatty acids, causing both to decrease with increasing infestation. These results indicate decreased nutritive value.

The observed increased dry matter also reduced silo packing effectiveness. If moisture levels are too low at harvest, it is difficult to achieve adequate packing, which leads to poor fermentation and an increased risk of mold growth.

Because southern rust coverage reduces the photosynthetic area of the leaf, grain fill is often hindered, leading to a lower energy and protein content in the silage.

Southern Rust Silage Management

There are a handful of strategies producers can apply to counteract the effects of southern rust:

Adjust harvest time based on moisture content. Southern rust can cause corn to dry down faster than normal. Monitor moisture levels closely to ensure the proper fermentation of silage.
Consider a silage inoculant. Inoculants improve fermentation, and the rapid pH drop can inhibit mold and yeast growth.
Ensure good packing and storage. Pack silage well to limit oxygen exposure and prevent mold growth. Cover bunkers immediately and weigh down coverings thoroughly.

Feeding Southern Rust Silage

To counter the nutritional challenges of feeding southern rust-infected corn silage, dietary supplementation may be necessary.

Prior to inclusion, test all potentially infected silage for mycotoxins. This will allow you to determine the safety of the feed and avoid potential health issues. If mycotoxins are high, the incorporation of a mycotoxin binding agent into the ration will help reduce toxin absorption in the animal’s digestive tract. Additionally, supplementation with antioxidants, such as vitamin E and selenium, could help animals by countering oxidative stress caused by mycotoxins and supporting immune function.

If grain fill was affected and starch levels are low, you may need to incorporate an additional energy course to compensate. Further, poor grain fill could reduce the already low protein content of corn silage, and protein supplementation may be required.

When incorporating infected silage, ensure it is thoroughly mixed into the TMR to dilute potential ‘hot spots’. Inclusion levels of contaminated silage in the feed may need to be limited or removed entirely for sensitive animals, including lactating or breeding animals. Livestock should be monitored closely for symptoms of mycotoxin toxicity, such as reduced intake, weight loss, digestive issues or reproductive challenges. Be prepared to respond if issues arise.

When feeding corn silage infected with southern rust, caution is essential to protect livestock health and performance. The thoughtful use of compromised silage can help minimize risk while maintaining efficiency and animal well-being.

Your next read: Southern Rust Set To Take Big Bite Out Of Midwest Corn Crop?

Be Aware: Dangerous Asian Longhorned Tick Continues Migrating West

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:42:45 GMT

The Asian Longhorned Tick (ALHT) poses a serious threat to cattle health. ALHTs carry Theileria, which is a protozoan parasite that infects red and white blood cells. It can lead to anemia and, in some cases, death.

ALHTs are native to eastern Asia, eastern China, Japan, the Russian Far East and Korea but were introduced to Australia, New Zealand and western Pacific Islands. In other countries, it can also be called a bush tick, cattle tick or scrub tick.

In the U.S., ALHT was first detected in New Jersey in 2017. Since then, it has spread to more than 20 states with recent confirmations in Illinois , Michigan and Iowa .

According to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ALHTs are known to carry pathogens, which can cause disease and may also cause distress to the host from their feeding in large numbers. For example, a dairy cow may have a 25% decrease in milk production after becoming a host.

A female can reproduce without a mate and lay up to 2,000 eggs at a time. This can cause great stress on a heavily infested animal and result in reduced growth and production. A severe infestation can kill the animal from excessive blood loss.

Asian longhorned tick life stages and relative actual size.

(Photos of unfed ticks by Centers for Disease Control. Photos of engorged ticks by Jim Occi, Rutgers, Center for Vector Biology.)

What does it look like?

Unfed ALHTs range from a light reddish-tan to a dark red with brown, dark markings. While the adult female grows to the size of a pea when full of blood, other stages of the tick are very small — about the size of a sesame seed.

Adult females are a grey-green with yellowish markings. Male ticks are rare.

APHIS reports it only takes a single tick to create a population in a new location.

The above photos are of a AHLT engorged (on the left) and an adult AHLT not engorged.

(New Jersey Department of Agriculture)

ALHTs need warm-blooded hosts to feed and survive. They have been found on various species of domestic animals — such as sheep, goats, dogs, cats, horses, cattle and chickens — and wildlife. The tick has also been found on people.

What are the health risks?

APHIS says ALHTs are not known to carry Lyme disease, but they can cause tickborne diseases affecting humans and animals such as:

Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Heartland virus
Powassan virus

APHIS says those diseases have not been confirmed outside of a laboratory setting in the U.S. In addition, U.S. ALHT populations can transmit U.S. Theileria orientalis Ikeda strain (Cattle theileriosis) in the laboratory.

In an Iowa State University release , Grant Dewell, Extension beef veterinarian and associate professor, says cattle affected by Theileriosis will show signs of lethargy, anemia and difficulty breathing. They may develop ventral edema, exercise intolerance, jaundice and abortions.

“Although signs of Theileriosis are similar to anaplasmosis, younger animals and calves often display more severe signs compared to mature cows and bulls,” he says. “Due to anemia from both tick infestation and Theileria, the risk of death can be elevated. If cattle producers suspect either Theileria or ALHT, have a veterinarian collect appropriate samples and submit them to a veterinary diagnostic lab.”

According to an Oklahoma State University press release , under laboratory conditions ALHT is a competent vector of numerous pathogens that can cause disease in humans, including Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever), Heartland Virus and Powassan Virus.

In “ Clinical Infectious Diseases, ” Bobbi Pritt, MD, MSC, with the division of clinical microbiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., reported a human bite that occurred in New York in 2019. She says though the report of a human bite isn’t surprising, it proves the invasive longhorned tick continues to bite hosts in its newest location.

“This is extremely worrisome for several reasons,” she writes. “One reason is Asian longhorned ticks can carry several important human pathogens, including the potentially fatal severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus and Rickettsia japonica, which cases Japanese spotted fever. While these pathogens have yet to be found in the United States, there is a risk of their future introduction.”

Also, Pritt says several other human pathogens have been detected in the ticks, but it’s not clear if the ALHT species are able to transmit them to humans. They include Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Borrelia species. Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.

She warns the organisms are present in states where ALHTs have been found and that it’s possible the tick — known to be an aggressive biter— might be able to transmit Heartland virus given its close relationship to SFTS virus.

How to Tackle Ticks

According to APHIS, various strategies effectively mitigate tick populations on hosts and in the environment.

Regular tick treatments should be effective against ALHTs. Consult your veterinarian or agriculture extension agent about which products to use.
Check your livestock for ticks regularly.
Safely remove ticks from people and pets as quickly as possible. If you think you’ve found an ALHT, seal it in a zip-top bag and give it to your veterinarian for identification.
Habitat modifications can help prevent ticks on feedlots and pastures. This may include mowing grass, removing trees, reducing shade by thinning trees, understory removal and placing mulch barriers.
Apply acaricide using label instructions to tick habitats, such as woodland edges and grassy patches, during times when ticks are most actively seeking hosts. Although it varies by year, ALHTs are generally active from March to November. Consult your state and local regulations for approved acaricides.

“Cattle producers should aggressively control external parasites this summer,” Dewell summarizes. “Insecticide ear tags alone are not enough to control ticks. Consider incorporating a back rubber or regularly applying a pour-on during the summer. Pyrethroid-based products are also available that include a tick control label. If an increase in tick infestations is observed, an avermectin pour-on may be the best intervention.”

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Machinery News: John Deere Debuts Forage Harvesters, Ecorobotix Lettuce Algorithm, Kubota-Agtonomy Deal

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:10:19 GMT

John Deere has announced the launch of new F8 and F9 Series self-propelled forage harvesters, which the manufacturer says are built from the ground up with customer input to elevate forage performance and farm productivity.

Deere says the new F9 Series comes in two engine options — John Deere 18X and Liebherr V12 24L — with five horsepower options ranging from 700PS to 1020PS; the F8 Series comes with the JD14X engine bringing six horsepower options, ranging from 425PS to 645PS.

It also says the new machines offer improved automation with a higher level of comprehensive technology offerings compared with previous models.

The technology options include:

Ground speed automation — Deere also offers this feature on new S7 combines. The manufacturer says it helps maintain ideal load and prevent operator stress by adjusting ground speed in real time based on crop conditions.
ProTouch Harvest — A feature allowing operators to initiate multiple harvest-ready settings with the push of a button, while Active Fill Control ensures consistent truck fills even under the toughest harvesting conditions.

(John Deere)

“A higher-quality forage output with more power, more precision and more uptime, that’s the focus of the new forage harvesters for our customers,” said Bergen Nelson, John Deere go-to-market manager for harvesting equipment. “We’ve combined our strongest hardware with our newest and smartest precision ag technology to create higher-quality forage.”

More information on the new F8 and F9 Series SPFHs is available from a local John Deere dealer or deere.com.

Check out this test drive video from Farmworld_TV!

Specialty crop AI tech startup Ecorobtix unveils lettuce-thinning algorithm

Ecorobotix has announced the launch of its new lettuce-thinning algorithm, expanding the capabilities of its ARA Ultra High Precision (UHP) Sprayer to offer what it claims is one of the most advanced automated thinning solutions on the market.

The new functionality is available to ARA users via a software license.

“We’ve combined the power of AI with the reliability of ARA’s ultra-high precision spraying platform to eliminate one of the most time-consuming and labor-intensive tasks in the field: thinning,” said Katerina Lee, regional crop care manager for Ecorobotix.

Ecorobotix says its algorithm enables users to replace manual labor, grow crops with superior uniformity and cover fields faster than hand-labor crews.

Learn more here.

Kubota-Agtonomy join forces to develop autonomous specialty crop machinery

Kubota North America has announced a collaboration agreement with Agtonomy, an agricultural autonomy software provider, to commercialize autonomous operations on Kubota diesel tractors for spraying and mowing.

Kubota says the partnership reflects its commitment to pioneering solutions and equipping growers with smart technology.

“Our working relationship with Agtonomy represents a significant milestone toward commercializing our vision for autonomy by merging our expertise and technology with Agtonomy’s autonomous platform,” said Brett McMickell, chief technology officer for Kubota North America.

The initial phase of the partnership will focus on integrating Agtonomy’s capabilities with Kubota’s M5N specialty crop diesel tractor.

Learn more about Kubota’s vision for autonomous technology in farming here.

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Understanding Potassium’s Role in the Ruminant Diet

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 19:36:35 GMT

By: Adele Harty, Cow/Calf Field Specialist, SDSU Extension

Potassium may often be an underappreciated mineral in the world of ruminant nutrition, but it plays key roles in the body. Potassium is involved in acid-base regulation, osmotic pressure maintenance, nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and carbon dioxide and oxygen transport. Potassium works with sodium and chlorine to maintain the acid-base balance. We often hear of an animal’s salt requirement, but why don’t we hear about potassium? The concentration of potassium inside cell walls is nearly equal to that of sodium in the extra-cellular fluid, therefore the diet requirements are significant.

The answer is that potassium is more abundant in forages. Recently balanced rations for backgrounded calves have indicated excessive or toxic levels of potassium. Upon review of the feed analysis, potassium levels are often in excess of 2.5 percent on a dry matter basis and readily available for absorption. Requirements are approximately 0.65 percent for 550 lb steers, therefore forage based diets have excess potassium. What result do these excess levels have on cattle over an extended period of time? Some minerals have very detrimental effects when they are fed in excess or at toxic levels. One example is when excessive or toxic levels of sulfur are supplied, cattle can develop polioencephalomalacia.

So what happens with toxic levels of potassium? Unfortunately the answer is not clear cut. Dr. Terry Engle, a Professor at Colorado State University has a research focus on trace minerals. I asked him some questions regarding potassium and at what point do we need to be concerned about toxicity and what potassium toxicity looks like. Dr. Engle referred to the “Mineral Tolerances of Animals” Second Revised Edition 2005. This book discusses the chemistry of minerals and how they work in the body. Potassium is key to body function, but deficiency is outlined better than toxicity. In most cases toxicity is rare as excess potassium is excreted in urine, however this document also states 3 percent potassium as the maximum tolerable level. As the levels of potassium increases, magnesium absorption in the gastrotintestinal tract will decrease, which could have a resulting effect of milk fever or grass tetany depending on the forage situation. Aside from the issues with magnesium absorption, levels up to 6 percent potassium have been added to the diet of non-lactating animals with no toxicity symptoms being evident.

Why have potassium levels increased in forages? There have been some recent trials from the University of Illinois evaluating soil potassium levels and how they increase in the soil. They did a four year trial with bi-weekly testing of potassium levels to see how the levels change over time. The study showed that in order to produce a 200 bushel corn crop, 46 lbs of potassium is removed with the grain, while the residue puts 180 lbs of potassium back into the soil. This is three times more than the next crop needs and is all readily available. So as the plants go through their life cycle, a small portion of potassium is taken into the seed, with a larger portion going back into the soil from the residue.

There are a few take home messages with potassium:

Potassium is crucial for many metabolic systems in the body, but excess potassium is readily excreted in the urine.
The excess levels will have a more negative effect on lactating females than on non-lactating cattle.
Potassium fertilization of grains is not necessary in many situations as the grain takes a smaller portion of potassium out of the soil than the residue puts back in.
Most potassium sources are readily available, therefore when there are higher levels in forages, that potassium will be nearly 100 percent available.

When is Hay Dry Enough?

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 21:09:09 GMT

Freshly baled hay with more than 20% moisture will heat up and actually reduce the energy level of the hay.
By: Dennis Hancock, University of Georgia, Forage Extension Specialist

There is a great misconception that once hay is “dry” and baled it is plain and devoid of life. The truth is that hay is never completely dry, and it is full of microscopic life. If the hay is not dry enough, those microscopic life forms can cause major problems. It’s Alive! Many microorganisms (mainly fungi species like Aspergillus and Fusarium, bacteria, and others) are ever present in hay (Figure 1). They feed on available carbohydrates on the surface of the forage plants and inside the stems and leaves. This feeding results in the loss of some dry matter (DM), reduces the quality of the hay, and also generates heat. The temperature of these hay bales, stacks, and barns can get very hot. In extreme cases, it can get so hot that the bales can catch on fire, even without a spark (i.e., spontaneous combustion). Even if the temperature does not reach these extremes, these microorganisms can also form spores. It is these spores that give the hay a moldy smell.

Figure 1. Summary of heating during hay storage, including recommended actions at various hay temperatures, what is causing the temperature increase, and what is happening as a result of the heat.

Nearly all hay goes through “a sweat” during the first few days after baling when the temperature rises. Figure 2 shows two cuttings of hay in a study I conducted while at the University of Kentucky wherein the bales’ temperature was tracked over time. Notice that the summer cutting, which was put up at 16% moisture, stayed relatively cool even during higher average ambient air temperatures. However, the fall cutting was baled a little wet (20% moisture) for round bales and it spiked over 140° F within just 3 days.

Figure 2. Temperature of round bale alfalfa hay from summer (16% moisture) and fall (20% moisture) cuttings relative to the ambient air temperature during the first few days after baling.

The heat that is generated when hay goes through “a sweat” is a side effect of the microorganisms consuming the most digestible portions of the forage, such as carbohydrates like sugar and starch. Consequently, a substantial portion of the hay could be used up during this process.

Wayne Coblentz, Research Agronomist at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service’s U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, has conducted several experiments on the impact that hay moisture and the resulting heating of the hay have on dry matter (DM) loss, hay quality, and heat risk. He recently found that for every 10° F increase in maximum temperature, the hay would lose up to 2% of the DM during storage.

Since these losses are coming from the most digestible forms of energy in the forage, hay heating comes at the expense of digestibility and the concentration of energy in the forage. Dr. Coblentz showed that the TDN of bermudagrass hay is decreased by more than 1 percentage point for every 10° F increase in maximum temperature over 100° F. In other words, a good bermudagrass hay crop that was just a little too wet when it was baled might have gone into the barn at 58% TDN, but it likely will come out of the barn with less than 54% TDN if it heated up to 140 °F or more.

What is “Dry Enough?”

Much of the original research suggests hay moisture content should be kept less than 20% for small rectangular bales, less than 18% for round bales, and less than 16% for large rectangular bales. These are still good “rules of thumb,” but there are exceptions. Consider, for example, the advances in bale package sizes and high-density baling systems that have occurred in the modern era. These denser bale packages enable the heat to build up to a higher degree. Other factors can also contribute to the extent of hay heating, including the amount of available carbohydrates in the forage crop, air circulation in the hay stack, relative humidity in the storage area, and the ambient temperature and humidity outside. Each producer’s situation will be somewhat different because of equipment, storage technique, and climatic differences. So, within the ranges provided in Figure 3, hay growers should allow for the effect that these factors might influence which target bale moisture is right for their farm.

Figure 3. The effect of bale moisture on the amount of damage that can be expected with different sizes and densities of hay bales, as well as other factors that affect hay heating.

Every year, I get 3-4 calls from folks who have had hay barns burn down. The calls almost always include the question, “Do you think I might not have gotten that hay dry enough?” It is truly tragic when it happens. The key is to control what you can control. For more information on hay molding and heating, visit our website at www.georgiaforages.com .

Weed Control in Pastures and Hayfields

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 20:58:07 GMT

Weeds can reduce the quantity and the stand life of desirable forage plants in pastures and hayfields. Weeds also impact the aesthetic value of a pasture. Therefore, producers may choose to initiate weed management strategies that reduce the impact of weeds on forage production.

The first step in effective weed control is to evaluate the pasture or hay field to determine the source of the weed problem. Soil testing to determine the current nutrient and pH status is the place to begin. After correcting fertility levels, the following things must be evaluated and corrected:

Stocking rate to eliminate overgrazing problems
Pasture rotation schedule
Need for additional grazing land
Prevent scalping and mowing-too-low
Correct the mower height in order to leave adequate stubble
Consider renovation where forage stands are very weak

First, a weed is defined as any plant growing where you don’t want it. Therefore, we must begin to think in a broader sense as to what weeds are. A weed can be Bahiagrass or Crabgrass growing in a Bermudagrass hayfield. These unwanted plants are often more aggressive than existing or desired forage species and compete for light, water, and nutrients. In latter stages of maturity, weeds can also reduce the quality and palatability of the forage available for livestock grazing. However, not all weedy plants are detrimental to pastures. In fact, some weedy plants provide nutritional value to grazing animals.

Grazing can be used as an effective weed management tool. Livestock will graze weeds when they are small. In the early vegetative stage of growth, many weeds have nutritive values equal to or greater than the desired forages. However, the forage quality of weeds decline rapidly as the plants mature.

Mowing is especially effective in reducing the amount of weed seed produced by established broadleaf weeds. The mower should cut as close to the ground as possible. Mowing may not completely eliminate weed seed production, since some seed could be produced by plants that regrow from tillers present on grasses below the height of cutting. Also, perennial weeds that spread by underground rootstocks, like thistle, are not effectively controlled by a single mowing.

Another control method includes various herbicides that are available to provide broad-spectrum weed control. When making your selection try to choose a product that will control as many weeds as possible. This reduces the use of herbicides and also minimizes cost by reducing the number of passes through the field. When applying multiple products choose products that can be mixed in the same tank and applied in one pass.

Two popular types of weed control products are pre-emerge and post-emerge herbicides. Pre-emerge herbicide must be applied before the weed seeds germinate. An example of a pre-emerge product is Prowl H2O. This herbicide is used to control Crabgrass in Bermudagrass hayfields. Post-emerge products are used to kill weeds after they have germinated. These herbicides must be used when the plant is actively growing and not simply green.

When using any herbicide, it is important to be aware of the surrounding crops. Drift from many of these herbicides are lethal to other crops like vegetables, shrubs and flowers. Pesticide spray drift is the movement of pesticide dust or droplets through the air at the time of application or soon after, to any site other than the area intended. They should choose a product that will not harm surrounding crops if drift occurs. Drift will vary with boom height, nozzle type, pressure, and wind.

Most herbicides have grazing and feeding restrictions stated on the label that limit the use of the crop for livestock feed. Producers should know and adhere to any grazing or haying restrictions. These restrictions can be anywhere from seven days to one year. Different products vary in their restriction guidelines. Many products that have no grazing restrictions for beef cattle will have grazing restrictions for dairy cattle. Most will also have a withdrawal period before slaughter.

Herbicides can be a useful tool for weed management in pastures and hayfields. They should be used where appropriate and when cost effective. A program that integrates several different control strategies is generally more successful than relying on only one method. Weeds present at the time of herbicide application may be controlled, but if the forage stand is not vigorous and actively growing, new weed seedlings will soon emerge and occupy the bare areas that remain. Thus, without proper use of mechanical control methods and good cultural practices, herbicide use will not be beneficial.

New Holland Launches Autonomous Baling Technology And Mobile App, Marks 50 Years Of Baler Innovation With Brand Refresh

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 20:35:53 GMT

New Holland is steering toward autonomous baling with the introduction of IntelliSense Bale Automation.

A novel technology, IntelliSense Bale Automation reportedly transforms the way customers and operators approach large square baling by delivering an automated solution for farmers.

The new system is compatible with Class 3 ISOBUS tractors — specifically, the T7 LWB, T7 HD and T8 from New Holland — and model year 2022 and model year 2023 New Holland BigBaler Large Square Balers.

Immediate integration is available now as a New Holland dealer-installed service. Starting in 2025, customers will have the opportunity to place orders for it as a factory-fit option.

“For large square baling operations, it’s an indispensable asset for their future by improving bale harvesting while helping them meet operational demands,” says Brad Littlefield, precision marketing manager, dairy and livestock segment for New Holland.

Lasering in on Windrows With Precision

(Farm Journal)

IntelliSense Bale Automation is an automated baling system that focuses on feedrate and swath guidance by combining two operator-assisted baling modes:

SmartSteer swath guidance acts as autosteering for automated navigation of the tractor and baler along the windrow.
IntelliCruise II controls tractor speed, responding to variation in material feedrate into the baler. The operator sets the number of slices per bale target and the maximum speed limit.

The cornerstone of IntelliSense Bale Automation is integrated LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensing technology, believed by New Holland to be the first application of its kind in ag. Installed on the front end of a tractor cab roof, it emits laser pulses to calculate distance based on reflections from the windrow.

The new system aims to increase four elements critical to operations and operators:

Increased baling productivity.
Improved bale quality.
Reduced fuel consumption.
Enhanced operator comfort.

“At the heart of our design is a commitment to putting operators first and creating technology that addresses their most important needs,” Littlefield says.

Rolling Through Time: 50 Years of New Holland Round Balers, Plus A New Mobile App

Beginning in 2024, New Holland is steering toward a unified brand image and global identity with the transition of its haytool styling to a striking yellow. The yellow transition begins with commercial haytools for late model year 2024, then unfolds in model year 2025 to include Pro-Belt round balers.

“This shift marks our dedication to pushing boundaries and providing farmers with tools to not only stand out in the field but also improve their efficiency and experience,” states Carlo Lambro, brand president of New Holland.

New Holland has also unveiled its latest innovation, the Bale Manager mobile app. This technology allows operators and customers to control and visualize baling data from their smart devices, including:

Store data.
Monitor baling activity.
Simplify accounts receivable.
Export data.
Search through completed jobs.

The app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play platforms (with the necessary components readily accessible from a local New Holland dealer).

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its round balers, a year-long celebration is in store. To participate, New Holland round baler owners can submit their story and a photo of their baler online or by scanning a QR code at their local New Holland dealership for a chance to win a commemorative prize pack.

Please visit your local New Holland dealer to learn more about the Round Baler 50th Anniversary contests, prizes, and enhanced warranty offers for owners.

Set Forage Quality Targets

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 22:10:35 GMT

Every dairy farm is a little bit different, and every milking cow ration is a little bit different as well.

So it makes little sense each and every dairy farm should have the same quality and quantity targets when harvesting forage, says Stu Rymph, a dairy nutrition and forage agronomy specialist with Purina Animal Health.

“We always tell dairy farmers we need better forage quality. But if we don’t give you any numbers, farmers will never be able to hit the targets,” he says.

As importantly, farmers and nutritionists need to look at what rations are being fed and what you need them to be. For example, a 1,500-lb. Holstein needs 64 lb. to 65 lb. of ration dry matter to reach and maintain 100 lb. of milk per day. On an as-fed basis, that means she needs to consume and digest up to 130 lb. of feed daily.

Forage quality is paramount to get that kind of intake. But the type of forage needed and the quality of each forage will depend on the type of ration being fed. Is it all corn silage, alfalfa haylage or a combination of the two?

Large farms are typically feeding a high proportion of corn silage because it yields greater tonnage and season-long feeding consistency. As a result, perhaps a lower relative feed quality haylage can be fed, Rymph says.

Or conversely, if a farm’s conservation plan calls to plant a high proportion of alfalfa on erodible ground, 150 RFQ alfalfa might not be good enough to maintain intakes and rumen throughput.

In turn, forage quality can be manipulated by corn hybrids and alfalfa varieties. BMR corn hybrids are gaining popularity for their digestibility, even though total yields still lag conventional hybrids. Low-lignin alfalfa varieties, despite their higher costs, are getting a lot of interest, as well, to increase digestibility, widen the harvest window or increase yields with fewer cuttings.

The key is farmers, their nutritionists, agronomists and harvest crew all need to sit down together to discuss what forage quality targets should be, Rymph says. Once targets are agreed on, specific decisions can be made on crop mix and variety selection along with harvest adjustments.

Haylage Quality

When harvesting alfalfa haylage, your focus should be on three key areas:

Increased neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFd).
Preserving the percentage of leaves in the forage mass.
Reducing ash content.

It’s important to remember alfalfa leaves don’t decrease in quality with maturity. The reduction in quality comes in the stem, where fiber increases and digestibility decreases as the plant matures. “Lower stems decrease in quality two times faster than the whole plant canopy as the plant matures and ages,” Rymph says.

The recommended cutting height is 2½" to 3" to reduce ash and dirt in feed. But if the crop becomes more mature than you’d like due to weather or harvest delays, consider increasing the cutting height to 5" or 6", Rymph says. “You might pick up 5 points of relative feed value per inch,” he says.

Agronomists are also recommending cutting alfalfa and depositing it in a wide swath, at least 85% of the width of the cutter bar. Laying the crop in a wide swath results in more even dry-down, minimizing risk of rain damage and preserving more leaves with less handling.

By spreading into a thin layer, the plant continues to photosynthesize as long as there is light and moisture. So the plant will continue to make new sugars and transpire, drawing moisture up from the stem for faster drying.

If using a disk mower, angled blades might be needed for first crop because it tends to be heavier and more easily lodged. The angle blades create a vacuum to lift the crop for cutting.

In later cuttings, when the crop is thinner and dryer, use flatter angled blades to minimize vacuum and reduce the amount of ash and dirt drawn up into the crop mass.

Ash can significantly reduce the relative feed quality of the haylage. The University of Wisconsin says hand-harvested haylage will have an ash content of just 6% to 8%. But mechanically cut haylage will have ash content of 10% to 12% or more. The goal should be less than 10% because the relative feed quality decreases 5 points for every 2% increase in ash.

“Conditioning the crop is probably not needed for haylage,” Rymph adds. Without conditioning, the stem and leaves tend to dry more evenly. With conditioning, the leaves might dry faster than the stems leading to more leaf loss at chopping.

If you can’t set your swath width to more than 80% of the cutter bar width, you might need to use a tedder to speed drying. If you do, tedding should be done within an hour and a half to two hours of cutting to minimize leaf loss. If the crop is rained on, ted in the morning when the dew is still on the windrow.

To minimize leaf loss, drive slow—at 3 to 5 mph. “Remember, it is a tedder not a tiller,” Rymph says. In fact, University of Wisconsin agronomist Dan Undersander recommends tedders not be used with alfalfa because of their potential for leaf loss.

And if you’re using a rake or a merger, do so when the crop is still at least 40% moisture—again to preserve as many leaves as possible. “Set the tines to pick up hay, not scrape the ground,” Rymph says. It’s better to leave a little hay in the low spots than to add more dirt to the windrow, he says.

Corn Silage

“Start corn silage harvest at the highest tolerable moisture to preserve the digestibility of both starch and NDF,” Rymph says, “because both will be higher at higher moistures.” For bunker silos, that means starting harvest at 70% whole-plant moisture.

Also consider increasing cutting height from 6" to 18". Doing so will reduce yield 10% to 15%, but has these advantages:

Increases NDFd 4.7%.
Increases starch 5.9%, or about 2.2 percentage units.
Decreases whole plant moisture (6% increase in dry matter).
Decreases nitrate levels. Also use a processor to process corn completely.

“A 32 oz. cup of silage should have no pieces of kernel larger than a half kernel,” Rymph says. “Cobs should be ground and stalks squashed or torn.

Producers Worry About Lack Of Feed and Bedding Come Fall

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:49:18 GMT

Even though planting progress is progressing, livestock producers and dairymen are concerned there isn’t enough corn planted or alfalfa hay cut for feed and bedding come fall.

“The alfalfa crop is two weeks behind,” said John Metzger, a dairy producer from Kimmell, Indiana. “The value is not near what it should have been.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture saying while corn planting is progressing, it’s still behind. It’s to the point where it’s to the point where it’s too late to plant and achieve a good yield. It’s past the date to plant corn and be fully covered under federal crop insurance.

“With the wide area across the nation being short on feed, we don’t have corn where [we normally] would get it,” said Metzger.

AgDay National Reporter Betsy Jibben talks with John Metzger, a dairy farmer from Kimmell, Indiana and Marcelo Oberto, an independent dairy consultant. You can watch more in this video.

Congress Introduces Bill to Address Feed Shortages After Disasters

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:48:07 GMT

A bipartisan bill has been introduced in Congress that aims to help farmers and ranchers in handling feed and forage shortages following recent natural disasters. The Feed Emergency Enhancement During Disasters Act (FEEDD Act) was put forward by U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Angie Craig (D-MN) on June 10. The legislation provides greater flexibility to farmers and ranchers during this planting season when high levels of prevent plant are happening because of extreme moisture or drought.

The FEEDD Act would allow producers who utilize prevent plant to at least plant and graze, hay or chop a cover crop before November 1st in the event of a feed shortage due to excessive moisture, flood or drought. Through the waiver, these producers would not have to take a further discount under the Federal Crop Insurance Program.

“Producers are already facing five years of declining net farm incomes and this wet spring has thrown another challenge their way,” says Rep. Johnson. “South Dakota farmers are resilient, but they’ve made it clear – a common-sense solution is needed to alleviate the feed shortage across the country. The FEEDD Act will allow Secretary Perdue to move up the November 1st harvest date on producers prevent plant acres. This simple fix will help ease our feed shortage, enhance the farm safety net, and improve soil health by promoting cover crops. Government can’t control the weather, but we must do what we can to provide certainty to our farmers and ranchers. I will continue to work with the Department on an Administrative fix, but Congress should do what we can to fix this long-term.”

“In the midst of a delayed planting season, falling commodity prices, and limited market access, Congress has a responsibility to provide farmers and ranchers the flexibility they need to do their jobs successfully. This bill takes a critical step toward giving the Secretary explicit authority to waive the November 1st harvest date for cover crops on prevent plant ground,” says Rep. Craig. “While my colleagues and I will continue to work with the USDA to find Administrative ways to address this issue, Congress must take action on this long-standing concern with a long-term solution and pursue all possible avenues for relief. Additionally, by incentivizing the planting of cover crops, we’re building resiliency and feed stability for farmers throughout my district. I’m proud to lead this common-sense, broadly supported, and bipartisan effort.”

The FEEDD Act, also known as H.R.3183 , is co-sponsored by 11 other Representatives, including House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN).

The legislation has the backing of a number of associations and businesses. Here is what some of those groups are saying:

“As farmers and ranchers across the country struggle through a difficult planting season, I am glad to see this common-sense approach to helping livestock producers and farmers alike through allowing the planting of crops for forage after the prevent plant date. This year so far has been unprecedented for American farmers, and this pragmatic approach allows farmers flexibility in the management of their land, while allowing for livestock forage to be grown,” says Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation.

“Unusually wet weather and widespread flooding have made this spring incredibly challenging for family farmers in ranchers. In many areas, it has been too wet to put seeds in the ground, which has forced many farmers to rely on prevented planting insurance coverage to make ends meet. While prevented planting offers a critical risk management tool, the November 1st harvest date prevents many farmers from utilizing a “second crop” as forage. We applaud Representative Angie Craig and Representative Dusty Johnson for introducing the FEEDD Act, which will provide family farmers and ranchers with important flexibility during yet another tough year for American agriculture,” says Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union.

“With producers in South Dakota and across the country struggling to deal with the aftermath of natural disasters, the introduction of the FEEDD Act comes at a critical time. Early access to cover crops will help producers manage the worst impacts from this year’s planting season. NBCA appreciates the efforts of U.S. Representative Johnson and the other co-sponsors to provide agricultural producers with much-needed relief,” says Todd Wilkinson, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association policy division vice chairman from De Smet, South Dakota.

“Mother Nature dealt producers a tough hand this year, but Congress is taking steps to help. The legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Craig and the other co-sponsors will ensure that producers can use their cover crops in a timely fashion. This support is critical for hardworking farmers and ranchers trying to recover,” says Don Schiefelbein, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association policy division chairman from Kimball, Minnesota.

“We commend Reps. Johnson and Craig for introducing the bipartisan Feed Emergency Enhancement During Disasters Act. This legislation is a helpful response to the feed shortage that dairy farmers have faced this spring due to intense floods. We urge Congress to pass this legislation without delay so that farmers and ranchers have the flexibility they need to navigate current conditions,” says Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation.

“Planting cover crops in a normal year is just the smart thing to do, as it not only helps protect soil from water and wind erosion, but can capture and produce needed nutrients for the following year’s crops. Due to this unusually rainy spring, we are facing the potential for a large number of fields to not be planted, and therefore, it is even more important that producers protect their soil with cover crops over the next year. By providing flexibility for when a producer can utilize cover crop plantings, the Feed Emergency Enhancement During Disasters Act will encourage the adoption of this important conservation practice while adding forage options as an additional economic incentive,” says Tim Palmer, president of National Association of Conservation Districts from Truro, Iowa.

“After the spring season we’ve just experienced, this legislation is welcome to allow farmers the chance to make the most of what they can of this growing season. Feed inventories were greatly diminished with the excessive flooding earlier this spring. Whatever inventories dairy and beef farmers had built up over the past few years became pretty valuable after the weather we had late last year. The slow and incredibly wet start to this planting and growing season didn’t help matters either,” says John Rettler, dairy farmer from Neosho, Wisconsin, and president of FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative .

“I want to thank Representatives Johnson and Craig for their leadership on this issue. Our cooperative represents dairy farms throughout the Upper Midwest, and many of them are struggling to get a crop in and are concerned about what the feed outlook is for the coming year. The FEEDD Act will give dairy farmers and other livestock producers much needed flexibility as we work through the challenges caused by an unusually wet spring,” says Mitch Davis, treasurer of Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and general manager of Davis Family Dairies in south-central Minnesota .

Dealing with Prussic Acid in Sorghum and Sorghum-sudangrass

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:37:17 GMT

Grazing or feeding green sorghums, sudangrasses and sorghum-sudangrass crosses to cattle can be a bit worrisome because of the threat of prussic acid poisoning. This risk is most evident when the plant is at a young, dark green growth or regrowth (less than 18 to 24 inches) and the danger increases just after a frost.

“However, they can be safely grazed a few weeks after freezing if there is no substantial regrowth,” says Dan Undersander, professor of agronomy with the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Regular sudangrass contains the least amount of prussic acid, while sorghum-sundangrass is more acidic and sorghum has the most risk of poisoning.

Undersander recommends mixing sorghum or sorghum-sudangrass with other feeds to reduce the danger of prussic acid poisoning. Here are the other recommendations Undersander lists when feeding these forage types:

· Silage. “Sorghum and sorghum-sudangrass silage is generally safe for feeding. Although it may have contained toxic levels of prussic acid when harvested, while in storage much of the poison escapes as a gas during fermentation and when being fed. However, as a precaution, do not feed new silage for at least three weeks after harvesting and storing.”

· Hay. “The prussic acid content of sorghum and sorghum-sudangrass hay decreases as much as 75 percent while curing and is rarely hazardous when fed to livestock. Hay stored for two or more months gradually losses all its cyanide potential.”

· Greenchop or grazing. “Do not graze sorghum or sorghum-sudangrass hybrids following a series of light frosts, as the potential for poisoning increases for a period of time after frosts. Allow seven to 10 days after a light frost before feeding greenchop or grazing. Do not green-chop graze sorghum or sorghum-sudangrass hybrids following a killing frost until the plant has dried, approximately seven days. Do not graze hungry livestock on sorghum or sorghum-sudangrass hybrids. Poisoning potential increases with the amount of high-risk forage consumed.”

For more information on feeding sorghum or sorghum-sudangrass click here .

Cattle producers Look to Double Crop Plantings to Increase Forage Harvest

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:36:55 GMT

—Frank Wardynski, Michigan State University Extension

Many beef producers across the Midwest have had difficulties harvesting high quality hay due to inclement weather. High quality forages are in short supply and difficult to purchase.

Beef producers who are short of high quality forage have an opportunity to double crop behind wheat grain harvest. There are opportunities to double crop forage plantings behind winter wheat grain harvest this summer. According to Michigan State University Extension, several options are available to plant after wheat. Oats, peas, and forage soybeans are some of the options available for late season planting.

Oats can be planted to be harvested as hay or silage. Oats can also be planted in combination with peas to produce high quality feed. Other small grains such as spring wheat, triticale and barley have also been successfully planted with peas for high quality forage production. Like many of the annual feeds, drying to make dry hay can be difficult. These crops are best suited for silage or balage production.

Another option is to plant a forage type soybean. Research utilizing soybeans as forage is very limited. Forage soybean feed analysis indicate protein and fiber values to be nearly comparable to alfalfa: protein 18-20 percent, NDF 38-46 percent, and ADF 28-34 percent. Soybean forage with these feed values was planted with an objective to harvest as high quality forage. Soybeans that are weather damaged or frozen before reaching maturity can be useful feed for beef cows but will not produce forage similar in quality to alfalfa. Soybeans should be harvested just before the R7 stage which occurs when one pod of the main stem contains mature seeds. Another concern is the limited list of pesticides approved for use on soybeans destined to be harvested for livestock feed. As with all cropping options, pesticide application must be approved to be used on crops destined for livestock feed.

Given the conditions seen across much of the Midwest, demand for high quality alfalfa is greater than current available supply. Finding methods to harvest more forage that fit into the feeding regime of a dairy farm could be the most important economic decision that producers will face this year. For more information regarding harvesting forages to increase feed supply, visit www.msue.msu.edu .

Baler Picks Up Functionality

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:32:52 GMT

Tractor-seat thinking can solve a lot of problems encountered in the fields. That’s exactly what Eric Woodford of Redwood Falls, Minn., used to develop the powered windguard featured on the Vermeer 605 Super M Cornstalk Special Balers.

Woodford operates a custom baling business that runs six balers during the season. Of all his baling work, 85% is cornstalk baling for cattle operations that need the material for forage rations and bedding.

“Cornstalks can be a difficult crop to bale,” he says. “Stalks usually cause a waterfall effect. As the pickup tries to bring the material in, the stover kicks itself forward because of the texture and volume.”

Productivity and safety concerns drove him to find a better way to bale cornstalks. Woodford says his crew was constantly delayed by having clean out a plugged baler.

After efforts to modify rollers, cutters and power requirements, he developed a powered windguard. The windguard mounts in front of the belts and above the pickup to increase flow by providing a positive, powered feed system that can handle high volume.
“It helps crop flow into the baler and actually increases capacity significantly,” Woodford says.

The power windguard can be reversed to alleviate plugging, so the operator doesn’t have to leave the tractor to resume baling.

“I know I won’t see any more of my crew underneath a baler pulling out cornstalks,” Woodford says.

He shared his idea with Vermeer Corporation two years ago. The Vermeer Cornstalk Special (1000 rpm only) produces bales 30" to 72" in diameter, 61" wide, with a maximum bale weight of 2,400 lb. Three pairs of auxiliary remote outlets are required for the hydraulics and a 12 VDC power source. The unit can be replaced with a standard assembly when baling hay. BT

The Vermeer Cornstalk Special Balers feature a powered windguard designed by custom baler Eric Woodford.

Shape Up Pastures

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:32:30 GMT

Bonus Content:
Find helpful forage tools and calculators from the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation . Click here to go to the Texas A&M Brush Busters program Web site. For mixing tables and calibration charts, follow this link to read “ Do It Yourself Brush and Weed Control” (pdf) from Wayne Hanselka, Texas AgriLife Range Specialist .

For most cattle producers, controlling brush and weeds in pastures is an ongoing battle.

Since the early 1950s, Charlie Livingston, a cattle and sheep rancher near San Angelo, Texas, has been fighting brush in an area where mesquite and prickly pear cactus are plentiful. He knows there is no quick, one-time fix for controlling brush. Instead, it requires a methodical and continuous control program.

He also knows that cattle producers can’t afford to skip a year of brush control when times are lean. Stan Bevers, Texas AgriLife Extension economist, agrees.

“The cost of doing nothing is very expensive,” he says. “With the rising cost of running cattle on ranches, managers are asking where managing brush fits. But it’s a situation where brush doesn’t know or care that there is a financial crisis going on. It’s going to keep growing.”

Research has found that just 1 lb. of weeds or brush removes 2 lb. of forage available for livestock to graze. So more brush equates to lower productivity, Bevers says, but determining the most economical method is a difficult decision.

Where to start. If you’ve just purchased or leased new land, it may be overwhelming to think about where to start. Consider beginning in the more open areas of pasture and not worrying about topped-out, dense areas, says Allan McGinty, Texas AgriLife Extension range specialist in San Angelo, Texas.

Identify priority areas and focus resources on the areas that you’ve already been treating. Spend money where you start seeing regrowth, McGinty advises.

J.F. Cadenhead, Texas AgriLife Extension range specialist, says that if you have more than 50% brush cover, you are getting behind if you are just running cattle. If you are also integrating wildlife, then that amount of brush coverage may be needed.

In response to the need for economical brush and weed control, the Brush Busters and Weed Busters programs were developed. Described as an effective, do-it-yourself approach to brush control on rangeland, the programs stress the use of individual plant treatments to reduce treatment costs, improve control effectiveness, limit damage to desirable plants and lengthen treatment life.

At Welder Ranch, pastures are burned in order to control brush and revive established grasses.

Combination of methods. For Charlie White, manager of Pat Welder Ranches near Victoria in South Texas, a combination of management methods helps keep brush under control. The ranch consists of 12,000 acres of grassland to accommodate a cow–calf herd and occasionally stockers when there’s enough forage. “We use fire along with chemicals to control brush,” White says.

The biggest nemesis on the ranch is McCartney rose, an invasive species of rose that can completely overtake grass. To combat the spread, White uses aerial application of chemicals to first defoliate the plants. That removes the leaves and allows the grass to receive sunlight and moisture to help it grow. The pasture that’s been defoliated is deferred for 90 days to build up a forage base to create fuel for a controlled burn.

Pastures are usually burned twice in a four- to five-year period. “This really helps open up the country and increases grasses, especially bluestems, which will come back,” White says.

Once pastures are opened up, he also utilizes grazing strategies that force cattle to evenly graze the areas. By doing this, the established grass is allowed to grow, while choking out weeds and preventing brush from growing.

Preventive maintenance. The best money spent is usually on preventive maintenance, says McGinty. Once you’ve gained control of a pasture, you don’t want to let it get out of hand.

“Get them while they’re small,” advises Wes Stockett, a stocker operator located near Claude, Texas. “For instance, the little juniper cedars are easy to see this time of year while the grass is brown. Since they’re green, it’s easy to find them and spray them as they emerge from the ground.”

Cedars and mesquites are a problem in his area, and mechanical methods of control are becoming increasingly expensive. Stockett has opted for individual plant treatment (IPT), which is done in designated pastures from an ATV with a sprayer as time allows.

Livingston also believes that IPT is the most economical option for controlling brush. He started his brush control program in 1949 and the early 1950s using aerial spray as well as mechanical methods to control brush, but for the last several
years, he’s focused more on IPT.

Charlie White, manager of Welder Ranches in South Texas, uses fire and chemical methods to keep brush under control, usually burning pastures twice in a four- to five-year period.

“My cost over the last 20 years for both primary and secondary treatments has been $30 per acre,”

Livingston says. That’s not a dollar per year value, that’s the value over 20 years. He says he always budgets in $2 per acre.

“It’s taken 10 years to do IPT on the entire ranch,” he says. “But I estimate that spraying individual plants, I get 95% control on the prickly pear with first and second treatment, and 70% control on mesquite with first and second treatment.”

Livingston also uses an ATV with a 15- to 25-gal. tank on the back to spot treat plants. “That’s the cheapest way we’ve found to do this. There is some labor cost, but if you have time, you can do it yourself.

“It’s hard work, and you have to stay with it,” he says. But the reduced brush and weeds make room for increased forage growth that livestock can graze. BT

Early Hay Harvest and Fertilizing Meadows

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:20:27 GMT

As supplementation costs continue to rise across Nebraska, producers are looking for economical ways to meet protein and energy requirements of their cattle. Hay produced on irrigated grass and subirrigated meadows can be a potential supplementation source throughout Nebraska.

In this article, I will not attempt to assign a definitive feed value to meadow hay as it fluctuates from year to year, from region to region, and from pasture to pasture. Crude protein (CP) does typically range between 6% and 13% Dry Matter Basis with energy (Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN)) ranging between 50% and 65% on a Dry Matter Basis. That is a wide spectrum. The side of the spectrum that your hay will fall under can be greatly influenced by management inputs and timing of harvest.

Many native meadows tend to be dominated by cool-season grasses; as such, nutritive values tend to be highest in early summer (June). However, many producers do not harvest until early or mid-July either because sub-irrigated meadows are still too wet to access, or because they are trying to capture increased biomass.

Though both arguments are valid, if environmental conditions permit, June harvest should be considered if improved hay quality is the main objective. Though seemingly insignificant in terms of time, the weeks between the end of June and early July see a dramatic drop in quality of forages. Cool- season grasses are beginning to mature, elongate, and put up lower quality stems and seedheads.

In a small study conducted at the University of Nebraska’s Barta Brothers Ranch, I measured meadow hay quality and quantity over the course of a growing season. In mid-June average CP of meadow grass was approximately 9% and by mid-July it had fallen to 6.5%. The change in June TDN to July TDN was less dramatic as it fell from 62% to 61%, however, by August average TDN had fallen to 56%. Data collected at the University of Nebraska’s Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL) also indicate a similar trend in decreasing quality as the hay season progresses.

An earlier June harvest also presents an opportunity to utilize more meadow regrowth. In the Barta Brother’s study, quality of regrowth was measured in mid-September. Due to cooler late summer temperatures in 2018 and the dominance of cool season vegetation, quality in mid-September rose to 8% CP and 58% TDN. Additionally, because of previous harvest, regrowth of vegetation is predominately leafy material instead of stem which improves overall palatability.

Though quality is more affected by time of harvest as shown above, fertilizer application to meadows is a method to increase hay yield and potentially improve quality. In the Barta study, fertilizer applied at rates of 80 lbs/acre Nitrogen and 40 lbs/acre Phosphorus (80N 40P), 40 lbs/acre Nitrogen and 40 lbs/acre Phosphorus (40N 40P), 40 lbs/acre Nitrogen (40N), as well as unfertilized control plots were compared over the course of the growing season. The higher fertilizer rate of 80N 40P on average produced nearly 1000 lbs/acre more forage compared to control plots and nearly 200 lbs/acre more forage to the next closest fertilizer treatment.

The most effective fertilizer treatments in terms of improving quality were the applications of 80N 40P and 40N. The 80N 40P treatment resulted in an average CP and TDN content of 7.3% and 58.5% respectively over the course of the season compared to a 5.6% and 58% in the control. The 40N treatment resulted in an average CP and TDN content of 7.1% and 60% respectively over the course of the season compared to a 5.6% and 58% in the control. However, the quality of 40N regrowth was less than the higher application rates of fertilizer as well as the control.

Economically speaking, 40N/acre was the most attractive in terms of CP gained in forage compared to the control based on central Nebraska spring fertilizer costs. It cost $12.14 for each additional percentage of CP gained over the control for the 40N fertilizer treatment per acre. The most expensive was the 40N 40P treatment costing $41.25, with the 80N 40P being slightly less at $36.25. Costs for each additional pound of forage produced per acre was comparable between treatments ranging between $.04 – and $.07 for each additional pound over the control.

Is fertilizing an economical way to help meet nutrient requirements of cattle? It depends on the year and variations in costs. Haying operation costs, alternative forage production costs, fertilizer costs, and alternative purchased feed source costs constantly change and will need to be examined on a regular basis.

Fertilizer’s greatest value is increasing yield, while timing of harvest seems to have the greatest influence on quality. A good option is to utilize both. Optimize quality by earlier harvest, offset yield losses through fertilization, and capture quality, palatable late season regrowth. Also, utilize hay probes to test the quality of your hay as it may change from year to year and pasture to pasture.

Weather, Aphid-Vectored Virus Affecting Forage Oat Crops in Georgia

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:19:42 GMT

From what’s being observed in some south Georgia pastures this fall, oats are struggling, with growers seeing issues from cold damage, nutrient and moisture stress, and possible barley yellow dwarf virus. Above-average rainfall in November and December have also prevented cattle from getting into oat pastures for winter grazing.

Farmers have observed older, lower leaves on oat plants turning off-color due to unseasonably cold temperatures in south Georgia. Oats are particularly vulnerable to freezing temperatures, and when temperatures start to drop, anthocyanins (pigments that give plants their color) collect in the plant and cause a purplish color.

In the absence of cold weather, this color can be attributed to phosphorous deficiency or, more concerning, as an early warning symptom of barley yellow dwarf virus, which can also cause this purple color in oats. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Professor David Buntin confirms that the virus has been more prevalent throughout the state.

The virus is vectored by the bird cherry-oat aphid and growers who suspect infection should have lab test to confirm the virus.

It’s important to remember that oats are more susceptible to the barley yellow dwarf virus than any other small grain. Although recent colder temperatures in south Georgia will reduce how active the aphids are, and a hard freeze could kill off aphid populations, very high aphid populations could migrate low to the ground and survive.

UGA Extension offers the following tips for farmers who are concerned about oat crop health:

If oats are highly infected with barley yellow dwarf virus, it is not likely an insecticide will be of any benefit.
If oats do not appear infected with barley yellow dwarf virus and aphids are present, an insecticide will be of benefit.
If oats do not appear infected with barley yellow dwarf virus and aphids are not present, scout the field for aphids.

For more on growing small grains in Georgia, visit http://extension.uga.edu/topic-areas/field-crop-forage-turfgrass-production/small-grains.html .

Livestock Producers Urged to Watch for Toxic Plants

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 21:28:02 GMT

Extreme heat, dry conditions can lead to possible losses.
By: Blair Fannin, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Extreme heat and dry conditions can lead to a shortage of grass, and an opportunity to consume toxic plants and forages found in Texas rangelands. Livestock producers should be aware of potential pitfalls, according to a Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Laboratory expert.

Tam Garland, head of the lab’s toxicology section in College Station, advises cattle producers to scout pastures and be on the lookout for four types of senna plants that can be toxic during different seasons and weather patterns: coffee senna, twinleaf senna, sicklepod senna and Lindheimer senna.

Of late, extremely high temperatures without rain have stressed grasses. Livestock try other plants that remain green, Garland said. Coffee senna is maturing and is still green, and Garland said cattle will find these more palatable as the fall season approaches.

“Just like humans, cattle will want variety in their diet and they find the coffee senna beans quite tasty as forages become less available,” she said.

The plant will have 6–to 8-inch-long beans that grow upward rather than downward, forming a type of parenthesis around the center stalk of the plant.

Twinleaf senna will become more prevalent with frequent showers. Garland said this perennial plant will grow beside other weeds in the pasture.

“People think when they get rain they’ve got a lot grass in the pasture, but there are other weeds that can pop up,” Garland said. “This is typical of twinleaf senna
that is found growing in Central and West Texas regions where there’s limestone soils.”

Though herbicides applied to pastures earlier this year can control the threat of toxic forages and weeds, there’s still the potential for high winds to blow seeds into these areas.

“It’s still important for ranchers to scout pastures and be on the lookout,” Garland said. “The biggest problem is we don’t notice subtle clinical signs in our livestock, nor do we scout our pastures and look for these potentially toxic plants.”

Ranchers should observe their cattle. Those excreting dark urine and having consumed coffee senna, and also twinleaf senna if there has been rain, will have clinical signs such as diarrhea and weakness before they get down.

“And when they get down, they do not get up,” Garland said. “That’s why it’s so important for daily observation of cattle and to scout pastures. These are what we call alert downers. They will eat and drink if food and water is taken to them, but they cannot get up.”

For more information about these and other toxic plants, Garland has co-authored Toxic Plants of Texas, available at the AgriLife Bookstore: http://www.agrilifebookstore.org/Toxic-Plants-of-Texas-p/b-6105.htm .

Additionally, the lab can determine if livestock have ingested one of these potentially deadly plants. For more information on testing, visit http://tvmdl.tamu.edu/tests/microscopic-analysis .

We're Going To Be Short On Good Forage This Year

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 21:20:25 GMT

Weather hasn’t been kind to any farmer this spring. Corn and soybean plantings are way behind, and markets have reacted with expectations of a lower than expected harvest. Likewise, dairy producers from South Dakota to New York have found it difficult to get into fields and harvest first-crop alfalfa, pushing that harvest back as far as a week or more.

The later harvest goes, the more mature the plants get. While yields will increase, quality will drop. Producers in the upper Midwest are already seeing the effects. Data on analysis of scissor cuttings that came through Rock River Labs in early May shows average relative feed value of 130, and those numbers won’t get any better as the crop stays growing in the field.

“A lot of dairy forage growing regions are just swamps,” says John Goeser, director of nutritional research and innovation with Rock River Labs. “We’re well behind with forage harvest so we’re at the point where we’re being forced to make some pretty tough decisions.”

One of those decisions is when to eventually get onto fields to start harvest. Anxiety grows as producers watch, through rain, alfalfa growing in the field but, patience needs to prevail.

“Driving on wet alfalfa fields will no doubt hurt yields and damage that field for future production,” says Randy Welch, national alfalfa agronomist with Croplan Winfield United. “Producers need to hold out and stay off until it’s dry enough to support equipment.”

Compounding the issue is winterkill. Wisconsin data shows that 43% of the alfalfa crop in Wisconsin suffered either moderate or severe winterkill, with northern Wisconsin experiencing as much as 75% severe conditions. But just like the wet weather, winterkill issues are widespread across the country as well and leave producers with questions on what to do with those fields.

Decisions hinge on where you’re at with feed inventory, Goeser says. If you’re not in a panic for forage, cool season grasses could be a solution. If you’re desperate for feed, you’ll need something that yields faster, Goeser says, like forage oats, peas, or sorghum/sudan that can be ready in July.

“If inventory is okay, the best plan may be to flip damaged alfalfa fields into corn for silage,” Welch says.
The decision about what to do with existing alfalfa fields is more difficult, Goeser says. It comes down to taking advantage of open windows of no rain to get the crop harvested.

“We know quality won’t be ideal, but we don’t want to wreck fields,” Goeser says. If producers are in a situation where they’re able to get hay cut, and the ground is dry, then they should do that. “Then if there is rain in the forecast, and you’ve got hay down, go ahead and chop it wetter rather than let it get rained on and get stuck with a lower quality crop.” That forage is already lower quality, and will be “an absolute nightmare” if it gets rained on, Goeser says. Be sure to use an inoculant or chemical preservative in that situation, Goeser recommends.

With widespread winterkill and poor quality with first crop alfalfa, it’s likely most producers will be short on quality forage this year, Goeser says. That’s going to force nutritionists to think outside the box when it comes to putting together effective rations.

“We’ll need some structural fiber in the diet, and that can come from straw and other forage sources that we don’t think about at times but we can bring them into the diet and match them up against more digestible fiber sources like corn gluten feed, soy hulls, wheat midds, beet pulp, whatever is available.”

Whatever the solution, the key is to try to minimize variation as much as possible, Goeser says.

“There’s a lot of ways to keep cows healthy and put calories in front of them,” he says. “Cows are flexible, but we will want to minimize variation with the feeds we put in front them to the extent that we can and put diets together that aren’t going to break the bank.”

What is your situation with first crop hay harvest? Let us know at https://www.dairyherd.com/poll/11

Producers Are Trying to Rebuild Hay Supplies

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 21:20:25 GMT

The latest Crop Production report from USDA-NASS included the May 1 hay stocks for the U.S. and states. Total U.S. hay stocks were 14.9 million tons, down 2.9 percent year over year. However, May 1 hay stocks in 2018 were also small. The 2019 figure is down 31.4 percent from the five-year 2014-2018 average and 28.8 percent lower than the ten-year average from 2009-2018. The 2019 hay crop year is starting with current hay inventories the smallest since the drought years of 2012-2013.

More states had smaller year over year May 1 hay stocks than increases but states with the largest stocks were mostly up including Texas (up 33.6 percent); South Dakota (down 3.2 percent); Montana (up 120.0 percent); Nebraska (up 52.9 percent) and North Dakota (38.9 percent). These five states accounted for 39.7 percent of total May 1 hay stocks.

Hay production data is reported as all hay; and in two sub-categories: alfalfa and other hay. Total hay production in 2018 was 123.6 million tons, down 3.6 percent year over year and down 9.1 percent over the previous ten-year (2008-2017) period. 2018 alfalfa hay production was down 5.7 percent year over year and was 14.7 percent lower than the previous ten-year average. Other hay production was 2.0 percent lower year over year and was down 4.4 percent from the 2008-2017 average.

Table 1 shows the Top 10 states for all hay; alfalfa hay; and other hay production for the 2009-2018 average. Over this ten year period alfalfa hay has averaged 44.9 percent of total hay production and other hay accounting for 55.1 percent. The top-ten all hay production states accounted for 45.8 percent of all hay production. The top-ten alfalfa hay producing states represented 59.4 percent of alfalfa hay production; while the top-ten other hay producing states accounted for 55.0 percent of other hay production.

Table 1. Hay Production Top Ten States (2009-2018 Average)

Rank	All Hay	Alfalfa	Other Hay
1	Texas	California	Texas
2	California	Idaho	Missouri
3	Missouri	South Dakota	Kentucky
4	South Dakota	Montana	Oklahoma
5	Nebraska	Nebraska	Tennessee
6	Kansas	Wisconsin	Kansas
7	Kentucky	Minnesota	Nebraska
8	Montana	North Dakota	Virginia
9	Idaho	Iowa	Arkansas
10	North Dakota	Colorado	Pennsylvania
Total %	133.7 Million Tons	44.9 % Total	55.1 % Total
Top Ten %	45.8 % All Hay	59.4 % Alfalfa Hay	55.0 % Other Hay

With mostly excellent moisture conditions nationwide currently, the prospects to rebuild hay supplies in 2019 around the country are very good. While wet conditions may impact crop planting, good moisture ensures hay and pasture growth; though continued wet conditions could impact hay quality.

I recently traveled through western Oklahoma and confirmed that the wheat looks very good. The latest crop progress report showed U.S. winter wheat condition at 64 percent good and excellent and Oklahoma at 75 percent good and excellent. I noted in my drive that a significant number of wheat acres are being grazed out and substantial acres have been cut for hay. Current low wheat prices and low hay stocks makes utilizing wheat for hay an attractive option for some producers.

Fly Control Considerations for Cattle on Pasture

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 05:49:31 GMT

By: Janna Kincheloe, SDSU Extension Research

Horn flies, face flies, and stable flies are not just irritants to livestock, but are also economically important to producers due to negative impacts on milk production and calf weaning weights. In addition, they can affect grazing distribution and transmit eye diseases such as pinkeye and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR). It is difficult to predict what fly levels will be like for any given year, but hot, dry weather usually results in high numbers. It is important to understand identification and life cycles of pests affecting livestock in order to choose the most effective control options.

Fly Identification

Figure 1 . (Left to Right) House fly, stable fly, horn fly and face fly.

Horn flies

Horn flies are one of the most common and harmful insect pests that affect cattle during the summertime. Horn flies are about 1/2 to 1/3 the size of the common house fly. Adult females deposit eggs in fresh manure, and the eggs typically hatch within 18 hours. The total life cycle of the horn fly is between 10 and 14 days. As adults, they spend most of their time on cattle, piercing the skin of host animals to suck blood. Horn flies may take between 30 and 40 blood meals per day. If left untreated, densities of horn flies may reach several hundred flies per animal by mid-summer.

If fly populations are high (over 200-300 flies per animal), multiple methods of treatment may be required. Options include dust bags, feed additives, sprays, pour-ons, and insecticide ear tags. Dust bags or oilers may be either force-used (placed in an area that animals must pass through) or free choice. They offer good control, but require time to be spent checking and repairing bags. Feed additive products contain insecticides that pass through the animal’s digestive system and kill horn fly larvae in the manure. While these additives are effective in reducing the number of larvae, this does not necessarily correlate to a reduction in the number of adults since flies will migrate to and from neighboring herds. It is also difficult to control intake of these feed additives, and some animals may not eat enough of the feed additive for the insecticide to be effective. Sprays and pour-ons require applications every 2 to 3 weeks, which may not be feasible for some producers’ summer grazing situations.

Ear tags contain an insecticide that moves from the surface of the tag to the coat of the animal. They are easy to apply and can be effective; however, there is a history of horn fly resistance to active ingredients used in some of the tags. Because of resistance issues, there are a variety of ear tags available that contain different insecticide classes, including synthetic pyrethroids, organophosphates, organochlorine, avermectin, and pyrethroids organophosphates. Always read and follow label directions. Products vary, but some general guidelines are listed below.

Tag animals as late as possible to ensure maximum effectiveness when horn flies are present. Do not tag earlier than June 1st.
Do not use the same type of insecticide tag two years in a row.
Tag mature cows and weaned calves, but there is no need to tag nursing calves. Horn flies typically do not bother calves.
Remove used tags at the end of the season. This will help reduce the incidence of horn fly resistance.
Use high quality tags. Inexpensive tags are generally not as effective.

Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have conducted trials on some of the newer options available for horn fly control, including insecticide strips that attach to the button side of an existing ear tag and CO2-powered device that delivers pyrethroid. Both of these methods appear to result in acceptable control, with reported reductions in horn fly populations between 81% and 89%.

Face Flies

Face flies resemble house flies but are slightly larger and darker. They are non-biting flies that cluster around animals’ eyes, mouth, and muzzle to feed on animal secretions. Females lay eggs in fresh manure from cattle on pasture, with the complete life cycle taking around 21 days. They are usually most numerous in pastures that have a lot of shaded areas and waterways. Face flies can cause damage to eye tissues which can predispose animals to infection, and control of these pests is essential in controlling pinkeye. If pinkeye is a recurring problem, it is a good idea for producers to visit with their veterinarian about vaccine options.

Because of the locations on the animal in which face flies feed and the fact that these flies are not on the animal most of the time, control of face flies can be difficult. Effective control may require more than one method of treatment, including the use of insecticide ear tags, dust bags, and sprays. In contrast to horn flies, both cows and calves must be treated in order to reduce face fly populations.

Stable Flies

Stable flies are the size of a house fly but darker in color. These are blood-feeding flies that mainly feed on the front legs. The most common sites for development of stable flies are feedlots or dairies, as larvae develop in decaying organic matter such as wet hay. However, they can also be found on pastures, particularly around winter hay feeding sites. Cattle often react to stable flies by bunching, stomping their legs, or standing in water. This can disrupt grazing patterns, and Nebraska studies indicate reductions in weight gains from 0.2-0.4 pounds per day for grazing steers.

Because stable flies mainly congregate around animals’ legs, it can be difficult to get adequate control with insecticides. Sprays are usually the best option for stable fly control, and require weekly applications to manage populations. Mist blower sprayers can be used for this purpose; however, initial costs may be high. One of the best ways to eliminate stable flies is to remove sources of organic matter that create breeding grounds. Cleaning areas where cattle were fed during the winter and drying down manure by spreading it or dragging fields will help reduce fly populations.

The Bottom Line

A successful fly control program requires proper identification of the pest(s) causing the negative impacts, determining the best control method and following label directions on the product to get optimum control and decrease the chance of resistance. A listing of products available for control of insect pests can be found in the Nebraska Management Guide for Insect Pests of Livestock and Horses .

Is That Weed Poisonous? What You Don’t Want Your Cattle to Eat

Fri, 27 Jul 2018 00:12:08 GMT

Poisonous plants are responsible for considerable losses in livestock although many cases go unrecognized and undiagnosed due to a lack of knowledge of which plants could be responsible and the wide range of symptoms that may result from consumption. The potential for poisoning depends on the availability and quantity of the toxic weed, the stage or maturity of plant growth, weather, and season of the year. Most weeds have an undesirable taste and cattle will not consume them unless they are baled up in hay or pasture is limited due to drought or overgrazing. However, if cattle have access to areas where toxic weeds predominate and little else to consume, the potential exists to eat enough of one particular plant to result in illness or death. Usually large quantities are required to cause problems but some are deadly with just a few mouthfuls. Plant poisoning should be considered a possibility in cattle on pasture with a sudden onset of unexplained symptoms such as diarrhea, salivation or slobbering, muscle weakness, trembling, incoordination, staggering, collapse, severe difficulty breathing or rapid death. Oftentimes plant poisonings only affect a few cattle in the herd and severity of symptoms primarily depends on the amount consumed over what period of time (rate of consumption). Many weeds retain toxicity when dried and are considered dangerous in hay. Seeds can be a potent source of toxin and may inadvertently end up in grains fed to cattle. Prevention of problems begins with learning to recognize poisonous plants; weeds frequently grow in fence rows, along creek or stream banks, near ponds and in the woods although some (such as cocklebur, horsenettle and pigweed) are found in pastures and hayfields. Do not overgraze pastures because animals will usually avoid weeds as long as there is plenty of hay or grass available. It is also important not to harvest toxic weeds in hay or silage since cattle often do not sort through these feeds and leave the weeds uneaten. Ultimately, prevention involves implementing effective weed control and offering supplemental forage or feed when pasture is limited so cattle are not forced to graze toxic weeds. Where it is practical, use management practices to thicken the stand and improve the growth of desirable forages which can compete with the emergence and growth of annual weeds.

The chart linked here addresses the major poisonous weeds found in Kentucky pastures along with a few of lesser importance. These weeds were chosen because of their potential for some symptoms to result from consumption and they are relatively common so the risk of exposure is elevated. If available, information on the amount necessary to be toxic in cattle is included. Part II will cover toxic trees and shrubs. This series of articles will not address forage disorders such as grass staggers from mold, fescue toxicosis, slobbers from moldy clover, and will only briefly address nitrate and cyanide poisoning where applicable. UK Extension fact sheets are available on these and other forage disorders at the UK Extension Website http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs.asp under the “Publications” tab or ask the county extension agent for this information. Pictures of many of the weeds and control options are available from the UK Extension publication “Broadleaf Weeds of KY Pastures” at http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/AGR/AGR207/AGR207.pdf and more in-depth information regarding weed control may be found in the Extension publication entitled “Weed Management in Grass Pastures, Hayfields, and Other Farmstead Sites” at http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/agr/agr172/agr172.pdf

For help identifying weeds, individuals can submit unknown weed samples through the local county extension office. For plants that the local ANR agents are unable to identify, he or she will forward them on to the UK Weed Science Herbarium. Collect as much of plant as possible (roots, leaves, stems, flowers, etc.) for submission to the county extension agency.

Perilla mint has a distinctive mint aroma, dark green to purplish square stems and serrated leaves with a purple tint. Mature plants reach 2-3 feet tall and produce small, white to purple flowers with abundant seeds. Picture accessed from: http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/poison/plants/ppperil.htm

Two common weeds in Kentucky causing problems in livestock are perilla mint and poison hemlock. A severe type of pneumonia can result from ingestion of the leaves and seeds of perilla mint (Perilla frutescens). This weed is also known as perilla, purple mint, mint weed, beefsteak plant, and wild coleus. Perilla thrives in late summer, when pastures are frequently dry and dormant, and cattle are looking for something to eat.

The weed prefers shaded areas along creeks, in fence rows, and the edges of the woods and partially shaded pastures. Once it becomes established, perilla produces many seeds and large colonies can develop in succeeding years.

The flowering or seed parts of perilla mint contain the highest concentration of perilla ketone, considered the most toxic agent involved. The perilla ketone is absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the lungs where it damages the lung tissue. Affected animals are frequently found dead. Treatment is of limited value and severe cases seldom survive.

Cattle seldom eat poison hemlock unless other forage is limited.

Poison hemlock is growing everywhere in Kentucky. Cattle seldom eat poison hemlock but they will if no other forage is available or it is incorporated in hay or silage. Occasionally cattle in total confinement will break into an area with an overgrowth of poison hemlock and graze it down quickly simply because it is green. The toxins involved are conium alkaloids that have two major effects in cattle. A rapid, sometimes fatal effect on the nervous system can occur by ingesting as little as 0.2-0.5% of their body weight in green hemlock. Symptoms of poisoning can develop rapidly, anywhere within 30 minutes to 2 hours after consumption, and begin with slobbering, muscle tremors, and incoordination progressing to respiratory failure and death. Secondly, the alkaloids are teratogenic agents (causing birth defects) in calves if it is eaten by a cow during the first trimester of pregnancy. Fall calving cows are more frequently affected when they ingest young, green hemlock plants in the late winter and deliver calves in the fall with severe birth defects including crooked legs, deformed neck and spine, and cleft palate.

Can you identify the weeds below that may be poisonous to livestock?

Pictures of White Snakeroot and Pokeweed from https://poisonousplants.ansci.cornell.edu/php/plants.php?action=display&ispecies=cattle and Picture of Johnsongrass from http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/publications/johnsongrass

Summer is the Time to Scout for Forage Diseases

Fri, 06 Jul 2018 00:12:08 GMT

With the hot, humid and rainy return of summer, livestock producers can expect forage leaf and root diseases outbreaks in pastures. Some of our most common forage diseases come from fungal organisms, but fungicides are rarely applied due to cost and label restrictions on livestock grazing. Grass forages can be attacked by foliar or soil-borne fungal diseases.

Fig. 1. Bipolaris infected bermudagrass. Moderate infection on bermudagrass leaves (1a) and in the stand (1b). Photo by Cheryl Mackowiak and Ann Blount

One of the most commonly identified foliar diseases in our summer pastures is leaf blight, also known as Bipolaris or Helminthosporium (Bipolaris cynodontis). It is often found in bermudagrass, star grass, and limpograsses, but not as much in bahiagrass. Early symptoms appear as dark brown specks that enlarge over time into irregular blotches or lesions as the disease progresses (Fig. 1 above). Grazing or mowing off the field (removes the fungal inoculant) helps to limit damage, but also reinforces the need to review your fertilizer practices. Low soil potassium and/or sulfur is quite often associated with these outbreaks.

Fig. 2. Rust in bahiagrass. Rust pustules on individual leaves (2a) and in the stand (2b). Photo by Cheryl Mackowiak and Ann Blount

Leaf rust (Puccinia cynodontis) is a foliar fungal disease that attacks bermudagrass, star grass, and limpograss. This disease is most often observed from mid to late summer. The disease begins as small, dark brown to orange specks (pustules), similar in appearance to Bipolaris when observed from a distance (Fig. 2). However, if observed with a magnifying glass, you may notice that the pustules are raised above the leaf surface (Fig. 2). Sometimes they will leave an orange-brown residue (spores) on your fingers when you rub the leaves. Alicia and Jiggs bermudagrass tend to be more prone to rust. Grazing or cutting off the inoculant and managing for adequate potassium and sulfur soil fertility sometimes helps to minimize damage.

Fig. 3. Dollar Spot in bahiagrass. Infection of leaves (3a) and in a thinning stand (3b). Photo by Cheryl Mackowiak and Ann Blount

A common foliar fungal disease in bahiagrass is Dollar Spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa), but it is much less prevalent in the Argentine (wider leaf) variety. Pensacola, Tifton-9, Tif-Quik, and UF-Riata are examples of more susceptible varieties. The disease begins with dead and dying leaf blade tips and tan lesions further down the leaf blade (Fig. 3). Dollar spot can spread quickly under ideal conditions and it is not uncommon to lose large swaths or entire fields to the disease over several weeks, if it is not managed. Disease expression is strongest under moderate to warm temperatures, high humidity, soils that have been periodically dry, with excessive thatch residue. Deferred grazing or hay cuttings leading to rank growth that can also lead to outbreaks. Grazing or cutting to remove the inoculum may reduce disease spread and helps with recovery. Balanced soil fertility also helps.

Fig. 4. Take-All disease in bahiagrass. Beginning of root die-back (Fig. 4a) and eventual stand loss (Fig. 4b). Photo by Cheryl Mackowiak and Ann Blount

There are several fungal root diseases that may infect our summer forage grasses. Early symptoms of an outbreak can appear as small to large circles of weak or dying forage (Fig. 4) or you might observe bright yellow leaves (looks like iron deficiency) in the case of bahiagrass (Fig. 5). Root fungal diseases identified by the UF-IFAS Plant Pathology Diagnostic lab in 2018 this far include Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia spp., and Take-All (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. avenae), root rot type diseases. Take-All is particularly insidious because it may infect a field in the fall, near the time of plant dormancy and go unnoticed until the next spring or early summer, when the stand is already severely damaged. High pH soils (above 6.5) with low manganese fertility have sometimes been associated with Take-All outbreaks in turf grasses. Further study on the most damaging root rot diseases impacting forage grasses and management options to lessen their impact is needed.

There is good news! Forage producers can often lessen the occurrence and impact of pasture fungal diseases by managing for optimal soil fertility. Sampling soils every year or so and following the soil report fertilizer and liming recommendations is a good starting point. Additionally, by practicing good grazing management and not allowing hay fields to become overgrown will often limit fungal disease damage to tolerable levels. If you suspect a disease is behind your pasture or hay field decline, visit with your local county extension agent. They will help you determine where and how to sample for a disease diagnosis, if needed, and review your forage management to determine if there are other underlying factors resulting in poor stand health. Since some of these diseases can spread fast and kill your stand, you might not be able to wait for an extension visit. In those situations, take a few photos with your camera or phone (close-up of symptoms and field-scale), send them to your local county extension agent, and then cut or graze off the grass as soon as possible (within a day or two) to help reduce fungal inoculum and to lessen long-term impact.

Trusteed IRAs: why they are popular, who should consider them, what benefits they offer

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:01:45 GMT

Q: I’ve heard a lot about trusteed IRAs. How do they differ from traditional IRAs?

A: Simply put, trusteed IRAs offer potential tax benefits of traditional or Roth IRAs with the protection and control of a trust. They provide tax advantages that stretch into the future and offer the ability to control how, when and in what amounts assets are distributed. Trusteed IRAs have become more popular given some of the inherent limits of traditional IRAs and the growing prevalence of self-directed retirement accounts combined with the decline of pension plans. They also are more cost-effective than setting up a trust and are generally more compliant with tax laws.

Q: Who should consider a trusteed IRA?

A: There are several reasons why someone should consider a trusteed IRA, the most consequential of which is if an owner has an interest in controlling assets and realizing tax benefits beyond their lifetime. This can mean an owner is concerned with the financial discipline or sophistication of heirs.

Other reasons include if an owner remarries and wants to provide for a current spouse as well as children from a previous relationship and/or is concerned about IRA management in the event of incapacitation.

Q: I’m in the middle of estate planning. How can a trusteed IRA help with the process?

A: They can help process if only to preserve the potential tax-advantaged accumulation of IRA benefits to pass on to heirs. Under traditional or custodial IRAs, a beneficiary is required to withdraw at least the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) each year. However, a beneficiary may withdraw additional amounts, for any reason, at any time—and incur possible fees or tax penalties.

Additionally, owners can restrict payouts to a beneficiary to the RMD, enabling it to operate as a spendthrift trust. At the owner’s death, the trusteed IRA would be automatically split into separate accounts for individual beneficiaries, with distribution terms defined for each account.

Another benefit is that estate plans don’t need to be rewritten or updated; trusteed IRAs can be added independent of an estate plan to protect IRA assets which legally pass outside of wills.

Q: Is a trusteed IRA better suited to farmers or owners of farm assets?

A: Not expressly, but a trusteed IRA can play an important role in legacy planning and preservation of farm assets over multiple generations. Given the growing generation gap among farming families, trusteed IRAs could be a way help preserve farm family values over generations from beyond the grave. Moreover, as farm economics continues to change, farmers may find value in the highly customizable nature of trusteed IRAs. In the event of a divorce in the family, for example, assets can be made to not leave the family’s bloodlines.

Q: Are there any downsides to trusteed IRAs?

A: Given that a trusteed IRA requires a corporate trustee, it’s harder to change ownership and family members cannot be named as trustees. Not all financial institutions offer trusteed IRAs so they may not be widely available to interested clients. Additionally, while they offer greater customization and more control, trusteed IRAs carry some limits. To have the highest level of customization and control, a trust would need to be created.

Please send questions, comments or requests to address a topic or issue to Rees Mason at rees.mason@ml.com.

Pasture-Forage

Normal La Niña Pattern to Return By Thanksgiving

Rust in the Ration: How to Combat Southern Rust’s Impact on Corn Silage

Southern Rust and Corn Silage Quality

Southern Rust Silage Management

Feeding Southern Rust Silage

Be Aware: Dangerous Asian Longhorned Tick Continues Migrating West

What does it look like?

What are the health risks?

How to Tackle Ticks

Machinery News: John Deere Debuts Forage Harvesters, Ecorobotix Lettuce Algorithm, Kubota-Agtonomy Deal

Understanding Potassium’s Role in the Ruminant Diet

When is Hay Dry Enough?

What is “Dry Enough?”

Weed Control in Pastures and Hayfields

New Holland Launches Autonomous Baling Technology And Mobile App, Marks 50 Years Of Baler Innovation With Brand Refresh

Lasering in on Windrows With Precision

Set Forage Quality Targets

Haylage Quality

Corn Silage

Producers Worry About Lack Of Feed and Bedding Come Fall

Congress Introduces Bill to Address Feed Shortages After Disasters

Dealing with Prussic Acid in Sorghum and Sorghum-sudangrass

Cattle producers Look to Double Crop Plantings to Increase Forage Harvest

Baler Picks Up Functionality

Shape Up Pastures

Bonus Content:

Early Hay Harvest and Fertilizing Meadows

Weather, Aphid-Vectored Virus Affecting Forage Oat Crops in Georgia

Livestock Producers Urged to Watch for Toxic Plants

We're Going To Be Short On Good Forage This Year

Producers Are Trying to Rebuild Hay Supplies

Fly Control Considerations for Cattle on Pasture

Fly Identification

Horn flies

Face Flies

Stable Flies

The Bottom Line

Is That Weed Poisonous? What You Don’t Want Your Cattle to Eat

Summer is the Time to Scout for Forage Diseases

Trusteed IRAs: why they are popular, who should consider them, what benefits they offer