HAYS, Kan. — In the cattle industry, experience matters—but for many women gaining that hands-on experience can be a challenge. Whether they’ve married into an operation, desire a career in beef production systems, or are trying to start their own herd from scratch, women often find themselves expected to help manage livestock without ever having been taught how. That gap in access to training and support is what Cow Camp 2025 aims to close. Continue reading “Cow Camp 2025 prepares women to lead in cattle industry”
2025 KLA/KSU Field Day Save the Date
Dates have been set for the 2025 KLA/Kansas State University Ranch Management Field Days. Larson Ranch, owned by Brady and Kyla Larson, will host the first event August 21 in Wichita County. The August 28 field day will be held in Woodson County at Wells Ranch, owned by Terry Wells. Please mark your calendars for this year’s events. Continue reading “2025 KLA/KSU Field Day Save the Date”
Striving for Improvements in Reproductive Performance
Sandy Johnson, extension beef specialist, Colby
Producers know the importance of reproductive performance to the bottom line. Those who use artificial insemination (my type of AI) want to maximize the number of AI-sired calves. This raises the question: what are reasonable expectations for AI and season-long pregnancy rates? While industry-wide data on fertility is limited, several pieces of information shed light on this question. Continue reading “Striving for Improvements in Reproductive Performance”
Current Weather Trends and A Look into the Forecast
Chip Redmond, Meteorologist and Kansas Mesonet Manager
Just wait a few minutes and the Kansas weather will change…is a common phrase I hear as a meteorologist in the Great Plains. Sometimes it is true, but in times of a drought, those changes usually aren’t good changes. When we have moisture, we tend to under appreciate the timeliness and benefit it has, especially in Kansas summer, where we are always two weeks away from a flash drought. Continue reading “Current Weather Trends and A Look into the Forecast”
Livestock Risk Protection (LRP): A Tool for Managing Price Risk in Today’s Market
Jenny Ifft, Agricultural Policy Extension Specialist
What is LRP? Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) is an insurance product designed to help cattle producers manage downside price risk. It functions similarly to a put option: producers pay a premium to set a floor price for their cattle. If the national cash price (based on futures markets and reported by USDA) falls below that insured price at the end of the coverage period, the policy pays an indemnity. If the price stays high, no indemnity is paid, but the producer benefits from strong market prices. Continue reading “Livestock Risk Protection (LRP): A Tool for Managing Price Risk in Today’s Market”
Does Kansas need to worry about the New World screwworm outbreak in Mexico?
Cassandra Olds, extension livestock entomologist
Spurred on by the New World screwworm (NWS) outbreak in Mexico, fears about a reintroduction into the United States are mounting. Here we discuss the risk to Kansas cattle and what to do if you suspect an outbreak. Continue reading “Does Kansas need to worry about the New World screwworm outbreak in Mexico?”
They are Back! Warming Weather Brings Ticks Out Early
Cassandra Olds, extension livestock entomologist
Ticks and the pathogens they transmit are a significant concern for both humans and animals alike. Controlling tick populations can be difficult because a large part of their lives are spent off the animal host or are on hosts we have little control over like deer, rabbits and other animals (Figure 1). Continue reading “They are Back! Warming Weather Brings Ticks Out Early”
Be Aware of Cattle Rabies
Gregg Hanzlicek, DVM, Veterinary Diagnostic Lab
Over the last nine years, there have been 17 cases of bovine rabies in Kansas (See map below). In several of those years, cattle were the most common domestic species diagnosed with rabies in our state. Any bovine observed to have neurologic problems: head pressing, constant vocalization, choking, staggering, etc. should be considered rabid until other diseases are ruled out. Continue reading “Be Aware of Cattle Rabies”
Cautionary Note on Beef Demand – Public Financial Sentiment Matters
Glynn Tonsor, livestock and meat marketing specialist
On Friday, April 11th the University of Michigan released mid-month Surveys of Consumers information (https://www.sca.isr.umich.edu) indicating U.S. consumer sentiment has declined by historic magnitudes so far in April. Reaching pessimistic levels last seen in the early 1980s, consumers hold elevating expectations for inflation (6.7% year-ahead now expected, up from 5.0% in March) and unemployment (double the November 2024 level and the highest since 2009). While differences in consumer sentiment can often vary across demographic cohort, Continue reading “Cautionary Note on Beef Demand – Public Financial Sentiment Matters”
Shade Allocation is Important for Growing Cattle Comfort and Efficiency
Dale Blasi, stocker, forages, nutrition and management specialist & AJ Tarpoff, DVM, extension veterinarian
Heat stress events across the Central Plains region can be devastating to finishing beef cattle. The use of shade has been evaluated as a mitigation strategy to improve animal comfort and growth performance, with very positive outcomes for the feed yard sector. However, limited information on animal comfort and growth performance for growing cattle when shade is provided is available. To address this lack of information, Continue reading “Shade Allocation is Important for Growing Cattle Comfort and Efficiency”