MANHATTAN, Kan. – A team of Kansas State University watershed specialists have revised a publication with tips on how to safeguard the state’s water resources while providing grazing animals with the water they need. Continue reading “K-State Releases Guidelines for On-Farm Alternative Water Sources”
Category: May 2024
Top 10 Things to Keep in Mind with Free Choice Minerals
Jason Warner, extension cow-calf specialist
Minerals and vitamins are a very challenging aspect of beef cattle nutrition. This is mostly because plant mineral and vitamin precursor levels are influenced by many factors including soils, water, and forage growing conditions. As such, mineral plans can and do vary significantly from one operation to the next. Regardless of the specifics of your program, the following are my top 10 most important things to keep in mind with free choice minerals. Continue reading “Top 10 Things to Keep in Mind with Free Choice Minerals”
How Does Estrus Synchronization Work?
Sandy Johnson, extension beef specialist, Colby
As we go through each breeding season, questions arise about changes, intentional or otherwise, regarding various synchronization protocols. What if I gave X rather than Y, or did something on day W rather than day Z; will it matter? In order to understand how estrus synchronization works and the importance of what happens in each step, a basic understanding of the tools used and how they influence the components of the estrous cycle is needed. Continue reading “How Does Estrus Synchronization Work?”
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detections in Livestock
AJ Tarpoff, DVM, Extension Veterinarian
News reports and updates have been published over the past several weeks about the emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) impacting dairy herds in several states. Investigations are ongoing and information continues to surface about this evolving situation. To stay up to date on the current scenario, USDA has created a landing page that can be found here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock Continue reading “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detections in Livestock”
Managing Drought Risk with Annual Forage Insurance
Jenny Ifft, Agricultural Policy Extension Specialist
Nearly all of Kansas is currently experiencing abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions. For producers who grow annual crops for the purpose of feeding cattle or other livestock, Annual Forage Insurance (AFI) is a tool to manage drought risk. Continue reading “Managing Drought Risk with Annual Forage Insurance”
Managing Production Systems for the Future
Jason Warner, extension cow-calf specialist
The term “sustainability” has been used a lot in recent years in nearly every industry. It seems that it has become more common for companies and organizations to have a claim that a product or service has been produced “sustainably”, and this usually is in reference to the environment. Keeping in mind the environmental impact on how goods are produced and working to better understand and subsequently minimize our footprint on the environment is certainly a good thing for society. Continue reading “Managing Production Systems for the Future”
How Does Western Ragweed Impact Pasture Production?
by Keith Harmoney, range scientist, Hays
Western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya) is one of the most common native forbs found throughout Kansas rangelands. Western ragweed is a perennial plant that can form dense colonies from growth of lateral creeping rootstalks. It’s used by wildlife for cover and for food, and the high protein content of western ragweed seed makes it a valuable staple of bobwhite quail and other grassland bird diets. Cattle also graze on western ragweed and utilized up to 50% of the western ragweed produced in moderately stocked pastures when measured in a long-term grazing trial at the Ag. Research Center in Hays. Continue reading “How Does Western Ragweed Impact Pasture Production?”
