Annual forage options following irrigated winter wheat
Western Nebraska is a low-rainfall area with annual rainfall ranging from 8 to 18 inches. Precipitation usually occurs in the early spring benefitting the predominately cool-season grasses of this high altitude (3,800-5,000 ft.) area. Unfortunately, limited summer rainfall and declining quality of cool-season pastures creates a challenge for producers needing a quality forage resource in the fall. Additionally, many areas of the High Plains are under irrigation restrictions, so limited water is available for crops and forages.
Spanish:What to know about sweet clover
Reviewing the Risk-Reward Relationship for a Ranch
For ranchers, risk is an accepted part of doing business. “No risk, no reward” is quoted when thinking about day-to-day operations and strategic, long-term decisions. Another familiar phrase is “if it were easy, everyone would do it.” To be in business is to take risks.
Spanish:Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory celebrating 25th anniversary of open house
Nebraska Beef Innovators: Sandahl’s research supports regenerative ranching
Nebraska Grazing Conference Scheduled for August 6 & 7 in Kearney
The 2024 Nebraska Grazing Conference will be Aug. 6 and 7 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska. This year’s conference features speakers highlighting soil health and grasslands as well as a session on public wildlife and private rangelands.
Spanish:Corn harvested as high-moisture corn or earlage for feedlots
Corn harvested after the kernel reaches maturation as earlage, snaplage or high-moisture corn are alternatives to harvesting dry corn for use as cattle feed.
Spanish:July 2024 Nebraska Rangeland & Pasture Update
As the middle of the grazing season approaches now is a good time to look at weather conditions over the past couple of months and the forecasts for the rest of the grazing season to gain some insight into the forage supply for the rest of the year. At this point most native cool-season range grasses have reached their peak standing forage and won’t put on more growth unless conditions are favorable this fall. Most warm-season grasses are in the middle of their rapid growth stage currently. Current moisture conditions as well as continued precipitation are important for warm-season growth.
Spanish:Nebraska Beef Innovators: Lakamp’s research aims to use cattle genetics and microbiome information to make performance predictions
UNL Feedlot Innovation Center nears completion thanks to industry support
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Barta Brothers Ranch starting to see results of prescribed burns
Lincoln, Neb. —With a third successful prescribed burn completed at Barta Brothers Ranch on April 21, researchers are seeing what fire can and cannot do about invasive redcedars.
“Burning isn’t a panacea for tree invasion, but it kills younger cedars,” Craig Allen, director of the project, said. “Older trees can escape fires, and have to be removed by other means, and after fire, young cedars can germinate in large numbers, so it usually takes follow-up fires to kill new young trees, until the seed source in the soil is depleted.”
Spanish:Annual Summer Stocker/Yearling Tour focuses on marketing yearling cattle
The stocker/yearling sector of the cattle industry offers flexibility and an opportunity for new producers to get started in the business.
Spanish:Start monitoring grasshopper numbers now for most effective control
Weather conditions in several areas of Nebraska in the past few years been favorable to create grasshopper outbreaks. The fall grasshopper survey is a good indicator or possible grasshopper issues the following summer. The 2023 fall survey identified 15 counties (Fig. 1) in Nebraska with adult grasshopper numbers averaging over 15 per yard, which suggests grasshoppers may be a problem this summer.
Spanish:Watch out for “pretty flowers” and plants out of place in range and pasture
In late May and June we frequently see both native and non-native forbs begin to flower in range and pasture. This is a good time of the year to be on the alert and look out for these “pretty flowers” and for other plants that you may not recognize. Seeing something you haven’t seen before? Go check it out. Those “pretty flowers” or plants you don’t recognize may be an invasive species. Early detection and rapid response is critical to helping to keep noxious weeks at bay.
Spanish:Summer and Fall Prescribed Fire Benefits Native Grasslands in Kansas Studies
Nebraska team identifies new genetic defect impacting cattle morbidity and meat quality
Predicted hot, dry summer could impact forage production
In parts of the High Plains Region, recent developing dry conditions are starting to raise concerns that we may see reduced forage production from pasture and rangelands as we move on into the rest of the spring and summer in parts of the High Plains region. The www.weather.gov/gid/NebraskaPrecipitation map shows many parts of the Sandhills and Panhandle regions receiving below average precipitation for the last 30 days. This time frame is critical for precipitation that drives cool-season forage production on rangeland and pasture.
Spanish:Nebraska Extension’s ‘Herd That!’ conference in North Platte to focus on beef cattle reproduction
The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program, along with the Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program, will host the fourth annual Herd That! Conference on June 10-11, in North Platte. The event will be held at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center, 402 W. State Farm Road.
Spanish:Time to start planning for heat in the feedlot
As we approach the end of May, it may be time to start thinking of the summer heat, particularly that first heat event that cattle and folks who manage may not be prepared for. The following is a list of some strategies cattle feedlot managers and their crews could begin thinking about as nice weather today turns into heat-stressing weather later.
The list is divided into areas of focus based on cattle type, feeding and watering considerations, and facilities management.
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