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Cautions for Cattle Grazing Frosted Forages

Thu, 09/29/2022 - 15:37
Saturday, October 1, 2022

When some forages are frosted, the potential for bloat, toxicity, and nitrates may increase for grazing cattle.

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Flexible Stocking Rate Options for Drought Management

Thu, 09/29/2022 - 14:20
Saturday, October 1, 2022

It is often recommended that ranchers stock at a moderate stocking rate to avoid overgrazing and to manage for dry conditions. However, during severe multiyear droughts, even moderately stocked rangelands become overstocked, and managers are forced to sell breeding stock to adapt. Depending on market conditions during and after drought, liquidating breeding stock can have significant financial impacts on the operation. Developing plans that provide for interannual variability can give producers the opportunity to take advantage of above average years and prompt action in poor years.

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Tensions Surrounding US Beef Exports to China

Thu, 09/29/2022 - 14:11
Saturday, October 1, 2022

This article was originally published by "In the Cattle Markets" in August 2022.

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Preventing Baler Fires

Thu, 09/29/2022 - 10:18
Saturday, October 1, 2022

Corn harvest is just starting and with the shortage of forages this year, several corn fields will have corn stalks baled up.  With the majority of the state being in some variation of drought, the potential of a fire occurring and spreading rapidly is a topic of concern.  Here are a few tips and reminders to prevent fires from occurring.

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Nebraska Extension Provides New Cover Crop Grazing Conference November 1, 2022

Wed, 09/28/2022 - 16:26
Saturday, October 1, 2022

Nebraska beef producers and corn growers can enhance their operations by attending the 2022 Cover Crop Grazing Conference. Scheduled for November 1, the conference will take place at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead.

The conference kicks off with registration, refreshments, and a trade show at the August N. Christenson Building at 9:00 a.m.  Educational programs are from 10 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. and include a producer panel session and live field demonstrations.   

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Nebraska Extension to Host Beefwatch Webinar Series

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 16:53
Saturday, October 1, 2022

Nebraska Extension will host a Fall 2022 BeefWatch Webinar Series. This free webinar series is targeted to help cow/calf producers make management and feeding decisions this winter. Each session will feature industry experts and plenty of opportunity to interact to get your questions answered. More information about the BeefWatch Webinar Series can be found on our webpage: https://beef.unl.edu/beefwatch-webinar-series

Each webinar will begin at 8:00 PM Central Time.  

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Science Guide Outlines New Approach for Reducing Eastern Redcedar

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 14:04
Saturday, October 1, 2022

Nebraska rangelands lost over 419,000 tons of plant biomass production in 2019 due to woody plant encroachment1. This was determined using new monitoring technology that tracks production losses as a result of increasing tree cover since 1990. Encroachment by species like eastern redcedar can reduce forage production by up to 75% in heavily invaded locations and is among the greatest threat to Great Plains grasslands.

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Pasture Recovery from Drought

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 09:59
Saturday, October 1, 2022

There are three critical time periods that occur during drought. These are immediately before, during, and following drought. These phases appear to be separate and are usually described as such. However, there is overlap between them that may encompass a period of six to nine months. The goal of drought planning before a drought occurs should focus on reducing the negative impacts that occur during the drought. The goal of drought planning during the drought should focus on short-term and long-term pasture recovery.

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Beef Quality Assurance During the Fall Run

Mon, 09/26/2022 - 15:27
Saturday, October 1, 2022

It seems the year is just flying by with fall already upon us, which means it is about time for the “Fall Run”. Millions of cattle are being transported across the U.S. over many miles. A past Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) surveyindicated that feeder calves traveling to Texas or Nebraska feedyards traveled 468 ± 415 miles.

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Plan Now to Purchase Your Hay Supplies

Thu, 09/01/2022 - 10:28
Friday, September 2, 2022

Hay production has been reported to be 50% of average or less in many areas of Nebraska. The U.S. hay supply is at a 50-year low (Table 1). Couple this information with rising costs (Figure 1) and it becomes prudent to plan fall, winter, and next spring’s hay needs sooner rather than later. Inventory your feed and hay resources now to know what you need. Checking prices and availability now will go a long way to reducing the anxiety of what we will feed our cows this fall and winter.

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‘Herd That!’ Conference

Fri, 08/26/2022 - 14:40
Thursday, September 1, 2022

The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program, along with the Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program, are excited to announce the second annual Herd That! Conference on Sept. 21, 2022, in Broken Bow, Nebraska with a pre-conference Sept. 20. The cattle handling demonstration will be one of the highlights of the program, along with the keynote speakers Courtenay Dehoff, #fancyladycowgirl, and ShayLe Stewart, DTN Livestock Analyst.

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Can Early Pregnancy Detection Help You Make Culling and Replacement Decisions This Fall?

Fri, 08/26/2022 - 14:07
Thursday, September 1, 2022

The long, hot days of summer are a stark contrast from the cold nights of calving season.  However, now is the time to start preparing for the arrival of the 2023 calf crop.  August or September is a prime month for ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis of your cow herd.

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Feeding Cows While Coping with Drought and High Input Costs

Thu, 08/25/2022 - 15:52
Thursday, September 1, 2022

Drought conditions influenced forage and grain production for nearly two years.  Forage and grain yields are expected to be somewhere between 1/3 and ½ of normal.  Pasture yield is also low or already out.  Feeding and managing cows while coping with these conditions is a challenge complicated further by costs associated with feed delivery.   Cow-calf producers must incorporate three considerations that greatly affect cow feeding costs under current economic conditions:  feeding group size, energy density of feed and fuel cost. 

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2022 Southeast Nebraska Alfalfa and Wheat Expo – September 1

Thu, 08/25/2022 - 10:58
Thursday, August 25, 2022

Southeast Nebraska farmers can sharpen their management strategies for the third and fourth most grown crops at the second annual Southeast Nebraska Alfalfa and Wheat Expo. Hosts and southeast Nebraska Water & Integrating Cropping Systems Extension Educator, Nathan Mueller, and southeast Nebraska Beef Systems Extension Educators, Wayde Pickinpaugh and Connor Biehler advocate for more diverse crop rotations that are both underutilized and undervalued.

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When Drought-stressed Pastures Look Dormant in July

Thu, 07/28/2022 - 10:00
Thursday, July 28, 2022

As the drought that has plagued the western U.S. since 2020 hangs on, much of Nebraska is currently experiencing moderate to severe drought. July tends to be a busy time for production cows, resulting in high nutrient demands, which further exacerbates the limitations of drought-stricken grass.

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Maximizing Profits Under Drought Conditions, Higher Input Costs, and National Herd Liquidation

Wed, 07/27/2022 - 13:50
Monday, August 1, 2022 Competing Market ForcesSpanish: 

Flexible Leases, Price Risk Management Can Offer Relief Amid Poor, Expensive Pasture Conditions

Wed, 07/27/2022 - 13:39
Monday, August 1, 2022

May marked the beginning that pasture and range conditions are released by USDA-AMS in their weekly crop progress reports by state. This gives the industry its first barometer of how bad the drought could be this year across the United States to the overall industry and to specific geographic areas. The USDA-AMS reports pasture and range conditions in five categories: very poor, poor, fair, good, and excellent.

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Manure Application Following Silage

Wed, 07/27/2022 - 10:19
Monday, August 1, 2022

With silage harvest coming up quickly, manure application will soon follow. Because silage is often the first crop to come off the field, it allows for earlier manure application and thus an earlier cleanout of pens before winter. As that manure application plan develops, include best stewardship practices for optimum rates and preferred application methods in final decisions. But, wait, what do those things mean?

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Drought-stressed Corn: A Feed Opportunity

Mon, 07/25/2022 - 10:02
Monday, July 25, 2022

Many areas of Nebraska and surrounding states are experiencing drought and lack of water for irrigation. What are the alternatives and considerations when grain harvest won’t be a viable option?

When harvesting drought-stressed corn to feed, consider: 

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Managing Early Weaned Calves

Sun, 07/24/2022 - 15:43
Monday, August 1, 2022

The current map from the U.S. drought monitor (Current Map | U.S. Drought Monitor (unl.edu)) has all but a small corner of Nebraska listed as abnormally dry to extreme drought. This ongoing drought has been affecting parts of the state since 2020, forcing beef cattle producers to make drought related management decisions. One of the options often proposed to help reduce pressure on drought stricken pastures is early weaning.

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