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  • grazing cornstalks as cattle feed
    Sep. 19, 2012
    Article

    Cornstalk Grazing Offers Potential For Winter Cattle Feed Savings

    A tough drought is forcing many U.S. beef producers to scramble this fall to find alternative sources of winter beef cattle feed, as hay has become rare and/or prohibitively expensive. One potential source is cornstalk grazing, which researchers say can save over $1/day/cow compared to feeding expensive hay....More
  • Sep. 18, 2012
    blog

    Let’s Talk Fall Grazing 4

    South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension recently held an informative meeting to prepare ranchers for when the snow flies. The agenda included cost-effective protein choices for winter feed, maintaining body condition score in cows in their final trimester, and inventoring available forage resources. These considerations, of course, are more challenging in a drought scenario....More
  • Sep. 13, 2012
    Article

    High Feed Costs To Force Structural Change 1

    Between now and harvest time in 2013, cattle feeders have a significant challenge figuring out how to contend with astronomically high feed prices. And that’s on top of the additional challenges of excess feeding and packing capacity in the face of continuing smaller cattle supplies. The question is what structural changes will result?...More
  • Sep. 13, 2012
    blog

    The Beauty Of Rain!

    Our locale had received less than 2 in. of measurable precipitation since May 1, and while everyone knew it had to rain eventually, many of us were beginning to wonder if we would be around to see it!...More
  • nutrient testing beef cattle feed is critical
    Sep. 11, 2012
    Article

    Home Forage Testing In 2012-13 Is Critical

    It is critical to test cattle feed forages this fall due to extreme variation in quality of silage and hay produced during the drought of 2012....More
  • Sep. 10, 2012
    Article

    CRP Emergency Grazing Extended

    As you slug through the drought, keep in mind that last month USDA extended by two months emergency haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres. Grazing on eligible CRP land can continue through Nov. 30, 2012, without incurring an additional CRP rental payment reduction. The period normally allowed for emergency grazing lasts through Sept. 30. The extension applies to general CRP practices and producers must submit a request to their Farm Service Agency county office indicating the acreage to be grazed....More
  • Sep. 6, 2012
    Article

    Hay Prices Likely To Increase Even More This Fall

    As cow-calf producers prepare for the coming winter months, feed availability will likely remain a concern. Hay prices have increased sharply in the last two years following significant drought conditions in the Southern Plains (2011) and in the Midwest and Great Plains (2012). By far the most dramatic impact has been on the supply of alfalfa, a high-quality feed ingredient with superior levels of protein and energy (see chart)....More
  • Nevil Speer, Operating and Overhead Costs of Cow/Calf Operations
    Sep. 6, 2012
    Article

    Industry At A Glance: Cow Maintenance Costs 1

    Cow-maintenance costs are extremely elusive within the industry. Moreover, they’re highly variable depending upon the type of operation. Nonetheless, there’s a key underlying principle that holds true in the cow-calf sector similar to all other industries: economies of scale provide an important advantage....More
  • Sep. 1, 2012
    Article

    Drought Economics Forcing More Pork to Market

    As beef struggles to hold consumer demand with retail prices necessarily at historic highs, it will also have to contend with an onslaught of pork, at least in the near term....More
  • Sep. 1, 2012
    Article

    Beef Cow Slaughter Increasing, But Less Than Last Year 2

    “So far, this year’s drought has been different than 2011’s. Weekly cow slaughter has been down year to date 6% this year, largely due to a 13% reduction in beef cow slaughter,” say analysts with the Livestock Marketing Information Center...More
  • Aug. 31, 2012
    blog

    Corn Crop Continues To Jangle Industry Nerves 1

    Because of the widespread nature of this summer’s drought, the implications for the U.S. beef industry go far beyond the effect that corn will have on calf prices this fall. Of course, the difference between $8/bu. and $10/bu. corn is monumental in the short term, but the greatest impact for the cattle industry is likely to be in the long term....More
  • Aug. 30, 2012
    Article

    Drought Pushes Borrowing Higher, Land Prices Lower

    A monthly survey of the economic health of rural communities throughout the heartland shows the insidious effects of the drought. As farm fields and ranch pastures wither under a bone-dry sky, the economic health of an entire region suffers, too....More
  • Aug. 29, 2012
    Article

    Avoid Wrecks Caused by Disease, Weather & Other Goblins

    With high input costs and tight profit margins, the last thing ranchers need is a wreck. Whether it is health related or the pounding of cattle prices, wrecks can rise to take the unwary and unprepared out at the knees....More
  • Aug. 29, 2012
    Article

    Controlling Parasites Doubly Important In Time Of Drought

    Rational thinking would cause one to figure, in a drought as epic as this year’s, that worm larvae have a snowball’s chance of surviving. Pastures have a crisp, toast-like patina and there isn’t enough moisture and green grass to entice any self-respecting Ostertagia larvae to leave that nice, homelike cow patty and brave the elements....More
  • Aug. 29, 2012
    Article

    A Wyoming Family Details How It Deals With Drought

    By 5 a.m., my dad Tom can be found on the couch: pen, paper, calculator and notebook in one hand, a strong cup of coffee in the other. He steadfastly puts his ag economics degree to use, running the numbers on whatever latest idea he or another member of my family has come up with to survive the drought searing Eastern Wyoming this year....More
  • Aug. 28, 2012
    blog

    BEEF Veterinarian Provides Top Nine Drought Tips 1

    Times of drought are no time for business as usual. Here are tips for planning ahead for next year and thinking outside the box for this year. Here are nine drought-management tips by BEEF veterinarian columnist Mark Hilton....More
  • Aug. 28, 2012
    blog

    Your Herd’s Economic Base Will Determine Your Drought Strategy

    Each ranch operator must figure his herd’s economic base when launching a drought management plan. And in many parts of the country, a drought management plan is a necessity today....More
  • Aug. 23, 2012
    blog

    Survive Today And Prosper Tomorrow 4

    The future undoubtedly will bring record prices for the beef industry – and, if Mother Nature cooperates, record profits. The trick is that one has to survive the current challenge to get to that point. But the decline in numbers also presents some long-term challenges....More
  • Aug. 23, 2012
    Article

    Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces New Help For Livestock Producers With Changes to Emergency Loans, Crop Insurance

    USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said Wednesday that he intends to file special provisions with the federal crop insurance program to allow haying or grazing of cover crops without impacting the insurability of planted 2013 spring crops, a move that can help provide much-needed forage and feed this fall and winter for livestock producers....More
  • tips for high cattle feed costs
    Aug. 22, 2012
    Article

    OSU Provides Tips On Surviving High Cattle Feed Costs

    Writing in the Ohio Beef Cattle Letter, Rory Lewandowski, Ohio State University Extension educator, provides some thoughts on feed and feeding options for drought-stressed cattle operations....More
  • Aug. 20, 2012
    Article

    Waiving Renewable Fuels Standard Is No Fix 8

    “…If U.S. ethanol consumption were somehow banned, then U.S. corn prices would drop to an average of $2.67/bu.,” says Bruce Babcock, Iowa State University Cargill Chair of Energy Economics. “But there is no mechanism for implementing a ban on corn ethanol production. The only tool that the U.S. government......More
  • Aug. 16, 2012
    Article

    USDA Makes Meat Buy, But Feed Help Needed 4

    USDA announced Monday that it would purchase up to $170 million of pork, lamb, chicken and catfish for federal food programs (beef was not part of the transaction). A press release characterized the purchase “as part of the Obama administration’s commitment to do everything it can to help farmers, ranchers, small businesses and communities being impacted by the nation’s persistent drought.”...More
  • Aug. 15, 2012
    Article

    Talk To Your Banker, Trust Your Instincts

    What a difference a drought makes. Beef producers started the year thinking 2012 was going to be the turnaround time for cowherd expansion. Then drought hit and the situation went from upside to downside in short order. While beef producers are feeling the stress of a year gone awry, your banker can be a resource to help you manage the risk....More
  • Aug. 15, 2012
    blog

    How Are You Managing Your Cattle In This Drought?

    It’s hard to ignore the impacts the drought is having on farmers and ranchers across the country. Corn is being cut for silage, cows are already being fed winter forage supplies, pastures have dried up, and forest and grass fires are quickly devouring acres of land. And there’s little relief in sight. As a result, producers have to make adjustments to their usual management plans....More
  • Aug. 13, 2012
    Article

    U.S. Pasture & Range: 59% In Poor, Very Poor Condition

    The latest USDA Crop Progress report (week ending Aug. 12) shows 59% of U.S. pasture and range in the 48 states to be in Poor or Very Poor condition. That total percentage remains steady from last week, but considerably worse than last year’s 39% figure....More
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