Mark Parker:  The Top 10 signs spring can’t be far off FarmTalk #10. The first of 10,000 potentially yield-crushing diseases are hitchhiking up from Texas. #9. You remove your first tick from a darned inconvenient location. Full Story ..read more

Hay Quality; What a difference a year makes, or does it? Ted Wiseman Ohio Beef Cattle Letter We can certainly say this past year has had its challenges. However, quality of forages made in 2020 was much better for most compared to the previous two years.  Weather conditions were more favorable especially for first cutting. The late frost in May set our forages back and for many first cutting forage yields were extremely low. Second, third and four cuttings were better, but overall hay supplies are tight again for some. Full Story ..read more

Managing hypothermia in newborn calves Emma Henning Agriculture.com Subzero temperatures across the Midwest have come at a particularly important time for cattle producers, many of whom are welcoming newborn calves on their farms. Full Story ..read more

Demand for Preconditioning Grows as Feeders Shift Away From Population-Based Management Victoria Myers Progressive Farmer A lot happens to a calf from the time it leaves its dam to when its hooves hit the feedlot. Every step of the way is a chance for viral or bacterial exposures that cost buyers in time, expense and lost gains. Full Story ..read more

NCBA leader says there still work to do on a CFAP3 Brownfield Ag News Meghan Grebner Ethan Lane, vice president of government affairs, says the USDA has a set of rules and regulations they must follow before the assistance can be distributed.  “Give then fact that the original CFAP last spring took about 30 to 45 days, I would say that’s probably the earliest you can expect to see any additional payments for cattle producers,” he says.  “It’s going to take them a little bit of time to get them through the process.” Full Story ..read more

What do increased grain prices mean for backgrounders? Jeff Lehmkuhler Beef Magazine Backgrounding and stocker enterprises are tight-margin industries.  This time of year, we receive several questions regarding supplementing cows and calves. Often, I must ask what feeds are available and what prices are as this is rarely included in the original request. Full Story ..read more

The Importance of Reading a Feed Tag Sure Champ Walk into any feed room in any barn, and what do you see? Rows of neatly stacked bags that look very similar. It doesn’t matter what species you are feeding; the differential is in the brand. One brand might be purple and black, another green and white and another tan and orange; but bag after bag will appear to be the same – on the outside. Full Story ..read more

Select grade becoming a ‘no man’s land.’ Miranda Reiman Angus Beef Bulletin Extra What was exceptional yesterday is average today. That’s true in the cattle business and especially apparent in high-quality beef production. Full Story ..read more

Forage inventories help plan for forage uncertainties Emma Ohirko Progressive Forage Establishing a feed and forage inventory is an important tool for the operation of many farms. It can provide value to the farm for a variety of reasons, including understanding current supply to mitigate the risk of running out, to calculate forage available, to determine if a given forage will run out and to calculate the daily forage needs of a herd. It also helps calculate how many days forage inventories will last. Full Story ..read more

Cattlemen’s Beef Board elects new officers Beef Magazine Hugh Sanburg, Norman Voyles, Jr. and Jimmy Taylor are pictured. The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill.  The Beef Board has elected three cattle producers as their new leaders. Full Story   ..read more