Submitted by: Matthew J. Fischer CCA Clemson Livestock and Forage Economist  Long held tradition (and fact) states that feeder bulls will be discounted to feeder steers, obvious reasons.  Does this always occur and is it consistent?  It depends.  Observing USDA-AMS sale barn data from South Carolina between 2009-2023 for September marketings, when many calves are sold in the state ..read more

Submitted by: Liliane Silva, Clemson University Forages Specialist Forage quality is commonly defined as the nutrient concentration and digestibility of forages. It is important to emphasize that in the technical literature, forage quality is defined by forage nutritive value and intake. The nutrient concentration of forages directly impacts individual animal performance (e.g., growth, milk production), while ..read more

Submitted by: Liliane Silva, Forages Specialist, Clemson University Stockpiling is a management practice that defers forage availability for use later. This practice helps to decrease costs associated with feeding hay in livestock operations. In the southeast U.S., perennial grasses such as bahiagrass and bermudagrass are used to close the forage gap in early fall and extend ..read more

Submitted by: Matthew Fischer, CUCES Agribusiness  As the 2023 hay season ends, the last cuttings are being baled and balers are being parked for the year. Loader tractors will have some rest before it’s time to start feeding out hay. When purchasing hay here are some questions to consider: How much hay do I need ..read more

September 17-23, 2023No One Can Take Your Place Submitted by: Marion Barnes, County Extension Agent, Clemson University Anyone actively involved in farming can tell you about the hazards and risks encountered while providing the food, fiber and fuel this country and the world is so dependent upon. Just as consumers sometimes overlook the important role ..read more

Submitted by: Olivia Mathis, Liliane Silva, Ana Thayer Overview of Forage Systems in South CarolinaThe beef livestock industry is one of the most important agricultural activities in South Carolina. Forages are the primary feed source for livestock due to favorable climatic conditions, a wide range of adapted forage species, and local access to nutrient sources, such ..read more

Submitted by: Amber Starnes, CUCES Livestock and Forages Agent South Carolina summers mean high temperatures and humidity. With an increase in both temperature and humidity, there are several factors to take into consideration with equine management. Equines use sweat to cool their bodies during the summer. Just for maintenance horses need a minimum of 5 ..read more

Submitted by: Steve Richards, CUCES Agribusiness Agent Whether you are a homesteader raising backyard chickens or a chicken producer looking to sell ready-to-cook chickens at the farmers’ market, you have probably wondered how much it costs to raise, process, and sell chickens from start to finish. This is a complex question, as many different costs ..read more

The 2023 January Cattle Inventory Report was released by the National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) on January 31, 2023. Below are some insights from the report. As of January 1, 2023, the US cattle inventory totaled 89.3 million head, 3 percent lower than the January 2022 inventory of 93.8 million head (See Figure 1). The reduction continues the downward trend in cattle inventory that started after 2019. Cows and heifers that have calved totaled 38.3 million head of the total inventory of 89.3 million head as of January 1, 2023, down 4% from 2022. Fig. 1. Source: NASS January 2023 Cat ..read more

Anderson County Cooperative Extension Service along with several sponsors hosted a wild hog management workshop on February 16, 2023. Wild hogs are a concern for both the environment and economy of SC farmers and landowners around the state. This workshop covered presentations and information on wild hog management as well as demonstrations from USDA-APHIS, SCDNR, Clemson Cooperative Extension, Savannah River Site, and several private companies.  Over 100 participants from around the state attended the one day workshop. For more information on wild hog management, please contact your loca ..read more