Using Drought-Stressed Corn for Forage

Using Drought-Stressed Corn for Forage

Minnesota Farm Guide

D.R. Hicks and P.R. Peterson, Agronomists, University of Minnesota

Editor’s note: University of Minnesota Extension Educator Dave Nicolai encourages producers who are harvesting forage in drought conditions to review this information from the University of Minnesota.

Corn that is drought stressed can be used for forage, either green chop or as silage. The purpose of this article is to address some of the questions that growers should consider when using drought-stressed corn.

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Time to prepare for stockpiling fescue

Time to prepare for stockpiling fescue

Baxter Bulletin

Livestock producers who have harvested a short hay crop this year still can extend the grazing season and reduce the amount of hay needed this winter. Tall fescue can be managed to produce high-quality forage which can be grazed during the fall or stockpiled for winter pasture.

Forage yields of fescue in fall generally are higher than ryegrass or small grains seeded into bermudagrass sod. Up to one-third of the annual growth of fescue is produced during the fall. With good fall rain that means hay equivalent yields of up to 3,000 pounds per acre, although per acre yields typically range from 1,500-2,000 pounds

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Increased demand leading to stronger cattle prices

Increased demand leading to stronger cattle prices

Muscatine Journal (IA)

DES MOINES, Iowa - Japan’s renewed market for U.S. beef and increased domestic demand has cattle producers looking for another strong year.

“Right now, I would say prices are as good as we had last year, or better,” said Bryan Lenz, 45, a Muscatine County cattle producer.

It has been nearly three years since the first mad-cow case was found in the United States, causing a decline in U.S. beef exports. Japan has resumed U.S. beef imports and domestic demand is on the rise. Market-ready cattle prices also are increasing while the feeder cattle calf market remains high.

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Tyson Plant Closed in Boise

Tyson Plant Closed in Boise

KMVT-TV (ID)

Associated Press

Tyson Foods Incorporated says it will permanently close its beef slaughter plant in Boise, Idaho, and scale back meat processing operations at its Pasco, Washington, complex.

A subsidiary of the Arkansas-based company, Tyson Fresh Meats, says the moves will take effect October 16th.

The Pasco plant, which operates one shift of beef slaughter and two shifts of beef processing, will no longer receive beef carcasses from Boise and will operate just one processing shift.

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Blunt Calls for Plan to Increase Value of Missouri Beef

Blunt Calls for Plan to Increase Value of Missouri Beef

Joplin.com

SEDALIA–Gov. Matt Blunt today asked Missouri food and beef industry leaders to establish Missouri as a nationally known premium beef producer.

“Today we are charting a new course for Missouri beef, one that recognizes the full value of Missouri beef cattle,” Blunt said. “We have the potential to become the nation’s best and most profitable beef industry. When people think of quality beef they should think of Missouri.”

While at the Missouri State Fair, the governor met with industry leaders to discuss Missouri beef’s potential and the importance of branding Missouri beef as a premium, high-quality product. He called on industry leaders to develop a plan to create a Missouri Beef brand. The plan would consider how Missouri can best capitalize on the high-quality beef produced in the state, the types of marketing relationships that might be needed, potential key private sector partners and the state’s role.

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Consider fall calving for your production system

Consider fall calving for your production system

By G. CLIFF LAMB,

U of M Beef Cow Calf Specialist, North Central Research and Outreach Center

Traditionally producers in the upper Mid-west have focused on calving their cowherd during the spring, but for many of the reasons (i.e., weather, labor, management options, markets, or “because that is what my dad and grandfather have always done - and it worked for them!”) that we choose to consider calving in the spring it may not be a bad idea to consider alternatives to calving during the fall.

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Sale of Hi Pro Feeds, a Division of Friona Industries, L.P., to Agricore United

Sale of Hi Pro Feeds, a Division of Friona Industries, L.P., to Agricore United

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 17, 2006–Goldsmith Agio Helms announced today the completed sale of its client, Hi Pro Feeds, a division of Friona Industries, L.P., to publicly traded Canadian agribusiness concern Agricore United (TSX:AU). The total consideration received for the transaction was $38.5 million plus working capital.

Barry D. Freeman, Managing Director and shareholder of Goldsmith Agio Helms announced, “We were delighted to be a part of this exceptional transaction outcome for Friona Industries as well as helping to form Agricore United’s first U.S. acquisition. Agricore United should benefit tremendously with the addition of Hi Pro’s management team, quality products, excellent brand reputation, and strong growth trajectory in the dairy markets of west Texas and eastern New Mexico. The Hi Pro transaction was our fourth completed sale mandate in the animal nutrition sector for our firm’s active agribusiness practice and representative of the strong outcomes we are securing for our clients.”

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Ten tips to improve you cattle operation

Ten tips to improve you cattle operation

By JEFF DEYOUNG,

Minnesota Farm Guide

Barry Dunn’s Top Ten list won’t find its way onto The Late Show with the David Letterman, but cow-calf producers could find it valuable when it comes to improving their operation.

Dunn, executive director of the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management at Texas A&M University in Kingsville, believes there are 10 relatively simple management practices producers could use to make their operations more profitable.

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Chianina-influenced cattle dominate the Beef Empire Days

Chianina-influenced cattle dominate the Beef Empire Days

Cattletoday.com

Chianina-influenced cattle once again dominated the Beef Empire Days contest in Garden City, Kan., June 1-3, 2006. In the steer carcass contest, 7 of the top 21, including 5 of the top 10 and the Champion and Reserve Champion steers included Chi genetics. The Overall Steer Champion honor, based on placings in both the live and carcass contests, was awarded to a Chi-bred steer raised by Hildreth Livestock of Dillon, Mont. This steer was fed at Decatur County Feedyards in Oberlin, Kan. Ralph Danner, Muscatine, Iowa, bred, raised and exhibited the Grand and Reserve Grand Champion steers in the carcass division and Dennis Clarahan, Harper, Iowa, bred, raised, fed and exhibited the 5th place steer. Decatur County Feedyard fed out Danner’s Champion steer while the Reserve was fed at Danner’s Iowa farm feedlot.

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Cattle Update: Choice-Select Spread Seen Narrowing

Cattle Update: Choice-Select Spread Seen Narrowing

Cattlenetwork.com

The percent of slaughter steers and heifers grading Choice or better has been increasing on a weekly basis, and recently has been above 55 percent, although still averaging 2 percentage points below the average of 57 percent for July 2005. As a result, the spread between Choice and Select beef is narrowing, and, although still well above the 5-year average, is becoming more in line with seasonal averages. Other than the psychological impact, the positive benefits from the resumption of trade with Japan will have only marginal impacts on market prices for fed cattle or beef. This is partly because beef sales to Japan are expected to slowly recover as consumer concerns are eased. Second, the supply of U.S. beef qualifying for export to Japan (20 months of age and under at slaughter) is relatively small.

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The Barley Option

The Barley Option

Story by Ed Haag

Angus Journal

In April, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) statisticians readjusted their figures upward on the futures price of corn while noting that their estimates for small grains, such as wheat and barley, were consistent with their earlier predictions.

Even though, historically, the price of feed barley does follow the lead of feed corn, many backgrounders and feedlot operators who normally ship in their corn from out of state will be looking to alternatives. This also applies to the growing number of producers who have embraced retained ownership and are also concerned about the cost of finishing out their animals.

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