Guard Against Nitrates By Testing Forage Pre-Harvest

Hot, dry summer weather brings about heat and drought stress on summer forage crops. Stressed plants such as the forage sorghums can occasionally accumulate dangerous concentrations of nitrates, says Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Extension animal scientist. These high-nitrate plants, either standing in the field or fed as hay, can cause abortion in cattle or death if consumed in great enough quantities.

Nevada Beef Council Seeks Education Activities Coordinator

            The Nevada Beef Council currently has an opening for an Educational Activities Coordinator. This part-time, contract position coordinates the Nevada Beef Council’s (NBC) in state outreach efforts at the producer, consumer and K-12 educational levels. The duties encompass a wide range of responsibilities, including, but not limited to, representing the NBC at consumer and producer events; attending fairs and Ag in the Classroom activities; networking with state association and beef council staff.  

For more information regarding this part-time, contract position, contact Bill Dale, executive director of the Nevada Beef Council at 877-554-2333, or email your resume and references to askus@nevadabeef.org For information about the Nevada Beef Council, visit our website at www.nevadabeef.org

"Mob Stocking": Much Ado About Something

by Dave Pratt, Ranching For Profit

Theres a lot of talk about Mob Stocking these days.  It has left me scratching my head, because what seems like a new and revolutionary concept to many is something weve been teaching at the Ranching For Profit School for over 30 years.  Mob Stocking is simply the intense application of the five cell grazing principles, with particular emphasis on two of them.

Fusarium Head Blight a Problem in This Years Harvest

Please be aware that there are increasing incidences and severity of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB also called head scab or scab) in this year's harvested grain. This disease will cause shrinkage of kernels and sometimes the development of scabby or "tombstone" kernels, which are shrunken white kernels that are covered in fungi and spores.
To reduce grain contamination from the mycotoxins associated with this disease, it is important to increase the fan speeds on your combine in order to blow out the affected kernels. This may reduce the level of toxins detectable to more safe levels, below 5 ppm.
I have attached a picture of FHB in wheat that I took west of Idaho Falls. The disease increases in severity in areas where corn is grown and is worse where small grains directly follow corn in the rotation.
I HAVE SEEN IT IN BOTH WHEAT AND BARLEY in Idaho this year.

Ag/Chem Emergency Spill Response Trainings Aug 15-17

Far West Agribusiness Association invites you to join us for Ag/Chem Emergency Spill Response When Wednesday, August 15, 2012  - Friday, August 17, 2012 Pacific Time Where Land View Corporate Office Training Center, 20504 - 4th Street, Acequia, ID 83350-9428

Farmers Market Week Aug 5-11

In anticipation of the United States Department of Agriculture declaring the week of August 5-11, 2012 as the “National Farmers Market Week”, the Governor of Idaho will be making a proclamation naming that week as “Idaho Farmers Market Week” as well. In an effort to bring more consumers to farmers markets across the state, we encourage Idaho markets to plan special events and activities to make the most of this opportunity.  In this toolkit, ISDA has provided ideas and materials to help your market celebrate the 2012 Farmers Market Week. 

USDA Reminds Pacific Northwest Producers of Fall Crop Sales Closing Dates

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
RISK MANAGEMENT AGENCY

            Spokane, Wash., July 30, 2012 ---- USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Idaho, Oregon and Washington producers of the important 2013 crop year sales closing deadlines for Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) programs:  

Situation and Outlook: Calf and Yearling Prices

Prepared by the Livestock Market Information Center (LMIC)

From both an economic and a pasture/range resource perspective, national recovery from two years of drought will be a multi-year endeavor for the cattle industry. The 2011 drought caused national beef cow numbers to decline dramatically, led by herd liquidations in Texas and Oklahoma. This year’s drought decimated pasture/range in most of the U.S. and has damaged Midwest feed crops, dropping yields to the lowest in decades.

Cattle feeding losses were record large this summer. The result was a summer crash in calf prices. Still, in calendar year 2012, prices of all beef-type cattle are projected to set new record highs. Fed cattle prices over the calendar year will average about 7% above a year ago, while calf prices still increase about 10% despite the large summer declines. For 2012’s fourth quarter calf and yearling prices are expected continue to be under pressure and drop below 2011’s.

Looking ahead to calendar year 2013, additional gains are expected in fed cattle prices. Calf and yearling price patterns in 2013 may unfold quite differently than this year’s. If Mother Nature provides a more normal 2013, prices of calves and yearlings are expected to be highest in the second half of the year. For the first two quarters of 2013, calf and yearling prices are forecast to be below 2012’s. With increasingly tight cattle supplies, cow-calf returns will rebound once the drought subsides.