Poll: Weaning Strategies | Producers Searching For Additional Hay
While some cattlemen have already started weaning spring-calving herds, October and November are prime times for feeder cattle marketing decisions.
Having a plan A, B and C for weaning and marketing can make a difference as market and resources change year to year. Tell us:
Click the poll image to make your voice heard. We’ll let you know on Friday what respondents say they plan to do this year.
Producers Feeding Hay This Winter—If They Have It
Most Drovers.com readers say they will be feeding hay to cows this winter. While that’s not surprising, but after a wet winter and then a summer drought in the Midwest, many farmers were facing a possible shortage or higher prices of feedstuffs.
In last week’s Drovers.com poll, 58% of the 121 respondents plan to feed hay; 10% plan to graze corn stalks and 7% plan to rotational graze stockpiled forage. Silage was also high on the list—with 13% of respondents.
The standout factor, however, was the 7% who plan to purchase additional forages.
Related: Three Tips for Winter Feeding Beef Cattle
In the latest Drought Monitor, released Oct. 25, drought has mostly retreated from the eastern 2/3 of the U.S. While there’s been spur growth of cool season forages, cattle producers will likely be responding quickly to any winter weather challenges by looking for additional feedstuffs.
A wet weather pattern is forecasted for this week in the southern and eastern U.S., as Hurricane Willa brings additional moisture to the area, according to Eric Luebehusen, USDA-U.S. Drought Monitor. Much needed moisture was also forecasted for the Northwest. The National Weather Service indicates drier-than normal weather for the West Coast and lower Southwest for the 6 to 10-period.
Have additional comments about this topic, or ideas for future questions? Send an email to sbrown@farmjournal.com.
