Missouri

Axiota Animal Health Names Wamego as Global Headquarters

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:37:28 GMT

Axiota Animal Health, a global leader in cattle health solutions, announced it will name its facility in Wamego, Kan., as the company’s global headquarters.

The announcement formalizes the longstanding presence of Axiota Animal Health in Wamego, where the company operates manufacturing, research and development, and scientific operations for its products used by cattle producers in more than 30 countries worldwide.

“Wamego has long been a cornerstone of Axiota’s manufacturing and research, so designating it as our global headquarters is a natural next step,” says Bill Weldon, Axiota Animal Health CEO. “From here, we’re developing and producing technologies that help cattle producers around the world improve herd health and productivity. Leveraging our location within the KC Animal Health Corridor and our longstanding relationship with Kansas State University allows us to drive innovation and attract the top talent the industry demands.”

Located near K-State, the facility benefits from proximity to one of the nation’s leading veterinary and animal health research institutions. That connection helps Axiota attract specialized scientific talent and collaborate with researchers advancing the future of livestock health.

From its Wamego facility, Axiota supports cattle producers worldwide in improving herd health and performance through prevention-based, nonantibiotic solutions. This includes:

Lactipro , the only rumen-native probiotic that delivers Mega e, proven to promote rumen health and performance.
Multimin 90 (zinc, copper, manganese and selenium injection) is the only FDA-approved injectable supplement that delivers four trace minerals known to support cattle health and reproduction.

The decision highlights the global impact of the KC Animal Health Corridor , a hub stretching from Manhattan, Kan., to Columbia, Mo., with Kansas City at its heart. The region, home to the world’s largest concentration of animal health assets, serves as a leading center for life science research, development and collaboration.

“Axiota’s decision to locate its global headquarters in Wamego reflects the industry leadership that continues to define the corridor,” says Kimberly Young, president of the KC Animal Health Corridor. “Companies here aren’t just participating in the industry — they’re driving the science, technology and production that support animal health and food security around the world.”

Why Rotational Grazing Isn't Working

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:08:47 GMT

Rotational grazing is often promoted as a cure-all for pasture health, soil conservation and ranch profitability.

Yet adoption remains surprisingly low, says Carson Roberts, state forage specialist with University of Missouri Extension. USDA data shows that only about 40% of cow-calf operations use any form of rotational grazing, and just 16% use intensive systems with paddock rotations of 14 days or less. Many producers conclude that the daily labor rarely justifies the payoff, Roberts said.

He notes that virtual fencing, while helpful, doesn’t solve the core challenges.

“It sidesteps the real killers: herd fragmentation, water limits, performance trade-offs and inflexible stocking,” he says.

Why Rotational Grazing Often Fails

1. Frequent moves with too few animals. Moving cattle takes time — typically 15 to 45 minutes per move for experienced graziers. With small groups, that labor doesn’t scale, Roberts says. His research shows that daily labor costs can range from 50 cents per cow to as low as 1 cent per cow, depending on herd size and rotation length.

2. Too many separate groups. Fragmentation is one of the biggest efficiency killers. Roberts shares an example of a producer running 350 cows in 17 separate groups across 93 paddocks, or about 5.5 paddocks per group. Daily moves required more than 12 hours of labor, and even twice-weekly moves burned roughly two hours each day. Monitoring multiple groups and the forage resource remains challenging even with virtual fencing.

3. Poor water access. Water, not fencing, is often the limiting factor. When cattle must travel more than 800 feet to drink, their intake and forage utilization decline. That leads to back-grazing, trailing and pugging. Virtual fencing can’t fix these water access problems.

4. Lower individual animal performance. Some producers back away from rotational grazing because calves may wean lighter, even though pounds per acre usually increase due to higher stocking. Experienced graziers accept lower individual gains in exchange for better overall output, but many producers abandon rotational grazing to focus on individual animal gains.

5. Stocking rate rigidity in variable conditions. Drought and seasonal swings can quickly derail a rigid rotation. When forage crashes and regrowth slows, overgrazing can occur even in rotational systems. Fixed plans that don’t account for year-to-year and season-to-season variability often fail to maintain adequate rest periods

How To Make Rotational Grazing Work Without Burnout

Roberts offers five practical strategies to capture the benefits of rotational grazing without being overwhelmed:

Set an economically smart rotation interval. Weekly moves often deliver most of the benefits — improved recovery, utilization and soil health —without the labor burden of daily or three-day rotations, especially for smaller herds. “Weekly hits the sweet spot for many,” Roberts says.
Combine animals into larger herds. Merging groups into one larger herd reduces labor per head and increases grazing efficiency. Common fears about trampling, bull behavior or calf performance are often overstated, and well-managed large mobs typically improve both pasture health and animal outcomes.
Fix water infrastructure first. Water access within 800 feet improves intake, encourages even grazing and reduces trailing and pugging. Roberts emphasizes that water improvements often pay off faster than adding physical or virtual fencing.
Monitor continuously. Cow body condition, manure quality and pasture appearance provide real-time feedback. Look for good residual forage, well-formed dung pats and cattle maintaining flesh. Use observations to adjust rotation timing, stocking or supplementation. Remember that rotational grazing increases total production, not individual animal performance.
Build flexible stocking and drought plans. Pasture growth changes dramatically year to year. Producers should prepare to destock early during dry periods, maintain hay reserves or designate sacrifice areas. Adjust rest periods to grass recovery.

“Implement these fixes and rotational grazing stops being a chore and starts delivering real, sustainable returns without the 12-hour move days,” Roberts says.

He also encourages producers to attend grazing schools to strengthen their management skills.

(University of Missouri)

Apply Now: Legacy Landscapes Program Opens New Round of Funding and Technical Support

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:06:55 GMT

An update to last year’s Legacy Landscapes Program is set to put even more value into ranchers’ pockets, according to program partners at Nestle Purina PetCare, AgriWebb, National Grazing Lands Coalition and Regrow.

Currently working with cow-calf producers in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas, the program is seeking to correlate land stewardship and profitability through financial and technical assistance. Ranchers enrolled in the program receive more than $70,000 in valued assistance, ranging from financial assistance for new practice adoption, ranch managment software and technical advice.

During a recent AgriWebb webinar, producer Eric Yates, owner and operator of Yates Family Farms, spoke about the impact Legacy Landscapes has had on his operation in the year since his enrollment, specifically the program’s ability to de-risk conservation change and innovation.

“It’s no risk at all,” he explains. “You either win, because the practice made you better, or you fail at the practice, but you have very limited financial costs invested in it, and you learn something.”

For Yates, the ability to capitalize on AgriWebb to organize his ranch record keeping was a key driver for his enrollment in the program.

“Traditionally we’ve done Excel sheets and pieces of paper, written on the back of a feed tag,” he says. “Then when we need to look at it, it’s a full week of compiling data.”

Through the program, Yates has been able to organize his ranch data, identify grazing patterns and make better operational decisions for his herd and his business.

“At its core, data is the catalyst that allows a producer and their adviser to build a road map and actually see the impact of every management decision,” says John Fargher, cofounder and chief strategy officer at AgriWebb. “By turning daily records into clear insights, ranchers can confidently work toward their specific goals while maintaining total ownership and control of their information. We believe that when a producer truly understands how their decisions are moving the needle on their operation, they can build a more resilient and profitable legacy.”

The program is currently accepting applications for producers. Find more information or sign up by visiting grazinglands.org/legacy-landscapes .

Grazing Milo Can Save $300 per Head

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:56:33 GMT

This is the third year that Green Ridge livestock producer John Chamberlin has worked with University of Missouri (MU) Extension agronomist Rusty Lee and livestock specialist Gene Schmitz to find how milo can reduce winter feed costs and improve herd health.

Milo is a drought-resistant forage that can be used as a winter livestock feed to save time and labor. It also improves carrying capacity and returns nutrients back to the soil, Lee says.

Composite forage tests of all plant parts of milo shows a TDN of 73%-75% and crude protein of 7%. That is adequate energy but requires protein supplementation, says MU Extension agronomist Rusty Lee. Allocating 12 pounds of grain per cow per day yields a possible carrying capacity of 420 cow days per acre.

(Linda Geist)

Saves Labor, Costs

By grazing the standing milo, producers eliminate grain harvest and transportation costs.

Strip grazing takes cattle to the feed rather than feed to the cattle, saving time and money, says Lee.

He has grown milo on his east-central Missouri diversified farm for more than 10 years.

Producers control daily feed allocation by creating strips with polywire electric fencing. This encourages cattle to utilize the fodder leaves and portions of the stalk in addition to the high-energy grain head of the plants.

Chamberlin says strip grazing saves him hours of feeding time daily for the approximately 400 head since it takes only 30 minutes a day to move the polywire instead of the hours it took to unroll hay and fill feed bunks.

MU Extension specialists Rusty Lee and Gene Schmitz tested downed milo for prussic acid or cyanide. Like other sorghum specie forages, prussic acid is present in milo after frost injury. To avoid this, delay grazing for about two weeks after frost to avoid nitrate poisoning in cows.

(Linda Geist)

Toxicity Still a Problem After Frost

Like other Sorghum species forages, temporary but toxic levels of prussic acid are present in milo after frost injury. To avoid this, delay grazing for about two weeks after frost to avoid cyanide poisoning in cows.

Chamberlin recently did in-field research to see if he could avoid this prussic acid poisoning window by mowing milo down prior to frost.

“The idea was to start the two-week clock for volatilization in an area that would then be usable once the remainder of the field was in the frost-induced grazing restriction,” Lee says.

He left mowed stalks on the ground to dry and waited for MU Extension specialists to test the downed milo for prussic acid or cyanide. Eight days after mowing, their tests still showed that prussic acid levels were still too high to safely turn cattle in to graze.

Lee and Schmitz say that while the head of the plant may be dead, the stalk continues to create regrowth that appears to contain cyanide. While palatable to livestock, it can be deadly.

MU Extension agronomist Rusty Lee, right, shows livestock producer John Chamberlin a simple test kit he carries with him to make testing for prussic acid quick and easy. After frost injury, temporary but toxic levels of prussic acid are present in milo, and livestock grazing should be avoided.

(Linda Geist)

Post-Frost Toxins

Risk is highest immediately after the first fall frost, primarily due to the stress-induced breakdown of cyanogenetic compounds into prussic acid or hydrogen cyanide, says MU Extension veterinary toxicologist Tim Evans.

When Sorghum species like milo are stressed by frost, they tend to accumulate a compound called dhurrin. When frost-damaged plant tissues break down in the rumen, the dhurrin quickly converts to the highly toxic prussic acid.

Prussic acid interferes with the body’s ability to use oxygen to generate cellular energy, with the oxygen remaining unused in the typically cherry red blood, leading to symptoms such as muscle twitching, staggering and even death. Ruminants are more susceptible to prussic acid poisoning than other animals because cud chewing and rumen bacteria help release the cyanide from plant tissue.

Additionally, frost can cause nitrate accumulation in some plants by hindering their ability to convert nitrates into proteins.

Despite the lack of success in reducing the two-week wait after frost to graze, Lee says MU Extension specialists continue to look for ways to move cows onto milo quicker.

High Production, High Utilization

Strip-grazing standing milo eliminates the costs associated with harvesting and transporting feed grains. This results in lower daily feed costs compared to the traditional winter hay feeding program. Lee estimates the milo utilization rate at 75%.

Composite forage tests of all plant parts consumed show total digestible nutrient values (TDN) of 73%-75% and crude protein of 7%. That is adequate energy but requires protein supplementation, Lee says. Various commodity feeds like soybean meal or high-quality hay can provide this.

An average milo yield of 120 bushels per acre is 6,720 lb. of grain. Taking into consideration the observed feeding losses of 25% as the cattle graze, that leaves 5,040 lb. per acre into the mouths of cows. Allocating 12 lb. of grain per cow per day yields a possible carrying capacity of 420 cow days per acre.

Savings of $300 per calf

Chamberlin says he gets 400 cow days per milo acre, letting him run more cows per acre. He estimates that he reduces the acres/cow ratio from 4 to 3, a significant savings of resources.

His figures point to milo saving him $300 per calf compared to hay. With a 400-head herd, that’s about $120,000 in savings, Lee says.

Chamberlin remains a firm supporter of grazing standing milo.

“I have nothing but praise for this. If you’re not already grazing standing milo, start.”

Breeding Rates Improve

Lee says milo provides a consistent, high-energy feed for breeding fall-calving cows or late spring-calving cows with calves at side when used with a protein supplement.

Calving rates improve when moving cows from fescue fields to milo as little as 30 days before breeding season, he says.

Lee recommends putting cows on milo two weeks after a killing freeze, typically Nov. 1. This works well with fall-calving program of bull turn-in between Thanksgiving and Dec. 1.

Nov. 1 to Valentine’s Day

Typically, a Nov. 1 start allows grazing all winter until planted acres are consumed. While it is possible to graze milo until spring pasture green-up, March winds and deteriorating stalk strength make it a good idea to conclude milo grazing by Valentine’s Day, Lee explains.

Available resources

Strip-Grazing Milo as a Low-Cost Winter Forage

Grain Sorghum Planning Budget

Your Next Read: Instead of Feeding Hay: 5 Profitable Winter Feed Alternatives for Your Cattle Herd

Seeding Cover Crops Aerially Can Boost Grazing Potential

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:15:00 GMT

Stored hay can be a livestock producer’s best insurance, says University of Missouri Extension plant science specialist Caleb O’Neal, who is also a cattle producer. It provides flexibility for cattlemen to rest pastures in the event of drought and is often the feed of choice for winter herd maintenance.

O’Neal’s goals for his own herd include being able to actively graze high-quality forage most of the year, but he relies on hay as a backup option “when grazing pickings are slim.”

High-quality hay can be made with favorable weather and good management.

“But in many cases, the hay that we as producers make is cut too late in the season and has poor feed value,” he says.

For a longer grazing season, many producers either manage their established forages differently or plant specific forage species that grow during times of the year that traditionally have limited forage availability. Many of these species are popular in cover crop seed mixtures.

Cover crops can provide an excellent opportunity for livestock producers to extend their grazing season, O’Neal says.

“Planting cover crops between cash crops like corn and soybeans is a widely adopted practice across the state, and while these annual cover crop species are frequently planted for the benefit they provide to the soil, their planting also opens the door to outstanding opportunities for graziers who are willing to think outside the box,” he says.

Many cover crops that are planted to maintain soil structure during the off-season can also provide unparalleled forage quality for livestock producers at a time of year that aligns very well with the forage base relied upon by most cattle producers in the state, he says.

Many producers are familiar with the excellent forage that cereals like wheat and rye can provide in early spring. But, historically, it’s difficult to achieve a grazeable cover crop in the fall on the same ground you’re using for cash crops because the cash crop grows late into the season. By the time it is harvested, there is little time to get a cover crop established and growing strong enough to tolerate fall grazing.

However, modern technology like utility drones can help producers “double dip” by establishing cover crops earlier in the season and achieve both fall and spring grazing from the same piece of ground, says O’Neal.

Aerially seeded cover crops can be seeded earlier in the season–late August through September–while the cash crop of corn or beans is still standing in late maturity. Cover crop seeds flown over the cash crop canopy will work down to the soil and slowly emerge in the protected space provided by the standing crop of corn or beans.

“The magic happens when the cash crop is harvested and the dense canopy is removed, allowing sunlight to be captured by the already established young cover crop below,” says O’Neal.

The cover crop that has been seeded and growing for several weeks wastes no time in being productive. With adequate fall moisture, it will likely be ready to graze in late October through November.

Grazing cover crops in the fall lets livestock producers rest cool-season pastures to accumulate winter stockpile fescue, which holds forage quality well and can then be grazed in the dead of winter.

Common cover crop mixes for aerial seeding include small-seeded brassicas like turnips and radishes, but there are also few plants that can put on as much growth for fall grazing as a spring oat, O’Neal says. Forage species like this when paired together make for exceptional fall and early-winter grazing.

For fall and spring grazing from the cover crop mix, be sure to select the correct forage species to aerially seed. Most species of oats will winter-kill, so throwing a winter-hardy cereal like rye or triticale and a legume like crimson clover in the mix can help ensure there is high-quality forage available to graze in March and April the following year.

“Aerially seeding cover crops can be an excellent way to extend the grazing season and make the most of every acre. With land prices climbing faster than a cornstalk in June, maximizing the productivity of the ground we already have just makes sense,” O’Neal says.

“If we plan ahead, we can establish high-quality forage that not only supports the nutritional needs of our herds but also reduces our reliance on costly stored feed. When implemented correctly, grazing cover crops in the spring and fall is a win for the livestock, the land and our bottom line,” he says. “With the right forage species and adequate moisture, aerial seeding can help producers reduce feed costs, improve herd health and get more value from every acre.”

Your Next Read: From Best Buy Toy to Pro Spray Drone: A Father-Son Duo Takes Flight In Missouri Cattle Country

From Best Buy Toy to Pro Spray Drone: A Father-Son Duo Takes Flight In Missouri Cattle Country

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 19:41:26 GMT

Iowa State University freshman Rhett Keaton and his father, Vance, are launching a drone spraying side hustle.

The father-son duo started out just having some fun several years ago, buzzing around the house with a $20 drone from Best Buy that “drove mom crazy”. But now, they are getting serious about turning entertainment to revenue.

Vance, who runs 5K Cattle Company out of Anderson, Mo., ran out and purchased a DJI Agras T20P spray drone this spring, and both Keatons secured the Part 107 Commercial Pilot Certificate needed to operate on a farm. Combined with the private pesticide applicator’s license 5K Cattle Co. already held, the guys can now apply restricted-use pesticides to their own pasture ground.

University of Missouri Extension experts recently weighed in on the promise of drone usage in farming, and more specifically, in cattle operations. Field specialist Caleb O’Neal likens the technologies’ versatility and practicality to that of a UTV.

“Back in the 1980s, it would have been rare to see a UTV being used on a farm,” he says. “Visiting farms today, I’m hard-pressed to find an operation larger than 20 acres that doesn’t have some type of UTV that they utilize on a regular basis.”

And while the Keaton’s are banking on custom application services with a spray drone as their next play in ag, you don’t have to spray crops or weeds to use drones for the benefit of your farm or ranch, according to O’Neal.

Use of drones in agriculture is increasing as row crop and livestock producers find new ways to improve efficiency and productivity.

(Photo courtesy of Caleb O’Neal.)

“Livestock producers can monitor fences and availability of water and can make sure animals are where they should be without even opening a gate,” O’Neal explains. “Drone technology lets cattlemen quickly check estrus indication patches for optimized breeding timing, monitor cows during calving season, look for hidden newborn calves and look out for potential predators.

Getting back to the Keatons, the next step is for Rhett, who is majoring in ag systems technology in Ames this fall, to secure his Missouri commercial pesticide applicators license.

Once that happens, the pair can start marketing drone spraying services to neighboring farms. Their plan is to start locally with pasture and grassland applications before seeking out work on row crop farms to the north once foliar fungicide season hits.

Related - The Scoop Podcast: What’s Next For Ag Drone Application?

Even though the T20P is one of the smaller spray drones offered by DJI, Keaton says it’s proven to be the perfect fit so far. He also rents a neighbor’s spray drone, paying a per-acre fee, when he needs more than one bird to cover more ground.

“We do a lot of flying in and out of trees and stuff like that,” Keaton says. “Having that smaller drone with less capacity and a more efficient battery, I get about double the battery life as [the bigger drones] do. But I also have about half the tank.”

The reservoir on the T20P holds about 5.5 to 6 gallons of tank mix, so Keaton will usually need to land and refill his tank after about five or six minutes of spraying. He averages 23 acres per hour when everything is set up for a quick land-refill-takeoff cycle.

Keaton says Corteva’s DuraCor herbicide, an aerial application-approved formulation containing two Group 4 AIs, is the main product he’s been spraying from the drone thus far. The product label calls for 2 to 3 gallons of active ingredients (mixed with carrier water) applied per acre with coarse droplets.

A fellow rancher kicks the tires on Vance and Rhett Kaiser’s spray drone trailer at a field day event. The Kaisers operate 5K Cattle Company out of Anderson, Mo., and have plans to launch a spray drone custom application business in the near future.

(Rhett Keaton )

Keaton and Vance also picked up a nicely appointed spray drone trailer off — of all places — Facebook Marketplace. The whole setup – drone, trailer, extra batteries, etc. – cost about $30,000 all-in, Keaton says.

“We found one that was cheaper to buy than it was to build our own, especially with the generator — that is probably the most expensive part of that trailer,” he explains. “It already had the generator, pumps, the mix tanks and a thousand-gallon freshwater tank, and everything was lined up.”

With the spray drone in the air and the nice, shiny trailer parked edge-of-field as Keaton makes his passes, cleaning up weed escapes in fields that he says are “pretty clean” already, neighboring farmers often take notice and stop by to ask if he and his dad can come by and spray some of their ground, too. Their plan is to find the sweet spot between a $12 to $20 per acre fee to charge for their drone spraying services.

Speaking of sweet spots, O’Neal feels that spot spraying, guided by aerial imagery or even first-hand producer knowledge of where weed problems are significant and need to be addressed, is a good target for drone service providers like the Keatons.

“A pasture with a rash of blackberry weeds in isolated areas has great potential for a prescription herbicide application where only the problematic areas receive treatment via a spray drone, as opposed to a broadcast application where the entirety of the field is treated whether it needs it or not,” he says.

“I think there’s a lot of opportunity [for it] around us. There’s a lot of guys with hay fields, and they do a lot of burn down applications. That’s one thing we are planning on hitting on,” Keaton says. “I think some guys would be interested in that. Especially if we have a wet spring and guys can’t get in the field.”

Missouri Extension field specialist O’Neal agrees with that assertion.

“In my neck of the woods in southwestern Missouri, the topography can be quite unforgiving, with some areas too harsh to allow access by ground spray rig or even an ATV,” O’Neal says. “With an aerial piece of equipment like a utility drone, landowners can now get herbicide applications on these problematic areas and put them into useful forage production.”

With a pilot year of flying his family’s acres fastened securely under his belt, Keaton says the arrow looks to be pointing up on spray drone technology in agriculture.

“Hopefully we can expand and get maybe another trailer or a bigger drone, it just depends kind of on what’s calling for us,” he says. “I’ve got to see exactly how much work is out there in this business and from there just make it all work out. Our foot is just in the door [right now].”

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BIF Honors 6 Industry Pioneers

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 16:47:03 GMT

The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Pioneer Award recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions to the improvement of beef cattle and honors those who have had a major role in acceptance of performance reporting and documentation as the primary means to make genetic change in beef cattle.

June 12 BIF recognized six beef genetics pioneers, including: Steve Hammack of Stephenville, Texas; Joe Paschal of Brenham, Texas; Jim Sanders of College Station, Texas; Wade Shafer of Bozeman, Montana; David Steffen of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Jeremy Taylor of Pensacola, Florida.

Hammack served as the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist based in Stephenville, Texas, from 1973 until 2003 and continued part-time through 2023. His work focused on genetic management and cow-calf production systems, and leading statewide efforts such as the development of the Texas Adapted Genetic Strategies (TAGS) series, a set of 11 bulletins covering breeding programs, breed characteristics, sire selection, genomics and more. Hammack was a frequent speaker at the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course and numerous regional, state and national educational venues.

Hammack has a long history with BIF. He served as the official BIF contact in Texas and co-hosted the 1990 BIF Annual Meeting. He also authored a monthly “Beef Cattle Browsing” column summarizing research nationwide and was an early adopter of web-based publications for sharing beef cattle knowledge.

Paschal began his career as the director of breed improvement for the American International Charolais Association. There, he oversaw the Charolais herd improvement and sire evaluation programs. He later served as an Extension livestock specialist for 38 years with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, where he conducted adult and youth education programs through South and Coastal Texas.

He played a key role in statewide feeding and genetics programs, including the TAM Ranch to Rail program and the South Texas Brahman genetics feeding program at King Ranch Feedyard, where more than 12,000 steers were fed from 1992 to 2004. Paschal’s research on carcass merit and tenderness in Brahman genetics significantly contributed to EPD development and industry knowledge.

Alongside Hammack, he coauthored the TAGS bulletin series. Since retiring in 2022, he continues to consult with producers both in the U.S. and internationally and shares his expertise to improve cattle performance.

Paschal also served on the BIF board of directors from 1980 to 1982 and has remained actively involved with BIF throughout his career as a supporter of the organization’s mission to advance beef cattle genetic improvement.

Sanders served as a professor of animal breeding and genetics at Texas A&M University until his retirement in 2023. Throughout his career, he taught more than 12,000 students and conducted pioneering research focused on American Bos indicus-influenced breeds and crosses.

His work included developing the first beef cattle simulation model that evaluated genetic differences for birth, growth, carcass and productivity traits, and investigated hybrid vigor retention in Bos indicus/Bos taurus crosses. Sanders also identified genes with major effects on key traits and studied the genetic history of the American Brahman breed.

He was a dedicated mentor and supporter of animal science student groups and competitive judging teams, and he coached multiple national champion teams. His influence extends internationally, as he presented and judged cattle across 18 countries on five continents.

Since retiring, Sanders’ legacy continues through his former students who are now leaders in academia, industry and breed associations worldwide. He has also been a long-time supporter of BIF and its mission to advance beef cattle genetic improvement.

Shafer joined the American Simmental Association in 2003 and brought with him a doctorate from Colorado State University and practical experience building economic selection indexes for his own herd. He led the development of two whole life cycle indexes, launched a whole herd reporting system and transitioned ASA’s genetic evaluation into the genomic era.

In 2010, Shafer co-founded International Genetic Solutions, which now includes more than 23 million animals from 23 breed organizations — the largest genetic evaluation system in the world.

Throughout his career, Shafer’s focus has always been on improving genetics across the entire beef industry. He served as executive vice president of ASA beginning in 2013 and guided significant growth while prioritizing service to commercial cattle producers. He defended independent genetic evaluation during a patent challenge and maintained the integrity of expected progeny differences (EPDs) and indexes.

Shafer’s leadership and vision have been widely praised by industry peers, who describe him as humble, principled and driven by service to the beef industry.

Steffen grew up on his family’s farm near Fordyce, Neb., where his passion for livestock and veterinary medicine began. After earning a bachelor’s in animal science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a DVM from Iowa State University, he completed a doctoral degree in pathology at Kansas State University. He spent most of his academic career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he served as faculty head for quality assurance and accreditation at the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center.

Considered a national resource for investigating genetic disorders in beef cattle, Steffen’s research has contributed to the commercial testing of nearly 70% of known genetic disorders in beef cattle. His work in discovering genetic conditions and helping producers manage breeding around them has significantly impacted breed improvement. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong passion for advancing cattle health and supporting producers.

Taylor has been instrumental in advancing cattle genomics through his work at the University of Missouri. He played a key role in commercializing the first SNP array, a groundbreaking technology developed in collaboration with USDA-MARC, USDA Beltsville and Illumina.

Taylor also led efforts that were foundational to the development of dry-matter intake EPDs used by several breed associations and was an early adopter of whole-genome sequencing to enhance understanding of cattle genetic diversity.

Beyond his scientific contributions, Taylor is celebrated for his mentorship. He chaired 45 graduate students and advised 14 postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have become prominent leaders in beef genetics. In 2015, he received the Graduate Faculty Mentor Award from the University of Missouri Graduate School.

Taylor’s career has contributed to advancements in beef cattle genetic improvement through collaboration, innovation and service to the industry.

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Make Hay in May for Best Quality, Yield

Tue, 13 May 2025 11:45:35 GMT

May is when cool-season grasses transition from the vegetative stage to the reproductive stage. Many grasses such as tall fescue, orchard grass and Kentucky bluegrass are already flowering in parts of Missouri.

For yield and quality, May is the best time to harvest cool-season grasses, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Harley Naumann.

Cut before seeds develop for best results. “Once they go into the reproductive stage, the leaf-to-stem ratio decreases, fiber content increases, and there is an overall decline in nutritive value,” says Naumann.

In short, they become tougher and less nutritious.

Waiting too long is losing proposition

The longer you wait to mow beyond the transition stage, the poorer the quality of the hay. “Given the cost of making hay, waiting too long and producing a poor-quality product is a losing proposition,” Naumann says.

An early cut removes the reproductive tillers and encourages healthy regrowth headed into summer. When the cutting is too short, forages may not grow as well, and weeds may take hold when summer heat and dryness hit.

An early cut helps to reset pastures for fall regrowth and better-quality hay. If you wait, cool-season grasses go into summer slump with little growth in July and August.

Short Cuttings Mean Weeds, Toxicity Risk

Cut, but don’t cut too short, Naumann says. He recommends cutting about 3.5-4 inches for best quality. Cutting too short can stress the plant and allow weeds to encroach.

Cutting higher retains more leaf material for photosynthesis, causing plants to rely less on root reserves for regrowth. Plants depend on strong root systems, especially during dry periods.

“Overall, this leads to more vigorous plants that have a better chance of outcompeting undesirable weeds and therefore increases persistence,” Naumann explains.

Prolonged practice of cutting too short results in thin stands in the future.

Also, the lowest 2 inches of tall fescue is the least nutritious and contains the most endophytes, putting livestock at risk in toxic Kentucky 31 fescue fields. Additionally, equipment is more at risk of damage when it comes into contact with soil, gravel and rocks, which puts more grit and dirt into the hay.

Store Correctly to Prevent Losses

Once hay is harvested, proper storage is critical to protect your investment. Ideally, hay is stored off the ground or on a concrete slab and under cover. Producers can expect as much as 40% dry matter loss from hay stored in contact with the ground and uncovered, compared to 10% for hay stored inside or on a rack with a cover.

For more information, see MU Extension publication Making and Storing Hay .

Your Next Read: Marketing Options for Small Producers

Keith Stevens Named Missouri Cattleman of the Year

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 21:30:05 GMT

The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association recognized a Bolivar, Missouri, cattle producer as the 2023 Cattleman of the Year at the 56^th Annual Missouri Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show on January 20, 2024, at Osage Beach. Keith Stevens was presented the award for his commitment to advancing the Missouri beef industry.

Stevens played an instrumental role of initiating collegiate affiliate chapters at various colleges in Missouri including Missouri State University, University of Central Missouri, Truman State University, and Southeast Missouri State University. He made it a goal during his years of leadership to empower the next generation of cattle producers by getting them engaged in the association.

In 2023, Stevens was very engaged in developing the first ever Missouri Beef Days in Bolivar, Missouri, for May is Beef Month. Missouri Beef Days was a week-long celebration to highlight the industry’s importance to the region, state and nation. During this event, Stevens helped promote and educate the community about initiatives of the beef cattle industry.

“Stevens has been a dedicated member for a very long time and served as the 2016 MCA President,” said Patty Wood, past MCA president. “This award was created to put focus on a member who went above and beyond in the respective year, and there is no one more deserving of that recognition in 2023 than Keith Stevens.”

Keith, his wife Beverly, and his brother-in-law all work together to operate an intensive grazing operation on 160-acres in Polk County known as L. Hopkins Farms with a mix of Charolais, Braunvieh and Angus cattle. Click here for the link to his video.

While the association dates back to 1911, MCA has been presenting the Cattleman of the Year award since 1965 and Stevens is the 61st recipient of the award.

Missouri Show-Me-Select Heifer Prices Up 20%

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 14:30:19 GMT

University of Missouri Extension’s Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program had a successful year in 2023 for both buyers and sellers, even with some impact on fall sales from drought.

The fall 2023 sale season wrapped up with 928 Show-Me-Select heifers marketed through six sanctioned sale locations with gross sales of $2,544,825.

“While much of the state was plagued by drought and an unstable market moving into the fall, statewide marketings rose 9% compared to 2022, while average Show-Me-Select heifer sale prices rose a little more than 20%, year over year,” said MU Extension livestock specialist Zac Erwin. “This speaks to the reputation of the program that buyers and sellers continue to look at this as the gold standard for heifer development throughout Missouri.”

For example, the east-central Missouri Show-Me-Select sale at Farmington continued to have steady consignment numbers in addition to a new producer selling heifers in the fall 2023 sale, said MU Extension livestock specialist Kendra Graham.

“That producer has been completing all the requirements for the program for several years but never officially enrolled until now,” Graham said. “A couple that capitalized on the marketing portion of the Show-Me-Select program sold 22 head and snagged the second-highest consignor average in the fall sale at Farmington.”

A total of 131 heifers averaging $2,599 per head sold Dec. 8 at Farmington Regional Stockyards.

“Heifer sale consignments for the fall 2023 sale were lower compared to the number enrolled in the spring,” said Graham. “Drought conditions and lack of winter hay prompted producers to sell older/lower-productive cows and kept the young heifers to replace them rather than selling in the sale. Cattle prices were very unstable in December, causing later Show-Me-Select sales to average less than those sales held in November 2023.”

John Wheeler, a former cow/calf producer in Marionville, has been with the Show-Me-Select program since 2001.

“(Late MU Extension livestock specialist) Eldon Cole was a major factor in helping me learn from the program,” Wheeler said. “I had my second-best sale this past fall, earning $3,500 per head on average. It’s a good program – you’ve got to stay in it through thick and thin. Start with good-quality heifers and stand behind those you sell. Repeat buyers are a big part of my business growth.” Wheeler set a goal at the beginning for how much he’d make with the program. He said he’s now tripled that goal.

Patrick Davis, MU Extension livestock specialist based in southwestern Missouri, said, “Our numbers were lower than normal due to lots of reasons, but our average was pretty high. Compared to the previous fall sale, we sold about half the number of heifers, but the average was $813 higher per heifer. You could attribute some of that increased average price to supply and demand, but I think you must attribute some of that to the current high cattle market.”

Erwin said, “While total demand might have been slightly less due to feed shortages, heifers that were high-quality and bred for an acceptable calving period found great demand. Buyers knew what they wanted, and when they found it were willing to bid up in price to take them home. Quality is always an easy sell, even in a tough market environment. Repeat consignors are rewarded by repeat buyers.”

The Show-Me-Select program, which uses the latest research on health, nutrition, genetics and reproductive science to ensure Missouri producers are national leaders in providing quality beef, has a big impact on Missouri’s economy, according to Thiago Martins, MU Extension state beef reproduction specialist.

“By 2021, more than 900 Missouri farms were enrolled, and heifers were sold to buyers in more than 21 states,” Martins said.

The program focuses on Missouri’s farmers and relies on active participation from regional extension livestock specialists and local veterinarians.

Key components of Show-Me-Select:

Improved heifer development programs through a Total Quality Management strategy.
Increased marketing opportunities and added value for Missouri-raised heifers.
Creation of reliable sources of quality replacement heifers based on management, reproduction and genetics.

Show-Me-Select is now enrolling producers for 2024. If interested, contact one of the regional coordinators listed on the SMS website or your local livestock specialist for information on upcoming regional meetings and program requirements to participate. Spring sales are being planned. Learn more at https://mizzou.us/sms .

Latest in Ag Innovation to be Featured at Feb. 13 Forum

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 19:13:13 GMT

The latest ideas in cutting-edge technology for agribusiness will be featured at a Feb. 13 Forum in Kansas City. The forum, hosted by the Ag Business Council of Kansas City, will showcase and celebrate ag technology in the Midwest according to Council Chair Dustin Johansen who is senior vice president at Farm Journal.

Johansen said the three keynote speakers are truly rock stars when it comes to the confluence of agriculture, innovation, and technology. Delivering keynote remarks will be:

• Dr. James Lowenberg-DeBoer, who Johansen said literally wrote the book for precision agriculture. He will share his thoughts on the economics of autonomy and robotics. He is a Professor and Elizabeth Creek Chair of Agri-Tech Economics at Harper Adams University in the United Kingdom.

• Microsoft’s Ranveer Chandra is one of the nation’s most prominent thought leaders when it comes to developing different technologies to bring internet connectivity to the middle of farms. Chandra is managing director of research for industry and CTO of Agri-Food at Microsoft.

• Aidan Connolly is president of AgriTech Capital and an unusual leader. He will bring his direct experience with greenfield start-ups, high-growth environments, turnaround issues, and challenging economic environments in a wide range of political and economic systems.

Rounding out the program will be panel discussions on three key topics – plant health, artificial intelligence, and livestock technology adoption. These leading industry experts will be part of the panels:

• Soil Health – Implications for Land Value, Farm Economics & Food Quality
Panelists:
o Nick Guetterman, Guetterman Brothers Family Farms, Bucyrus, KS
o Jason Tatge, CEO, PrairieFood
o Dan Poston, Vice President, Research and Field Services, PivotBio

• Artificial Intelligence
Panelists:
o Dr. Pascal Hitzler, Lloyd T. Smith Creativity in Engineering Chair and Director, Center for AI and
Data Science, Kansas State University
o Nic McCarthy, Senior Vice President Agronomy, Central Valley Ag Coop
o Matt Olson, Precision Ag Go-to-Market Manager, John Deere

• Livestock Technology Adoption, moderated by Dustin Johansen, Senior Vice President, Livestock Division, Farm Journal
Panelists:
o Dr. Tyler Spore, Director of R&D and Data, Innovative Livestock Solutions, Inc.
o Coby Buck, Director of Strategic Accounts, AgriWebb
o Paul Koffman, Executive Director, Livestock Technology Solutions, Merck Animal Health

Emcee for the forum will be Kristie Larson, Strategic Relationship Manager, The DeBruce Foundation.

The Ag Innovation Forum will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on February 13 at the Downtown Marriott, 200 West 12th Street, Kansas City, MO.

CAFO Rules Made While Violating Open Meetings Laws, Lawsuit Filed

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 02:39:58 GMT

When debating possible farming rules specifically regarding concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), central Missouri’s Cooper County health board faces a lawsuit for knowingly violating the open meetings, “Sunshine Law.”

Closed meetings, beginning in 2018, failed to be properly detailed to county residents about the subject matter discussed in the meeting and why they were deemed “closed session” material.

Spurred by a Minnesota-based Pipestone farm proposal that would bring a new facility to southern Cooper County, the health board held a series of meetings to draft rules limiting how much manure farmers could use on their property that came from the CAFO, a local news source explains.

“The law gives elected officials in general and agency bureaucrats a lot of latitude in a lot of different contexts to make rules that can significantly affect your life,” says Brent Haden, an attorney for the local farmers told the news source. “At the very least, if they’re going to do that, then they should expose to the light of day what they’re doing, the reasons they’re doing it, the why and the how of what they’re doing.”

Last week, a jury found the board had violated the open meetings law five separate times and could face as much as a $1,000 per violation. Additionally, the lawsuit challenges the rules the county placed on the CAFO operation.

Cooper County also sued the state of Missouri in a separate lawsuit over laws outlawing counties from enacting stringent health rules on agriculture, the news article reports. The lawsuit is set to appear in front of the Supreme Court of Missouri on Sept. 20.

US Treasury Dept. Moves to Limit Foreign Land Purchases Near Military Bases

Mon, 08 May 2023 20:20:32 GMT

By now, you’ve likely heard of the Chinese balloons that made their way across the U.S. in late January and early February and were eventually shot down. The spy balloons, coupled with a Chinese-owned company purchasing land 12 miles from a U.S. Air Force base in North Dakota, have sounded alarms on both state and federal levels.

To limit further foreign activity on U.S. lands, particularly the sale of land, the Treasury Department’s Office of Investment Security proposed a rule on Friday that would require foreign entities to garner U.S. government approval before they are able to purchase land within 100 miles of eight military bases.

Related story: Out-of-Country Farmland Investors: Here’s What The Numbers Show

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) welcomed news of the proposed rule, which could have blocked the North Dakota land sale to the Fufeng Group.

“This is a good first step to bolster reviews and mitigate threats similar to what we saw with Fufeng,” Cramer said in a statement on Thursday.

The Office of Investment Security is responsible for screening foreign business dealings in the U.S. and has the authority to block or force term changes in sales in order to protect national security.

Backstory on Fufeng Group’s North Dakota Purchase

Fufeng Group says it plans to use the land to build a $700 million corn milling plant, which would create at least 200 jobs, as well as residual opportunities for logistics, trucking and other services.

Many North Dakotans made their sentiments on the sale known, which led to a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. However, the committee’s review found no issue with the sale.

Related story: China’s Latest Land Purchase Could Pose Major U.S. Security Risk

“More needs to be done to ensure the U.S. food supply chain is secure and independent,” says Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.). “If we do not prevent these land grabs, we are failing to protect our farmers, our families and our country.”

In September, Newhouse, along with 50 other members of Congress, asked USDA and other agencies to take effective action in addressing the potential national security risks that appear to arise from this transaction.

Instead of waiting on the government, some states are taking legislative action on their own.

Missouri Puts Up a Foreign Land Ownership Wall

The Missouri Senate made moves on the issue in April when it backed a plan to amend the state’s foreign land ownership threshold from 1% to 0.5%. The bill also includes a provision that would limit foreign countries — including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — from acquiring farmland in Missouri by Sept. 1.

“We’re not going to allow for foreign ownership in the state of Missouri,” said Sen. Rick Brattin (R-31). “We have to draw a line in the sand today. It protects our sovereignty as a nation.”

Related story: Missouri Moves to Tighten Reins On Foreign Land Ownership

According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, foreign land ownership in Missouri accounts for 0.36%, just shy of the 0.5% proposed limit. In total, the department says China owns roughly 42,596 acres in Missouri.

Missouri Moves to Tighten Reins On Foreign Land Ownership

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 21:31:34 GMT

Months after a Chinese company, Fufeng Group, was granted approval for a North Dakota land purchase in close proximity to a U.S. military base, foreign land ownership concerns are being raised on a local and national level.

The purchase set off alarms for other U.S. states to create legislative roadblocks for foreign land ownership within their borders. Missouri is the latest state to initiate the policy change.

Related story: China’s Latest Land Purchase Could Pose Major U.S. Security Risk

The Missouri Senate on Wednesday backed a plan to amend the state’s foreign land ownership threshold from 1% to 0.5%. The bill also includes a provision that would limit foreign countries—including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea—from acquiring farmland in Missouri by Sept. 1.

“We’re not going to allow for foreign ownership in the state of Missouri,” said Sen. Rick Brattin (R-31). “We have to draw a line in the sand today. It protects our sovereignty as a nation.”

While the vote passed 31-3, the bill’s opposers felt the legislation would breach property owner’s rights.

“I’m just a little lost here today as to how we have transformed this conversation of foreign entities owning our properties into the removal of individual rights,” said Lincoln Hough, (R-30). “I don’t want to disenfranchise property owners.”

Related story: Out-of-Country Farmland Investors: Here’s What The Numbers Show

Brattain offered a rebuttal, saying Hough is only looking to “muddy the waters.”

The bill comes following a 2013 measure that allowed Smithfield Foods—a Chinese-owned company—to own property in Missouri.

According to the Missouri Department of Ag, foreign land ownership in Missouri measures out to 0.36%, just shy of the 0.5% proposed limit. Of all of Missouri land, the department finds China owns roughly 42,596.

MU Breaks Ground on $30 Million Laboratory Expansion and Renovation

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 19:30:17 GMT

Ground has broken on a $30 million renovation and expansion at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.

Performing over 167,000 diagnostic tests on companion and agricultural animals, wildlife and zoo animals annually, the Level 1 Laboratory of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network plays a large role in early detection, testing and post-outbreaks of foreign and emerging animal diseases, such as avian influenza, African swine fever, classical swine fever, and foot-and-mouth disease.

The laboratory supports clients from 110 Missouri counties and 45 U.S. states.

The facility’s expansion and renovation will include 34,200 sq. ft. added to the existing building, including:

• Separate receiving areas and laboratories for routine, high-risk and foreign animal disease and biosecurity cases

• Separate laboratory spaces for clean materials and diseased or infected materials

• Space for client consultation

• An area for after-hours sample drop-offs

• Space for laboratory teaching and research

• ADA accessible entrances

The construction of the facility is expected to be complete by summer of 2024.

$80M in Funding Awarded to Roeslein Alternative Energy Partnership for Climate-Smart Project

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 15:00:21 GMT

To be used in a five-year pilot project in Iowa and Missouri, titled Horizon II, Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) and 13 public and private entity partners will dedicate $80 million in awarded funding from USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities to demonstrate a climate-smart future for corn, soybean, livestock and renewable natural gas production, a release says.

The goals of Horizon II include:

• Enhance climate-smart markets

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)

• Improve carbon sequestration in corn, soybean, pork and beef commodity production

• Create opportunities for small and underserved producers

• Benefit soil health

• Clean water

• Flood control

• Habitats for native wildlife

Improved management of nitrogen fertilizer and other inputs on agricultural land will also be incentivized.

In the pilot program, Iowa and Missouri producers will have the opportunity to be compensated by:

• GHG reductions and carbon sequestration in soil through an outcomes-based carbon credit program

• Cover cropping and grassland restoration though a market-based program, supporting renewable natural gas production through anaerobic digestion of herbaceous biomass and manure

After full development, deployment and verification, the program may be extended and tailored to other agricultural commodities, such as dairy and poultry, and other regions of the country, the release explains.

Partner organizations involved in the RAE Horizon II project include

• Biostar Renewables

• Conservation Districts of Iowa

• Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance

• Iowa Soybean Association•

• Iowa State University

• Missouri Prairie Foundation

• Sievers Family Farms

• Soil and Water Outcomes Fund

• Smithfield Foods

• The Nature Conservancy

• University of Missouri

• Verdesian

• Veterans in Agriculture.

“Since founding RAE, our overarching goal has been to provide farmers an alternative way to use land, especially highly erodible acres, in ways that will benefit the environment, wildlife, and their own livelihood,” says Rudi Roeslein, RAE founder and CEO. “This funding will propel Horizon II forward more rapidly than otherwise would have been possible. We will show how farmers and landowners can do well for themselves while also providing ecological services and wildlife benefits.”

AFG Breaks Ground on Missouri Beef Plant

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 23:21:24 GMT

American Foods Group, LLC (AFG) broke ground Monday on its $800 million state-of-the-art beef harvest facility in Warren County, MO. AFG says the plant will process 2,400 head of cattle per day once fully operational by the end of 2024.

“As a third-generation farmer and cattleman myself, I am proud to welcome AFG to Missouri,” said Governor Mike Parson. “This is a major development that will benefit Missouri’s agricultural producers and consumers for years to come. We couldn’t be more excited for AFG’s expansion in Missouri.”

The project is expected to generate $1 billion in annual economic impact in Missouri as the 775,000 square-feet plant will include a harvest floor, carcass chillers, fabrication area, rendering, further processing, storage coolers, freezers and loading docks.

“Today marks the start of our future in Warren County, Missouri, the addition of industry-needed hook space and fulfilling the needs of our customers, partners, and consumers for beef demand,” said Steve Van Lannen, President and COO of American Foods Group.

American Foods Group is a family-owned, U.S. beef processing company based in Green Bay, WI, with locations throughout the Midwest.

First Trial For Man Accused of Killing Wisconsin Brothers Set

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 17:35:41 GMT

The first of two trials for a Missouri man accused of killing two Wisconsin brothers is scheduled for Sept. 26, 2022. Garland Joseph Nelson, who has been held without bond since his arrest in July of 2019, is charged in the Western District of Missouri with mail fraud and being in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The case is related to the murders of Nick Diemel, 35, and Justin Diemel, 24, from Bonduel, Wisconsin. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Nelson alleging he murdered the Diemel brothers to cover up a $215,000 cattle fraud scheme.

The state of Missouri and the federal government agreed to have Nelson stand trial on the federal counts before the state murder case. In the state case, Nelson is charged with two counts of 1st degree murder and that trial is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2023. The state intends to seek the death penalty.

Federal prosecutors say Nelson entered a business arrangement with Diemel Livestock of which Nick and Justin were principals. Nelson agreed to feed and pasture the cattle and sell them on the sprawling farm owned by his mother. Nelson agreed to send the proceeds to Diemel’s Livestock.

The Diemels shipped loads of cattle to Nelson between November 2018 and April 2019, and he allegedly sold, traded or killed the cattle without sending payment to the Diemel brothers. Prosecutors said Nelson “continued to fraudulently bill the Diemels for feed and yardage for cattle that had been sold, traded or had died.”

The indictment said Nelson “did not properly care for cattle due to incompetence, neglect, or maltreatment. Cattle entrusted to Nelson had high death rates dues to underfeeding, neglect, and/or maltreatment. Nelson fed cattle inadequately and poorly,” reads a statement from the prosecutor’s office. “For example, he dropped hay bales in a pasture for calves but did not remove the plastic covering so that calves ate the plastic and died. In another example, in December 2018, Nelson was entrusted with feeding and caring for 131 calves he co-owned with a Kansas farmer. On May 23, 2019, Nelson dropped off 35 calves at the co-owner’s farm in Kansas, apparently all that survived of the 131. Of the surviving 35 calves, many were emaciated and had ringworm. Some calves had their ears torn as though identifying ear tags had been removed.”

Nick Diemel continued to press Nelson for payment and sent no more cattle to him. The indictment states Nelson sent the Diemels a $215,936 bad check. His account had a balance of 21 cents at the time. Prosecutors say the check had been intentionally torn so it could not be cashed.

In an attempt to collect on the deb, the Diemel brothers traveled to Nelson’s farm near Braymer, Missouri, on July 21,2019. They were never seen again. When the brothers missed their flight back to Wisconsin their family reported them missing.

The affidavit filed against Nelson states that he “acted alone or in concert with others in committing the act of murder against both Nick and Justin Diemel.” The affidavit says Nelson drove the Diemel brothers’ rental vehicle to a park-and-ride near Holt, Missouri. Nelson stated that he left the keys in the ignition and removed the Diemel brothers’ cell phones and tossed them along the roadway. He arranged for someone to pick him up and take him back to the farm.

Remains were found by detectives in a 55-gallon barrel in a pole barn on the Nelson farm. The affidavit states Nelson admitted to burning the remains, crushing the burn barrels, and cleaning up blood in a barn. A blood stain on Nelson’s clothing was a DNA match for Nick Diemel, according to the affidavit.

A neighbor described hearing the sound of multiple gunshots coming from the direction of the Nelson farm at about 11:15-to-11:30 on the morning of July 21. That’s the time Nelson admitted that the Diemels were on the property prior to Nelson driving their rental vehicle to Holt.

A fired 30-30 caliber cartridge was found in Nelson’s clothing, and 30-30 caliber ammunition was found in Nelson’s vehicle. Nelson was in possession of a 30-30 caliber rifle.

Missouri Governor Issues Executive Order for Drought Assistance

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 00:25:55 GMT

In response to increasingly dry conditions and the growing threat of serious drought, Missouri Governor Mike Parson issued Executive Order 22-04 calling upon the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to activate the Drought Assessment Committee and the associated drought impact teams.

“I know on my farm that conditions have deteriorated quickly, and we are hearing the same reports from countless other farm and ranch families across the state,” Governor Parson said. “By responding now, early in this drought, we can greatly reduce the impact on our agricultural community and Missouri citizens. Our farmers are a critical resource for our state, and it is important that we assist them as much as possible through this difficult time.”

Governor Parson has directed all state agencies to examine how they may assist affected communities, as well as those communities that may be affected in the future, through temporary suspension of administrative rules, appropriation, or other means of support to mitigate the effects of drought conditions. Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Mike Deering applauds the Governor for his rapid response.

“Our association and other organizations met with the governor on Monday, July 18, and we expressed the need to get on top of this issue now instead of waiting for conditions to worsen. A proactive response is critical as drought hits many cattle producing counties,” said Deering. “We applaud Governor Parson for acting immediately to engage all applicable state agencies in this effort.”

Additionally, Governor Parson has proactively directed the departments of Natural Resources and Conservation to create a process for allowing farmers water access at state parks and conservation areas. The Department of Natural Resources will also assess state park areas that can be made available for haying. The Missouri Department of Transportation will offer special over-width hauling permits, which waive certain fees and restrictions to farmers and ranchers moving hay.

The Executive Order declares a drought alert for 53 counties in southern and central Missouri, primarily counties south of the Missouri River. A drought alert, part of Missouri’s Drought Plan, is the initial catalyst that allows the Governor to direct state agencies to work together and provide as many resources and as much assistance as possible.

“Drought conditions in many parts of Missouri compound the challenges producers are already facing with high fuel prices and input costs,” Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn said. “Livestock producers are having to make difficult decisions about selling livestock because there is no pasture in many areas. Grain farmers are watching their crops wither before pollination. Conditions are difficult for many Missouri farmers and ranchers.”

In accordance with Missouri’s Drought Plan, the Department of Natural Resources has been engaging partners to assess emerging drought conditions for several weeks. In a fast-moving drought, local condition reports are crucial to understanding impacts to provide timely and appropriate assistance.

Citizens can submit information about local drought conditions at Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR). A variety of helpful resources are online at www.dnr.mo.gov/drought . The Department of Natural Resources is adding information on drought mitigation and assistance opportunities daily as it becomes available. The one-stop drought website features a link to CMOR, current drought-related news, the current United States and Missouri drought maps, the Missouri Drought Plan, and other resources, including information on previous droughts.

T Bar S Cattle Company Named American Gelbvieh Association Breeder of the Year

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 15:27:43 GMT

T Bar S Cattle Company is the recipient of this year’s Breeder of the Year award. The honor was presented to the Vehige family at the AGA National Convention and 50th Anniversary Celebration on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, in Oklahoma City.

T Bar S is located in Billings, Missouri, and is owned and operated by Tom and his wife, Stacy, along with their children, Justin, Kyle and Grace. The operation raises high quality, functional cattle that are proven performers both in the showring and the pasture. T Bar S offers cattle via private treaty as well as through an on-farm sale.

As long-time members, the Vehige family has been very active in the AGA and heavily involved in the American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA), with all three children having served on the AGJA board of directors. The Vehiges are also members of the Heart of America Gelbvieh Association.

The honor came as a surprise to Tom who shared that the family’s passion for Gelbvieh cattle has a foundation in the operation’s first breeding stock.

“I knew that I wouldn’t ever be able to have the number of cattle I wanted, so I set out to find the best,” Vehige says. “I wanted to be a part of something bigger than me. I wanted to raise what I thought were the best cattle in the cow-calf industry and that led me to the maternal qualities of the Gelbvieh breed.”

Vehige says that he had always been attracted to the continental side of the cattle business because of their outstanding performance and was impressed by the disposition and fertility of Gelbvieh. What he really fell in love with, however, was the calf crop.

“At the time, I wasn’t sure if it was the base of my cowherd or the Gelbvieh bull I had purchased, so I went back and bought some purebred females,” he says. “I quickly found out that it was the Gelbvieh I was attracted to. That was the foundation that I built the herd from.” Today, the operation that got its start in 1993 is operated as a family endeavor in every sense of the word.

“We were going to downsize, my wife and I. We didn’t ever want to force this on our children, but they have all wanted to be a part of what we are doing, and, really, that is the greatest blessing,” Vehige says. “We all have our strengths and we play into them. Every decision is decided on collectively. It’s just how we operate.”

Congratulations to T Bar S Cattle Company on being honored as the 2021 Breeder of the Year.

The American Gelbvieh Association is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,100 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance-oriented total herd reporting system.

Oetting Homestead Farms Receives Missouri Leopold Conservation Award

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 18:58:54 GMT

Oetting Homestead Farms of Concordia, Missouri, located in Lafayette County, has been selected as the recipient of the 2021 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award®. This award, named after renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, recognizes farmers, ranchers and foresters who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private land.

Steve and Sharon Oetting’s farm was announced as the award recipient during the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture in Osage Beach on November 18. For their recognition, the Oettings received a check for $10,000 and a crystal award.

In Missouri , this award is presented annually by Sand County Foundation , American Farmland Trust , Missouri Farmers Care Foundation , the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) .

“The Oetting family have demonstrated the long-term commitment necessary to constantly build and protect their land, allowing this 5th and 6th generation farm family to continue to make a living producing food for America,” said Scott Edwards, NRCS Missouri State Conservationist. “Being intentional in implementing conservation practices and investing in the future, make this farm an excellent example of the many good things happening in Missouri agriculture.”

Steve and Sharon have continually demonstrated the compatibility of conservation and commerce on their family’s century farm. With their sons Sean and Clint and their families, the Oettings grow corn, soybeans, wheat, and custom finish 3,000 hogs annually. Their efforts to reduce soil erosion, enhance wildlife habitat and protect water and air quality led to Oetting Homestead Farms being certified as one of the first farms in the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Stewardship Assurance Program.

“In agriculture, our greatest resource is the land, and as farmers, it is our duty to be good stewards of that land for future generations,” said Kyle Durham, chairman of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. “Sustainability is one of the top priorities for the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, and it’s outstanding to see the spotlight on the Oetting family’s example of stewardship.”

In the 1970s, the Oettings transitioned from dairy to pork production. To store swine manure, they constructed a three-lagoon system with an adjoining 2.8-acre lake, which eliminated the need to purchase 1.3 million gallons of fresh water annually. The lake is used for watering livestock and other farm uses, including washing barns. Effluent treated in the lagoons is recycled to provide nutrients for crops at a much lower cost than commercial fertilizer.

To prevent erosion, rotational cropping of no-till corn and soybeans is used on all available cropland. Underground tile outlets and terraces are installed and maintained. In consultation with a certified crop advisor, the family utilizes soil sampling and variable rate fertilizing and seeding practices. The use of precision agriculture enables the Oettings to apply crop nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in precise amounts to limit risk of runoff and increase yield potential while cutting input costs.

“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the Missouri award recipient,” said John Piotti, AFT President and Chief Executive Officer. “At AFT, we believe that conservation in agriculture requires a focus on the land, the practices and the people and this award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

Earlier this year, Missouri landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders. Among the many outstanding Missouri farmers nominated for the award were finalists: Britt Farms of Clifton Hill in Randolph County, and Cope Grass Farms of Truxton in Lincoln County.

“Leopold Conservation Award recipients are at the forefront of a movement by America’s farmers and ranchers to simultaneously achieve economic and environmental success,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer.

The Leopold Conservation Award Program in Missouri is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Missouri Farmers Care Foundation, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Sand County Foundation, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, MFA, Inc., Missouri Fertilizer Control Board, FCS Financial, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Missouri Soil and Water Conservation Program, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, McDonald’s and The Nature Conservancy in Missouri.

In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.” Sand County Foundation presents the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 23 states with a variety of conservation, agricultural and forestry organizations. For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org .

LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD PROGRAM

The Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. Sand County Foundation presents the award in California, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont). www.leopoldconservationaward.org

SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION

Sand County Foundation inspires and empowers a growing number of private landowners to ethically manage natural resources in their care, so future generations have clean and abundant water, healthy soil to support agriculture and forestry, plentiful habitat for wildlife and opportunities for outdoor recreation. www.sandcountyfoundation.org

AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST

American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through its No Farms, No Food message. Since its founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.5 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally sound farming practices on millions of additional acres, and supported thousands of farm families. www.farmland.org

MISSOURI FARMERS CARE FOUNDATION

Missouri Farmers Care Foundation enables Missourians to understand the influence and importance of agriculture in their daily lives by serving as the centralized hub of the unified educational programs, awards, and hunger relief efforts of Missouri’s agricultural community. www.MOFarmersCare.com

MISSOURI SOYBEAN MERCHANDISING COUNCIL

The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council is a statewide, farmer-led organization working to improve opportunities for Missouri soybean farmers through a combination of research, outreach, education and market development efforts through the soybean checkoff. www.mosoy.org

USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS)

NRCS, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, provides financial and technical assistance on a voluntary basis to land users interested in protecting, restoring and enhancing natural resources. NRCS helps people help the land through more than 100 local offices located in USDA Service Centers. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. www.mo.nrcs.usda.gov

Cattle Fraud Charges Added To Diemel Murders

Wed, 19 May 2021 20:39:30 GMT

A Missouri man facing capital murder charges in the deaths of two Wisconsin brothers is now also facing federal cattle fraud charges.

The Department of Justice announced this week that a federal grand jury in Kansas City, MO, returned one count of mail fraud against Garland Joseph Nelson in connection to the 2019 murder of Wisconsin brothers Nicholas and Justin Diemel.

Nelson has been held since July 2019 without bail, and trial for double murder is set for June 2022 in Johnson County, MO. The case was moved from Caldwell County to Warrensburg, MO, due to pretrial publicity.

Garland Nelson

A DOJ news release about the mail fraud charges alleges Nelson entered into a business relationship with the Diemel brothers to care for cattle. While Nelson cared for some of the Diemels’ cattle, he is alleged to have sold, traded or killed some cattle without paying the Diemels any of the proceeds, and continued to bill the Diemels for care of the cattle.

When the Diemels became suspicious of the scheme, they stopped sending cattle to Nelson and demanded payment. Nelson eventually sent the Diemels a check for nearly $216,000, but the check was tied to a bank account with just .21 cents.

Court documents allege that, as Nicholas Diemel became frustrated with Nelson’s lack of payment, he and his brother traveled to Missouri to retrieve the money. It was during that trip in July 2019 where Nelson allegedly killed the brothers and attempted to dispose of their bodies.

Nelson faces a possible death penalty if convicted of the murder charges.

Related stories:

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Change Of Venue Sought In Diemel Brothers Murder Case

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:56:04 GMT

A Missouri man accused of murdering two Wisconsin brothers last year is seeking a new judge and a change of venue for his trial.

In a Zoom hearing on Monday, an attorney for Garland Joseph Nelson filed the motions. Nelson has been held without bail since July 26, 2019.

Nelson faces two counts of first-degree murder and several other charges in the deaths of Nick Diemel, 35, and Justin Diemel, 24, of Shawano County, WI, partners in a cattle operation. Court documents said the two traveled to Missouri last July to collect a $250,000 debt. The brothers were reported missing July 21 when they failed to show up for a flight home and did not answer their phones.

Caldwell County, MO, Sheriff Jerry Galloway announced charges against Nelson on Oct. 23, 2019, including two counts of first degree murder, two counts of abandonment of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, unlawful possession of a firearm and armed criminal action.

According to a probable cause statement, Nelson shot the brothers, put their bodies in 55-gallon barrels and used a skid loader to move them one at a time from a barn to a pasture. There, he allegedly burned them using diesel fuel and an unknown liquid. Nelson told investigators he then dumped the remains on a manure pile and hid the barrels elsewhere on his property, about 70 miles northeast of Kansas City, MO. Their remains were found in Missouri and Nebraska.

The Diemel brothers operated Diemel Livestock, Navarino, Wisc., and they had business dealings with cattlemen in multiple states.

Nelson has a previous conviction for selling cattle that didn’t belong to him. According to a Department of Justice news release in 2016, Nelson was sentenced in federal court to two years in federal prison without parole “for a cattle fraud scheme that resulted in losses of more than $262,000 to his victims.”

Nelson reported to the Bureau of Prisons on Nov. 21, 2016, to begin serving that sentence.

In August of 2019, after Nelson had been arrested in connection with the Diemel case, he was charged in Bourbon County, Kan., with five counts of transporting diseased animals across state lines and endangering the food supply. The charges stem from alleged violations on May 1, 2020, more than two months before the Diemel brothers came to Caldwell County, MO., to visit Nelson’s farm.

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Diemel Remains Possibly Found In Nebraska Stock Trailer, Sheriff Says

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:53:14 GMT

In a bizarre twist to a strange murder case, a Nebraska rancher says he found human remains in a stock trailer he purchased in Missouri and now authorities are investigating a possible connection to the Diemel brothers’ murders.

The Lincoln County, Neb., Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post the rancher called them on Friday after he dumped a large plastic tub full of dirt that was in the stock trailer onto his driveway. The rancher believed there were human remains in the dirt.

“Upon examination, Deputies confirmed the remains were definitely human and noticed personal items in the tub,” the Facebook post said. “Deputies were able to ascertain the remains possibly belonged to one of two brothers from Wisconsin, who were alleged victims of a homicide in northwestern Missouri.”

The Lincoln County sheriff contacted the Caldwell County, MO, sheriff who flew with Missouri State Police into Lincoln County Friday evening to retrieve the remains.

Nick and Justin Diemel went missing in Northwest Missouri on July 21. The Wisconsin brothers went to Garland Nelson’s farm to collect $250,000 they were owed for cattle, according to court documents. Human remains were found on the farm by authorities 10 days later.

Garland Joseph Nelson, 25, was arrested July 26 for tampering with a rental vehicle after authorities said he drove a truck the brothers rented from his farm to a commuter lot where it was found abandoned. He was charged with two counts of murder on Oct. 23, 2019. Nelson had been held without bail since his arret.

The Diemel brothers operated Diemel Livestock, Navarino, Wisc., and they had business dealings with cattlemen in multiple states.

Related stories:

Murder Charges Filed In Missing Diemel Brothers Case

Missing Diemel Brothers’ Business Described By Wisc. Auction Manager

Mershon Cattle Receive BIF Commercial Producer Award

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:49:27 GMT

The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) presented Bruce and Tracey Mershon of Mershon Cattle LLC the BIF Commercial Producer of the Year Award June 18 during the group’s annual meeting and symposium in Brookings, S.D. This national award is presented annually to a producer to recognize their dedication to improving the beef industry at the commercial level.

Mershon Cattle LLC is a diversified crop and livestock operation headquartered on a Century Farm in Buckner, Mo. The Mershon family has deep roots in Missouri agriculture. In 1865, Bruce’s great-great-grandfather, Eli Mershon, settled in the Fort Osage area of Jackson County and purchased 160 acres shortly thereafter. The family has farmed there ever since.

Bruce and Tracey Mershon have owned cattle since 1993 and launched Mershon Cattle LLC in 2012. They purchased Sunny Acres Farm in Appleton City, Mo., in 2013 to expand the operation. The Mershon cow herd consists of 1,600 Angus-based, crossbred cows, which are bred to Hereford, Simmental and Charolais sires. This complementary breeding program allows the operation to produce efficient, high-performing offspring, and is paired with a sustainable grass management program to maximize environmental stewardship.

Bruce and Tracey have built their award-winning cattle operation while working full time as a commodity trader and marketing communications professional, respectively. A key to their success is gathering complete phenotypic records on each calf crop from birth to harvest. In conjunction with utilizing cutting-edge reproductive technologies, this phenotypic data is used to implement strategic improvements in building accuracy for their cow herd.

In 2017, the American Hereford Association (AHA) invited Mershon Cattle to become a test herd in the National Reference Sire Program (NRSP). Bruce and Tracey were already using Hereford semen and collecting the complete phenotypic data required for the NRSP, making this program an ideal fit for Mershon Cattle. Through participation in the NRSP, replacement females and fed steers will be ran through an individual feed intake system to establish a baseline for feed efficiency.

The Mershons are passionate about growing their community and bettering the beef industry. Bruce and Tracey hold leadership roles within multiple livestock organizations and other national agricultural groups. Through leadership and involvement, the Mershons endeavor to improve their operation, their land, their community and the beef industry every day. Mershon Cattle LLC was nominated by the AHA.

Beef producers, academia and industry representatives attended the organization’s 51st annual convention. BIF’s mission is to help improve the industry by promoting greater acceptance of beef cattle performance evaluation.

Duo Pleads Guilty to Kansas-Oklahoma Interstate Cattle Theft

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:48:03 GMT

A pair from Kansas and Oklahoma have plead guilty to charges of cattle rustling that involves moving stolen cattle from Kansas to be sold in Oklahoma.

According to the Department of Justice , Anthony Francis Whittley, 28, of Parsons, Kansas, and Jasmine A. Boone, 28, of Wister, Oklahoma, entered their guilty pleas on June 5. The pair were charged on March 19, 2019, by a federal grand jury with transporting 17 stolen cattle in interstate commerce. Whittley and Boone allegedly stole the cattle on Dec. 11, 2018 , from a pasture outside Columbus, Kansas, and the cattle were found that same day more than 200 miles away at the Oklahoma National Stockyards Co. outside Oklahoma City. The pair of cattle rustlers were arrested that day in December and admitted to further crimes.

In their guilty pleas, both Whittley and Boone admitted to transporting cattle in interstate commerce, along with their involvement in similar thefts in Crawford County, Kansas, and LeFlore County, Oklahoma, during the second half of 2018. The cattle stolen in the other cases were sold in Tulsa and Springfield, Missouri, respectively. The pair also admitted to selling stolen cattle from Cherokee County, Kansas, at an auction near Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

The case of the stolen cattle that ultimately resulted in Whittley and Boone’s arrest was the result of quick work by law enforcement officials both in Kansas and Oklahoma. The day the cattle were reported missing to the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office by the cattle owner, authorities in Oklahoma were able identify the owner’s brand on the cattle at the Oklahoma National Stockyards.

“I’m excited about the way this case came together very quickly, thanks to rapid and accurate information sharing along with collaboration between the cattle owner, representatives of the sale barn, and all law enforcement involved, including the Special Livestock Investigators in Kansas and Oklahoma,” said Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves, after Whittley and Boone’s arrest.

As part of the guilty plea Whittley agreed to pay more than $43,000 in restitution, including more than $15,000 to USDA’s Farm Service Agency for the sale of mortgaged cattle without the lender’s authorization. Boone will pay back more than $28,000 in restitution.

Sentencing is expected to take place in approximately 90 days and each defendant could face up to five years in prison, with an additional three years of supervised release and fines up to $250,000.

The case is the result of an investigation by the Major Theft Task Force of the FBI Oklahoma City Division; the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture; the Missouri Highway Patrol; the Kansas Attorney General’s Office; the County Attorney’s Offices and Sheriff’s Offices in Cherokee County and Crawford County, Kansas; and the District Attorney’s Office of LeFlore County, Oklahoma.

A map showing the distance between Columbus, Kansas and the Stockyards in Oklahoma City can be seen below:

For more on this case and other cases of cattle theft read the following stories from Drovers:

Regrowth Fescue Offers Potential Hay Baling Time for Beef Cow Herds

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:25:39 GMT

A long-delayed spring grass-growing season with frequent rains didn’t give days for making hay. Regrowth season just ahead holds promise, says a University of Missouri forage specialist.

Craig Roberts looks to the cool-season grass slump ahead to be productive. That depends on weather staying warm and wet but not droughty.

Livestock farmers with grazing herds need better days ahead. After more than two years of bad-hay days, they must refill hay sheds.

Warmer days and nights with rains can make grass regrow, Roberts says. A cold spring didn’t give many days with 70-degree average temperatures needed to make grass grow. Too many days had 40-degree lows that cut temperature averages.

As a result, grass grew short leaves and sent up long-stem seed heads.

That didn’t provide good grazing, nor did it provide hay.

Long-term-outlook weather maps show warmer weather and nearer normal rainfall. Recent long-range weather maps covering the usual summer slump period don’t show droughts ahead.

The unusual recent weather has provided leading topics in the weekly teleconferences among MU Extension agronomists.

Good regrowth depends on having seed heads removed. With seed stems gone, new growth will be in haymaking leaves.

Removing seed stems improves forage quality, Roberts says. Stems contain low energy. Removing seed heads cuts toxins in K-31 fescue, the most used grass in Missouri. However, grass leaves will contain some ergovaline, one of the fescue poisons. The hay will be better.

Regrowth isn’t as productive as the spring surge of forage growth. The second growth gives moderate nutrition, as it doesn’t contain seed stems. Regrowth provides needed hay for winter feeding.

It won’t be high-quality “horse hay,” Roberts says. “It meets needs of beef herd owners.”

The key to success is having seed heads removed on spring growth.

If frequent rainy days thwart hay-drying days, baleage can store high-moisture forage. Grass too moist to cure for hay can be wrapped in plastic to ensile and store.

Roberts warns that baleage made from toxic fescue will remain toxic. Ensiling preserves toxins. On the other hand, drying and baling toxic fescue hay cuts toxin in half.

The longer toxic fescue is stored in bales, the fewer toxins will remain.

Stockpiling cool-season fescue for grazing into the winter allows saving the bales for late-winter feeding. It is less harmful then.

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