Latest News From ROW CROPS

Emergency crews on Tuesday struggled to contain deadly wildfires that have scorched hundreds of square miles of land in four states and forced thousands of people to flee their homes ahead of the wind-whipped flames.

Corn and steer prices go hand-in-hand.

Commodities dropped 40-60% in value the past few years. How much longer will the slide continue? 

New proposal is big on complexity, short on clarity when it comes to redirecting funds 

Bullish fund holdings signal ‘change in sentiment’ for prices.

The farm economy has been struggling for a while now, especially with weak cattle prices and disease issues in wheat. 

Historically feeder cattle prices have been determined by several factors, with corn price and fed-cattle price having the greatest impact. 

Drought has led officials to allow emergency haying and grazing on conservation land in four south-central Nebraska counties.

Skepticism over record-breaking crop production estimates explains why the market shrugged off the “hugely bearish” USDA Aug. 12 report, according to Jack Scoville of the Price Futures Group.  

A long-term grazing study shows the advantage of a diversified mix of pasture plant species.

Using small grains as a dependable forage source will depend on several factors, including production potential, season of production, and winterhardiness. 

Smooth bromegrass is a cool-season introduced grass with an advanced root system that tolerates temperature extremes and drought exceptionally well. 

The spread of multiflora rose in Pennsylvania has caused it to be designated as a noxious weed. Multiflora rose can be controlled but it takes considerable effort.

Tips for controlling thistles, multiflora rose, and other troublesome pasture weeds.

We’ve heard “North Florida can grow forage 365 days a year!” for ages, and that’s true. However, those of us who’ve carried livestock through more than one winter with our own money, or worse, a bank’s money, know that it’s just not that simple. 

Improving the amount of green leaves capturing sunlight begins with proper stocking rates.

When summer turns the heat up, ranchers in the fescue belt need to manage pastures more aggressively. 

After having to throttle down for more than a week due to periods of pounding rainfall and spotty hail, mid-Willamette Valley farmers put combines back to work in area grass seed fields over the weekend.

The wheat still calls a Kansas cattleman to harvest.

Grain futures were lower Thursday in early trading on the Chicago Board of Trade.

While everyone should have some hay on hand for emergency feeding, baling pastures may not be the best option.

Current market prices for harvested feed are competitive in many cases with pasture rental rates when compared on a price per ton basis. 

It’s never too early to be focused on the next potential forage stressor – Summer.

The first principle that needs to be understood is forage maturity determines forage quality, explains Rory Lewandowski, Ohio State University Extension. 

Another way to manage old world bluestem using glyphosate is by doing a one-time application of 2-3 pounds per acre once the plant begins early heading.

Evaluate your recent winter-feeding season. Stockpiling grass in the fall reduces farm expenses. Strip graze to effectively use stockpiled pastures.

A new K-State publication provides vital information on plants that, if consumed, could harm cattle and other livestock.

Monitoring helps determine how much forage has been consumed.

Winter feed stores are dwindling and the urge to get cows to grass is escalating.

The agricultural loss from the March flooding across Louisiana could top $15 million, according to an economist with the LSU AgCenter.

Start a fly control program early to capture higher rates of gain

The latest coverage of the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) and how it will impact producers and veterinarians.

Grazing time is coming back with spring’s arrival on cool season perennial pastures around the southeast, but before dispatching the cattle to the pasture, producers should make some preparations. 

Beef producers take pride in their cattle. When replacing toxic-fescue pastures, they can take pride in grass, says an extension forage specialist.

Agriculture prices are heading for the longest rally in four years, as adverse weather and rising demand finally help to reduce the outlook for global gluts of food supplies.

Main concerns about alfalfa production during this time of the year are the potential for winter injury and winter kill.

Mapping the long-term reaction of woody plants to brush-control techniques can help landowners prioritize management practices to maximize the effectiveness of costly brush reduction, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research study.

As single digit and below zero temperatures arrive, be happy if you received snow recently. Sure, snow created some problems, but snow is good – for alfalfa.

While there are many positives to incorporating forage cover crops into existing forage systems, differences in production, nutritional value, and animal gain exist.

Chances are you’re not thinking about forage testing in January but maybe you should be.  

Hungry cattle help researchers discover drought-resistant wheat variety

Livestock and grain markets have seen some price fluctuation recently. What impact did the day off for Martin Luther King Day have on the markets?

Grassland soil microbe communities show seasonal responses, deserve more research.

Many farmers are now becoming more interested in cover crops due to their soil conservation and water quality benefits, and livestock producers may find them attractive as food for grazing animals. But farmers need to exercise caution when it comes to herbicide selection if they intend to graze or harvest the cover crop.

“The bottom line is that we ended an era and started a new one,” said Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group in Chicago, speaking on Farm Journal Radio with Pam Fretwell. “We’ve ended 10 years of zero interest rates. ... That rodeo is over.”

Argentine President Mauricio Macri carried through on a campaign pledge by eliminating export taxes on agricultural goods including beef, wheat and corn while cutting a tariff on soybeans by 5 percentage points.

Science has helped advance grazing and forage over the past century.

“I have never seen livestock and grains in my lifetime as negative as they are right now,” said Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group in Chicago and a farmer in Illinois, speaking with Farm Journal Radio after the report.

Financial and political turmoil that put Brazil on the brink of a depression also is contributing to one of the best years ever for domestic farmers.

University of Missouri Extension and Missouri State University will host a seminar on "Livestock Forage Use and Poisonous Plants" beginning at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the MSU Fruit Experiment Station, 9740 Red Spring Road, Mt Grove, Mo.