Ag News and Views: May 2013
Download Issue (PDF)
Conserving roost sites helps maintain Rio Grande turkey
Fall and winter roost habitat may be the most critical and limited Rio Grande turkey habitat. Wild turkeys roost in relatively tall, mature trees with large crowns, spreading horizontal branches, and relatively few woody plants and tall herbaceous plants under their canopies.
Does fertilizer still pay for stocker operations?
The price of fertilizer has been on the rise, and old rules of thumb can no longer be used with today's high fertilizer and cattle prices.
New animal identification rules aid disease traceability
The USDA has initiated the Animal Disease Traceability Program to track interstate livestock movement. The new rule replaces the previous unpopular version of the National Animal Identification System and pertains to all livestock, including cattle, horses, sheep and goats.
Rainfall and forage data guide stocking decisions
The adage "you cannot manage what you do not measure" has many applications, including stocking rate or, more accurately, carrying capacity. However, in the management of beef cattle operations, carrying capacity has traditionally received little attention.