Ag News and Views: September 2009

I recently returned from both the Oklahoma and Texas Pecan Growers annual conventions. Both conventions offer growers educational opportunities, trade shows and a chance to network with some of the top producers in the industry.

Providing industry members with the tools to respond to these positions, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association has developed a free, self-directed educational program called the Master of Beef Advocacy to equip cattlemen and women to be the voice of the cattle industry.

With high protein prices, many people are thinking about growing alfalfa, some for the first time ever. While alfalfa can be very profitable, there are some common mistakes that can take you from profitability to loss quickly.

Beef cattle producers across the United States requested additional information from the Noble Research Institute about how they can participate in the marketing of their naturally produced beef cattle.

Grasslands are complex environments comprised of many different kinds of living organisms affected by abiotic factors such as weather. There are few things that are black and white in such complex ecosystems, but there may be some self-evident "truths." If you haven't considered them in your grazing operation, perhaps you should.

Many people view honey mesquite as a poor quality rangeland plant. However, it provides cover and food for wildlife and livestock; plus it is a legume that has the ability to fix nitrogen back into the soil.

Nitrogen is the most important plant nutrient, and, when deficient, it significantly reduces productivity. Primarily, nitrogen improves plant efficiency, resulting in increased forage nutritive value and reduced fiber content.