Ag News and Views: January 2008

It has been well documented that bobwhite habitat has steadily decreased and habitat fragmentation has increased. In 2006, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Natural Resources Conservation Service partnered together to improve bobwhite habitat on a landscape level with a program called the Quail Habitat Restoration Initiative through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program.

With the increasing cost of inputs, many producers are looking for ways to cut costs while still maintaining yield. The most economical forage system will have a diverse set of species to provide high quality forage throughout the entire year to reduce the need for hay and feed.

Mother Nature blessed us with above normal rainfalls during the spring and early summer, which aided in a very heavy crop set for most of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas.

Fertilizer prices are at a historic high, and, with the amount of corn acres predicted in 2008, the outlook is that prices will climb even higher next spring. So, at what nitrogen fertilizer price is it no longer economical to fertilize bermudagrass in a cow/calf enterprise?

Everything we do throughout the year has an impact on a ranch's overall profitability. One thing that directly impacts the bottom line is the time of year that your calves are born. An annual plan should be in place well before bull turnout time.

When a vehicle is used in a trade or business, the expenses to own and operate the vehicle are deductible in most situations. It is common, however, for vehicles to be driven for both business and personal use. In this case, the business owner must divide these expenses, usually by miles driven for each purpose.