December 2012

The Feedlot Forum 2013 will be held at a new location, Terrace View Event Center just south of Sioux Center, on Jan. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The forum will address a variety of new beef issues– animal welfare audits, new feed processing methods, global trade and formula pricing – facing feedlot producers in 2013.

It might be easy to assume that young ones are not impacted by tragic events in other parts of the country, but children have a keen sense of radar and pick up on adults’ body language, conversations, and news media stories. Malisa Rader, a family life program specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, suggests parents be reassuring, monitor their TV viewing when children are present and watch for signs of stress in their children.

Horticulture specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach have advice on how to maintain plants during the winter, including how to protect trees and shrubs from salt damage. Even though it may not seem necessary to care for plants during winter, it is key to ensuring beautiful yards and gardens in the spring.

How can cover crops, strip-tillage, tile drainage systems, small grains and woodchip bioreactors benefit the soil and enhance production in corn and soybean systems? Find out at Practical Farmers of Iowa’s 2013 annual conference, “Soil and Soul,” Jan. 10-12 at the Iowa State University campus in Ames.