Livestock

Local Highlights

May 14, 2013

The April 2013 budget made some good improvement for dairy farmers. The biggest reason for the improvement was lower cost corn and a larger MILC payment. Also the hay price declined. Further feed cost declines should show up in the May budget.

April 17, 2013

After an extended dry period in Iowa, recent rains remind us this is a good time for beef and dairy farmers with open lots and cow yards to evaluate if runoff from their cattle yards affects waters below the yard.

April 17, 2013

Profitability in the cattle feeding industry is extremely simple; buy cheap, sell high. But implementing that strategy is anything but simple. Now, the Iowa Beef Center is providing an on-line tool to help make it easier to manage the margin between purchase and selling price. It is called the “crush margin” Margin Maker.

April 17, 2013

With calving well underway, now is the time to focus some attention on your bull power. When thinking about bull management, young bulls need to be separate from mature bulls.

April 17, 2013

A hog production facility idled by the economy is back in production. However, there are sounds of splashes and not squeals coming from the farm operation near Webster City. The business, Iowa’s First, has taken a proactive approach to circumventing the losses in livestock production due to economic changes by moving into fish farming.

Agriculture and Natural Resources has to many resources to help Iowans. Get a list of them all here.

Statewide Resources

  • Works to promote efficient pork production technologies in Iowa, maintain Iowa's pork industry leadership and strengthen rural development efforts.

  • Your link to Master Equine Manager, Grazing News, and information on educational opportunities throughout the year.

  • Bringing the benefits of veterinary medicine to society by promoting animal welfare and public health through the on-going education of veterinarians and the dissemination of animal health production, food safety and animal welfare information to veterinarians, livestock producers, consumers, and related clientele.

  • Research-based, peer-reviewed, practical, and affordable publications on a number of topics relative to agriculture.

  • Agricultural economics and business resources to help make sound management decisions for your business or farming operation.

  • Enhancing Dairy Profits and Quality of Life

  • Working to develop and deliver the latest in research-based information to improve the profitability and vitality of Iowa’s beef industry.

  • To add value to the egg industry by facilitating research and learning for egg producers, processors and consumers through national and international collaboration.

  • Comprehensive information on manure management, research and application for Iowa.

  •  Information on livestock housing systems, general construction and ventilation and animal environment.

  • The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center is an electronic, national resource for producers interested in value-added agriculture. Browse commodities and products, investigate market and industry trends, study business creation and operation, read research results and locate value-added resources.

  • The Value Added Agriculture Program (VAAP) provides unbiased, science-based information to help establish or expand agricultural-related businesses in Iowa.

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