News

BRaNDS Software from Iowa Beef Center

The BRANDS (Beef Ration and Nutrition Decisions Software) software packages have been updated to make them even better for producers and nutritionists. These interactive spreadsheets for Microsoft® Excel from the Iowa Beef Center (IBC) assists producers in balancing rations for their different types of cattle and helps them better use home-raised feeds.

Canner full of water and cans.

Times have changed since great grandma was canning for her family. Today’s recipes have been scientifically tested to ensure a safe product. So before trying any of those old family canning recipes, call AnswerLine, the home and family hotline at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Blue spruce tree

Blue spruces are a favorite conifer of Iowans and several reasons.  In addition to being a beautiful tree that maintains color year round, these trees make an excellent wind break and for the most part grow quite well here.  When we see diseases in blue spruce, which is not often, it usually is one of two different types--Cytospora Canker and Rhizospharea Needle Cast.