Efficient Manure Management on Small Acreages
The management of manure is critical on small acreages. Learn more from an ag and biosystems engineer.
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Farmers Encouraged to Update Hay and Straw Directory
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship offers a free directory to connect farmers who sell hay or straw with local producers who are interested in purchasing it. Organizations associated with promoting and marketing hay and straw can also access the free, online tool. The Department encourages users to update their listing every year.
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Movement Risks Checklist for Organic and Alternative Livestock
Items moving on and off your farm or ranch can bring disease. Recognizing movement risks can help you prevent them. The Livestock Project has created a Step 1: Movement risks checklist that can help you recognize and think about the types of movements that happen on your operation. In addition, the checklist can help you take the necessary steps to make those movements as safe as possible. The movements themselves and how often they occur are the key ideas to keep in mind. Major categories of movement risks are – animals and animal products, vehicles and equipment, visitors and personnel, and wildlife and pests.
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Fly Control
With summer in full gear it is a good time to evaluate how your fly control program is working. When horn fly numbers are greater than 200 flies per animal we see significant production losses associated with blood loss and decreased feed consumption. Numbers of face flies and stable flies are harder to assess because they only spend a small amount of time feeding on cattle but are still significant pests.
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Pastureland Grazing Publication Describes Iowa Grazing Practices
In an effort to help Iowa beef producers remain profitable, Iowa Beef Center conducted several grazing and pasture management programs from 2013 to 2018. This six-page publication summarizes the findings of that evaluation to determine the changes in Iowa’s pasture management and to look at the effectiveness of IBC’s various pasture programs.
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Flood Recovery for Pastures
Flood waters are receding, but the challenges in recovery for farmers and livestock producers are just beginning. Beth Doran, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialist, recommends producers get out in their fields as soon as possible. "Beef producers should assess the damage to pastures and hay ground, then check out possible disaster assistance," she said. Doran advised cattlemen to look for three things in their assessment - debris, silt on the forage, and thinned or dead forage plants.
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Importance of Premises Registration
Registering your premises for a Premises ID Number (PIN) is an important step in the process of disease management.
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Winter Manure Management
Manure can cause odor and water quality concerns if it is not properly managed. Learn about an alternative to daily manure hauling and how it can improve your livestock operation.
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Livestock Enterprise Budgets
This article contains estimates of production costs for common livestock enterprises in Iowa. Are you thinking of adding a new enterprise next year? Knowing estimated production costs of a specific enterprise can help you make informed decisions.
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Veterinary Feed Directive: What Small Farming Operations Need to Know
What does the Veterinary Feed Directive mean for small-scale livestock producers? First, it is important to note that the new FDA rules apply to all livestock producers, practicing veterinarians, and distributors of medicated feeds regardless of the operation size. What does that mean for you?
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