When spring-calving season is over or almost complete, then the next breeding season is already beginning or just around the corner. During a 75-90 day breeding season, it's not uncommon for a bull to lose 100 to 200 pounds - sometimes even more. For that reason, your bulls should be in a body condition score (BCS) of 5.5 to 6.5 and consuming primarily a high roughage diet (hay or pasture). If your bulls fit this description going into the breeding season, congratulations! You are ahead of the game. You understand the benefit of evaluating bulls well before the breeding season so that any needed adjustments in diet and condition can be made gradually.
Often, many of us aren't so on top of things and don't give the bulls much attention until their annual breeding soundness examination 30-60 days before turn-out. That's not much time to make adjustments in body condition. For instance, consider a bull that is in a BCS 5 and weighs 1,600 pounds. You need him in a BCS 6 at turn-out, so he'll need to gain about 125 pounds. If you have 60 days before the breeding season, he'll have to gain over 2 pounds per day. It's possible to get that rate of gain and still use a primarily roughage diet. If you only have 30 days, though, he'd need to gain over 4 pounds per day. That rate of gain is possible, but his diet would have to be mostly concentrate, with very little roughage.
If you let conditioning slip up on you, your options are limited, but all may not be lost. There are some things you can do. First, use what time you have left before turn-out to gain the bulls at a moderate rate of 2-2.5 pounds. Supplementation, if any, will depend on pasture or hay quality.
Second, rotate the thinnest, most active bulls out of service periodically. Rest them and supplement with a high-energy feedstuff. "Periodically" may mean as often as weekly, if necessary. Third, consider increasing your bull power by adding another one or two to the battery.
Fourth, observe the bulls frequently during the breeding season, especially in situations where the bulls lack adequate condition starting out. Record the service dates of the cows, then observe those females in 18-23 days to make sure they are not coming back into heat. If they are, it's almost certainly the bull's fault.
Fifth, vow to evaluate the bulls next year at least 60-90 days before the breeding season. This lead time will allow you to properly "fit" the bulls for the breeding season. Remember the three most important factors:
Body condition score: Provide a level of nutrition so bulls reach a BCS of 5.5 to 6.5 at the start of the breeding season.
Diet: Allow adequate weight gain to attain desired BCS using a maximum of forage (hay or grass) and a minimum of concentrate.
Exercise: Provide plenty of space so bulls can become accustomed to covering lots of ground. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Chute N The Bull
On some ranches, hay feeding is caused by the calving season, regardless of the stocking rate. This is because cows in late gestation and early lactation have nutrient requirements that often dramatically exceed the nutrient content of available forage.
I recently worked with a client on this situation. He has a demanding job in town and wants to minimize the labor input into his cow herd. He also is interested in improving and using the native range on his place. We recommended, and he adopted, an appropriate stocking rate for no hay feeding. However, the calving season of his cows is almost requiring him to feed hay, even though there is abundant native range. He purchased some young bred cows scheduled to calve in February. The cows were a little thin, and he needed to improve body condition on these cows. When evaluating supplement programs, I quickly came to the conclusion that cows in this situation might need more than 10 lbs. of 20 percent cubes per cow per day. While that may be physically possible, it didn't strike me as a good idea. Feeding this much supplement would cost $10 per cow per week, not to mention loading, unloading, reloading and feeding 84 bags per week. That is a lot of money and a lot of work. When you consider this rancher really doesn't have time to feed cows every day, this program becomes impossible.
Although we could possibly devise some other supplement program, the real culprit here is the calving season. If these cows were going to calve in May instead of February, this impossible situation becomes easy to manage. In January, cows that are still four months away from calving can simply be fed about 1 lb. of 38 percent cubes per day, even if they are slightly thin and grazing low quality forage. Before they calve, they will have several weeks of high quality spring grazing, and the grass will be getting better while they calve, lactate and breed back. Feeding 1 lb. of feed per day is much easier (and cheaper) than 10 lbs. of feed per day. Further, these cows can easily be fed the needed supplement just two or three days per week, further reducing labor input. The rancher also won't have to worry about the newborn calves in May because they won't be cold-stressed. For this rancher, the advantages to May calving begin to stack up.
There may be a few disadvantages to moving the calving season to May, such as reduced weaning weights in the fall. A quick analysis at current calf prices indicates that May-born calves could be worth $100 less than February-born calves in the fall. Further, it is possible that the cows might suffer from reduced conception rates due to heat stress during the breeding season. However, both of those issues could be managed around at relatively low cost.
Calving season should be an individual decision for each ranch, based on available resources. Certainly the costs will vary due to forage base, labor costs, cow type, etc. However, timing of calving dictates many other management decisions so consider it carefully. Don't set your calving season because that is what you've always done or because that is what your neighbors do. For the most part, if you calve when your neighbors do, you'll get the same results and do the same amount of work that they do. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax
I recently worked with a client on this situation. He has a demanding job in town and wants to minimize the labor input into his cow herd. He also is interested in improving and using the native range on his place. We recommended, and he adopted, an appropriate stocking rate for no hay feeding. However, the calving season of his cows is almost requiring him to feed hay, even though there is abundant native range. He purchased some young bred cows scheduled to calve in February. The cows were a little thin, and he needed to improve body condition on these cows. When evaluating supplement programs, I quickly came to the conclusion that cows in this situation might need more than 10 lbs. of 20 percent cubes per cow per day. While that may be physically possible, it didn't strike me as a good idea. Feeding this much supplement would cost $10 per cow per week, not to mention loading, unloading, reloading and feeding 84 bags per week. That is a lot of money and a lot of work. When you consider this rancher really doesn't have time to feed cows every day, this program becomes impossible.
Although we could possibly devise some other supplement program, the real culprit here is the calving season. If these cows were going to calve in May instead of February, this impossible situation becomes easy to manage. In January, cows that are still four months away from calving can simply be fed about 1 lb. of 38 percent cubes per day, even if they are slightly thin and grazing low quality forage. Before they calve, they will have several weeks of high quality spring grazing, and the grass will be getting better while they calve, lactate and breed back. Feeding 1 lb. of feed per day is much easier (and cheaper) than 10 lbs. of feed per day. Further, these cows can easily be fed the needed supplement just two or three days per week, further reducing labor input. The rancher also won't have to worry about the newborn calves in May because they won't be cold-stressed. For this rancher, the advantages to May calving begin to stack up.
There may be a few disadvantages to moving the calving season to May, such as reduced weaning weights in the fall. A quick analysis at current calf prices indicates that May-born calves could be worth $100 less than February-born calves in the fall. Further, it is possible that the cows might suffer from reduced conception rates due to heat stress during the breeding season. However, both of those issues could be managed around at relatively low cost.
Calving season should be an individual decision for each ranch, based on available resources. Certainly the costs will vary due to forage base, labor costs, cow type, etc. However, timing of calving dictates many other management decisions so consider it carefully. Don't set your calving season because that is what you've always done or because that is what your neighbors do. For the most part, if you calve when your neighbors do, you'll get the same results and do the same amount of work that they do. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Chute N The Bull 3-18-10
As we live here in the Deerest Place in Texas I come across this study being done at the Nobil Foundation that I thought might interest many of you. The Noble Foundation Agricultural Research Team is investigating the effects of hunter density on male white-tailed deer movements in southern Oklahoma. This is a collaborative study with Dr. Steve Demarais and graduate student Andy Little from Mississippi State University to further understanding of the impacts that hunter density and hunting pressure have on male white-tailed deer behavior, movement patterns and survivability. Information obtained from this research will assist deer management operations to better manage deer populations through improved harvest strategies and hunter management. While fulfilling the goals of research and wildlife management is often difficult due to uncontrollable variables, this study has enabled us to document an element that can be a major hurdle to successful deer management - poaching.
All of us who manage or pursue white-tailed deer realize there are some individuals (I won't honor them with the title of "hunters") who will kill deer by any means necessary. These individuals will shoot deer out of season, shoot from public roadways, use nighttime spotlighting, trespass, etc. Nothing seems to be off limits, and they think they are above the law - that game laws are for everyone else to follow. We have always been aware that poaching was a potential problem for successful deer management. This study now documents the potential severity of the problem.
In late winter/early spring 2008-2009, the Noble Foundation radio-collared 57 adult white-tailed bucks for our "buck movement project" on a research area in southern Oklahoma. Unfortunately, between 2008 and 2010, poachers illegally killed eight of these animals. Of even greater disappointment to true hunters and sportsmen, one of the poached bucks was a Boone and Crockett 170+-inch animal (see photo). If we assume the poachers did not select for or against the collared deer, this indicates poachers could shoot an average of 14 percent of the standing crop of antlered bucks each year. This is alarming and hampers the efforts of managers attempting to improve deer herd population parameters.
So what's the solution? This is not easy to answer. State game wardens do their best; however, they are severely undermanned to combat the problem. With only 113 game wardens to enforce regulations in 77 Oklahoma counties, chances of catching a poacher in the act are slim. We were able to make a case on one of the deer poached in 2008 due to luck and the diligence of our local game warden, but that is only one out of eight. The best way to combat poaching is through landowner and hunter vigilance.
Don't be complacent. Poachers are thieves, stealing from you, me and every law-abiding sportsman or wildlife conservationist. The game violations they commit are not because of accident or ignorance. These violators make conscious decisions to break the law and have no respect for you or the game. Be aware of what is going on around you. If someone is suspiciously cruising back roads, get a vehicle description and tag number, and report it to your local warden. The game warden may not be able to respond to every call, but if he receives several calls about suspicious activity in the same area or involving the same vehicle, then he will investigate. Additionally, be a concerned citizen and contact your local courts and district attorneys, encouraging them to enforce the current laws with maximum penalty. A slap on the wrist accomplishes little as a deterrent and frustrates a diligent game warden.
Levels of poaching similar to that we experienced in our study can negate management efforts and are cause for concern. Minimizing poaching will require the collective efforts of land owners, sportsmen, concerned citizens and law enforcement officials. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax
All of us who manage or pursue white-tailed deer realize there are some individuals (I won't honor them with the title of "hunters") who will kill deer by any means necessary. These individuals will shoot deer out of season, shoot from public roadways, use nighttime spotlighting, trespass, etc. Nothing seems to be off limits, and they think they are above the law - that game laws are for everyone else to follow. We have always been aware that poaching was a potential problem for successful deer management. This study now documents the potential severity of the problem.
In late winter/early spring 2008-2009, the Noble Foundation radio-collared 57 adult white-tailed bucks for our "buck movement project" on a research area in southern Oklahoma. Unfortunately, between 2008 and 2010, poachers illegally killed eight of these animals. Of even greater disappointment to true hunters and sportsmen, one of the poached bucks was a Boone and Crockett 170+-inch animal (see photo). If we assume the poachers did not select for or against the collared deer, this indicates poachers could shoot an average of 14 percent of the standing crop of antlered bucks each year. This is alarming and hampers the efforts of managers attempting to improve deer herd population parameters.
So what's the solution? This is not easy to answer. State game wardens do their best; however, they are severely undermanned to combat the problem. With only 113 game wardens to enforce regulations in 77 Oklahoma counties, chances of catching a poacher in the act are slim. We were able to make a case on one of the deer poached in 2008 due to luck and the diligence of our local game warden, but that is only one out of eight. The best way to combat poaching is through landowner and hunter vigilance.
Don't be complacent. Poachers are thieves, stealing from you, me and every law-abiding sportsman or wildlife conservationist. The game violations they commit are not because of accident or ignorance. These violators make conscious decisions to break the law and have no respect for you or the game. Be aware of what is going on around you. If someone is suspiciously cruising back roads, get a vehicle description and tag number, and report it to your local warden. The game warden may not be able to respond to every call, but if he receives several calls about suspicious activity in the same area or involving the same vehicle, then he will investigate. Additionally, be a concerned citizen and contact your local courts and district attorneys, encouraging them to enforce the current laws with maximum penalty. A slap on the wrist accomplishes little as a deterrent and frustrates a diligent game warden.
Levels of poaching similar to that we experienced in our study can negate management efforts and are cause for concern. Minimizing poaching will require the collective efforts of land owners, sportsmen, concerned citizens and law enforcement officials. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Chute N The Bull
Most cattle producers know that the textbook gestation length of beef cattle is 283 days. Most also realize that biology is variable, and predicting the exact day of natural birth in most mammalian species is very difficult to do. However, some producers seem to forget these biological laws when using new technology in their breeding programs. Many producers associate artificial insemination (AI) with the cow herd behaving in very regimented and predictable ways.
We often recommend implement a timed AI program, in which a large group of heifers is synchronized and inseminated on a single day. Some producers hesitate to implement such a system because they envision the resulting calf crop being born on a single day and creating a problem if the heifers require calving assistance. Fortunately, biological variability takes care of this potential problem.
Artificial insemination in a commercial beef production system has advantages and disadvantages. Implementation of AI helps a producer better manage the calving season. AI bulls typically have superior, more predictable genetic value compared to herd bulls and sire better-performing calves. Individual bulls can be selected for specific matings to improve desired traits in part of the cow herd, or a single bull can be chosen to sire the entire calf crop. This would tend to increase uniformity, thereby increasing overall value of the calf crop. Artificial insemination can also be beneficial to smaller-scale producers where the upkeep and management costs of a herd bull are not economically feasible. Some disadvantages of AI may include the cost of semen or labor. A considerable amount of handling of the cattle is necessary and adequate working facilities are required for artificially inseminating cattle. Finally, if the cows aren't synchronized, the producer must spend considerable time each day detecting cows that are coming into heat and are ready to be bred.
AI might not be the right choice for every producer, but more producers should consider the benefits of an AI program for their replacement heifers. A timed AI program has much lower labor requirements than traditional AI, and it doesn't result in all the calves being born on the same day. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
We often recommend implement a timed AI program, in which a large group of heifers is synchronized and inseminated on a single day. Some producers hesitate to implement such a system because they envision the resulting calf crop being born on a single day and creating a problem if the heifers require calving assistance. Fortunately, biological variability takes care of this potential problem.
Artificial insemination in a commercial beef production system has advantages and disadvantages. Implementation of AI helps a producer better manage the calving season. AI bulls typically have superior, more predictable genetic value compared to herd bulls and sire better-performing calves. Individual bulls can be selected for specific matings to improve desired traits in part of the cow herd, or a single bull can be chosen to sire the entire calf crop. This would tend to increase uniformity, thereby increasing overall value of the calf crop. Artificial insemination can also be beneficial to smaller-scale producers where the upkeep and management costs of a herd bull are not economically feasible. Some disadvantages of AI may include the cost of semen or labor. A considerable amount of handling of the cattle is necessary and adequate working facilities are required for artificially inseminating cattle. Finally, if the cows aren't synchronized, the producer must spend considerable time each day detecting cows that are coming into heat and are ready to be bred.
AI might not be the right choice for every producer, but more producers should consider the benefits of an AI program for their replacement heifers. A timed AI program has much lower labor requirements than traditional AI, and it doesn't result in all the calves being born on the same day. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
Friday, March 5, 2010
Chute N The Bull
I am disturbed by the number of people in this country who seem to take agriculture for granted. Many have had little to no experience with the land and only know what they read and hear from what are often unreliable sources. They jump on bandwagons about global warming, animal rights, energy use or even belching cows, largely uninformed. Agriculture cannot be understood by only reading books or listening to people with political agendas. It is a business that has been passed on through generations of research, knowledge and experience.
Our country seems to have become "environmentally aware" in the last 30-40 years, but we understand little about food and what it takes to produce it. Why is this? The answer, in my opinion, is that most Americans spend less than 10 percent of their disposable income to support their dietary needs. According to the USDA's Economic Research Service, food expenditures by families and individuals as a share of disposable income were 13.8 percent in 1970, 11 percent in 1988 and only 9.6 percent in 2008. Could it be that food is too cheap or Americans are too wealthy, and we have little need to be worried about where our next meal will come from or how we will pay for it? We hear too much talk about GMOs, cap and trade, carbon sequestration and cows belching gases into the atmosphere causing global warming and too little about the security of our nation due in part to our agriculture industry. Somehow we need to educate the public that farmers, ranchers and land managers are an essential link to the health and success of our society. We should all care about the environment, but land managers must do more to educate the public about the safe, wholesome and inexpensive food and fiber our industry provides to the nation and the world. There has never been a more important time for us to portray ourselves as stewards of the land and educate the public about our business.
Lloyd Noble understood the importance of agriculture to our nation, and this is one of the reasons why he established the Noble Foundation. Mr. Noble believed people who were raised on the land were people of character and integrity with moral and spiritual values, and that people who raised livestock and crops had a much greater appreciation for their fellow man. He once said that "the ownership of a piece of land, no matter how large or how small, is the greatest defense there is against tyranny." He was a man of forethought and vision.
Since carbon and CO2 emissions are of such interest today, maybe it would be beneficial if those of us who manage the land were known as "carbon facilitators." After all, our real job is to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere with the plant factories growing on the land. The sequestered CO2 in the plants is then removed by livestock and wildlife. This is all done with hopes of making a profit so that the system can be sustained. Most of the carbon we sequester in our grazing lands is recycled by herbivores and insects, thus remaining in our lands' carbon sink. Our goal as carbon facilitators is to keep this system operating as efficiently as possible. If we graze our factories too short, we sequester less carbon and production decreases because we become overstocked. On the other hand, if we let our factories get too mature, efficiency decreases and we limit profitability because we become understocked.
In short, a carbon facilitator is one who manages a very complicated and always evolving factory. He is educated about the environment and works very hard to balance the process of photosynthesis for optimum plant growth with livestock and wildlife production for economic and ecologic sustainability. So the next time you're visiting with someone and they ask, "What line of work are you in?" casually reply, "I'm a carbon facilitator," and be ready to answer their questions. If we do not begin to educate others of agriculture's importance to society, we may wake up one day and find ourselves dependent on other nations for our food and fiber.
"It is an unfortunate human failing that a full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax
Our country seems to have become "environmentally aware" in the last 30-40 years, but we understand little about food and what it takes to produce it. Why is this? The answer, in my opinion, is that most Americans spend less than 10 percent of their disposable income to support their dietary needs. According to the USDA's Economic Research Service, food expenditures by families and individuals as a share of disposable income were 13.8 percent in 1970, 11 percent in 1988 and only 9.6 percent in 2008. Could it be that food is too cheap or Americans are too wealthy, and we have little need to be worried about where our next meal will come from or how we will pay for it? We hear too much talk about GMOs, cap and trade, carbon sequestration and cows belching gases into the atmosphere causing global warming and too little about the security of our nation due in part to our agriculture industry. Somehow we need to educate the public that farmers, ranchers and land managers are an essential link to the health and success of our society. We should all care about the environment, but land managers must do more to educate the public about the safe, wholesome and inexpensive food and fiber our industry provides to the nation and the world. There has never been a more important time for us to portray ourselves as stewards of the land and educate the public about our business.
Lloyd Noble understood the importance of agriculture to our nation, and this is one of the reasons why he established the Noble Foundation. Mr. Noble believed people who were raised on the land were people of character and integrity with moral and spiritual values, and that people who raised livestock and crops had a much greater appreciation for their fellow man. He once said that "the ownership of a piece of land, no matter how large or how small, is the greatest defense there is against tyranny." He was a man of forethought and vision.
Since carbon and CO2 emissions are of such interest today, maybe it would be beneficial if those of us who manage the land were known as "carbon facilitators." After all, our real job is to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere with the plant factories growing on the land. The sequestered CO2 in the plants is then removed by livestock and wildlife. This is all done with hopes of making a profit so that the system can be sustained. Most of the carbon we sequester in our grazing lands is recycled by herbivores and insects, thus remaining in our lands' carbon sink. Our goal as carbon facilitators is to keep this system operating as efficiently as possible. If we graze our factories too short, we sequester less carbon and production decreases because we become overstocked. On the other hand, if we let our factories get too mature, efficiency decreases and we limit profitability because we become understocked.
In short, a carbon facilitator is one who manages a very complicated and always evolving factory. He is educated about the environment and works very hard to balance the process of photosynthesis for optimum plant growth with livestock and wildlife production for economic and ecologic sustainability. So the next time you're visiting with someone and they ask, "What line of work are you in?" casually reply, "I'm a carbon facilitator," and be ready to answer their questions. If we do not begin to educate others of agriculture's importance to society, we may wake up one day and find ourselves dependent on other nations for our food and fiber.
"It is an unfortunate human failing that a full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Chute N The Bull
What makes a great pasture manager? A great pasture manager is one who pays attention to the details and realizes the first step of pasture management is the "plan." The great pasture managers I know "plan the work and work the plan."
Great pasture managers pay attention to changes in the pastures and scout their fields regularly to remain aware of conditions that will impact forage production. Successful managers remain aware of what is happening in each of their pastures and how weather, events and their actions will impact the operation's goals and objectives. I encourage you to get out of your truck and walk across each of your pastures. Know the terrain, locate problem areas and plan your strategy accordingly.
So how does one plan for warm-season pasture management? Warm-season native grass pasture or rangeland managers realize that herbicide and fertilizer are often not economically viable and closely watch the stocking rate to ensure that overgrazing does not occur. While grazing management is the primary tool for rangeland managers, prescribed burning can be the second. A well prepared and executed burn plan can result in improved forage production and quality while reducing weed and brush intrusion in rangeland pastures. It is important for rangeland managers to manage the different forages present in their pastures to meet their operational goals.
There are many different options for those with bermudagrass and other warm-season introduced forages. The following are some of the most common management practices listed by month.
In February and March, determine how much forage you need to produce from your warm-season pastures in the coming year. The amount of forage you need is a function of the number, size and type of animals you need to feed. Take soil samples and spray thistles and other problem winter weeds before they bolt or flower.
During April and May, apply the recommended amount of fertilizer for your forage needs. You strive to feed your animals properly - why not properly feed your pastures as well? Apply fertilizer to the better pastures first to get more forage for your "fertilizer" dollar. You should also scout your pastures for small weeds. There are many weeds that 2,4-D will inexpensively kill when they are less than 4 inches tall. The cost of hiring a custom applicator may be more than the chemical. Determine if the weeds are economically important or if spraying can be put off until the next year. Dividing the ranch into thirds and spraying pastures every third year may be an option. Identify problem areas on a map so that you can adjust your plan of attack for next year.
June and July should be spent attacking weeds and brush like Johnsongrass, silverleaf nightshade, brush sprouts, prickly pear and blackberries. If weather conditions look favorable for bermudagrass growth and you need the forage, apply another 50 pounds per acre of actual nitrogen. If you are in a hay situation, determine if you need to add potash (potassium) since a ton of hay can remove up to 43 pounds per acre of potassium (K2O). It may not take long to deplete your soil of potassium.
August may or may not be the time to apply 50 pounds per acre of actual nitrogen to produce stockpiled forage. If the weather is favorable and you need the forage, this may be an option.
September and October should be used to write a brief synopsis of what you have experienced with each pasture. How did the war go? Did you win, lose or call it a draw? What did you learn that you could do better next year? Include information such as what chemicals and fertilizer were applied, stocking rate (number of days grazed by how many head of what weight and type of animal), number and size of bales harvested, etc. Do this soon after you establish your winter pasture and before hunting season, otherwise you could forget.
In December and January, start the planning process all over again.
There are, of course, other variables to consider for your pasture management plan. Properly done, you will have a plan for each pasture. And remember, the plan is just a guide. Improvise, adapt and overcome obstacles to obtain the forage production you need. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
Great pasture managers pay attention to changes in the pastures and scout their fields regularly to remain aware of conditions that will impact forage production. Successful managers remain aware of what is happening in each of their pastures and how weather, events and their actions will impact the operation's goals and objectives. I encourage you to get out of your truck and walk across each of your pastures. Know the terrain, locate problem areas and plan your strategy accordingly.
So how does one plan for warm-season pasture management? Warm-season native grass pasture or rangeland managers realize that herbicide and fertilizer are often not economically viable and closely watch the stocking rate to ensure that overgrazing does not occur. While grazing management is the primary tool for rangeland managers, prescribed burning can be the second. A well prepared and executed burn plan can result in improved forage production and quality while reducing weed and brush intrusion in rangeland pastures. It is important for rangeland managers to manage the different forages present in their pastures to meet their operational goals.
There are many different options for those with bermudagrass and other warm-season introduced forages. The following are some of the most common management practices listed by month.
In February and March, determine how much forage you need to produce from your warm-season pastures in the coming year. The amount of forage you need is a function of the number, size and type of animals you need to feed. Take soil samples and spray thistles and other problem winter weeds before they bolt or flower.
During April and May, apply the recommended amount of fertilizer for your forage needs. You strive to feed your animals properly - why not properly feed your pastures as well? Apply fertilizer to the better pastures first to get more forage for your "fertilizer" dollar. You should also scout your pastures for small weeds. There are many weeds that 2,4-D will inexpensively kill when they are less than 4 inches tall. The cost of hiring a custom applicator may be more than the chemical. Determine if the weeds are economically important or if spraying can be put off until the next year. Dividing the ranch into thirds and spraying pastures every third year may be an option. Identify problem areas on a map so that you can adjust your plan of attack for next year.
June and July should be spent attacking weeds and brush like Johnsongrass, silverleaf nightshade, brush sprouts, prickly pear and blackberries. If weather conditions look favorable for bermudagrass growth and you need the forage, apply another 50 pounds per acre of actual nitrogen. If you are in a hay situation, determine if you need to add potash (potassium) since a ton of hay can remove up to 43 pounds per acre of potassium (K2O). It may not take long to deplete your soil of potassium.
August may or may not be the time to apply 50 pounds per acre of actual nitrogen to produce stockpiled forage. If the weather is favorable and you need the forage, this may be an option.
September and October should be used to write a brief synopsis of what you have experienced with each pasture. How did the war go? Did you win, lose or call it a draw? What did you learn that you could do better next year? Include information such as what chemicals and fertilizer were applied, stocking rate (number of days grazed by how many head of what weight and type of animal), number and size of bales harvested, etc. Do this soon after you establish your winter pasture and before hunting season, otherwise you could forget.
In December and January, start the planning process all over again.
There are, of course, other variables to consider for your pasture management plan. Properly done, you will have a plan for each pasture. And remember, the plan is just a guide. Improvise, adapt and overcome obstacles to obtain the forage production you need. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
Chute N The Bull 2/20/10
Small farms should manage their operations similarly to larger agricultural enterprises to ensure long-term sustainability. To achieve this goal, substantial planning and development of a comprehensive business plan is key. A business plan is a written document that should be updated periodically. It defines the business goals, outlines reasons why these goals are attainable and details a plan for reaching these goals.
Small farms are susceptible to unexpected changes in output and input prices as well as other factors influencing their bottom line (e.g., losses due to adverse weather conditions). Small farm managers should develop and follow a business plan to better use the scarce resources (e.g., land, labor and time) needed to develop a profitable farm or ranch operation. Oftentimes, the action-oriented producer is tempted to skip the planning stage and focus on daily production activities. Even though a "getting the job done" attitude is needed, investment without planning is a risky venture.
Business plan development requires an initial commitment of time by the farm operator; however, the long-term benefits to the business are worth the effort. A sound business plan is necessary to obtain loans and secure appropriate interest rates. It is also viewed as evidence that your operation qualifies as a business with the intent to make a profit. Developing a comprehensive business plan can also help identify markets to attract new customers and increase overall demand and income.
According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), a business plan is an individualized document defining strategies needed to reach the goal of profitability. The SBA recommends that each basic plan include the following components:
1. Description of Business - The plan should include the mission statement, vision for the future, goals and objectives. This section should tell the story of what the business is, what it stands for and where you see the business in the future.
2. Marketing Plan - This section is an analysis of consumer needs. Operators should identify the business' customers, specific needs to be met and how those needs are expected to change over time. This section includes a description of the products and services available, advertising strategies and ways to remain competitive in a changing marketplace.
3. Financial Management Analysis - The plan should include details of the business' current financial portfolio and foreseeable future income and expense. Agricultural producers should record expenses and income by enterprise (e.g., cow-calf, wheat, etc.) to determine the agricultural enterprise most suited for the available resources. Detailed production records and labor should also be recorded. More formal documents may be included, such as loan applications, equipment and inventory lists, breakeven projections, a balance sheet and a cash flow statement. Start-up businesses commonly do not have such records, but are expected to provide estimates.
4. Organization and Management - This final component should describe the type of business ownership along with key personnel, their duties and the flow of operations. This section will include items not typically associated with daily agricultural production activities such as insurance, taxes, permits/licensing, employee management, estate planning and other legal concerns.
One should also review the businesses' strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) when developing a business plan. This strategic planning tool allows the operator to determine both internal qualities (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats) that may influence business performance. The SWOT analysis may be in bullet-point format and can be a good place to start for development of a new business plan.
A business plan is an invaluable tool that helps keep a producer on track to reach agricultural business goals. Whether you raise cattle, grow produce or something in between, it is an agricultural business. When treated as such, a well thought out business plan can be the key step in building a successful and sustainable farm or ranch. You can find this and past articles on the web at http://www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com/ for your reference. Extension proserve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.
Small farms are susceptible to unexpected changes in output and input prices as well as other factors influencing their bottom line (e.g., losses due to adverse weather conditions). Small farm managers should develop and follow a business plan to better use the scarce resources (e.g., land, labor and time) needed to develop a profitable farm or ranch operation. Oftentimes, the action-oriented producer is tempted to skip the planning stage and focus on daily production activities. Even though a "getting the job done" attitude is needed, investment without planning is a risky venture.
Business plan development requires an initial commitment of time by the farm operator; however, the long-term benefits to the business are worth the effort. A sound business plan is necessary to obtain loans and secure appropriate interest rates. It is also viewed as evidence that your operation qualifies as a business with the intent to make a profit. Developing a comprehensive business plan can also help identify markets to attract new customers and increase overall demand and income.
According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), a business plan is an individualized document defining strategies needed to reach the goal of profitability. The SBA recommends that each basic plan include the following components:
1. Description of Business - The plan should include the mission statement, vision for the future, goals and objectives. This section should tell the story of what the business is, what it stands for and where you see the business in the future.
2. Marketing Plan - This section is an analysis of consumer needs. Operators should identify the business' customers, specific needs to be met and how those needs are expected to change over time. This section includes a description of the products and services available, advertising strategies and ways to remain competitive in a changing marketplace.
3. Financial Management Analysis - The plan should include details of the business' current financial portfolio and foreseeable future income and expense. Agricultural producers should record expenses and income by enterprise (e.g., cow-calf, wheat, etc.) to determine the agricultural enterprise most suited for the available resources. Detailed production records and labor should also be recorded. More formal documents may be included, such as loan applications, equipment and inventory lists, breakeven projections, a balance sheet and a cash flow statement. Start-up businesses commonly do not have such records, but are expected to provide estimates.
4. Organization and Management - This final component should describe the type of business ownership along with key personnel, their duties and the flow of operations. This section will include items not typically associated with daily agricultural production activities such as insurance, taxes, permits/licensing, employee management, estate planning and other legal concerns.
One should also review the businesses' strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) when developing a business plan. This strategic planning tool allows the operator to determine both internal qualities (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats) that may influence business performance. The SWOT analysis may be in bullet-point format and can be a good place to start for development of a new business plan.
A business plan is an invaluable tool that helps keep a producer on track to reach agricultural business goals. Whether you raise cattle, grow produce or something in between, it is an agricultural business. When treated as such, a well thought out business plan can be the key step in building a successful and sustainable farm or ranch. You can find this and past articles on the web at http://www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.com/ for your reference. Extension proserve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.
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