A comprehensive study that evaluates the nation’s efforts to enhance beef quality is nearing completion, and results will be distributed at the cattle industry’s summer conference in July.

The extended drought in the southern Plains and Southwest throughout 2010 and 2011 forced the dispersion of numerous cow herds.

Dow AgroSciences has launched the Pretty Sure Photo Contest sponsored by SureStart herbicide. The contest features a website for sharing - and voting on - photos of unexpected moments on the farm. From a tractor stuck in mud to a tipped-over grain cart, growers can upload their Pretty-Sure photos for a chance to be selected as one of three winners.

Just when Arkansas forage and livestock producers thought they’d get a break after last year’s drought, their newly greened up pastures are falling prey to true armyworms, said Kelly Loftin, extension entomologist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.  

“We are seeing true armyworm damage in pastures across many areas of the state, but damage seem to be more concentrated in northeast Arkansas with some pockets in the southwest part of the state,” he said.

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the world is green again. Springtime is the perfect time to throw those barn doors open – but not just to make milking more pleasant. While attending a presentation analyzing society’s changing perception of agriculture, I heard a producer ask, “What are ways to engage the public?”

The era of higher corn prices has many nutritionists looking at feeding elevated levels of corn silage as a way to reduce starch input costs. In Eastern Canada, it is not uncommon to be working with rations in the 70 to 80 percent corn silage range as a percentage of the total forages fed – significantly more than even 10 years ago.