Mycotoxin contamination is usually not the first thought of most producers. However, mycotoxins may be an underlying contributor to poor performance. Crops are subject to mycotoxin contamination both during growth in the field as well as in storage.

Some areas of the country are more difficult than others in which to raise cattle. Southwestern New Mexico is one of these regions, although for a couple of reasons that may be unexpected.

The time period leading up to Christmas is my favorite time of year, but as for the big day itself, Santa Claus seems to have lost our address. There are fewer packages under the tree with each passing year, and my wife has taken to wrapping boxes and placing them under the tree so there is something to unwrap Christmas morning.

There are a lot of things I love about fall. I could go all cliché on you and talk about the changing of the seasons, the chill in the air and the beautiful colors of the fall foliage. And, to be honest, those things all play a role in how I feel about the season.

The dragonslayer injured saving the damsel. The concerned female dabbin’ peroxide in the bullet wound creasing your shoulder. ‘It’s nuthin’,’ you’d say, wincing in pain. If only you had a saber slash across the cheek.

For many in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, fall pasture conditions are better than they have been in several years due to some timely late-summer rains. These rains have allowed many to produce another cutting of hay and others to stockpile some fall forage.

November marks a point in time where corn plant residue quality often declines rapidly as a result of inclement weather. If using cornstalks or drought-stressed forage as a primary forage source this fall and winter, be sure that in addition to protein, energy and mineral supplementation, that vitamin supplementation is also adequate.

Colder weather means it’s time to start thinking about winter-feeding strategies for spring-calving herds. The change in weather and forage availability and quality may require energy or protein supplementation to meet cow nutrient requirements.

The end of the calendar year is fast approaching and it’s a good time to think about year-end accounting and future herd goals. Dr. Levi Russell, University of Georgia livestock economist, suggests producers look to IRS publication 225 for farm accounting questions.

For preg-checking, most readers prefer to have their veterinarians perform palpation.