In the event you haven’t noticed, making and feeding hay is the major expense of the cow-calf business. Studies from around the U.S. show that operators who make and feed less hay are more profitable.

Many cattle in the country harbor some internal parasites. The varied geographic and climatic conditions of the Northwest allow for tremendous variation in the parasite load in cattle herds. Controlling internal parasites in grazing cattle has a significant positive return on investment, in most cases greater than any other management practice.

For a lot of ranchers, especially in the western U.S., controlling burrowing rodents seems to be a battle that is never won.

As cattle evolved over the centuries, so did technology. No longer are cattle relying solely upon their genetic resistance to survive. Instead, technological approaches have been made to improve production in cattle.

Calving season is upon us, and you want to do everything you can to help your newborns thrive and grow.

Keen observation is the foundation of a weed management program that works. Finding invaders early is important. Smaller infestations are cheaper to control. Eradication may be possible when caught early.

Encouraging weather forecasts and rising production trends in grain and forage should provide major relief in the feedstuff outlook for 2015, according to CattleFax analyst Mike Murphy.

The other day I was mopping my floor with my fancy mop, one that piddles on the floor and I mop it up, cleaning the floor like magic! I smiled as I remembered my childhood and teenage years, when I was floor cleaning Cinderella-style on my knees with a pan of water and a scrub brush. I remember my nails breaking and my hands chapping from the harsh soapy water, but I was glad to have a scrub brush and linoleum.

Parasites are present on nearly all cattle operations and are thought to be one factor that can negatively impact efficient production. While clinical parasitism can have obvious effects on herds, subclinical parasitism can manifest in ways that may initially go unnoticed.

It’s nearly 200 miles from my place to Boise. I have no idea how many times I’ve made the round trip in my lifetime, but no doubt, it’s in the triple digits. It seems that most folks generally disdain a large share of the drive up I-84 for its perceived lack of beautiful scenery. The drive is sometimes compared to driving across Wyoming or Nevada.