The wind likes to blow on a regular basis in many areas of the country during the winter months. Couple this wind with cold temperatures and wet conditions, and the wind chill can cause a great deal of stress for cattle.

Planting cover crops as a rotational crop to improve soil health has gained a great deal of momentum across the country. Farmers in the upper Midwest have been the leaders in adopting this practice.

During this time of the year, when cattle producers are loading and moving cattle, it is extremely important to pay attention to detail when it comes to safety. No one can afford to get seriously hurt or worse.

Wouldn’t it be nice to get up on a cold winter’s morning and not have to worry about starting the tractor to feed the cows? Instead, all you have to do is move a single-strand electric fence a few feet every two or three days. Now that would be living. Well, that is exactly how producers that have adopted bale grazing feed their cows.

Calving in the winter and early spring can be a challenge due to bad weather conditions and mud.Scouring calves at this time of year can also be a big concern for some operations.

Every year ranchers all across the country have to fix or rebuild worn out stretches of fence. Whether a person likes it or not, we know this job has to be done. We also know the cost of building and maintaining fences is expensive. In fact, it is one of the most expensive outputs associated with any grazing program.

It is hard to believe, but turnout time is here. There is no better feeling for a cattle producer and his cattle when the gates are opened and the cattle are turned loose to graze for the summer. For cattle producers, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

For years, cattle producers have castrated bull calves as early as possible to reduce stress and minimize the interruption in calf growth. Recently, there has been some interest in delaying castration.

Cattle producers have known for a long time that wild cattle were probably less profitable than their calmer contemporaries, but there wasn’t a great deal of hard data to back up this suspicion.