Southeast

Southeast: Pounds weaned per acre – rethinking metrics

kmason21@utk.edu — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Bigger calves are beneficial, but weaning weight alone doesn’t tell the full story.

National Dairy Month poster contest inspires young artists

audrey@agproud.com — Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

For more than two decades, a National Dairy Month poster contest has been inspiring creativity and agricultural awareness among students across the Southeast.

Southeast: Designing a drought plan before you need it

kmason21@utk.edu — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

It is most effective to have a drought plan in place before lack of rainfall becomes a problem.

Southeast: The critical window

kmason21@utk.edu — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:09:17 -0500

Good nutrition means greater reproductive success, and reproductive success drives profitability in the cow-calf sector.

Southeast: Manage spring grazing for success all season long

kmason21@utk.edu — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Although it is nice to have abundant forage during springtime, rapid growth often outpaces animal demand and may quickly push plants beyond the vegetative stage, which reduces nutritive value and pasture longevity.

Southeast: Cow behavior drives productivity

kmason21@utk.edu — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Have you ever put much thought into how cattle behavior can drive productivity and profitability on your operation?

Southeast: The employees you never see

kmason21@utk.edu — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Understanding how to support the “microbial workforce” in the rumen is key to improving feed efficiency, herd health and overall profitability.

Southeast: Reducing hay waste: How to manage expensive inputs

kmason21@utk.edu — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

With careful attention to utilization, producers can significantly reduce hay waste and get more nutrition from every bale.

Southeast: Stretching winter feed with stockpiled forages

kmason21@utk.edu — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

With proper planning, stockpiled forage can extend the grazing season, save money and keep cows in good condition.

Southeast: Making do with what you have

kmason21@utk.edu — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Ask yourself: How do I make the most of the land I already own or lease?

Southeast: Swiss cheese and BMPs

kmason21@utk.edu — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

I didn’t invent the “Swiss cheese model,” but it’s one of my favorite ways to explain best management practices in beef cattle production.

Southeast: Weaning considerations for healthy calves

kmason21@utk.edu — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Weaning is a stressful time for calves, cows and the folks who are caring for them. But there are some considerations to keep in mind related to timing, strategy and handling to make the process a bit smoother for everyone involved.

Southeast: Make hay testing easy for you

kmason21@utk.edu — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The only way to truly know the nutrient content of hay is to submit a sample to a forage testing lab and have it analyzed. This information can assist you in making feeding decisions for various stages of production and potentially marketing your hay at a greater price.

Southeast: Managing calves into the summer

kmason21@utk.edu — Tue, 20 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

From rising heat and humidity to increased pressure from parasites, this time of year can greatly impact calf health and performance, but with proactive management, producers can navigate these challenges, setting their calves up for a successful future.

Southeast: Managing grazing to make the most of pasture

kmason21@utk.edu — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:33 -0400

There are many factors that influence grazing management decisions, and often it comes down to a grazier’s observation of a pasture system and how it responds to grazing decisions.

Southeast: Minerals matter

kmason21@utk.edu — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:00:26 -0400

A good mineral program can help to mitigate the risk of a deficiency and contribute to the overall success of the cattle herd. And as the adage goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

2025 State of Dairy: Southeast: A heightened level of optimism not seen in years

kimmi@agproud.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Talk of growth, expansion and new opportunities have historically been quieter in the Southeast than in other regions, but Travis Senn, assistant director of milk marketing and analytics at Southeast Milk Inc. (SMI), says dairy farmers in this region are entering 2025 with a “level of confidence they haven’t had in years.”

Southeast: Muddy conditions and cold weather require extra energy

kmason21@utk.edu — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Muddy conditions are common across the Southeast this time of year. Not only does it create problems around hay-feeding areas, but it also affects cattle performance.

Southeast: BCS – one of the best tools you have

kmason21@utk.edu — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Body condition score (BCS), an indicator of relative fatness, which is representative of energy stores, can be visually assessed at any point in time to evaluate the nutritional status of cattle.

Southeast: The nutritional roller coaster

kmason21@utk.edu — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

I recently heard an interesting analogy: Not testing your hay can put your cows on a nutritional roller coaster. While some may enjoy the thrill of a roller coaster and the anticipation of the next flip or turn, for cattle nutrition and the rumen environment, slow and steady is the way to go.

Southeast: Indicators of hay quality

kmason21@utk.edu — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

You may be familiar with the phrase, “If you don’t test, it’s just a guess,” a phrase that applies directly to hay quality. The only way to know the exact nutrient concentration of hay is to take a representative sample and have it analyzed by a lab.

Mullenix takes over Auburn University Animal Sciences Department

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Kim Mullenix will serve as the next head of the Auburn University Department of Animal Sciences, effective Aug. 19.

Carter Cattle Company: Leave it better than you found it

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

At Carter Cattle Company LLC in Pintlala, Alabama, every decision is made with the future in mind. The Carter operation was named the National Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) winner in 2022.

Southeast: Nitrates, do they dissipate?

kmason21@utk.edu — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Nitrate is a naturally occurring compound in plants. Nitrate accumulation in the plant can be compounded by conditions of plant stress, such as drought, heavy fertilization or young plants.

Southeast: A cool drink

kmason21@utk.edu — Wed, 01 May 2024 13:14:28 -0400

Summer heat is inevitable and when the days start to heat up, it is nice to have a cool drink, right? As high temperatures set in, ensure that your cattle have access to plenty of water and that it is good quality.

Southeast: Same pasture, more grazing

kmason21@utk.edu — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Using a rotational grazing method can help to utilize forage more efficiently, leading to more grazing days on the same amount of pasture and saving excess forage for a time of year when forage availability is limited.

Southeast: What is an ionophore and why should you use it?

kmason21@utk.edu — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Ionophores create opportunities for greater production efficiency in pasture-based systems and can easily be incorporated into most beef cattle operations.

2024 State of Dairy: 'Hanging on' in the Southeast

kimmi@agproud.com — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

New processing capacity in West Virginia and Georgia is bringing optimism to the dairy community in the Southeast. However, 2023 weakened the financial positions of many dairy producers across the region.

Southeast: Tips and reminders for spring

kmason21@utk.edu — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

As the grass begins to green up, there are a few considerations about grazing management and nutrition. Here are a few tips to keep in mind this time of year.

Southeast: Should you be feeding a high-magnesium mineral?

kmason21@utk.edu — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Minerals are a crucial component in beef cattle diets. While mineral mixtures may vary among farms, there is one mineral that is on many minds this time of year: magnesium.