Discussion Forum (12)

Supplements aid cows through late gestation

Proper nutrition is always important for cows, but it takes on added urgency during the cold days of late winter. If you choose to supplement, do your homework first when it comes to selecting feed, says Julie Walker, Extension beef specialist with South Dakota State University. She says the cheapest is not always best when it comes to supplements. “Typically you’re going to start on protein,” she says. “Look at those costs and what you are getting when it comes to nutrient value.” Walker recommends that if animals are short on energy, supplementation should occur daily. “Use the minimum amount you need to keep them fed,” she says. “You’re looking at about 5 pounds per day for a 1,200- to 1,400-pound cow.”Quality minerals and vitamins should also be available to fill the gaps the feed is not providing, Walker says. Many producers may turn to distillers. Walker says producers don’t want to feed those on the ground, and some sort of cover may need to be utilized. She also recommend

Ag safety expert urges farmers to monitor heart health

The Kansas Department of Agriculture reports there are more than 100,000 farmers in the state, and the average age of farmers is just over 58. Tawnie Larson, a project consultant for the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health program at Kansas State University, said the KDA’s statistics combined with national figures on heart disease serve as a cautionary tale for those who live in rural areas. “Male farmers aged 45 and older have an increased risk of heart disease compared to their non-farming peers,” Larson said in a news release. “And women in rural areas also are at an increased risk for heart disease.” Larson urges rural residents to take a moment to recognize heart health in February, which is recognized nationally by the American Red Cross as American Heart Month. The Red Cross reports that heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. Farmers, she said, tend to experience high levels of stress due to such job-related factors as weather, market fluctuations,

Ag industry sorts through EPA herbicide strategy

Farmers, ag groups and Extension personnel are sorting through the impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s final herbicide strategy for compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The strategy, which will be gradually implemented, has three main goals — reducing herbicide drift, reducing field erosion and runoff, and re-registering each herbicide every 15 years so all herbicides are subject to periodic review. The final herbicide strategy, released in August 2024, seeks to continue herbicide access for farmers while also settling lawsuits against the EPA from environmental groups claiming the EPA has not been compliant with the Endangered Species Act in issuing herbicide approvals. Aaron Hager, a University of Illinois Extension specialist in weed science, says this was part of a settlement to a “megasuit” challenging many pesticide registrations. “It’s one of the steps that the agency took to settle the lawsuit,” he says. “That was a lawsuit that challenged the registrati

Price protection insurance to support beef producers

Nova Scotia’s beef producers can now get financial protection through the Maritime Livestock Price Insurance Pilot Program. The new business risk management tool will allow producers to purchase price protection on beef cattle in the form of an insurance policy to protect against unexpected market declines. The Maritime Livestock Price Insurance Pilot Program is a regional initiative scheduled to run until March 2026. It will complement existing business risk management programs available to the agriculture industry through the partnership between the Department of Agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The administration of the program is cost-shared by the participating provinces and the Government of Canada. Producers purchasing insurance coverage pay the insurance premiums. Nova Scotia’s beef farmers brought in more than $42 million in farm cash receipts in 2023. Nova Scotia has over 630 registered farmers who report income from beef.

Government of Canada and Saskatchewan Announce Continued Commitment Through the 2025 Crop Insurance Program

Today, Canada's Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison announced continued funding and commitment through the 2025 Crop Insurance Program, administered by the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC). "Our business risk management programs are a producer's first line of defense when it comes to protecting their operation," MacAulay said. "Our government is pleased to partner with Saskatchewan to make sure producers have access to the support they need, when they need it." "SCIC's Business Risk Management programs remain strong and are here for Saskatchewan producers when they have challenging times," Harrison said. "The Crop Insurance Program offers producers the security they need, no matter what 2025 may have in store. I encourage all Saskatchewan producers to take a proactive approach to their coverage: select options, fine-tune and adjust coverage and costs within the program to further mitigate their ri