EMERALD ASH BORER HAS
ARRIVED
The headline above this
column last week indicated that the BIG PURPLE BOXES were back. We also
indicated the distribution of these traps all along the Kentucky side of
the Ohio River was so we could determine ‘if and when’ the Emerald Ash
Borer (EAB) made it into Kentucky. The bad news came soon after press
time last week: the Emerald Ash Borer has arrived! The ash tree killing
insect has been found in 6 counties in Kentucky, including our close
neighbors Shelby, Franklin, and Jefferson.
We have a lot of
information about the EAB, signs and symptoms, and possible treatments
for homeowners to consider. Please contact us at the Henry County
Extension Office (845-2811) for details. In the meantime, we need to be
watching our favorite ash trees for signs on infestation. Generally,
trees show canopy dieback over the course of time. The damage done by
the EAB is actually due to larvae feeding in galleries under the bark,
so the tree slowly loses the ability to transport water and food and
starves. Increased woodpecker activity on the tree may be seen, and the
holes bored by the EAB itself have a distinctive ‘D’ shaped appearance
but they are often too high up in the tree for us to notice easily. Once
the top of the tree starts to look thin and bare, you may also notice
‘epicormic shoots’, basically sucker sprout growth from the lower trunk
and roots.
The first big piece of
information about EAB is now revealed. It has arrived. Now we need to
take time to gather more information so good decisions can be made
concerning our ash tree population, both in our landscapes and our
forests.
6/10/09
TOBACCO DISEASE UPDATE
UK Plant Pathologist Dr.
Kenny Seebold has received no reports of Blue Mold in the US as of this
writing, so is there really no blue mold active in the United States
right now? We can’t say for sure, but FL, GA, and NC haven’t seen the
first case on transplants or on the field. Now there aren’t as many
acres of tobacco in some of these areas any more, and there aren’t as
many people looking, so it is possible that there’s some blue mold
hiding out. The weather over the past few days has brought moisture up
from the Deep South, and in past years this would have been a guarantee
that we’d have some blue mold as a result. At this point though, the
risk to tobacco in KY is minimal. On the other hand, it would be
advisable to be on the lookout for blue mold and be ready to act if we
find it.
From a fungicide point
of view, the best course of action would be for growers continue a
mancozeb program on plants still in float beds. For tobacco that has
been set in the field, we don’t need fungicides right now. If the threat
level increases, we can treat with Acrobat or Forum, or even Quadris;
these would be the correct choices on burley tobacco less than 18” tall.
After that, the previously mentioned fungicides are still good choices,
and we can bring Actigard in as well. Actigard, as you know, is a
compound that induces systemic resistance to blue mold, and must be
applied prior to exposure to the blue mold pathogen for best effect.
Normally, it takes between 3-5 days for tobacco to respond to treatment
with Actigard, and for the chemical to take effect.
As always, growers are
encouraged to be on the lookout and to report findings to the County
Extension Office (845-2811) for laboratory confirmation and to help our
alert system.
6/3/09
BIG PURPLE BOXES
|
Already, some of
you observant folks have noticed the large purple boxes hanging
in or near ash trees. About 6,000 purple prism traps for the
Emerald Ash Borer have been placed up and down the Ohio River
Valley from Ballard to Boyd County and in campgrounds, parks,
and interstate rest areas. No emerald ash borers (EAB) were
found in any of the approximately 3,000 traps placed in Kentucky
during the summer of 2008, and we hope that none are found this
year.
The traps will
remain in place until August, the end of the EAB flight period.
Adults of the metallic woodborers are attracted to red and
purple hues. Sticky surfaces of the trap will collect the
beetles, there are no toxins or insecticides in the traps. The
EAB trapping program is conducted to detect infestations of this
invasive insect. |
 |
The EAB is a small,
metallic-green, wood-boring beetle that was discovered in southeast
Michigan in 2002 and has killed over 40 million ash trees. Native to
Asia, it’s believed to have been unknowingly transported to the United
States in wood packing material. Since its discovery, the EAB has been
detected in ten States -- Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West
Virginia. Quarantines prohibit the movement of ash nursery stock, ash
logs and lumber with bark, pallets, branches, stumps, etc., and all
hardwood chips and firewood.
5/27/09
PHASE I UPDATE
Henry County has just
been notified that our request for $295,000 in Phase I funds for 2009
has been approved for Farmer Cost Share Programs. At their meeting last
Friday, the Kentucky Ag Development Board approved the proposal sent in
by our Phase I planning groups, including the Agriculture Development
Council, the Cattleman’s Association, and the Diversification
Association. The proposal was basically to use most of the funds
available to Henry County for 2009 through the Tobacco Master Settlement
Agreement in the ‘new’ County Agriculture Investment Program (CAIP).
Phase I CAIP is
essentially the same program Henry County farmers have been working with
for the past 4 years, so not much change will be noticed. Farmers will
be able to apply for the 50% cost share programs for approved projects
on their farms after some preliminary work is done, so we can’t be sure
of the timetable yet. However, after some Legal Agreements are signed,
we should be able to advertise the CAIP Farmer Cost Share Program for
two weeks in the HENRY COUNTY LOCAL, after which we plan to have a 3 to
4 week application period. We will also hold training sessions for those
interested in how to complete the application.
We will continue to keep
you updated through this column. Further information may be obtained by
contacting the Henry County Extension Office at 845-2811.
TOBACCO PLANT
SITUATION
Hopefully, by the time
you read this, much progress will have been made in getting tobacco
plants set into the fields. The cooler, moist, overcast weather which
kept the fields too wet to work also put pressure on tobacco plants in
the greenhouse by favoring all the common bacteria and fungi that like
to work on tobacco. Joining labeled products like Terramaster, Dithane
DF, Penncozeb DF, Manzate ProStick, and AgriStrep now is Quadris.
Labeled with an emergency 24c label only last week, Quadris can be used
one time, at a rate of 3 teaspoons in 20 gallons of water, spraying
about 5 gallons per 1000 square feet to get good coverage. Quadris is
very active against Rhizoctonia, and we are trying to get really good
coverage to stop Damping Off and Target Spot. Unfortunately, 1 gallon
jugs are the smallest size available, however, having a supply of
Quadris could come in handy for growers with target spot in the field
(and many might join the club after they set the zillions of plants that
come from the float bed with target spot), or if blue mold starts up.
Speaking of blue mold,
we are still free of this beast in the U.S. at the moment. Apart from
target spot, the biggest things popping at the minute are collar rot and
Pythium.
UK EQUINE FIELD DAY
Horse enthusiasts should
mark Saturday, June 27, 9 am – 3 pm, for the 2009 Equine Field Day. Held
at the UK Maine Chance Farm just north of I-75 on Newtown Pike, the
event will feature hands on workshops and a trade show. The workshops
include: Managing Problem weeds on horse farms, Degenerative Joint
Disease, Evaluating your feeding program, Vaccinations, Deworming,
Rotational Grazing, Reproductive Problems, Economic Considerations for a
Horse Farm.
***DEAD ANIMAL REMOVAL***
Just a reminder, Henry
County now has a new Dead Animal Removal contractor. Instead of Nation
Brothers, it is now Harmon Brothers of Warsaw. The number to call is
1-859-567-2111. While they list their service days as Monday through
Friday, one of the owners told me to remind you to call them even if
your need for service happens on a weekend. They may be able to arrange
a weekend pickup.
5/20/09
WEATHER CAUSES TOBACCO
PROBLEMS
Weather patterns have
caused many tobacco producers to hold field ready transplants for
periods of a few days, and until those earlier plants can be set to the
field, those coming behind will need to be held also. Densely packed
plants in a humid environment is a recipe for big problems. Below are
some suggestions for holding plants.
Maintain a low level of
fertility: Reducing fertility levels to the 25 to 50 ppm N range will
slow growth and reduce the amount of rank green leaf material that may
be more susceptible to bacterial rots. At a lower level of fertility
plants may be more susceptible to target spot so appropriate controls
for target spot must be kept in place. For best control of target spot,
make sure that ventilation is optimal and apply a mancozeb fungicide (Dithane
DF, Manzate ProStick, or Penncozeb DF) on a routine basis. Use a rate of
0.5 lb of product per 100 gallons of spray solution (1 teaspoon per
gallon), and apply 5-7 gallons of mix per 1000 sq. ft of bed (roughly
400 trays). Mancozeb should be applied every 5-7 days until plants are
taken to the field.
Keep water levels up:
The tops of the trays should be kept above the level of the boards in
the bed to help keep air movement across the tray surface.
Maintain regular
clipping: Clipping plants down to ¾ to 1 inch above the bud will help to
slow growth and hold plants at a reasonable height for planting. Regular
clipping also improves air and light penetration into the tray surface,
and this will be a great help in keeping diseases such as target spot
and even collar rot in check.
Keep the air moving:
Along with proper clipping and keeping water at optimal levels in float
bays, make every effort to keep air moving on plants in float beds. This
means lowering side-curtains in greenhouses for as long as possible, and
running circulation fans if available.
Keep an eye out for
Pythium root rot: The potential for severe Pythium root rot increases as
the days become warmer. When float water reaches temperatures of 75 F
and higher, disease spread is rapid and the degree of damage
intensifies. Preventive Terrmaster use is the best practice. In most
cases, a single application of this fungicide at 0.7 to 1 fl oz per 100
gallons of float water, made at around 3-4 weeks after seeding, will
protect plants until setting time. However, if plants need to be held
longer, a second application may be necessary – keeping in mind that the
label prohibits use of Terramaster any later than 8 weeks after seeding.
Make sure to calculate the correct dose, and mix the fungicide
thoroughly to avoid severe injury. Even at lower rates, we see things
like root burn and slow growth on plants and these are more pronounced
at higher rates (maybe not a bad thing if you are trying to hold
plants).
Due to the long periods
of cool cloudy weather we can expect to see some premature blooming this
season in the weeks immediately after transplanting.
5/16/09
CUTTING HAY FOR QUALITY
Every year at this time,
forage producers are faced with the same dilemma. Hay is ready to be cut
and baled, yet weather patterns are unpredictable and rarely yield a
good window of time in which to properly cure hay. The result: we wait
until weather conditions are better, but we sacrifice the quality we are
capable of producing.
In the case of first
cutting alfalfa, waiting doesn’t only get us a lower quality forage, it
decreases the total yield of the field because we simply can’t get as
many cuttings. One of the solutions to this dilemma is putting the first
cutting of high quality forages like alfalfa into a silage package.
Rolled bale silage machines are being used to capture early quality,
even with lack of curing conditions, and releasing the fields to produce
high quality forage while the weather is still favorable in terms of
temperature and moisture.
I’ve seen studies where
the energy and protein levels of a hay which was cut and rained on were
as good or better than the same hay left standing in the field for two
weeks until good curing conditions were present. While no farmer wants
hay rained on, the early cut, rained on hay left the field ready to grow
its next crop earlier.
Some would ask, ‘why
does the quality go down?’. The answer to that lies in the fact that
stem tissue NEVER has the same quality as leaf tissue, and stem tissue
is the only thing growing or increasing in our fields after the first
few weeks of growth. Waiting for extra tonnage per acre is simply
waiting for more stems to grow.
All forage producers
should have their forage harvesting equipment greased and sharpened, and
ready to go at the first hint of sunny weather. Good luck!
COMMENTS ABOUT TEFF
Teff grass has been
gaining interest and that interest is generating a number of questions.
UK Forage Specialists and their counterparts in other states have been
attempting to gather information which will answer these questions, but
with back to back summer droughts in Kentucky, it is still hard to
predict just how this grass will serve us here.
Teff is a relatively new
summer annual forage grass for our region. Compared to the millets,
sorghums, and sudangrasses we normally use, teff is much leafier and
finer stemmed, and it often contains more crude protein and TDN.
However, it usually doesn’t produce quite as much total tonnage. It
makes a very palatable hay and is well accepted by horses, llamas,
alpacas, and similar livestock. Recently weaned calves also adapt to
teff hay quite quickly. These may be the kind of uses where teff is
better suited than most of our other summer annual grasses. Of course,
stock cows, replacement heifers, and other cattle also like it. However,
since other summer annual grasses usually produce more tonnage and also
are acceptable for these animals, they may be a better choice.
Furthermore, teff can be
difficult to establish. It has a very tiny seed, much smaller than an
alfalfa seed. It must be planted very shallow, about one-eighth of an
inch deep, or seedlings will not emerge. Many producers who have planted
teff have had thin or uneven stands, partly because the seed was placed
too deep by their drills. Extra firm seedbeds may be needed when a drill
is used; broadcasting seed and cultipacking afterwards might work
better. Seedlings also need a week or so of moist soil to become
established well enough to survive.
Teff has much potential when used with the right livestock. But know
also that it has some risks and challenges.
5/6/09
FLOAT BED REMINDERS
Recent widespread
reports of cutworm damage in float beds are a good reminder for tobacco
growers to keep a close watch on tobacco float beds and greenhouses to
catch and treat small problems before they become big ones.
A few worms can do a lot
of damage in a day or two on small plants. Problems can occur on plants
beginning at the 2-leaf stage. On small plants, up to dime-size portions
of the plant may be missing. Upon closer examination, you often find
just the stub of the stem remaining and possibly a few partially
consumed plants. Sometimes you may find the culprit under the partially
eaten plants, but often they burrow into the soil during the day. To
control cutworms, your best bet is to use products that contain acephate
at a rate of 1 tablespoon per 3 gallons of water. Spray to cover the
plants and the tray surfaces. You may reduce cutworm problems if you
control vegetation around the perimeter of the beds and spray acephate
around the perimeter of the beds to limit the worms’ entry.
During extended periods
of cloudy weather and high relative humidity, growers need to watch for
stem rot disease in the float system. The float system provides
favorable conditions for the development of these types of diseases.
Several types of fungi, and occasionally some bacteria, can cause these
rots. Spraying the wrong product can result in unsatisfactory disease
control and loss of additional plants. So it pays to take a tray to the
local extension office and have the problem identified. Some general
recommendations for reducing rot problems in tobacco greenhouses
include:
• Maintaining the
fertilizer level in the recommended range of 75 to 125 parts per million
nitrogen.
• Manage humidity levels by flushing the air inside the greenhouse
several times a day and even during the nighttime hours.
• Maintaining the water levels such that the top of the trays are above
the level of boards; this encourages improved air flow at the tray
surface.
• Using good clipping practices to improve air flow and light
penetration.
• Clipping only when foliage is dry and using a sharp and slow blade to
remove the clipped material without grinding. Any material that falls
back to the tray has the potential to spread disease to surrounding
plants.
• Burying or disposing of clipped material at least 100 yards from the
float bed.
You should examine your float beds at least once a day so you can catch
any problems early and take appropriate measures to protect young
tobacco plants.
For more information on tobacco production and management issues,
contact the Henry County Cooperative Extension Service at 845-2811.
4/29/09
WHAT A PRETTY
PLACE!
Last week I had the
opportunity to meet with a gentleman from central Kentucky, and the
meeting place I chose was lunch at the Hawkins Farm Center in Port
Royal. When the gentleman arrived, he exclaimed to me that “you all
should charge admission to ride through countryside so pretty!” I agree.
Several times over the
past couple of decades, I’ve been involved in community assessment type
meetings where folks discuss the county’s strengths and weaknesses.
Invariably, we come up with more positives than negatives, and one of
the strengths is always our rural look and heritage. Agricultural
leadership has been joined by most of the citizenry in advocating a
vibrant, sustainable agriculture in order to keep Henry County “a well
farmed countryside”.
It probably didn’t hurt
our visitors’ opinion of the countryside that here in mid April, all our
fields look manicured, with dark green cool season grasses just getting
into full gear, and herds of cattle, heads down, grazing the lush
forage. If I were to choose my favorite time of year, this is it. I’ve
always maintained that the person responsible for the Kentucky Derby
being the first Saturday in May was a genius, because the state is
absolutely beautiful at this time of year. What better time to showcase
our state to all the world than during the international Derby TV
coverage?
Now, back to the idea of
charging admission: farmers in Henry County and other parts of Kentucky
are beginning to research this idea. Agri-Tourism has become a new
venture for farmers, whereby they offer products, services, and scenery
to nearby urban communities. The Kentucky Wine Trail, and the Kentucky
Trail of Quilts are but two of the advertised Agri-Tourism efforts
already helping bring folks out to the beautiful countryside.
BARN MEETING IN
SHAKERTOWN
We just spoke of Agri-tourism
in Henry County and in Kentucky, and there is a new logo and website (www.kentuckyfarmsarefun.com)
to promote such ventures. What do you think is on the logo that in one
glance connects the onlooker to Farms, Agriculture, and Rural Heritage?
A Red Barn!

Barns conjure up some
great memories in much of the population of the United States. They are
a central and key figure on most farms. The recent Census of Agriculture
reports that of the 962 farms in Henry County, 500 have at least one
barn built prior to 1960. Exploring new uses for old barns is one of the
themes for the National Barn Alliance Conference next month in
Shakertown, KY. Preservation Kentucky and the Kentucky Heritage Council
will co-host the conference May 14-16. If you have a passion for barns,
particularly old ones, then attendance at this conference will put you
in touch with folks of the same mindset from all over the country.
Contact the Henry County Extension Office for details about
registration.
4/21/09
PHASE I TOBACCO MONEY
The Phase I program for
2009 is taking shape and is moving forward. As many know by now, the
Kentucky Agriculture Development Board (ADB) took the first quarter of
2009 to get reaction to a ‘new’ plan by which to present the Menu of
Model Programs throughout the state. A couple of weeks ago, we learned
the new plan had been adapted. Instead of a ‘Menu of Model Programs’
that Henry County farmers have seen for the past 4 years, the name will
be changed to the ‘County Agriculture Investment Program’ (CAIP), and
farmers will see almost no other differences.
After the Henry County
Agriculture Development Council, the Henry County Cattleman’s
Association, and the Henry County Diversification Association meet in
late April to finalize the 2009 Henry County CAIP Application, the State
ADB could give us our approval by their mid May meeting. Then, after the
running of a Legal Notice in the HENRY COUNTY LOCAL for two weeks
(probably close to the end of May), any Henry County farmer will be able
to come by the Extension Office to pick up their official application.
There will probably be a 3 to 4 week application period, after which
time all applications are scored. Once the scoring is complete, the pool
of money is allocated to the highest scorers until it runs out. We don’t
know how many applicants we’ll have, and we don’t know how much money
will be allocated to Henry County this year, but we do know that each
farm applicant will again be eligible for a maximum of $2,500 in a 50%
cost share program.
I will try to keep you
updated about the Phase I CAIP program and signup times through this
column. You may contact me at 845-2811 (Henry County Extension Office)
for more information, and you may look up program details concerning all
Investment Areas by logging onto http://agpolicy.ky.gov/, click on ‘help
for farmers’, ‘applications’, and ‘investment areas’
4/20/09
FREEZING IN THE ORCHARD
Raising fruit in Henry
County can be risky business due to cold weather returning after fruit
trees have already broken dormancy. In fact, most years we will have
some frosts or freezes which will damage at least a portion of the fruit
buds on apples, peaches, pears, grapes, etc. Cold temperatures earlier
this week have brought up the question: how much damage might we have to
local fruit?
The answer depends on
two things: just how cold did it get, and in what stage of floral
development were the plants? The temperature needs to be down to 28
degrees Fahrenheit for a few hours before any fruit buds are damaged. At
that point, apples in pink, pears in bloom, and peaches at petal fall
may have a 10% kill, just a mild thinning. It would take temperatures as
low as 23 degrees Fahrenheit to kill 90% of the buds on apples or
peaches when the buds are at the half inch green stage. While the severe
thinning doesn’t happen that often, it is not impossible. Just remember
the “Easter Freeze” of 2007, which not only wiped out most of the fruit
buds, it killed some new forage plantings and stunted nearly all the
rest, setting livestock producers up for a shortage of hay which was
made even worse by drought condition the next two summers and falls.
4/8/09
APPLE TREES IN THE
BACK YARD
An apple tree usually is
one of the first fruit crops backyard fruit growers think about planting
in their yard. However, they are one of the more difficult fruit crops
to grow, primarily because of the wide range of pests that like them,
particularly apple scab. This is a fungus that causes lesions on the
fruit and can also defoliate the tree and kill the spurs – the
structures that produce the flower buds.
Over the past 25 years,
a number of scab-immune apple varieties have been released. The
following apple varieties have performed well in Kentucky and are
discussed in order of ripening. Most also have resistance to several
other diseases.
Redfree – a red apple
that ripens in August and colors well for this time of the season.
Redfree is a tart, sweet apple which will keep for several months and
also has resistance to cedar apple rust, as well as sooty blotch and fly
speck diseases.
Liberty – a very tart,
McIntosh-type apple that ripens in late August. In a cool fall, Liberty
develops dark red stripes over a green/yellow fruit.
Enterprise – a red,
spicy, crisp and fine-grained apple that ripens in mid-to-late October.
Enterprise has a relatively thick skin, a very good disease resistance
package and stores well until February.
Gold Rush – a very firm, tart, yellow apple that ripens in mid-to-late
October. It sweetens up in storage and is one of the best storing apples
available, keeping up to eight months. It has a very good resistance to
scab and fire blight, but is susceptible to cedar apple rust.
Sundance – a firm,
yellow apple, which is more difficult to find. It is very resistant to
all four of the early season problem diseases and ripens in mid-October.
Since these apples are
disease resistant, many novice growers mistakenly believe they don’t
need to spray them. Unfortunately, these varieties don’t have any insect
resistance. Attempting to grow apples without spraying for plum
curculio, coddling moth, rosy apple aphid and scale can cause major crop
losses, if not complete crop loss, depending on the season.
The most important
sprays for apple varieties are the early ones, the dormant oil, pin,
petal fall and first-cover sprays.
The publication, Disease
and Insect Control Programs for Homegrown Fruit in Kentucky with Organic
Alternatives (ID-21), provides descriptions of these varieties and spray
recommendations. Contact the Henry County Extension Office at 845-2811
for a copy.
4/1/09
TIMELY TIPS FOR CATTLE
PRODUCERS
Spring-Calving Cows
The spring calving
season is in full swing now, top priority should be to get a live calf
and keep cows in sufficient body condition to rebreed early.
• Calving areas should
be accessible and as clean and as free of mud as possible.
• Check cows at least twice daily and first-calf heifers more frequently
than that. Be ready to assist those not making progress after 1 to 2
hours of hard labor. Chilled calves should be dried and warmed as soon
as possible.
• See that each calf gets colostrum within an hour of birth, or
administer colostrum (or a commercial colostrum replacement) with an
esophageal feeder.
• Identify calves with eartags while calves are young and easy to handle
and record birthdate and Dam ID. Commercial male calves should be
castrated as soon as possible.
• Separate cows that have calved and increase their feed. Unless your
hay is dairy quality Alfalfa, energy supplementation to cows is
necessary to prepare them for rebreeding. Cows must be in good condition
(BCS 5) to conceive early in the upcoming breeding season.
• Watch for calf scours! If scours become a problem, move cows which
have not calved to a clean pasture. Consult your veterinarian for advice
and send fecal samples to diagnostic lab to determine which drug therapy
will be most effective.
• Continue grass tetany prevention. You can feed the UK Beef IRM High
Magnesium mineral.
• Vaccinate calves for clostridial diseases (Blackleg, Malignant Edema)
as soon as possible.
• Prepare bulls for the breeding season. Increase feed if necessary to
have bulls in adequate condition for breeding.
• Finalize plans for your spring breeding program. Purchase new bulls at
least 30 days before the breeding season – demand performance records
and check health history including immunizations. Use both visual
evaluation and expected progeny differences (EPD’s) to select a bull
that fits your program. Get a BSE (Breeding Soundness Evaluation) on all
bulls.
Fall-Calving Cows
• Creep feed calves with grain or high quality forage. Calves will not
make satisfactory gains on the dam’s milk alone after about 4 mos. of
age – since there isn’t much pasture in March, fall calves need
supplemental nutrition. Consider creep grazing on wheat pasture, if
available. Calves can also be early-weaned.
• Plan to pregnancy check cows soon.
General
• Renovation and
fertilization of pastures should be completed.
• If you have a dry, sunny day, use chain-link harrow to spread manure
in areas where cattle have overwintered. This may be done in conjunction
with renovation.
• Plan for a feeding area with filter fabric and crushed rocks, if mud
is a problem this year. You can check on cost-share availability (Phase
I for 2009 will likely be announced in April).
• Start thistle control. They can be a severe problem in Kentucky
pastures. Chemical control must be done early to be effective.
• Repair fences, equipment and handling facilities.
3/11/09
BENEFITS OF LEGUMES
Reducing pasture
expenses can help your bottom line. But don’t try to starve a profit
from pastures or livestock. Sometimes you need to invest. This spring,
invest in legumes.
While nitrogen prices
are much lower than last year, the cash outlay for nitrogen fertilizer
on your pastures can be avoided by adding legumes to your grazinglands.
Five years of grazing
research in eastern Nebraska showed that brome/legume pastures produced
almost four-tenths of a pound higher average daily gain on yearlings
than did straight brome pastures fertilized with 50 pounds of nitrogen.
We have had similar results in Kentucky from research comparing
fescue/clover pasture with fescue with nitrogen. That may not sound like
a lot to you, but that much faster gain for the full season produced an
extra fifty-one pounds of beef per acre. With no nitrogen fertilizer.
Adding the value of heavier feeders plus reduced fertilizer expenses
resulted in more than an extra fifty dollars per acre profit. That’s
fifty dollars – per acre!
If you didn’t frost seed
your clover in February, March is a good month to start adding legumes.
Early March may still yield some freezing temperatures for Frost
Seeding, but as temperatures warm, begin thinking about using a
renovation seeder to make sure your certified clover seed has the best
chances for successful germination. Then, with a little attention to
controlling competition from the existing grass, new red clover plants
can start increasing your pasture production by summer.
Selecting trees and
shrubs to replace those lost in the ice storm...
After the task of storm
cleanup, homeowners around Henry County need to turn their focus toward
replacing trees and shrubs lost or damaged in the ice storm. The best
thing you can do is think local when choosing where to go and what to
buy.
Kentucky has more than
1,200 nurseries and retailers selling hundreds of types of trees,
shrubs, groundcovers and perennials. The KDA sponsors the Kentucky Proud
program, which allows individuals to locate local retail garden centers
that market Kentucky-grown trees and shrubs to homeowners. The garden
center database is easily searchable at
http://www.kyagr.com/kyproud/index.htm.
Kentucky also has many
qualified nursery growers, retailers, landscapers and arborists who are
familiar with Kentucky soil types, weather and other factors that play a
role in plant performance. Horticulturists and arborists who have taken
the big step of becoming certified have demonstrated sound scientific
horticultural expertise in a range of topics from landscape design and
plant identification to plant biology and maintenance of landscape
plants. For more information on selecting and buying local replacement
trees and shrubs in our area, contact the Henry County Cooperative
Extension Service.
3/4/09
Timely Tips for the Cattle Producer
The following tips come
from the UK Extension Beef group.
For the Spring-calving
Herd
-
Replacement heifers
should be gaining adequately to reach target breeding weights by
May.
-
Have calving
equipment, supplies and labor ready for the spring calving season.
Some supplies which may be needed are: eartags and applicator (put
numbers on eartags now), tattoo pliers and ink, record book, scales
for calf weights, iodine for calves' navels and colostrum
supplement. Calving equipment (puller and chains, etc.) and
facilities should be ready and clean.
-
Overall condition of
the cow herd should be evaluated. Cows losing weight now are most
likely to have weak or dead calves.
-
Record birthdate,
cow I.D., and birthweight immediately (use your Beef IRM calendar).
Identify calf with eartag and/or tattoo.
-
Signs of calving are
relaxation of pelvic ligaments, enlargement and swelling of the
vulva, and enlargement of the udder. Expect calving difficulty if
(1) calf's head and two feet are not visible, (2) only the calf's
tail is visible, and (3) the cow has been in labor for 1½ hours. Be
sure calf is being presented normally before using calf puller.
Recognize situations that are beyond your capability and seek
professional help as early as possible. Calves that aren't breathing
should receive assistance. Try sticking a straw in nostril to
stimulate a reflex or try alternate pressure and release on rib
cage. Calves should consume colostrum within 30 minutes of birth to
achieve good immunity.
-
Separate cows that
calve away from dry cows and increase their feed. Avoid muddy
feeding areas so that cows' udders won't become contaminated and
spread scours. Don't confine cows to muddy lots.
-
Increase feed after
calving to 25-27 pounds of high quality hay. Concentrate (3-4 lb.
for mature cows and about 8 lb. for first-calf heifers) may be
needed if you are feeding lower quality hay. Supplementation may
have a beneficial effect on date and rate of conception. The most
important time to feed a beef cow is after calving. Thin cows don't
come into heat very soon after calving. We must have cows in good
condition, if we plan to breed them early in the season for best
pregnancy rates, especially on high-endophyte fescue pastures.
-
Watch for scours in
newborn calves. Consult your veterinarian for diagnosis, cause, and
treatment.
General
-
Begin pasture
renovation. You can overseed clover on frozen or snow-covered
pastures.
-
You should be
feeding a mineral supplement with adequate magnesium to prevent
grass tetany (~ 15% Mg) now. The Hi-mag UK Beef IRM mineral can be
used now.
-
Provide water at all
times. Continue to watch for frozen pond hazards.
2/25/09
FSA Announces Emergency Conservation
Program for Ice Storm Damage
Agricultural producers
who suffered damage as a result of the January 2009 ice storm may
request cost-share assistance from USDA to rehabilitate damaged
farmlands. The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), administered by
Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides cost-share assistance when disaster
damage is so severe that recovery without federal assistance is
unlikely. Requests for assistance will be accepted at the local FSA
Service Center from Feb. 10 to April 13, 2009.
A producer qualifying
for ECP assistance may receive cost-share for debris removal and fence
restoration where the damage to farmland impairs or endangers the
operation of the farm. Fences must be used for agricultural purposes.
Ornamental fences are not eligible for assistance. Under ECP, cost-share
assistance is limited to $200,000 per person per natural disaster.
Conservation problems existing prior to the disaster are ineligible for
ECP assistance.
To be eligible for
cost-share under ECP, practices should not be started until a request
has been filed at the FSA Service Center and an on-site inspection has
been made by an FSA representative. Producers who have taken emergency
actions before filing an application may be eligible if it is determined
that such action was necessary to prevent further loss. Producers who
have taken action before this announcement may be eligible for
assistance if an application is filed within 15 calendar days from Feb.
10, 2009. Approval of cost-share for practices started before filing an
application or before the program announcement must meet all criteria
for federal cost-share assistance including compliance with
environmental regulations.
2/18/09
2007 Census of Agriculture – Henry County
The 2007 Census of
Agriculture Data has just been released, and the Henry County
information contains some interesting data and trends. Compared to the
2002 Census, two items jumped off the pages at me: the number of farms
has increased by 9%, and the amount of tobacco marketed has increased
since the 2002 Census.
The number of farms
increased from 883 to 962. Interestingly, when looking at the number of
farms by size, Henry County had decreases in the very smallest farms and
the very largest. Farms of 1-9 acres dropped from 52 to 39, while the
number of farms over 1000 acres dropped from 14 to 8. All other size
groupings increased.
When comparing farms by
income, it is interesting to note that the number of farms reporting
less than $5,000.00 income per year in 2007 was 430, while in 2002 that
number was only 324. Over half (59%) of Henry County farms reported less
than $10,000 in annual agriculture income, while 13% report sales of
$50,000 or more.
A significant increase
in the market value of land and buildings per acre was noted since the
2002 Census. The average for Henry County jumped from $2,398 per acre to
$3,268 per acre. This makes the average size farm of 152 acres worth
nearly ½ million dollars.
Farmers are getting
slightly older too. The average age of a 2007 Henry County farmer was
57.4 years old, compared to 56.3 in 2002. That trend has continued over
the past several Census of Agriculture reports. In 2002, about 9% of the
principal operators of farms were female, a figure which rose to 13% in
2007.
Back to the tobacco
figures. Since the government buyout, no one (but the tobacco companies)
really knows what the acreage and production per county has been, and
they do not chose to share these numbers. For the past 4 years, I’ve
been guestimating that Henry County’s acreage and production has held
steady from the last year of the quota system when producers planted
just over 2,200 acres and sold about 4.5 million pounds of burley. The
reported acreage for the 2007 census of tobacco indicates an increase in
acres up to 2,617, moving Henry County from 7th in the state to 2nd.
In addition to this 2nd
place ranking in tobacco acres, Henry County is also 2nd in pheasant
production, 4th in quail production, 20th in forage land for hay, 24th
in dairy, 25th in goats, 25th in Horses and Ponies, 38th in beef
production, and is ranked 46th in the state in terms of all products
sold.
2/11/09
NATURE HOLDS TRUMPS
Over the past few days, I’ve
wondered what I would write in this column. I’ll start with the weather, and
then end up with a little thought about agriculture. After a dreaded Ice
Storm, much of rural Henry County and Kentucky are nearing a week without
electric power as of this writing Monday afternoon, and I have to feel very
fortunate that my home power was restored late Saturday and the Extension
Office power came back on late Sunday. We are hopeful that all power will be
restored very soon.
Through the past few days,
I’ve heard a lot of stories about how folks are dealing with the loss of
electrical power. Some themes have rung true: we are all somehow more
appreciative of the grit and determination our forebears must have showed;
we are a bit more understanding of some of our own friends and neighbors who
grew up before ‘electricity came to town’: we as a society have become
pitifully dependant on electricity; and I, like many others have become
somewhat addicted to TV. I will always give a bit more credit to the
importance of the phrase “keeping the home fires burning” because now I have
firsthand knowledge of what a 24 hour a day job that is.
I have heard many tales
of neighbors helping neighbors, and small communities coming together to
insure safety for all. While It’s been hard, most of the farming
community has come through pretty well. We have to appreciate our
service providers and governments for their great efforts in clearing
roads, keeping the ‘city water’ flowing, and fixing the electrical power
lines. Thanks!
Even in the midst of a
harsh winter, it is time to be preparing for the new growing season. Why
not use this snow to mark your tracks as you ‘frost seed’ some legume
into existing grass pastures. After two years of summertime drought,
many pastures and hay fields need some attention, and a legume will add
nitrogen to the field, increasing both yield and quality of your forage.
Frost Seeding is just one of the many ways our forefathers worked with
nature to achieve a desirable outcome. In modern farming, one might say
we utilize many tools and techniques to overcome the natural way of
things. The ice storm of 2009 joins the tornado force winds of February
2008 and September’s Hurricane Ike to remind us that Mother Nature
always holds trumps!
Be safe.
2/4/09
CATTLE TIPS FOR
JANUARY
Since almost everyone
started feeding hay early this year, estimates need to be made soon to
calculate the feed (hay & supplement) needed by your cows until April.
See how much hay you have on hand now to avoid any “surprises”. Low hay
reserves may mean stretching your hay supply with more supplement to
keep cows in good body condition.
Spring Calving Cow
Herd
- Start cows on the high magnesium
mineral supplement soon. If cows are thin, begin energy (grain)
supplementation now.
- Get ready for calving season! See
that all equipment and materials are ready, including obstetrical
equipment, record forms or booklets, eartags, scales, etc. Prepare a
calving area where assistance can be provided easily if needed.
- Move early calving heifers and cows
to pastures that are relatively small and easily accessible to
facilities in case calving assistance is needed. Increase their nutrient
intake after they calve.
- Consider vaccinating the cows to
help prevent calf scours.
- Study the performance of last year's
calf crop and plan for improvement.
- Fall Calving Cow Herd
- Breeding season continues. Cows need
25 30 pounds of good quality hay, or its equivalent. Catch up on
castrating, dehorning and implanting.
- Provide clean windbreaks and shelter
for young calves.
- Remove bulls by the end of the
month. That means that your 2009 fall calving season will end in early
November.
General
- Obtain forage analysis of your hay
supply to determine supplement needs.
- Feed hay in areas where mud is less
of a problem. Consider preparing a feeding area with gravel over
geotextile fabric.
- Increase feed as the temperature
drops, especially when the weather is extremely cold and damp. When
temperature drops to 15°F, cattle need access to windbreaks.
- Provide water at all times. Cattle
need 5 to 11 gallons per head daily even in the coldest weather.
- Consider renovating and improving
pastures with legumes, especially if they have poor stands of grass or
if they contain high levels of the fescue endophyte. Purchase seed and
get equipment ready this month.
1/14/09
2008 VARIETY
TEST REPORTS
The 2008 Forage Variety
Test reports are now available at the Henry County Extension Office. As
you make plans to revitalize your forage program, make sure the variety
and seed you plant has the potential to do the best job for you.
UK has continued to
develop the summary report that contains all of the variety testing
information for the last 10 years in easy to read comparative tables for
each species. 2008 was a tough year with the continued dry summer
conditions. Overall, forage yields were down in the testing program, but
the advantages of improved varieties were all the more apparent.
FERTILIZING
FORAGE CROPS IN 2009
Forage producers around
the world have struggled over the last year with high fertilizer prices.
Hopefully, the prices will ease up for 2009, but the basic principles of
forage production will remain the same.
First of all, everyone
should take soil tests on a regular basis. In hay fields, soil tests
should be taken every year, since nutrient removal in hay is high. For
well managed pasture fields, soil tests are only recommended about every
3 years. A soil test may tell you that one field does not need any
fertilizer, another field only requires P, another field only needs
lime, and a fourth field has very low nutrient levels so you may
consider planting a forage like annual lespedeza which will grow in low
pH and low P soils. Taking a soil test will allow you to make educated
decisions on your farm rather than adding fertilizer that is not needed,
or reducing fertilizer applications on fields that need it the most.
If you decide that you
are going to cut back on fertilizer applications remember that hay crops
remove more nutrients than almost any other commercial crop. For
example, a 5 ton/acre alfalfa hay crop removes 280 lb of nitrogen/acre,
75 lb of phosphate, and 300 lb of potash. Nitrogen removal is not a
problem with alfalfa because N fixation occurs in the nodules on alfalfa
roots, but P and K level will drop in that field. Even if your soil test
levels are high today, hay crops will eventually deplete the nutrients
in the soil if you are not replacing them with commercial fertilizers or
manure.
Renovation of grass
pastures with legumes is a method to decrease our need for N fertilizer.
Not only do the legumes provide N “for free” from the air, but legumes
are usually higher quality than grasses resulting in higher rates of
gain and higher milk production. Legumes have tremendous advantages, but
they also require higher pH levels and higher P and K levels for growth
and stand survival than grasses (with the exception of the lespedezas).
Just like the rest of life, “you don’t get something for nothing.”
In pastures
approximately 80% of the nutrients consumed in the forage are returned
to the pasture in the manure and urine. Therefore, it makes sense to
concentrate your forage management efforts toward extending your pasture
season and reducing your need for stored feed. This is only true in well
managed rotationally grazed pastures where manure and urine are equally
distributed throughout the pasture. You can learn the concepts of
pasture grazing management through our Master Grazer 2009 Course, set to
begin in March. Please contact us at the Extension Office (845-2811) to
register and learn more about this course.
12/31/08
WINTER HORSE NUTRITION
The headlines in the
LOCAL really caught my eye last week. It emphasized the plight of horses
now caught in the wake of some interesting conditions. Some would say
it’s the ‘perfect storm’. The equine economy is sluggish, cold weather
is here which means little or no help from pasture, hay supplies are
tight and expensive due to two straight summer droughts, and horses
can’t go to slaughter in the US. Are there unwanted horses out there?
Are there some who will not be fed properly through the winter? The
answer is probably yes to both questions. However, we have a great
community of horse owners and managers in Henry County, and they do
their best to see that our equine friends are properly cared for.
No matter what the
economic conditions, a horse’s nutritional needs do increase with even
mild Kentucky winters. Here are some ideas to consider when feeding your
horses this winter.
The first thing every
horse owner should do is assess your horses’ body condition scores, or
the amount of fat they are carrying. This is simple numeric system,
ranging from 1 to 9 that will help you adjust your horses’ diets so they
are carrying the perfect amount of body weight. If you need help with
this, the UK Extension Service has a fact sheet titled, “Condition
Scoring Your Horse,” and you can contact us at the Henry County
Extension office to look for ASC-145. Using this system will help you
keep feed costs down and your horses’ health and well-being in top
shape.
No matter your horses’
body condition scores, one of the most important aspects of feeding
horses during the winter is being able to provide a source of
good-quality forage. Unless you have a well-planned rotational grazing
system in place and have stockpiled forage that will that last until
spring, feeding hay is essential.
Unless you are raising
broodmares or growing horses, most horses should be fed at least 50
percent of their total daily diet as forage. For an average 1,000-pound
horse fed at 2 percent body weight per day, that would be at least 10
pounds of hay per day. In addition to providing nutrients, hay also
supplies heat to the horses through the digestive process.
If your hay is of
high-nutritive value and your horses are maintaining their body
condition scores throughout the winter, you may not have to provide a
source of grain at all. However, if your horses are not meeting their
nutritional needs with hay alone, you can add grain to their diet.
Water is an essential
nutrient that you need to monitor very carefully during the winter
months. In general, horses tend to increase their consumption of water
when consuming more dry matter or harvested forages. But, they tend to
not want to drink really, really cold water. Therefore, it’s important
to make sure you provide fresh water daily on a free-choice basis. When
the temperature dips into the 30s and below, water tanks may freeze up.
Be sure to check them at least twice a day and break the ice up if
needed so the horses can drink.
Make sure you especially
monitor older horses that have trouble keeping weight on during the
year. They may need some special attention to keep them in good weight
throughout the winter.
12/24/08
ALFALFA AND THE
ENVIRONMENT
We know that alfalfa is
a great legume crop, recognized for outstanding yield and quality for
livestock feed. The National alfalfa alliance would remind us of some
other very nice things about this crop we sometimes call “the queen of
forage crops”.
Reduced soil erosion
and runoff—Alfalfa is recognized as an excellent ground cover.
Alfalfa reduces soil erosion and also reduces runoff of phosphorus and
pesticides into streams and lakes. Alfalfa makes a lot of it’s own
nitrogen, but did you know it is one of the best crops for trapping
nitrogen before it gets into groundwater due to its deep root system
which extends below the shallow root-absorption zone of most other
crops.
Added manure
management options—Alfalfa provides opportunities for manure
application several times a year. This helps producers spread their
workload and minimize storage facilities.
Improved soil health—Since
alfalfa is a perennial crop that lasts several years, only a portion of
a grower’s entire acreage needs to be seeded each spring. Absence of
tillage during the life of the stand reduces the breakdown of soil
structure compared to annually tilled row crops.
Wildlife benefits—Alfalfa
is an incredible home for many insects that are beneficial, and that
prey on other insects, produce honey, and serve as a food source for
birds. Alfalfa attracts many birds and small mammals to feed and next
because it provides ground cover for a long season.
12/17/08
TIMELY TIPS FOR CATTLE
Dr. Roy Burris and folks at
the UK Beef research farm send us the following tips for management of your
Cattle herds.
FALL CALVING HERD
- Get ready for the fall
breeding season. Breeding can best be accomplished on stockpiled fescue
pasture (if you are lucky enough to have some); otherwise, cows with calves
should be fed 25-30 pounds of good quality hay or its equivalent. Supplement
with grain, if needed. These cows shouldn’t be allowed to lose body
condition.
- Have Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BSE) performed on bulls (even if you
used them this spring).
SPRING CALVING HERD
- weaned heifer calves
- first-calf heifers, second-calvers and thin mature cows
- the remainder of the dry cows which are in good body condition
- herd sires
-
Begin feeding the lowest quality forage to dry cows which are in good
condition during early winter and save the best hay for calving time or for
weaned calves.
-
Body condition is important, plan an adequate winter program for cows to
be at least body condition score 5 (carrying some flesh with ribs covered)
before the calving and breeding season. This will help them to breed early
in the spring. Don’t let cows lose weight/condition.
-
Be sure that weaned heifer calves are on a feeding program which will
enable them be at 65% of their mature weight before the start of the
breeding season.
-
Order and number eartags for next year’s calf crop this winter.
GENERAL
-
Consider putting down geotextile fabric and covering with gravel in feeding areas before you begin
hay feeding to minimize waste of expensive hay.
-
Complete soil testing pasture to check for fertility and pH. These are
tight economic times but you can only “mine” your soil’s fertility for a
limited time.
NEWSLETTER INFORMATION BY
EMAIL
The tips included in
this column (ABOVE) came from a monthly newsletter put out by our UK
Extension Beef Specialists. As you might expect, there are several other
‘goodies’ for cattle producers to consider than what we include here,
and we would like to offer this and other newsletters to you.
If you have a computer
system at home and would like to get newsletters online from the
Extension Service, please let us know at the Henry County Extension
Service (845-2811 or ) to let us know which
newsletters or information you’d like to receive. At present, we have
OFF THE HOOF, DAIRY NOTES, FORAGE NEWS, GRAIN CROPS and KENTUCKY FRUIT
AND VEGETABLE GROWERS NEWSLETTER available online.
12/10/08
CATTLEMAN’S ASSOCIATION
REMAINS STRONG
The Henry County Cattleman’s
November 24...
This will be the 8th Annual
Meeting of the Henry County Cattleman’s Association, formed as an official
chapter of the Kentucky Cattleman’s Association in the summer of 2001. From
the very start, this group has had strong leadership and avid participation
by it’s membership, which usually hits somewhat above the century mark. With
regular meetings on the 4th Monday evening of most months, the attendance
has averaged around 90, with several hundred plus meetings! Many larger
Cattleman’s Associations would be proud to have the kind of turnout to
meetings and field days exhibited by the Henry County group. The Membership
seems to truly enjoy every opportunity to fellowship with one another,
network, and learn about the Cattle Industry through a wide variety of
speakers and presenters. Sponsors seem to line up to have the chance to meet
and work with the membership, helping provide a steady fare of grilled beef
and all the fixings.
While we talk of the
Henry County Cattleman’s Association as being a relative newcomer, Henry
County cattle producers had been active inn the Louisville Area
Cattleman’s Association, originally formed as the organizing body of the
Graded Feeder Cattle Sales held at Bourbon Stockyards, beginning in
1983. Henry County provided a good amount of membership, participation,
and leadership to that Area Association. Henry County Cattle farms were
consistently featured as Field Day Hosts for what became an annual Fall
Cattle Field Day, a practice which has been continued to this day.
The first meeting of the
Henry County Cattleman’s Association was May 30, 2001 at the Henry
County 4-H Center at the Fairgrounds. The group there had determined
their was a need to leave the Area Association in favor of a County
Chapter for a couple of reasons. First, this provided the avenue to
focus educational meetings and programs more specifically to our local
folks and local needs. Secondly, the new
Master Settlement
Agreement had made Cost Share Funding available to local farmers through
the “Phase I” Programs, and the administration of these funds was
required to be made by a local ‘formal’ organization. In order for those
early State Model programs such as the Genetics, Forage Enhancement, and
the Cattle Handling Facility programs to be available to Henry County
Farmers, an organization such as a Cattle Association was needed. Since
handling the first programs, the Cattle Association has now been
directly responsible for administering more than $2 million directly to
farm families over the life of the Phase I program.
The First President was
Sarah Stewart, followed by Bobby Foree, Tony Whaley, Allan Bryant, Alvin
Tingle, Brian Stivers, Eddie Foree, and present president Joey Kephart.
They have been ably assisted by a nine person board of directors which
has included: Leon Creech, Claude Nutt, Keith Jeffries, Richard Smith,
John Ellegood, Russ Rose, Robert Hunchman, Lloyd Gray, Clark Slone,
Phillip Douglas, Phyliss McGuire, John Allison, Larry Bryant, and
Lindsey Burke. Mary Bryant and Phyliss McGuire have served as Treasurers
throughout the organizations history.
Field Day Hosts,
beginning in 2001, have included Graystone Farms, Creekstone Farms in
2002, Lloyd and Pat Gray Farms in 2003, Stivers Farms in 2004, Rand
Angus Farm and Larry and Keith Jeffries Farms in 2005, Herrell Farms in
2006, Capstone Farms in 2007, and RiverCrest Farms in 2008.
Cattleman of the Year
have included: Lloyd and Pat Gray in 2002, Stivers Farms in 2003, Robert
and Jean L. Foree Farms in 2004, Herrell Farms in 2005, Capstone Farms
in 2006, and Graystone Farms in 2007.
The organization looks
forward to many more years of fellowship, great beef meals, and timely
education as they announce this 2008 Annual Meeting for Monday, November
24. Please stay tuned to this column and an invitation from the
Association which will give time and place details.
11/5/08
Beef Cattle Market Update
While 2007 will be remembered
as an especially brutal year for beef producers, few will remember 2008 as
much better. This year marked a second straight summer drought for most
Kentucky cattle producers, who have also watched calf prices slide sharply
from summer levels. As of the third week in October, 5wt feeder steer prices
in KY were averaging in the very low $90’s.
A price decline from late
summer into fall is typical seasonally as larger numbers of weaned calves
hit the market. However, in 2008, this occurred while markets were also
processing a wide range of macroeconomic data that caused many to question
the strength of beef demand in 2009. As the stock market fell, talk of
financial problems escalated, and the poor state of the US economy became
the hottest topic on TV, all commodity markets sank lower.
Beef is the most
expensive of the main three meats on the American table (pork and
chicken being the other two). As consumer incomes become strapped, it is
logical that beef would be the most vulnerable to substitution. This
vulnerability is the reason why live cattle have been trading in the low
$90’s, when they were expected to be trading well above $1 per lb back
in the summer. This same impact on deferred live cattle futures has
pushed feeder cattle prices down by nearly $20 per cwt. from their
spring highs.
While it is easy to be
pessimistic given the changes that have been seen recently, many
fundamentals remain quite positive. Cattle-on-feed numbers remain pretty
low, corn price has fallen, and the export market for US beef is
steadily picking up. Demand remains the wild card, and the primary
reason why we have such drastic price declines this fall.
Of course calf prices
are only part of the story as production costs are clearly as high as
they have ever been. In the face of these challenges, beef producers are
responding by reducing the size of the US cowherd. Nationally, beef cow
numbers are likely to be down by 2% or more by year’s end. At the same
time, we expect Kentucky beef cow numbers to be down even more.
FALL LIME RESULTS
Folks have been talking
quite a bit about high fertilizer prices as it relates to farm
production of forages, tobacco, and grain crops. Key elements of any
type of plant production certainly depend on the supply of nutrients
such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, but also upon the desirable
pH level of the soil. Most generally, Henry County has soils which are
slightly on the acid side of the pH scale. Crushed Limestone Rock, or
Lime as we call it, is usually the most economical product with which to
‘raise’ the pH of an acid soil.
The UK Soil Analysis
through the Extension Office now recommends the amount of lime needed,
if the lime product was 100% effective. We also list three of the local
lime sources, and make the recommendation for the total amount of liming
material based on the Relative Neutralizing Value (RNV) of the product.
A test of each quarry or liming product is conducted each spring and
fall by the KY Department of Agriculture, with the Fall results showing
Liters at Lockport testing an RNV of 65%, Oldham County Stone testing
70%, and RecMix of PA (at Ghent) testing 77%. Some arithmetic is needed
to determine which source is the most economical for you, based on the
cost of the material, trucking, and spreading.
10/29/08
COMPARING FERTILIZER
PRICES
Each year, I get several
calls concerning fertilizer prices and which product seems to be the best
buy, but with prices skyrocketing this past year, more folks have been
wondering about fertilizer economics. By the end of this article, I’ll give
you a simple formula with which you can price fertilizer on a pound for
pound nutrient basis. In other words, you’ll be able to compare apples to
apples.
First, however, before any
fertilization decisions are made, you should be working from a recent soil
analysis. Soils in the higher medium to high ranges of fertility for P or K
will probably not show an economic response to added fertilizer. Conversely,
soils testing low in P or K or having a low pH will likely show a good crop
response from fertilizer.
Now, back to fertilizer
comparisons. A month or so back, I got the following prices for Nitrogen
fertilizers. Ammonium Nitrate was $775 per ton and Urea was $1050 per
ton. At first glance, it sounds like Ammonium Nitrate is the better
deal, but remember that Ammonium Nitrate (34-0-0) is 34% actual
nitrogen, and Urea (45-0-0) is 45% nitrogen. Using this knowledge,
calculate the number of pounds of actual nitrogen in a ton of Ammonium
Nitrate by multiplying 2000 pounds by 34%, giving 680 pounds of
nitrogen. Recall that the price was $775, so $775 divided by 680 pounds
equals $1.14 per actual pound of nitrogen. Doing the same calculation
for Urea, we multiply 2000 pounds by 45%, or 900 pounds of actual
nitrogen. $1050 per ton of Urea, divided by the 900 pounds of nitrogen
per ton gives $1.16 per pound of nitrogen. So, the cost per pound of
nitrogen in the Ammonium Nitrate was only 2 cents different than the
cost of a pound of nitrogen in Urea, even though the price per ton was
considerably different.
The same type of value
comparison can also help wade through the question of economics in
applying liquid fertilizers. Simply price the value of the nutrients in
the liquid form, and compare it to what you calculate in the dry form,
and use the cheapest source. Scientific evidence indicates that a pound
of nutrient from a dry source is comparable to a pound of nutrient from
a liquid source. A few ‘new’ liquid products are being found to have
substantially higher cost per pound of nutrient than our ‘traditional’
dry fertilizers.
If fertilizer is needed,
apply only the amount needed according to soil test, and apply from the
cheapest source.
10/22/08
WEED CONTROL OPTIONS
FOR PASTURES
Dry weather conditions
two summers in a row have resulted in grazed pastures with areas that
have thin vegetative cover and bare soil. Some of these areas already
have weedy vegetation such as common ragweed and other summer annuals.
As these plants die back naturally, cool-season weeds such as common
chickweed, henbit and purple deadnettle will fill in the voids. Other
weeds such as musk thistle will likely be more prevalent in the coming
spring.
One option to tackle
weed problems is to apply broadleaf pasture herbicides in mid to late
fall or early next spring. However, herbicides alone may not be the best
solution to revitalize pastures for the next grazing season.
Does the existing stand
of desirable forages appear adequate and potentially competitive enough
against any emerging weed problems? If the forage stand is acceptable
and weed pressure is light, the best course of action likely is to do
nothing this fall except other routine pasture management practices.
However, if you do see developing weed problems then you may want to
take action to begin correcting the problem. In some cases, there may be
no good solutions that will correct all weed problems you’ve observed.
After you evaluate the
pasture, you must decide whether or not to 1.) drill or overseed more
forages into existing pasture to improve the stand of desirable forage
grasses or 2.) spray herbicides to control emerging broadleaf weeds. As
a general rule of thumb, if you decide to spray this fall, you will need
to wait until next spring before seeding additional forages. It’s
important to note that anytime you use broadleaf herbicides, you’ll
likely kill any clovers or other desirable legumes in the treated areas.
10/15/08
FROST BRINGS FORAGE DANGER
As we move into October the
likelihood of frost increases, and with it the danger of Prussic Acid
poisoning in our farm animals on pasture. The primary cause of prussic acid
poisoning is the ingestion of certain plants after living plant cells are
crushed or otherwise ruptured, such as what happens after frost damage.
Plants of the sorghum group and leaves of wild cherry trees are the chief
culprits around here.
Prussic acid is one of
the most potent toxins in nature. As ruminants consume plant materials
containing cyanide-producing compounds, prussic acid is liberated in the
rumen, absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to body tissues where it
interferes with oxygen utilization. If toxin is absorbed rapidly enough, the
animal soon dies from respiratory paralysis.
When lethal amounts are
consumed, dead animals may be found without visible symptoms of poisoning.
Symptoms from smaller amounts include labored breathing, irregular pulse,
frothing at the mouth and staggering.
The risk from
potentially dangerous forages may be reduced by following certain
management practices:
1. Graze sorghum or
sorghum cross plants only when they are at least 15 inches tall.
2. Do not graze plants during and shortly after drought periods when
growth is severely reduced.
3. Do not graze wilted plants or plants with young tillers.
4. Do not graze for two weeks after a non-killing frost.
5. Do not graze after a killing frost until plant materials is dry (the
toxin is usually dissipated within 48 hours).
6. Do not graze at night when frost is likely.
7. Delay feeding silage 6 to 8 weeks following ensiling.
8. Do not allow access to wild cherry leaves whether they are wilted or
not. After storms, always check pastures for fallen limbs.
When in doubt, don’t
graze.
SELLING BLACK WALNUTS
With the abundant load
of walnuts this year, we’ve had a couple of folks ask about where to
sell Black Walnuts. The UK Department of Forestry sent out a list last
week of Walnut Buyers in Kentucky, which includes one in Jeffersonville
and one in Springfield being the closest to us. If you would like to
contact either of them, please call us at the Extension Office for the
phone numbers.
10/8/08
FALL FERTILIZATION
The price of fertilizer is so
high that many cattle producers are asking if it’s economical to apply
fertilizer to pasture and hay ground this fall.
The answer to that question
is difficult because it depends on your specific situation. When considering
the answer for your operation, the first thing you should do is examine your
soil test levels. If you have not taken soil samples within the past three
years, you would be wise to collect new ones before making a decision. From
the soil test results, determine what, if anything, is most limiting. In
terms of soil pH, the minimum value depends on the type of forage you’re
producing. If it’s alfalfa and the pH is below 6.0, you could apply lime. A
grass-legume mixture probably can tolerate soil pH down to about 5.8 and a
pure grass system probably can go down to pH 5.5 before yields are
significantly affected. Similar statements could also be made for phosphorus
(P) and potassium (K) nutrition, with alfalfa requiring the most and a pure
grass like fescue requiring the least.
The UK College of
Agriculture recommends P applications starting when the soil test P
level drops below 60 pounds per acre and K when soil test K drops below
300 pounds per acre. If soil test levels are above 60 pounds per acre
and or 300 pounds of K per acre, the likelihood of a yield response to
additional P and/or K fertilizer is extremely low. But if you want to be
sure that P and K are not limiting, apply fertilizers as recommended. If
you are conservative and assume some risk that P and K might reduce
yield, you might allow soil test levels to decline further. From small
plot research, we know that once soil test P drops below 30 pounds per
acre and/or soil test K drops below 200 pounds per acre, a yield
response to added fertilizer is likely, therefore; these would be the
minimum tolerable levels.
For more information on
soil sampling and fall fertilizer recommendations, contact the Henry
County Cooperative Extension Service at 845-2811.
10/08/08
TIPS FOR CATTLE PRODUCERS
Spring-Calving Cows
• Limited creep feeding can
prepare calves for the weaning process. This will especially benefit those
calves which you are going to keep for a short postweaning period – like the
CPH-45 program.
• When planning the
preweaning working, consult with your veterinarian for advice on animal
health products and procedures, including pregnancy checking cows. The
remainder of the work, like booster shots, can be done at weaning time.
• It is time to start the
process of weaning spring-born calves. Stresses associated with weaning can
be minimized by spreading-out other activities commonly associated with
weaning – like vaccinations, deworming and, perhaps, castration and
dehorning. Therefore, this month is a good time to do a “preweaning” working
of cows and calves.
• Begin evaluating
individuals for herd replacements – or culling. Each time you put them
through the chute you can evaluate them for several traits, including their
disposition.
Fall-Calving Cows
• Fall-calving should
start this month. Cows should be moved to a clean, accessible pasture
and be watched closely. Identify calves soon after they are born and
record dam ID and calf birthdate, etc. Castration is less stressful when
performed on young animals and feeder calves can be implanted now, too.
• Move cows to best
quality fall pasture after calving. Stockpiled fescue should be
available to these cows in November-December to meet their nutritional
needs for milking and rebreeding.
General
• Complete nitrogen
application to fescue pastures early this month (or simply close the
gates to these pasture) and allow them to grow and accumulate until
November or December, or when other sources of grazing have been used up
- so that grazing may be extended and feeding can be delayed. To make
best use of this pasture, put fall calvers or thin spring-calvers on
this pasture and strip graze.
• Plan the winter
feeding program. Take forage samples of hay which you will feed this
winter. Request protein and TDN analysis so that supplemental feed needs
may be estimated. Plan to minimize hay storage and feeding loss,
consider utilizing crop residue for dry cows, group cattle according to
their feed needs.
• Don’t graze sorghum or
sudan pastures between the first frost and a definite killing frost
because of the danger of prussic acid poisoning. Johnsongrass in stalk
fields can also be a problem after a light frost. Grazing can resume
after the sorghum-type grasses have undergone a killing frost and dried
up.
9/10/08
GRADING THE 2008 HARVEST
SHOWCASE
The 9th Annual Henry County
Harvest Showcase was held this past weekend, with huge amounts of Henry
County Hospitality, Food, Crafts, Services, Livestock, and attendance from
all over the region. A lot of individuals, groups, clubs, and organizations
joined the Henry County Farmers Market Association in putting together
another memorable event. There are a lot of components to the Harvest
Showcase, and the following is a quick grade for each.
-
The Price of Admission:
Where else could you go and see so much for FREE? We have to give this
an A+.
-
The Publicity Campaign:
A lot of advertising helped get the word out to obviously lots of people
in Henry County and the surrounding urban areas. Kudos to all, but
especially to our Henry County Local and to Reed Yadon, WHAS
Meteorologist. A+ here also.
-
The weather: It didn’t
rain. We had typical late July heat and humidity. Can’t complain much
about this, but can’t give it the top grade. How about a B- ?
-
Parking: Can you think
of a better way to park hundreds of cars at the Henry County
Fairgrounds? The parking committee gets an A+!
-
Petting Barn and
Livestock Demonstrations: A lot of youngsters (and oldsters) got to see
just about one of everything in the great displays and demonstrations at
the Livestock Pavilion and the Show Ring. Great job! You get an A also.
-
Antique Tractor Show and
Games: Wow! Personally, I had never seen such an amazing display of
great machines. A steam engine, stationary hay baler, rock crusher, and
dozens of other engines and tractors, all lovingly kept and displayed
was a true look back into our Agricultural past. Without question an A+.
-
Transportation: Thanks
to a very hardworking farm couple, the tractor and people wagon
transported hundreds of attendees around the entire fairgrounds to see
all parts and parcels of the Showcase. A+!
-
Music and Entertainment:
Great MC’s, great groups, Patrick Henry Hughes, the Henry County High
School Marching Band, Contests, etc. All wonderfully done for another A+
-
Kids Games (and some
older Kids games like Cornhole): Where else can you literally try to
find a “needle in a Haystack”, or try your hand at Zucchini Bowling, or
learn to milk “Kentucky Kate”, or get in a good Cornhole tournament?
Great fun for all, and another A+.
-
Food: From Breakfast
with the Chamber, to Lunch from several groups, food was delicious, and
by 1 o’clock or so was nearly gone, enjoyed by thousands of Harvest
Showcase attendees. Very definitely, “Lunch at the Farmers Market” was a
success, and all of it was produced right here in Henry County. Another
A+ performance.
-
The Henry County Harvest
Showcase Committee: What a pleasure working with such a hardworking,
unselfish, and forward thinking group as the Showcase Committee. One and
all, they get 3 cheers and another A+ for producing another great
showcase. Now, get some rest. You deserve it.
-
Sponsors: 2008 saw a lot
of sponsor participation, all very much appreciated. A record attendance
for this event, even in the face of high fuel prices, may be in part
because the event was FREE. But it cost something to produce, and
couldn’t be done without sponsors. A+, and thanks.
Meeting the Objectives
of the Harvest Showcase: If you feel that large numbers of rural and
urban neighbors enjoyed a great all local agricultural fair, that Henry
County was displayed in a positive light, and that another step was made
toward creating and promoting a local food economy which will in turn
keep Henry County a well farmed community, then most of the objectives
were met once again. And for this, we bestow another perfect score!
7/30/2008
HISTORIC REVIEW OF
AGRICULTURE
The 2007 Census of
Agriculture Data for Henry County is targeted for release in early 2009.
What facts and trends will it reveal? The 2002 Census revealed some
interesting facts and trends in our farming community. Depending on your
perspective, some changes and trends can be good and some not so good, but
they are real, and the knowledge of them may be useful in planning for the
future.
From 1997 to 2002, Henry
County decreased total farm numbers from 1,022 to 833, with the average farm
size creeping up to nearly 160 acres (right at the State Average) from the
1997 size of 147. The market value of production dropped nearly 30%, from
nearly $37 million to roughly $26 million. As you might guess, most of the
drop in income came as a result of the decrease in tobacco income.
Henry County has an area of
291 square miles, with a total of 186,272 acres of land. The number of acres
in farms in 2002 was 141,592, down nearly 9,000 acres from 1997.
Now let’s go back in time
nearly a century to take a look at Henry County. Exploring 1909 (the
earliest year of the U.S. Census of Agriculture for Henry County), we find
the acreage in farms in 1909 was 178,217. There were 2,329 farms, with an
average size of 77 acres. The average value of land and buildings per acre
was $50, a huge contrast to the $2,398 per acre in 2002.
In the year 1900, Henry
County population was recorded at 14,620. Each 10 year U.S. Census after
that reveals a population lower that 14,000 until the 2000 Census of 15,060.
With 2,329 farms in 1909, we can see that a much greater number of people
lived and depended on farming in our past.
There are some interesting
facts concerning the number and size of farms through the years. In 1909,
there were 306 farms from 1 to 9 acres in size, now there are only 52. The
number of farms of 1,000 acres or more has increased from 2 to 10, and until
1982, there were no farms of 2,000 acres or more, now there are 4. The
number of farms from 180 acres to 499 acres in size has remained fairly
constant, dropping only from 217 in 1909 to 189 in 2002. A size range which
has dropped significantly, even though the average size of a farm has
increased, is the 50 to 179 acre range. From 1007 in 1909, we are down to
409 in 2002. The statistics tell us that we have decreased numbers of small
farms, and growing numbers of large farms.
Will these century old
trends continue with the 2007 Census of Agriculture? When the Henry County
numbers are released, we hope to forward them to you right here in the Henry
County Local. Stay tuned.
7/16/08
NITROGEN FOR STOCKPILING
FESCUE
Nitrogen prices continue to
increase in Kentucky, but prices for stored feed also continue to increase.
Start planning now for stockpiling tall fescue for late fall and winter
grazing. Stockpiled tall fescue will provide high quality, palatable forage
and reduce the cost of winter feeding. The most efficient application time
to insure strong fall growth is early to mid-August on grazed (3 to 4”) or
hayed fescue stands. Recommended N application rates are 50 to 80 lb N per
acre, but rates as low as 30 to 40 lb N per acre will enhance growth and
improve forage quality. Ammonium nitrate is the preferred N fertilizer
because it does not volatilize in hot weather. Price and availability are
certainly big issues with ammonium nitrate. If urea is used it should be
applied immediately before rain or used with the additive Agrotain which
reduces volatilization losses.
Timely Tips For Cattle
Here are some July tips
for cattle producers from Dr. Roy Burris, UK Beef Specialist.
For a Spring-Calving Cow
Herd
-
Remove bulls from
the cow herd by the end of the month and keep them away from the
cows. A short calving season can concentrate labor during the
calving season; group calves by age so that it is easier to find a
convenient time to vaccinate, castrate, dehorn, etc.; and provide a
more uniform group of calves at market time.
-
Mid-July (when the
bulls are being removed) is a good time to deworm cattle, use a
product that is effective against inhibited ostertagia. Calves which
haven't been vaccinated for blackleg should be. Spraying or using a
pour-on for flies while cattle are gathered can supplement other fly
control methods. Remember to work cattle early in the morning when
it is cool and handle them gently to minimize stress.
-
Continue to watch
for pinkeye and treat if necessary. Minimize problems by clipping
pastures, controlling face flies and providing shade.
Fall-Calving Cow Herd
-
Fall-calving cows
should be dry and pregnant now. Their nutrient needs are minimal and
they can be maintained on poor pasture to avoid overfattening. Keep
a good free-choice mineral mix available at all times.
-
De-worm cows in
mid-July.
-
Get ready for fall
calving and plan to have good pasture available at calving and
through the breeding season.
General
-
Be sure that clean
water is always available, especially in hot weather. Make routine
checks of the water supply. Cattle need 13 to 20 gallons of clean
water in hot weather.
-
Maintain a weed
control program in permanent pastures and continue to “spot-spray”
thistle.
-
Check pastures for
downed wild cherry trees after storms (wilted wild cherry leaves are
toxic to cattle).
-
Have forage analyses
conducted on spring-cut hay and have large, round bales covered.
-
Start soil testing
pastures to determine fertilization needs for this fall.
7/9/08
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