Farm Management
All Farm Management Content
Colder Weather Tips for Midwestern Dairy Farm Employees
Cold and snowy winters are a challenge for dairy workers, especially for those immigrants coming from warmer climates. Informing workers of simple cold weather survival tips is beneficial in improving their quality of life, both at home and the workplace.
Late-Term Reproductive Losses in Beef Cattle: Diagnosing the Cause
Reproductive losses account for $1 billion in lost revenue to the beef industry each year. With cattle reproduction, focusing on what we can control and diagnose is the key to avoiding these losses.
Interpreting Research Results: The Simple Way
Although research results and statistical terminology can seem overwhelming, understanding the basic concepts can be valuable for decision making. When making management decisions, don’t hesitate to ask for research results and statistics to back up marketing claims.
Effects of Late Spring Frost on Alfalfa
Forage research indicates that, although alfalfa is considered to have good cold temperature tolerance, minor frost damage may occur when plants are exposed to air temperatures slightly below freezing for several hours, and more severe damage will be seen when temperatures drop below 25°F for four or more hours.
Planning for a Muddy Breeding Season
Early calving spring cow herds have wrapped up calving and are preparing for breeding season. If you are having flashbacks to breeding in the mud of 2018, try approaching this year with an open mind and review breeding season protocols with a “mud” backup plan.
How Often Should You Check Cows During Calving Season?
The routine “calving check” is one of the most important tasks on the list of beef cattle producers during calving season.
Corn Emergence During Cold Weather
After a very welcome warm and relatively dry April, the month of May has brought winter-like temperatures again to South Dakota. Due to cold and wet conditions, concerns of the cold temperatures have been expressed by producers who have recently planted corn.
Cold Weather Challenges
In the event of extreme cold weather snaps, even cattlemen who have experience calving in these conditions may benefit from a review of recommendations as the calving season continues.
Veterinary Feed Directive: What You Can’t Do With a VFD
Livestock producers and veterinarians have been adjusting to the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rules put into effect on January 1, 2017. With the onset of the rules, producers need to square their previous treatment methods with what a VFD can and can’t do.
Use the SD Spray Tool for Inversion Detection and Weather for Pesticide Application
The SD Mesonet Spray Tool provides real-time weather data for pesticide applicators. This dedicated website for pesticide applicators uses the SD Mesonet weather data, which is updated every five minutes.