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![Cover crops growing in a field of harvested corn.](/sites/default/files/2020-03/W-00528-00-cover-crops-corn-grazing-soil-rotation.jpg)
Utilizing Cover Crops for Grazing: An Assessment on Economic Benefits
Grazing cover crops by cattle provides an option to offset cover crop seed costs and increase farm revenue. To facilitate farmers’ decision making, this article will evaluate the economic profitability from grazing cattle on cover crops using a partial budgeting approach.
![Hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and respirators sitting on a table.](/sites/default/files/2020-03/W-00537-01-covid-19-sanitizer-hand-washing-safety.jpg)
Information on How to Deal With COVID-19 for Dairy Workers
We would like to share some advice on measures to follow due to the problems that are affecting the world population today, including all of us.
![A male producer analyzing records on an office computer.](/sites/default/files/2020-04/W-00540-00-farm-business-management-records-economics-book-keeping-finances.jpg)
What Kind of Records Are You Keeping?
Measurement of the actions and efforts of everyday life on the farm or ranch leads to better management and efficiency. Many farmers and ranchers keep many records. Utilization of the records for improved management would be the next step to take to improve efficiency.
![A farm yard near a sprawling field of recently planted crops.](/sites/default/files/2020-04/W-00543-00-planting-crop-management-business-decisions-farm.jpg)
Planting Projections 2020
South Dakota producers recently indicated they plan to plant 12.9 million acres of corn, soybeans and wheat in 2020, plus an additional 620,000 acres of sunflowers, 345,000 acres of oats and 45,000 acres of barley, as well as 270,000 acres of sorghum and 11,000 acres of dry edible peas.
![A dairy producer talking to an employee inside a milking facility.](/sites/default/files/2020-04/W-00546-00-dairy-labor-employee-communication.jpg)
Communicating With Dairy Farm Employees in the Time of COVID-19
Communication has always been a key in any farm operation. In today’s environment, clear communication with your employees is more than crucial due to COVID-19 impact.
![Black angus cattle feeding in a feedlot.](/sites/default/files/2020-02/W-00476-00-beef-cattle-feedlot.jpg)
What Goes Into Calculating Yardage?
Yardage cost is the non-feed cost per head for every day that an animal is fed harvested feed in some form of confinement. Yardage is usually associated with calves and yearlings in the feedlot, but this concept can apply to drylotted or wintering cows as well.
![A small group of cattle grazing a vast, open range as the sun sets in the background.](/sites/default/files/2020-03/W-00496-00-cattle-beef-grazing-pasture-range.jpg)
Using Increased Longevity to Reduce Annual Cow Cost
When evaluating annual cow cost, feed rises to the top of the list. Feed cost is an important area to consider; however, have you evaluated the cost of incorporating replacement heifers into the cowherd?
![Corn earlobe being stored in a bunker for later use as cattle feed.](/sites/default/files/2019-09/W-00411-00-corn-earlage-high-moisture.jpg)
Valuing High-Moisture Corn and Earlage
A key advantage to using commodities that meet standard specifications and are frequently traded is that it is very easy to establish an economic value that is accepted by most users. The marketplace sets the value of corn, and other feedstuffs on a daily basis, provided those products meet some set of standard specifications.
![sun rising over a cornfield. several grain bins are in the background.](/sites/default/files/2019-03/W-00132-00-corn-ag-business-grain-marketing.jpg)
Corn Grain Moisture Discount: Why and How Much?
Corn marketed at the standard moisture content of 15.5% and 56 pounds per bushel typically contains 47.3 pounds of dry matter and 8.7 pounds of water. At harvest, a producer has to decide whether to sell (or even store) his corn at ‘as is’ moisture content or mechanically dry it before taking it to the buyer.
![A map of South Dakota with several colored boxes indicating areas of increased flood risk. For a complete description, visit the National Weather Service website at: https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/long_range.php?wfo=fsd](/sites/default/files/2020-03/W-00497-01-figure-flood-risk-map_0.jpg)
Get to Know Your Local Emergency Management Director
The warmer weather and spring migration this March have us all thinking of better days ahead. Unfortunately, it also has us thinking about flooding again this spring.