Content by Kim Ricardo
Drought Emergency Order Provides Flexibility for Forage Transportation
The recent extension of the State of South Dakota’s Drought Emergency Executive Order will provide livestock producers with flexibility to transport harvested forage. The order allows qualifying producers and commercial haulers to continue transporting oversized loads of baled livestock feed under emergency permitting provisions.
Developing Replacement Heifers During Drought Conditions and High Hay Prices
High-priced hay does not necessarily mean replacement heifers cannot be developed cost-effectively. Alternative feed resources and strategic feeding programs can help producers meet growth targets while stretching limited forage supplies.
How to Interpret Forage Test Results
Forage testing is a management tool that both forage and livestock producers should incorporate into their operations. Knowing the quality of the feed being provided allows producers to meet livestock nutritional needs more accurately and cost-effectively.
Feeding Drought-Stressed Corn to Livestock
Drought-stressed corn can remain a valuable forage resource when harvested and stored appropriately. Successful utilization depends on careful management, including harvesting at the proper moisture content, achieving adequate packing density, and excluding oxygen during storage.
Forage Crop Insurance Options
In this episode of The Grazing Toolbox, Kim Ricardo, SDSU Extension Forage Field Specialist, and Parker Witt, SDSU Extension Crop-Livestock Systems Field Specialist, sit down with Dr. Matthew Diersen, SDSU Extension Risk and Business Management Specialist, and Dr. Sarah Sellars, SDSU Extension Sustainable Farm and Food Systems Specialist, to discuss forage crop insurance programs and the benefits they can bring to operations experiencing extended dry periods.
Developing Heifers to Fit Your Production Environment
The long-term sustainability and profitability of the cow-calf industry depend on retaining females that fit both the production goals and environmental constraints of an operation.
Annual Forage Rainfall Index Insurance: A Risk Management Tool for South Dakota Producers
Drought remains a recurring challenge for South Dakota livestock and forage producers. Annual Forage Rainfall Index insurance is one tool that may help reduce the financial risk associated with below-average precipitation.
The Impact of Mature Cow Size on Profitability in Cow-Calf Operations
The mature weight of the U.S. cow herd has steadily increased over time. While larger cows are often perceived as more productive, this trend brings several economic challenges.
Managing Nitrates
In this episode of The Grazing Toolbox, Kim Ricardo, SDSU Extension Forage Field Specialist, Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist, Robin Salverson, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist and Parker Witt, SDSU Extension Crop-Livestock Systems Field Specialist discuss current climate conditions and how they may influence forage and feed management decisions.
Multi-Species Grazing and Integrated Livestock Systems
n this episode of Grazing Toolbox, we visited with Jaelyn Whaley and Dave Ollila to discuss multi-species livestock integration and how sheep and cattle can work together to improve grazing management, forage utilization, and overall ranch resilience. Drawing from both Extension and producer perspectives, the conversation explores the opportunities, challenges, and practical considerations involved in incorporating sheep into grazing systems.