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Several hundred thousand head of cattle are on U.S. roadways every day, and given the volume of cattle being transported, the likelihood of a truck being involved in an accident is high. However, first responders and law enforcement officers aren't always trained in how to handle an incident with cattle. As a result, North Dakota State University Extension specialists joined university and Extension faculty from across the country in developing the Bovine Emergency Response Plan (BERP) and...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released regulations for direct payments under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). "CFAP provides vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a 5% or greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities," says Ron Haugen, North Dakota State...
Yellow patches of leafy spurge are beginning to pop up in road ditches across North Dakota. "Leafy spurge is the most recognized noxious weed in the state, infesting approximately 750,000 acres," says Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension's livestock environmental stewardship specialist. "Canada thistle tops the state at over 800,000 acres, with absinth wormwood the third most common at over 600,000 acres," she adds. "These species are the most common noxious weeds found on...
Providing adequate water to livestock is critical for animal health and production. "Good-quality water can have a major impact on your cattle's intake and weight gain," says Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. Canadian studies have shown the quality of water accessible to livestock is directly tied to the amount of forage they consume. Studies report improved gains by as much as 0.24 pound per day in yearlings and 0.33 pound...
Spring turnout to the pasture is a good time for producers to review their cow-calf health management plans, according to North Dakota State University Extension livestock experts. They note that a number of factors can impact cow-calf health, including slow grass growth and moisture conditions that may delay grazing readiness and result in prolonged feeding. Other factors are cooler, wet conditions that create a variety of challenges for young livestock, particularly for those in dry lots or areas with high concentrations of livestock. “The p...
The first step in dealing with stress is to recognize the early symptoms. Poor growing and harvesting conditions, low commodity prices, trade wars and a shortage of livestock feed for winter all have been stressful for North Dakota farmers and ranchers. North Dakota State University Extension has developed a number of resources to help farmers and ranchers cope with the stress resulting from the uncertainties in their profession. The first step is to recognize the early symptoms of stress,...
Field peas may be an alternative to distillers grains as a protein source in cattle feed if the field peas are at a low enough cost, according to a North Dakota State University Extension livestock systems specialist. Distillers grains are a coproduct of producing ethanol from corn. "Distillers grains are a very palatable feed that usually has a feed test of 30% crude protein dry-matter (DM) basis," says Karl Hoppe, who is based at NDSU's Carrington Research Extension Center. "Typically, dried...
Sheep producers need to keep their marketing options open during the COVID-19 outbreak, says Travis Hoffman, North Dakota State University Extension sheep specialist. "We are undoubtedly in a different time than expected for livestock producers in today's COVID-19 situation," he says. "Breeding decisions were made, we put in the effort to get calves, piglets, lambs and/or kids on the ground and growing well. However, we are facing an unprecedented challenge for harvesting the fruition of our...
"Providing the correct mineral supplement is necessary to ensure optimal health, performance and reproduction," says Janna Block, Extension livestock systems specialist at North Dakota State University's Hettinger Research Extension Center. The costs of mineral supplementation vary widely, but most estimates are from $20 to $50 per cow per year. "Due to the importance of minerals and the investment required, it is imperative for producers to develop a good understanding of mineral supplement...
A sump pump is the first line of defense for many homeowners to prevent water from seeping into the basement. "Last spring, many sump pumps hadn't run much in the previous years, but with snowmelt last spring and excess rain in the fall, they ran quite frequently and, in some houses, the sump pump has been running almost all winter," says North Dakota State University Extension Agricultural Engineer Tom Scherer. "However, before the snow starts melting this spring, homeowners should check their...
Soil samples in North Dakota indicate increasing levels of overwintering wheat midge larvae (cocoons) for the 2020 season, says Janet Knodel, North Dakota State University Extension entomologist. A total of 1,900 soil samples were collected from 20 counties in the fall of 2019 to estimate the statewide risk for wheat midge in the 2020 field season. The distribution of wheat midge is based on unparasitized cocoons found in the soil samples. "About 1% of the soil samples had very high population...
Because of difficult harvest conditions last fall, grain may have been stored with higher than normal moisture content, which could pose a danger to anyone working around the grain. "High-moisture grain storage leads to bin unloading problems," warns Ken Hellevang, North Dakota State University Extension agricultural engineer. "Grain may be in clumps due to high-moisture grain and foreign material being frozen together, or due to crusted grain flowing in chunks that block grain flow into the...
Planning and preparing for the calving season can help not only minimize calf losses but also improve calves' performance, according to North Dakota State University Extension livestock specialists. The nutrition status of the calving herd is one issue to consider in preparing for the upcoming spring calving season. "Although this should be an earlier concern, throughout the last trimester of the gestation, it is still possible to split the calving herd according to the body condition of the fem...
Poor growing and harvesting conditions this year have North Dakota producers concerned about the test weight of their corn. "Many factors influence the measured test weight of corn, including the physical characteristics of the kernel such as size, density, shape and surface of the kernel," says Ken Hellevang, North Dakota State University Extension agricultural engineer. Hybrid differences can affect test weight. As grain dries in the field or the dryer, test weight naturally increases as long...
North Dakota State University Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) are hosting a webinar Thursday, Dec. 5, to provide producers with information on available disaster recovery assistance. The webinar will begin at 2 p.m. Central time. "Because of flooding and the October blizzard which impacted growing and harvesting conditions in the state this year, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue approved a secretarial disaster declaration request for 47 counties...
The 2019 growing season has not been conducive for corn grain production in many areas of the northern Plains. The late planting season, combined with cooler temperatures, has left many fields unharvestable or not cost effective for harvesting corn for grain, especially with late-season varieties. Alternative uses for corn include grazing, chopping it, harvesting as earlage or harvesting high-moisture corn and using it for livestock feed. However, producers must take precautions when grazing unharvested corn to assure animals don’t develop h...
The sign-up period for the 2019 Market Facilitation Program is now open, says Bryon Parman, North Dakota State University Extension agricultural finance specialist. The program provides aid to farmers growing specified crops in the form of a county-wide payment rate as determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The county payment rates were released at the end of July and varied from a minimum of $15 per acre to a maximum of $150 per acre. Many North Dakota counties in the...
Anthrax continues to be a concern for cattle producers in North Dakota. "Recently, a case of anthrax was positively identified in a southwestern North Dakota county," says Gerald Stokka, North Dakota State University Extension veterinarian. "This is a reminder to our cattle producers that the threat of anthrax is still present. It appears that during times of high rainfall and/or very dry conditions, the spores are uncovered and cattle are at risk of infection." Anthrax is a disease in cattle ca...
Planting cover crops is increasing in popularity each year, and this is not surprising considering the benefits. However, those potential benefits will be quickly negated by the use of untested or unlabeled seed says Jason Goltz, North Dakota State Seed Department regulatory programs manager. North Dakota seed law requires that all agricultural seed offered for sale, or sold for planting purposes, must be labeled. Proper labeling requires seed testing and without proof of testing, there is the...
Don't invite botulism to your dinner table. Botulism is a deadly form of food poisoning. The toxin, or poison, causing the illness commonly is associated with improperly processed home-canned vegetables, such as peas, peppers, corn, lima beans, green beans and mushrooms, as well as other low-acid foods that are canned at home, including soups, meats, fish and poultry. If canned food isn't processed properly, spores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum aren't killed. Even a taste of...
The snowy, frigid winter may have left cattle producers short on forage for their livestock, and they are itching to get the cattle out on grass. "Proceed with caution when turning livestock out on range and pasture," advises Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. "The long, cold winter may result in a delay in grazing readiness, especially considering the cool temperatures we have experienced so far this spring. Grazing too early...
Beef cows that have been underfed during gestation and lactation will be less productive than cows fed adequate diets. "For adequate production, a beef cow's daily ration must meet nutritional requirements," says Karl Hoppe, North Dakota State University Extension livestock systems specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center. "Cows will lose body weight when consuming less energy than needed for maintaining body functions and production demands." Extreme cold temperatures or wind...
Landowners will have an opportunity to discuss their concerns and experiences with brine spills during a series of informal meetings North Dakota State University Extension is hosting this spring. These meetings are open to all landowners to discuss their concerns and experiences with brine spills. NDSU researchers will provide an update on the current brine remediation research being conducted in the state. The goal of these meetings is for everyone to share information and voice their concerns...
This year's Leadership Awareness Weekend (LAW), a statewide 4-H civic engagement event, was a worthwhile experience for several North Dakota youth. "4-H LAW is a wonderful opportunity for youth to make new friends, learn how to become a strong leader and become more connected with our government," says 4-Her Marie Kraemer of Grand Forks. She was among youth from 12 counties who participated in parliamentary procedure activities, break-out sessions and a service project, and met state and local...
Piled-up stress can lead farmers and ranchers to develop physical or mental health issues, but they can take steps to reduce stress and create healthy ways to manage it, says a North Dakota State University Extension expert. "Farm and ranch families often experience pressure, conflict and uncertainty, especially during harvesting and planting," says Sean Brotherson, Extension family science specialist. "If feelings of frustration and helplessness build up, they can lead to intense family...
