Sorted by date Results 26 - 41 of 41
Abortions can be a major concern for cattle producers. An "abortion" is the discharge of the fetus prior to the end of the normal gestation period, according to Gerald Stokka, North Dakota State University Extension veterinarian and livestock stewardship specialist. Many abortions occur within the first 45 days of conception (called early embryonic death), and the embryos or fetuses are so small that they may not be seen. Other abortions may occur near normal calving time, and determining...
Producers will be able to learn more about grazing cover crops and forages during a workshop North Dakota State University's soil health team is holding on March 4 at the Astoria Hotel and Event Center in Dickinson, N.D. "This workshop is designed to show the latest research findings on grazing cover crops and the impacts on the soil and livestock, while incorporating alfalfa management in western North Dakota and using precision agriculture to help map lands using these alternative land...
Planning for the future can be a very frustrating process especially in times of tariffs and market volatility. Planning typically pays high dividends. For most farm and ranch managers, developing realistic commodity price expectations is one of the most difficult and complex tasks of the planning process. To make the planning process easier, North Dakota State University Extension has released its 2019 short- and long-term agricultural planning price projections for North Dakota, says Ron...
The seventh annual North Dakota Reclamation Conference, "Reflecting on Reclamation," will spotlight the progress in reclamation policies, soil remediation and vegetation establishment. It will be held Feb. 25-26 at the Astoria Hotel and Events Center in Dickinson, N.D. "When we talk about reclamation, we often focus on the improvements needed to achieve successful remediation of lands impacted by energy development while losing sight of the strides that have been made in terms of knowledge,...
A calculator developed by North Dakota State University Extension to help producers estimate the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) payments they may receive in 2019 is available online. Visit https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/farmmanagement/farm-bill or search for “NDSU farm bill.” The payments are for the 2018 crop year, but final determination and issuance of actual payments are not made until the last three months of 2019. Producers face a challenging profit environment for 2019 and any source of revenue will be important...
Agricultural producers should do tax planning before the end of the year. "In tax planning, it is best to start with year-to-date income and expenses, and estimate them for the remainder of the year," says Ron Haugen, North Dakota State University Extension farm economist. "Estimate depreciation and include any income that was deferred to 2018 from a previous year." Haugen adds, "It is best to try to spread out income and expenses so producers don't have abnormally high or low income or...
Farmers and ranchers in the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program's North Central Region (NCR-SARE) have until Dec. 6 to submit grant proposals to explore sustainable agriculture solutions to problems on the farm or ranch. "Proposals should show how farmers and ranchers plan to use their own innovative ideas to explore sustainable agriculture options and how they will share project results," says Karl Hoppe, a North Dakota State University Extension livestock systems specialist...
If you love gardening and sharing your knowledge with others, you are encouraged to enroll in the Master Gardener course offered in McKenzie County through an online program with North Dakota State University Extension. Application deadline is October 29. The NDSU Extension Master Gardener Program is a volunteer service organization that beautifies communities, educates the public about gardening, works with youth and encourages conservation of natural resources. This year’s Master Gardener online training program will run for 10 weeks b...
Soybeans can be used as a protein supplement for beef cattle, as long as the beans are a small part of the cattle's diet. North Dakota producers having trouble selling soybeans for the export market this year should consider feeding the soybeans to beef cattle, North Dakota State University Extension livestock experts say. Soybeans can be used as a protein supplement for beef cattle, as long as the beans are a small part of the cattle's diet, according to Karl Hoppe, Extension livestock systems...
U.S. agricultural producers, including those from North Dakota being impacted by ongoing trade disputes, will get some relief. The Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have announced a program to aid those farmers. The USDA's Market Assistance Program is a $12 billion aid package intended to provide relief for the 2018 crop marketing year. The Market Assistance Program will include the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), using the Commodity Credit Corporation to prov...
This summer's high temperatures are taking their toll on humans and cattle. Extreme heat actually is a mix of temperature and humidity, and when both are high, the effort to stay cool can be stressful, according to Karl Hoppe, North Dakota State University Extension livestock systems specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center. Cows will look for shade to provide some relief from heat radiating from the sun. They'll also seek a wind or breezy location to provide some evaporative...
Determining the risk of severe fusarium head blight, also known as scab, for a particular area is as easy as going to North Dakota State University Extension's Small Grain Disease Forecasting Model website, selecting the nearest town and the crop's estimated growth stage, then tapping the "Get Forecast" icon. The website (https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/cropdisease) provides forecasts for scab and other diseases such as tan spot, Stagonospora (Septoria) blotch and wheat leaf rust; maps showing the...
The average net income of farms in the North Dakota Farm Business Management Program dropped 30 percent to $88,026 in 2017, compared with $126,752 in 2016, according to Andrew Swenson, North Dakota State University Extension farm and family resource management specialist. In 2017, one-half of the farms had net farm income less than $50,996, compared with a median net farm income of $83,683 in 2016. In 2017, the average farm size was 1,937 crop acres and 490 pasture acres, the age of the...
Producers need to review their anticipated calving dates, cow body condition scores and cows’ diet. Decisions a cattle producer makes about pregnant cow nutrition now can have major impacts on calf health in the spring and cow fertility during the next breeding season. “The great majority of fetal growth (from 75 to more than 90 percent, depending on the source) occurs during the last three months of pregnancy, and nutrient needs and recommended feeding strategies for the cows also are changing accordingly,” says Carl Dahlen, North Dakot...
The NDSU Extension Service in McKenzie County will host a workshop Jan. 15, 2016, for cow-calf producers, particularly those who are new to beef cattle production. This daylong cow-calf management school will cover forage production, cow nutrition, grazing management and the Veterinary Feed Directive through a combination of presentations, activities and problem-solving exercises. The program, held in the McKenzie County Courthouse in Watford City, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. central time. Presenters and their topics are: * John...
The NDSU Extension Service in McKenzie County will host a workshop Jan. 15, 2016, for cow-calf producers, particularly those who are new to beef cattle production. This daylong cow-calf management school will cover forage production, cow nutrition, grazing management and the Veterinary Feed Directive through a combination of presentations, activities and problem-solving exercises. The program, held in the McKenzie County Courthouse in Watford City, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. central time. Presenters and their topics are: * John...
