Winter watering Direct access can lead to animal safety and water quality concerns. For years, producers have been watering cattle and other livestock throughout the winter months by cutting holes in the ice. Even though livestock receive water, there are a number of long term problems associated with this watering practice. Livestock death by drowning or exposure can be a significant problem. Losing an animal through the ice can result in considerable profit loss, as well as

Jay Fuhrer, soil health specialist at the Natural Resource Conservation Service, based in Bismarck, N.D., talked to producers about why cover crops were a vital resource. “I used to think cover crops were important, but now I think they are essential,” Fuhrer said. When production agriculture began, “We converted our grasslands from 50-100 species per acre of perennials into a single annual crop.” These diverse species of plants had a lot of root exudates, which provided food

We are posting Carol Lake's interview with Elaine Ingham Ph.D, President and Director of Research at Soil Foodweb Inc. According to Elaine, compost tea should be applied in order to replace missing beneficial organisms on the surfaces of plants so those surfaces will be protected. Those organisms should be present in high quality aerobic compost and given optimal brewing conditions, extracted into the compost tea. This layer of protection prevents the growth of pathogens th

Recently, a panel of range and pasture experts offered four steps they're advising pasture managers to implement this spring. 1. Manage grazing - conservatively Grasses stressed by months or years of drought, and, in many cases, overgrazing, will have weakened root systems and less vigor. In drought, grasses produced fewer buds and tillers. Some plants may have died, thinning a stand. "Don't expect drought-stressed pastures to return to pre-drought condition overnight," says